beaches on st. maarten, st. thomas

[4cruzndis]

is it possible to get to beaches without booking excursions. if so how? taxi, walk, rental car. want to avoid rental car if possible. really dont want to do long excursions ashore, would rather shop and beach it.

 

[jmcross]

I've never been to either place so I can't speak from personal experience. From what I have read here on the boards the nicer beaches on these islands are easy to reach by taxi. I am planning to go to either Coki Beach or Sapphire Beach on St. Thomas and Dawn Beach on St. Martin.

Try these Websites for help:
http://www.vinow.com/
http://www.gobeach.com/page3.htm

Good Luck!

Joanne

 

[cmesq61]

Only been to St. Martin once-- many years ago. having travelled the Caribbean alot, though, it's easy to do your own thing. Taxis not too expensive. I can't decide what beach to go to on St. Martin myself!

 

[faireygod mother]

It is possible to get to the beaches at both ports without excursions. In St Maareten you can purchase the water taxi ($5.00 unlimited trips) and it takes you to a beach and shopping as well. You get the water taxi rights at the pier.

As for St Thomas, they have open taxi trucks that will take you to the beach. You also get them right at the pier. It is about 5-6 dollars each as well. There are a couple good beaches. If you want to snorkel I recommend Sapphire Beach. It also has a snack bar.

It you want to just have a beach day I reccomend Magans Run. There is an admission fee of about 2.00 an adult, but worth it.

Hope this helps

 

[jwann]

Just went, Dec. 2004, and would HIGHLY recommend doing the beaches on your own.
We went to Dawn Beach and Orient Beach on St. Maarten (we rented a jeep there but if we go again will just do the taxi thing -- less stress).
We went to Coki Beach on St. Thomas via taxi. SUPER EASY. There is a taxi station at the cruise ship pier and then there is a taxi stand at Coki Beach for the trip home.
We had two great, relaxing beach days!
Be sure to take cash for the taxi and for renting chairs. But the night before, order sandwiches, chips, fruit from room service. Put them in ziplock bags (that you brought from home) and place in the room fridge for the night. In the morning pack a soft sided cooler for lunch. My sister's family decided it was too much work (?) and had to buy lunch at Orient Beach. 2 adults and 2 children spent $60 on lunch!

 

[logan1_2000]

We did Magen's Bay on our ownduring the last St. Thomas day, very easy, though we did not end up getting the return cab ride we expected--he was there, but waiting around for his taxi-truck to fill, so we jumped off and moved to open seats on a nearly filled taxi-truck farther ahead in the line. It was stunningly beautiful there, no waves, clear water like rarely seen. This time it looks like we are going to go to St. John and Trunk Bay on our own next time.

On Sint Maarten, we've never gone to another beach other than taking the water taxi to Great Bay beach, right there in Philipsburg, during two previous cruise ship stops on the island. Went to Dawn Beach during a week long stay on Sint Maarten a few years before that (sheesh, just realized,4 1/2 years ago!). Waves too strong for swimming there, we found. Great Bay is not the prettiest, to be sure, but it sure is easy, and after a while you stop being bothered by having to tell the locals "no thank you" every 30 seconds when they want to braid your hair or sell you something (they really are harmless and non-threatening). Have been thinking its time already to go to Orient Beach finally on our next visit.