Info pls - St Thomas/Johns/Maarten on our own

[4nana]

Hi,
Does anyone have any recommendations, sites, info/advise to share for doing your own excursions, tours, activities. Search function was not cooperative, so would appreciate any info. Thanx

 

[tstobb]

We took the cable car in St Thomas (about 5-10 minute walk from the ship) to the top of the mountain. Theview was fantastic and we wouldn't hesitate to do it again. There is a cafe & some shops & a bird show up there along with a nature walk (wear sneakers, not sandals!). Taxi drivers will try to talk you out of it ("It's too much money", "you'll want to take our tour anyway", etc.) but we just thanked them for stopping the traffic for us & kept walking.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/50815843/50816891wwgmur

 

[RellingTwin]

On St Martin we got off the ship, walked to the Taxies and asked to be taken to Dawn Beach. Once there we asked the driver to send someone back at 2pm. We rented 2 chairs/umbrella at the beach. For our family (2 adults 2 children) the cost was about 50.00.
At St Thomas we got off the ship, ask around for a cab going to Red Hook, took the ferry to St John and a cab to Trunk Bay. Very easy to do! There are LOTS of cabs, at every point. Just be sure to get the 2pm ferry back to St Thomas so you leave plenty of time to get back to the ship.

 

[4nana]

Thanx...I really appreciate the replies and ideas!
It sounds like there is much fun to be had!! I figure after brkf.
that leaves 9am - 3:45pm to make the best of!! For St. Thomas I contacted 'Godfrey Tours' (on Dave's site) and just got off the phone w/him. He is working out a plan of attack for those in our group who would like an exciting all day adventure. So much to do and so little time!!! I love it!!!!!

 

[abitjaded]

We rented a van from Hertz on St Martin, we were the first to arrive across the isle at Dawn Beach, a nice beach with some snorkeling, a nice beach bar and open-air restaurant, chairs and umbrellas to rent, fresh-water showers (conserve!) and restrooms with changing area. After lunch there we took a tour through the French side, then parked back at a pay lot in Phillipsburg and shopped. Was easy and we could set our own pace.

On St Thomas we chartered a boat through shoretrips.com. The St Thomas Dive shop picked us up, walked us down the dock then took us over to Buck/Capella Island to snorkel, where we were again the first boat to arrive. Fun. They then would have left us at their beach or, our choice, we returned to the ship by boat. Was easy and fun. We then lunched on board and walked to Havensight Mall to shop.

Don't be afraid to do things on your own. Saves you moving with the masses.