St Maarten Beaches

[makaylee]

Hello all! I would really appreciate your thoughts on your favorite beach in St Maarten. Last trip we did the Orient Beach day excursion and while it was really nice we wanted to go to one on our own this time. We not only would like to save the money, but we don't want to be on a schedule. Also can you please let us know if your favorite beach has 1. chairs to rent 2. food to purchase 3. any sort of fun rentals i.e jet skies, water tramps etc. I'd REALLY appreciate any help!!!!!!!! THANK YOU

 

[aprilgail2]

I can't wait to find out this info too! We are on the same cruise as you and we are looking for something to do there too. In St THomas we are goign to go to Megans Bay.

 

[makaylee]

Sorry I posted twice

 

[makaylee]

Hello Aprilgail. I hope someone replys fast, hehe. I'm anxious to have my plans down. I hate the feeling of not having everything all planned out. We know were doing Captain Nauticas snorkling excursion in St John again, I'm ready to book that tomorrow morning, but I really wanted to do St Maarten on our own this time. 90 more days woo hoo!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

1 - yes
2 - yes
3 - no


Mullet Bay beach is my favorite, easy taxi ride on the dutch side, or rent a car.

Here is my trip report, if you have questions, ask away, spend 2+ weeks a year on St. Maarten and been going down since 1983.

St. Maarten Trip Report

 

[dizneetravelagent]

To be totally honest, my family wasn't overwhelmed by St.Maarten. We were absolutely bombarded by over 100 women wanting to braid my girls' hair. For the most part, I don't mind saying no. But I was saying it every few feet, including Great Bay Beach. They were the most agressive I've ever encountered. They would actually approach my girls after we had already said no. So my advice is to go someplace mor secluded.

As far as St.Thomas is concerned, we loved this island. We took an island tour and saw, what I believe, had to be every beach on the island.

Coki Beach...looked to be in a poorer area...beautiful beach but very crowded and not very big

Megan's Bay....nothing bad to say, very beautiful

Sapphire Beach....One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. I believe our driver said it was for public use as well as for resort guests.

FYI, while on the island tour we had an awesome banana daiquiri at the top of some mountain that overlooked a K-Mart.....(kinda ruins the illusion, huh?)

Penny

 

[coleland]

Hello Aprilgail. I hope someone replys fast, hehe. I'm anxious to have my plans down. I hate the feeling of not having everything all planned out. We know were doing Captain Nauticas snorkling excursion in St John again, I'm ready to book that tomorrow morning, but I really wanted to do St Maarten on our own this time. 90 more days woo hoo!

I know we can book our excursions 90 days ahead of time, but are they open on Sunday for us to call? I didn't think we could call until Monday morning...

 

[newtodisney]

We did Orient Beach on our own last Tuesday. We stayed at Bikini Beach, which is right outside the taxi drop off area. For our family of 4 it was $20 for the taxi each way (plus tip). $6 for each lounge chair (we got 2). $3 for an umbrella (we got 1). The water trampoline is $5 per person for 1 hour, $10 per person for the whole day. (DH & DD's 6&10 were exhaused after about 40 minutes on the trampoline!) DD10 & I did tandem parasailing for $90. They have bathrooms & showers right there. There is also a restaurant and bar. We brought food in zip locks from the boat, so did not buy any food. It was a great day. The water sport desk does also rent jet skis, boogie boards, etc.

 

[sopandbass]

We went to Le Galion Beach which is just past the Butterfly Farm. We went there via taxi ($6 per person each way). It's small but beautiful - umbrellas and chairs to rent, a nice refreshment stand, clean bathrooms. The beach is protected by a reef so you can hear and see the waves crashing and just down from the beach, there's an area that's not as protected by the reef where people were windsurfing. They rent paddleboats and things. We really enjoyed it. We did arrange for the taxi to return to pick us up because unlike Orient or other bigger beaches, taxis aren't always waiting there. In case it matters, at least when we were there, no one was selling anything up and down the beach so we were never harassed by anyone.

 

[coleland]

Yay! I tried calling this morning on the chance that DCL was open, and I booked all of my excursions! Yippppeeee!! It feels so much closer now that those are taken care of

 

[makaylee]

I know we can book our excursions 90 days ahead of time, but are they open on Sunday for us to call? I didn't think we could call until Monday morning...

Yes you can book your excursions on Sunday. I booked the Golden Eagle Catameran for St Maarten and hopefully we'll figure out what beach to go to afterwards
And At St Thomas were doing Captain Nauticas St John Snorkling excursion again, It was awesome!

 

[maminnie]

Thanks to everyone for all the great info re beaches on St. Maarten.

Clarabellecow: It sounds as if the beach at Mullet Bay is public. Is that correct? Are there public bathrooms? I believe your answers were yes to chair rental and food. Could you please confirm. This beach looks really nice and not as crowded as Orient. Is there less nudity as we will be a group of 18 with 10 children next time!? I really enjoyed your report and the pictures. Thanks.

We aren't going on DCL again until next winter but are planning on doing beach days on St. Maarten and St. Thomas. In April, we did Anguilla and St. John.

Thank you.

 

[TheWog]

We had a great time at Great Bay Beach (January 2004). Very convenient to the ship... just take the all day water taxi ($5 adults - kids free). We went to the left as you got off the water taxi at the Front Street pier and walked just a bit down the beach. There were chairs w/umbrella for rent ($10 for 2), water trampoline ($5), and jet skis ($40 - 1/2 hour). We got 2 chairs, water tramp and jet ski rental for $45.00. We spent the morning there, used the water taxi and returned to the ship to shower, change and have lunch and then went back into town for shopping. It was a great day for us.