St. Martin - Anyone been?

[Freyja]

Has anyone been to St.Martin? Did you like it? Where did you stay? For how long? Did you rent a car?

 

[lucyanna girl]

Has anyone been to St.Martin? Did you like it? Where did you stay? For how long? Did you rent a car?

Yes, my husband and I went but it was years ago. Long enough that I truly do not remember the name of the resort.

I do remember that it was beautiful, that there were lovely tablecloths, etc to be had and that we rented a small Jeep-type vehicle to drive.

I also remember that was the trip where my husband pulled a trick on me. There are nude beaches where no photography is allowed. He took me to one by jeep and suggested I take some pictures of the beach as it was so pretty. Off I trooped, down to the deserted beach where I happily began taking pictures. Can you imagine my face when someone tapped my shoulder and asked me to stop - I turned around to face two totally nude men.
Embarrassed does not begin to describe how I felt. My husband was laughing so hard he was rolling.

Maybe someone else can be of more help.

Penny

 

[Freyja]

Yes, my husband and I went but it was years ago. Long enough that I truly do not remember the name of the resort.

I do remember that it was beautiful, that there were lovely tablecloths, etc to be had and that we rented a small Jeep-type vehicle to drive.

I also remember that was the trip where my husband pulled a trick on me. There are nude beaches where no photography is allowed. He took me to one by jeep and suggested I take some pictures of the beach as it was so pretty. Off I trooped, down to the deserted beach where I happily began taking pictures. Can you imagine my face when someone tapped my shoulder and asked me to stop - I turned around to face two totally nude men.
Embarrassed does not begin to describe how I felt. My husband was laughing so hard he was rolling.

Maybe someone else can be of more help.

Penny

Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing

 

[AmandaNied]

We went to St. Maartin for our Honeymoon- It was beautiful, the food was great, and atmosphere was nice. We did not rent a car (CRAZY drivers and TINY roads) and the taxi cabs cost about $25.00 US for a round trip tour around the island. (they have flat rates from point a to point b). They have lots of shops (jewlery and fine goods) that are duty free and willing to play let's make a deal on almost anything. They served beer in the Jewlery stores and encouraged me to walk around with a 20K diamond bracelet on while I was browsing so I could "fall in love with it"

We stayed for a week at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. Right on Dawn Beach- just a hop to soak up the sun! We also did some excursions to St. Bart's and swimming with the dolphins


I've always wanted to go back..it was SOOO relaxing! We did spend quite a bit of $$ on cab fare and meals and shopping... There are a lot of good websites to get a 'feel' for the island. I would also try to go when it is not "cruise ship" season- the main shopping area becomes PACKED!

 

[okeydokey]

You don't want to drive in St. martin, the locals drive crazy!!

 

[Freyja]

Thanks for your responses. We have the opportunity to stay for free at the Radisson Blu resort there http://www.radissonblu.com/resort-stmartin It looks very nice, but airfare is expensive. Would love to go with DH there next year for our 15th wedding anniversary in January.

 

[NAB]

We were there for our Honeymoon as well. But the resort we stayed at is long gone do to a hurricane. Mullet Bay. It was really nice too we enjoyed it.

Did rent a car and went around the whole island in one day. Also did a bus tour and a boat cruise.

The nude beach is the Orient beach. My hubby lost his wedding ring there on our honeymoon. To much sunscreen ....we did have clothes on and it was a bus tour that stopped there.

We did not find them to be that bad of drivers then. There is a french side and a dutch side to the island.

Well be there again in 4 weeks with the Disney Magic!!


--

 

[Meriweather]

Stopped there in Sept. on a Disney cruise.
Very beautiful. We took a tour that drove around the island so we got to see the Dutch and French sides.
Had fun shopping. We were only there for the day, so can't say how much more there is to do.

 

[KathyTX]

We go often, and stay on the French side in the village of Grand Case at a lovely little hotel on a hill overlooking the town and the bay: Hotel L'Esplanade.

The hotel has rooms set up with separate bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, all with private balconies with gorgeous views.

I like to get a car (a VERY small one, as parking can be a challenge). It's an easy 10 minute drive to Orient Beach (one end is nudist, but most of it is not.) The beach and water here are just fabulous, and there are lots of bars and restaurants to choose from here.

The island is so small that it's easy to drive to lots of other beaches and fun spots to explore- Maho Bay on the Dutch side to watch the planes come in, Marigot to shop for food or dine, Philipsburg for LOTS of great shopping.

Grand Case is a jewel for dining. You have the Lolos- local barbecue stands in the open air, very good and very affordable. And you have a dozen or so fantastic French-style restaurants with dining rooms overlooking the ocean. Not as affordable, but great food and fantastic views. We walk to the dining strip from the hotel.

This little hotel is so beautiful, comfortable and private that we return year after year.

 

[Imzadi]

I haven't been to St. Martin, but have been to St. John & St. Thomas. The water is absolutely beautiful down there.

 

[kristina87]

Have been to St Martin, St John and St. Thomas, all are gorgeous! So much fun and the locals are friendly, even when they're trying to sell you all kinds of drugs But in a resort you should be fine from all that. I loved it, the snorkeling is awesome!

 

[Barbossa]

If you're interested in watching airplanes take off and land, Maho Beach is a few feet from the Princess Juliana Airport. The planes are right on top of you when they land...

 

[chasbos]

There is pretty much no beach left where the planes land anymore - it is sad to see. That was a great beach!

We rented a jeep while in St. Maarten and had no trouble with the driving - it is a great way to see the island on your own time and desires.

 

[Barbossa]

There is pretty much no beach left where the planes land anymore - it is sad to see. That was a great beach!

We rented a jeep while in St. Maarten and had no trouble with the driving - it is a great way to see the island on your own time and desires.

I also had no problem driving in St. Maarten. The only caveat is that traffic across some of the drawbridges gets hellish during rush hour because they're opened for returning boat traffic.

The sand at Maho beach seems to come and go every year. I've seen pictures where it's bare rock, and pictures where it's all sand. I have a feeling that they have to truck new sand in every year because of erosion (due to water, weather, and/or aircraft).

 

[Freyja]

Thanks again everyone! Love reading all the responses. Seems like everyone has had a great time.
Don´t think driving would be that big of a problem for us. I´ve driven on the other side of the road before and we´re used to driving in cities such as Madrid and Paris where people drive like maniacs.

 

[Feralpeg]

I was there many years ago. I was on a cruise. We also went to St. Thomas and St. Croix. The ocean was beautiful and the landscape very nice, but I have no desire to ever go back. When we drove around the island, the thing that I remember the most was the poverty. So much money coming through those islands and the people living so poorly. Not my cup of tea.

 

[Imzadi]

I was there many years ago. I was on a cruise. We also went to St. Thomas and St. Croix. The ocean was beautiful and the landscape very nice, but I have no desire to ever go back. When we drove around the island, the thing that I remember the most was the poverty. So much money coming through those islands and the people living so poorly. Not my cup of tea.

Yes, that really struck me about St. Thomas. There were expensive hotels right next to some of the most impoverished people.