Tough_to_find_a_name

So final update...our cruise was last week, and we did exactly as planned in St. Maarten/St.Martin with a few minor exceptions. For others looking for ideas...

We took a group taxi from the pier to Margot. It only cost $8.00 person and around 30 minutes. Shopped a bit, the found the main taxi stand by the market and grabbed a cab to Grand Case for $20.00 for the two of us. The cab driver pointed out a few good local restaurants, but we wanted French so he took us to Ocean62. We had a beachfront table and had an amazing light lunch with some good drinks/wine. It was wonderful. The waiter called a cab and we joined another party back to the pier for another 20.00 for both of us. That was a much longer trip due to very heavy traffic. Probably took around 50 minutes. All in all, it went very well.

Thanks to everyone on this thread for their suggestions!

Would that be Trata Greek Taverna?

You're right! That is the one. Had great bread and oil for dipping, too, if memory serves.

Half the fun of Restraunt Row is browsing the menus and looking inside and deciding where to eat. Also, there is no need to make reservations in Grand Case for lunch.

Excellent! Sounds like a perfect spot for us....our favourite kind of destination!

Quite a variety....

The verandah at Paris hotel in Las Vegas with wine, bread, Brie and warmed olives while watching the crowds in front of bellagi's fountains.

The iguana bar in curacao having beer and deep fried snacks while watching the crowds crossing the pontoon bridge. Food was okay, but the view is amazing. An cool water mists down from overhead to keep you refreshed on a hot day.

A variety of streetside restaurants and cafes in Washington DC on Connecticut Ave NW and Calvert St NW...Italian, Indian and the great Open City cafe around the corner. So much people watching all through the day and long into the evening!

Olives in the bellagio hotel, Las Vegas for great carpacio and a great view of the fountains.

Oh...best recently was the Bonavista Social Club in Bonavista, Newfoundland for fresh made wood fired pizza and hand rolled pasta with locally sourced good stuff...and a gorgeous sunset view over the water. A very special spot.

I wish I could remember the name, but a Greek restaurant on Los Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale for appetizers including an amazing fresh Greek hummus, olives and stuffed grape leaves whIle sitting out on the patio in the evening watching the crowds of shoppers in the fancy shops.

And coming up soon.....some restaurant or cafe on the beach in Grand Case, St Martin!

Our perfect vacation always involves a great cafe or patio with drinks and people to watch....or a nice sunset.

I should have pointed out that the license plate for a legitimate taxi will read "TAXI 99" or such. A bus will have "BUS 99". You can certainly find legit taxis downtown Philipsburg as well.

 

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gary

Sooooo....you're saying we shouldn't take a forklift?

:p

I've spent A LOT of time on the island, and I've never heard of a $25/pp all day taxi tour.

 

I would be very leery of finding a taxi 'outside the port', as they are probably unlicensed and uninsured. Otherwise, they would be INSIDE the port.

 

There have been numerous reports of serious problems with 'gypsy' cabs on the island. Please Google "gypsy taxi robbery st maarten".

 

gary

Thanks for the warning...we will keep that in mind. This is new territory for us so we want to play it safe for sure this time!

Personally, I would do lunch in Grand Case - You will be fine - and I don't think the taxis will cost what you fear they will... the rates are set by the govt...

 

Marigot market won't take more than two hours tops - Grand Case is no more than 10mins from Marigot - I'd personally recommend lunch at Calmos café - you can eat with your toes literally in the sand...

Great to hear! And I will take note of the cafe. We've read that not too many restaurants are open for lunch, and that it was a good idea to browse around a little bit. But if we decide instead to make reservations, I'll look this one up.

I can not speech for other independent cab companies but we have used Antony's company a few times with great service. We discovered him by mistake on our first trek outside the port he stopped and talked to us and we a group of 5 decided to give it a try it cost us $20 a head at the time and was for the day. We may have just gotten very lucky but he offered us a great tour of the island.

 

 

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Thanks for the ideas! Since we are so green when it comes to touring, we might hang on to your tips or the next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time!)....but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for the taxis you speak of...scope them out!

Very doable. Just leave 90 minutes to get back from Grand Case. 45 minutes should be enough though. I'm thinking that the price would be about $75 for 2 to get to Marigot, Grand Case and back to Philipsburg or the ship.

Thanks so much, Karysa! So many positive responses, I'm really getting excited to try this!

Look for the white vans on High Street with Marigot sign in window. Used to be $2 pp. They will let you off anywhere along way.Taxi drivers not the best tour guides. Save your Es for a nice french lunch in Marigot.

Cool! Thanks!

We've cruised 6 or 7 times (Caribbean and mexico) but have never had the nerve to just grab a taxi to try out our own tour. I know, it's sad, but I'm a really nervous Nellie about missing the ship so we have always stuck with cruise company tours.

Time to get daring!

We will be in St. Maarten on December 15 (along with at least 5 other ships including the Oasis) and we're thinking about trying to do Marigot for some walking about then Grand Case for lunch and a stroll down the beach. We are in port from 7:00 am on 6:00 pm.

Does this sound safe and secure for getting back to the ship on time? We would plan to head back leaving Grand Case around 3:00 pm.

It's just 2 of us, and from what I've read it would be about $75 - $90 or so in taxi fares. Sound more or less correct?

Thanks for any advice!