St. Maarten beach

[1of3]

Last time we were in St. Maarten we noticed a beach right at the end of the pier. Does anyone know if that is an open beach and if so how much it costs to rent chairs etc. and if there are changing facilities? Thanks for your help.

[LBumb]

we did the one connected to a hotel once, but enjoyed orient way more.

[Cruising89143]

The beach is not at the end of the pier. It is just off the water taxi area and yes it's still open. There are several different places along the beach to rent chairs and umbrellas.

[Atimes5inAZ]

We spent the day there on our cruise. The water taxi was $6 per person for unlimited rides. We paid $12 for 2 chairs and an umbrella. There were also a few servers running buckets of beer and food from the restaurants. Only disappointment was the beach vendors. Always trying to sell you something. As we called it "CCC" Cheap Caribbean Cr*p.

[FLACRUISER99]

We spent the day there on our cruise. The water taxi was $6 per person for unlimited rides. We paid $12 for 2 chairs and an umbrella. There were also a few servers running buckets of beer and food from the restaurants. Only disappointment was the beach vendors. Always trying to sell you something. As we called it "CCC" Cheap Caribbean Cr*p.

Get your chairs directly from a restaurant and you can usually get a couple of beers for free. Be carfull of the jet ski vendors I have seen then stage fake accidents and try to extort large sums of money from renters.

[1of3]

Thank you for all the help great information.

[waterdave]

The great bay beach as a nice long boardwalk that runs most of its length, and like Atimes said, the water taxi takes you in a triangle between the ship, the close end of the boardwalk, and the middle of the boardwalk. The further down the beach you go, the better a deal you can get. Further down the beach, past the town center, you can two chairs, two umbrellas and two frozen drinks for 15$, and its possible to get a deal if you negotiate a little with them, especially all the way down the beach where they usually have hundreds of chairs open.

 

There are a lot of vendors walking the beach to sell you junk or get your hair beaded. Its has been a constant strugle for the local permit controllers and police to stop the roving vendors, as their are operating illegally, and when some of them deported, more immediately show up. There is a legal vending area where the craft vendors have a little booths in a market and they actually pay taxes and have a vending badge. It is behind the picturesque courthouse where the water taxi goes, (and it has some of the only public bathrooms in Philipsburg).

 

I agree with jtutak about being cautious with the jetski/waverunners, but if you decide to do it, I recommend you treat them the same as renting a car- make sure they dont have any visible damage on them, and dont drive them like maniacs, because if you hit another waverunner, they will probably charge you even if you dont see visible damage to the fiberglass other than a scuff... renting a waverunner can be a really fun way for someone who doesnt like shopping or sunbathing to enjoy the ocean for a quick half hour.

 

Hope you enjoy St Maarten, and experience all the fun things available!