Car rental in St Martin -- Good Idea?

[nsj]

We will be in port 8am to 6pm and am leaning towards renting a car for the day. Love to visit non touristy places and would love to see the views and beaches that having a car may allow. Have rented cars before in Costa Rica and Panama so not opposed to driving in other countries.

 

Any thoughts? Is there a strong reason why getting a car for the day would not be suggested.

[gtaylor]

Well, I'd say that if anyone is a candidate to rent a car and navigate on your own, you're probably one of those people.

 

I've driven lots of places, and I certainly drive when we spend time on St. Maarten (one visit I put well over 600 miles on the rental)

 

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But, if you're a first time visitor to the island, I'd recommend against doing your own driving. I've posted my reasons here before, so take a look at this earlier post, which references an even earlier post, so the prices are dated.

 

gary

[khm1]

OP, I think that you would be fine renting a car in St. Martin. See my previous post on another thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1283291

[thequeen54]

Gary, I know not to rent from the big name rentals, so can you recommend any local places by name? My usuals don't do cruise port rentals. thx

[Karysa]

We will be in port 8am to 6pm and am leaning towards renting a car for the day. Love to visit non touristy places and would love to see the views and beaches that having a car may allow. Have rented cars before in Costa Rica and Panama so not opposed to driving in other countries.

 

Any thoughts? Is there a strong reason why getting a car for the day would not be suggested.

 

Great island for this in my opinion. Stop by Fort St. Louis, it took me way too many visits before I finally made it. Account for traffic and bridge openings and you should be fine. I think that the drivers in St. Martin are quite courteous and they are very used to the many tourists who are also driving on the island. I don't like the motorcycles though. They scare me so much. I am surprised that there are not more serious accidents involving motorcycles on St. Maarten. I can't count the times when I thought that one of them was going to get hit right in front of me.

[gtaylor]

At the Cruise Facility, I would probably use Best Deal (recommended by a friend) or walk across the street to Arthur's (out the main gate and 100 yards to the right). I've read good things about both of them.

 

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gary

[thequeen54]

At the Cruise Facility, I would probably use Best Deal (recommended by a friend) or walk across the street to Arthur's (out the main gate and 100 yards to the right). I've read good things about both of them.

 

 

 

 

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gary

 

thanks Gary. I assume they drive you to their "office" to pick up the car correct?

[gtaylor]

Those ARE their offices here, and they may have some cars on site. I can't say from personal experience because I use a different vendor, who doesn't actually rent to cruisers.:)

 

gary