Maho Beach by bus?

[elsplace2]

My husband and I are planning on spending a couple of hours at Maho Beach....I have been reading some posts on taking a bus instead of a cab...but the posts I have been finding are older.

 

Has anyone taken it recently? I hear it looks like a van and not a bus? How would we know it's the public transportation? Where do you pick it up and how much is it nowaday? Where would we get off at Maho Beach? We are thinking of going to go to Guys Driftwood Boat Bar to hang out for a bit and watch the planes from there instead of the popular Sunset Bar.

 

Is there a bus schedule on-line, so we know when to pick it up??

 

Thanks!!

[gtaylor]

The 'bus' will most likely be a van, or in some cases a very small bus, I have some photos in my PhotoBucket.

 

(click)

 

You will recognize them by the license plate that reads 'BUS123' or such. In the front window there will be a small sign. To Maho it will read 'Maho', 'M-Bay', Mullt Bay' or such.

 

There is no schedule, as it is just a group of individual licensed drivers/vehicles. There are fairly fixed routes, NOT out to the Cruise Facility, and in downtown Philipsburg you'd catch your bus on Back Street. It's the next one away from the water past Frontstreet, the shopping street. It's the street behind the Court House.

 

Look for a sign labeled Bushalte and a marking on the pavement. If you don't see a stop, just flag down the bus as it approaches. The ride should cost you $2 each way. You can ask the price as you board, but you pay when you exit.

 

Call out 'Stop Please' as you approach your destination. Going to Maho that would be as you reach the far end of the runway and the traffic roundabout at the Maho resort/casino complex. You'll see it, but the driver will most probably be stopping for you since you asked about the price.

 

Catch your return bus across the street at the Sonesta Maho/Royal Islander complex. Stand where the driver can pull out of traffic. I would be out of Maho by 2:45 - 3:00 at the latest, hopefully allowing for some last minute shopping or a cold one before you head back to the ship. I highly recommend the Water Taxi back to the ship, as it provides a great photo-op.

 

gary

 

p.s. From the stop to Guy's is about 100 yards.

[elsplace2]

AWESOME information!! Thanks Gary for being so detailed!! I LOVED your pics of the buses! Cracked me up with the forklift, "Not a bus"! LOL

 

I think we will definitely take the bus to Maho, seeing we won't be under any time constraints.....Do you know ABOUT how often they come around Maho Beach for pick ups? Is it like every 15 min - 1/2 hour or is it hit or miss and they may not show up for an hour or more??

 

Do we tip the bus driver??

 

I think we will probably leave Maho Beach around 1:30pm....so we won't be worried about missing the ship due to traffic and it will give us time for some shopping and maybe another stop at a local bar...we may just take a cab back too if the buses are that unpredictable.

[gtaylor]

I would expect a bus to come by every fifteen minutes or less, but it IS hit or miss. I don't believe they expect a tip unless they do something special for you. A special stop or a tour narration?

 

When you're waiting out there in the Maho complex a taxi should be readily available as a fallback.

 

Leaving at 1:30 should certainly avoid the traffic, but you might avoid seeing some great landings, as well. Check out this page at Joyce Prince's website that shows the actual real-time landings. Check it the weeks before you travel for the same day of the week to get a good feel.

 

gary

[elsplace2]

Thanks again!

 

Yeah, I debated on whether or not 1:30 would be to early...I hear the bigger planes come in the afternoon.....hopefully we will catch at least 1 before we leave!

 

The latest I think I would feel comfortable leaving is 2:00pm....our ship leaves at 5.

[teach_n_tax]

These replies are a few years old, so I just wanted to resurrect this thread for any additional/new info.

 

We will be arriving in Philipsburg on Royal Caribbean on Aug 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., departing 8:00 p.m. Our family of 5 (kids ages 12, 10, 8) are looking to go to Maho Beach.

 

It sounds like taxis are $9/per person one-way, so we'll be looking at $90 for our family. If the bus is a good option, we would obviously prefer to pay for that instead at $2/per person one way. Any advice on exactly where to go, time schedule availability, etc? Thank you!

[Life is Good Cruising]

These replies are a few years old, so I just wanted to resurrect this thread for any additional/new info.

 

We will be arriving in Philipsburg on Royal Caribbean on Aug 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., departing 8:00 p.m. Our family of 5 (kids ages 12, 10, 8) are looking to go to Maho Beach.

 

It sounds like taxis are $9/per person one-way, so we'll be looking at $90 for our family. If the bus is a good option, we would obviously prefer to pay for that instead at $2/per person one way. Any advice on exactly where to go, time schedule availability, etc? Thank you!

 

If you are asking where to catch the bus to Maho Beach, you would have to walk (approx. 20 mins) from the ship to Back St. in Philipsburg. This street runs parallel to Front St, where all the stores are located.

 

http://www.sint-maarten.net/St-Maarten-Maps/StreifenandGraphics/Map_Philipsburg.gif

[teach_n_tax]

Thank you for the follow-up info and link to the map. Very much appreciated!

[Singer4Him]

Is the going rate still $2 per person on the bus?

[Life is Good Cruising]

Is the going rate still $2 per person on the bus?

 

Yes the bus is still $2.

[dodger1964]

Are you docking or tendering? We tendered once and they dropped off in town (close to the "busses").