Shopping St Martin

[Luv my furbaby]

It has been many years since I've been in St Martin, so I am wondering if the shopping area is worth visiting?

Is it worth buying jewelry there?

Best way to get there from ship

Any place worth seeing in that area?

Thanks - I have been there a few times but honestly can't remember anything about the area.

[gtaylor]

It has been many years since I've been in St Martin, so I am wondering if the shopping area is worth visiting?

Is it worth buying jewelry there?

Best way to get there from ship

Any place worth seeing in that area?

Thanks - I have been there a few times but honestly can't remember anything about the area.

 

Yes, the shopping area (downtown) is well worth visiting. We think it offers some of the finest in the Caribbean.

 

You can walk there from the Cruise Facility in 20 minutes or so, or take the Water Taxi (all day) for $7.

 

First, before jewelry, go RIGHT NOW and measure your tables for table cloths. Put the measurements with your cruise documents.

 

We currently shop with Mr Tablecloth at the Holland House Beach Hotel. (Booze across the street at Ocean Jewelers).

 

For jewelry: I posted this note here a couple years ago, and believe that it still runs true.

 

What might you like to see here? There's the Yoda Guy and the St. Maarten Museum.

 

The Down Street Cruise Heritage Development project has just opened.

 

You could hit the Guavaberry Emporium for a free tasting.

 

Sadly, the Heineken Museum closed some years ago. :(

 

There's also a handful of casinos along Frontstreet.

 

Philipsburg Casinos within walking distance of the Cruise Facility or either of the water taxi stops:

 

Jump Up

Diamond

Coliseum

Rouge et Noir (Our favorite) The website says Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, but it's actually 4AM.

 

gary

[Susie51]

Gtaylor thank you for replying. This is just what I needed to know.

[lovevacadays]

Yes, the shopping area (downtown) is well worth visiting. We think it offers some of the finest in the Caribbean.

 

You can walk there from the Cruise Facility in 20 minutes or so, or take the Water Taxi (all day) for $7.

 

First, before jewelry, go RIGHT NOW and measure your tables for table cloths. Put the measurements with your cruise documents.

 

We currently shop with Mr Tablecloth at the Holland House Beach Hotel. (Booze across the street at Ocean Jewelers).

 

For jewelry: I posted this note here a couple years ago, and believe that it still runs true.

 

What might you like to see here? There's the Yoda Guy and the St. Maarten Museum.

 

The Down Street Cruise Heritage Development project has just opened.

 

You could hit the Guavaberry Emporium for a free tasting.

 

Sadly, the Heineken Museum closed some years ago. :(

 

There's also a handful of casinos along Frontstreet.

 

Philipsburg Casinos within walking distance of the Cruise Facility or either of the water taxi stops:

 

Jump Up

Diamond

Coliseum

Rouge et Noir (Our favorite) The website says Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, but it's actually 4AM.

 

gary

 

Some great ideas.

[Keith1010]

I think the shopping in St. Marten is the best of all in the Caribbean.

 

We have visited there three times in the last two years and we thought prices were great and there is a lot to choose from.

 

Keith

[dacsmom]

I liked shopping in both Marigot and Philipsburgh, I booked the shopping tour through Bernard's Tours so I could see both the French and Dutch side.

[sliderturk99]

Best shopping hands down. From high end jewelry, name brand retailers to local mom and pop trinket stands.

[ColoradoGurl]

Yes, the shopping area (downtown) is well worth visiting. We think it offers some of the finest in the Caribbean.

 

You can walk there from the Cruise Facility in 20 minutes or so, or take the Water Taxi (all day) for $7.

 

First, before jewelry, go RIGHT NOW and measure your tables for table cloths. Put the measurements with your cruise documents.

 

We currently shop with Mr Tablecloth at the Holland House Beach Hotel. (Booze across the street at Ocean Jewelers).

 

For jewelry: I posted this note here a couple years ago, and believe that it still runs true.

 

What might you like to see here? There's the Yoda Guy and the St. Maarten Museum.

 

The Down Street Cruise Heritage Development project has just opened.

 

You could hit the Guavaberry Emporium for a free tasting.

 

Sadly, the Heineken Museum closed some years ago. :(

 

There's also a handful of casinos along Frontstreet.

 

Philipsburg Casinos within walking distance of the Cruise Facility or either of the water taxi stops:

 

Jump Up

Diamond

Coliseum

Rouge et Noir (Our favorite) The website says Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, but it's actually 4AM.

 

gary

 

Can you tell me more about Mr Tablecloth? I tried looking it up on trip advisor but there's nothing. Is it unique tablecloths, cheap tablecloths? Fancy tablecloths? And are they custom made or is it something you can bring home with you that day?

[ColoradoGurl]

I have another question about The tablecloth place. I've searched online a bit and can't find much, but what I have found appears that they sell a lot of "traditional" looking doilies and lace type styles, kind of what I would think of if I were thinking of my grandma (or great grandma even). I'm not seeing anything modern (a la crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn). Perhaps my style is too mainstream but if people are raving about this place and it really does sell lace doilies, I've got to assume these endorsements are coming from a much older generation. Am I looking at the wrong reviews online or is this what I should expect when I go to this place?

[mccbeh]

We always make sure to exit the pier area/terminal at any port actually ... suddenly ... half the price :D

[ColoradoGurl]

We just got back today from our cruise and we stopped in St. Maarten on Sunday. Taxis are not cheap! There were a couple taxis outside the port but they were charging $7 per person minimum to get to the beach. You can also take a water taxi from the port to front street where the main shopping area is, it costs $7/person for an all day pass. If you take this and then want another taxi to take you to the beach, it's another $7/person for one way. You can end up spending $21/person for a taxi. We attempted to walk to front street which isn't far, but we had small children with us and were carrying a ton of heavy bags for the beach and it was a bit cumbersome to walk. We got to the bus stop and none of the busses were scheduled to go to orient beach, but a bus came by that was going to the French side and be agreed to take 6 of us for $20 each way. It was more than the $2/person busses usually cost, but less than a taxi so it was ok. But in hindsight it would have been less hassle to just pay the extra few dollars for a cab at the pier.

 

Also, because we were the only ship in port and it was a Sunday, a lot of stores were closed, and the taxi drivers and store owners were trying to make up for having less customers by overcharging us for everything. The liquor was only $1-$3 cheaper than it was at home. I wasn't super impressed with this port.

 

I'll answer my own question from above about the tablecloths. I found the store overpriced and full of "grandma" style tablecloths. There was nothing current or trendy for sale, it was a lot of lacy, beaded, Indian styles tablecloths. i found a pretty christmas tablecloth but it was $60 and definitely not worth that price. We bought a table topper decoration instead for $25. I wouldn't waste my time going there again.

[Life is Good Cruising]

We use to take the $2 bus to go to Maho, Mullet or Marigot, which back then was $1 pp, now a taxi is much more convenient for us.

 

Buses do not go to Orient Beach so the taxi driver was going out of his way to assist you, which was nice of him. Been going to St Maarten for over 20+ years and have always felt the taxi drivers were fair and reasonable with their fares.