St-Martin on our own, please help plan our day

[LaPetiteNancy]

Hello

We are a group of 12, who will cruise on the liberty of the seas from april 12 to april 19 2008

We want to rent 3 jeeps in St-Martin. (yes we know cars is less expensive)

We want to tour the island on our own.

Our ship docks at St-Martin on tuesday april 15 from 9am to 6pm

 

Here is some places we would like to see:

 

Simpson Beach and Simpson bay lagoon (to swim and/or take pictures)

Maho Beach (to see at least 2 big planes land, and do some swimming)

Fort de Marigot (for pictures, not to visit)

Paradise Peak (pic du paradis)

Friar's bay (to park our jeeps) and Hike to happy bay (this will probably be the place we spend most of our time to)

Guana bay

Philipsburg (shopping if we have time)

 

I know the simpson bay bridge opening hours should be 9am 9h30am 11am 11h30am 4h30pm and 5h30pm

 

But for the big jet landings, I don't know the times yet, our date does not show yet on the Kal"s big jet landings site.. From your experience, what should be the best time to be at maho beach?

 

Is it OK to tour the island clockwise (in that case I am guessing my time to be at maho beach before 11am, am I correct? Counting the time to leave our ship, rent the jeeps and drive to maho beach)

 

or should we do a counter-clock tour of the island?

 

Can someone tell me if our plan is do-able and can someone give me an estimate time to get from one place to another

and how much time we should spend in one place so we can do it all...

 

Well, I guess I am asking you guys to plan my day, LOL (keeping in mind the places we want to see)

 

I tried to do it, and my head hurts... I had noted a few more places but It wont be possible to do them in my opinion.. (like: long bay, Baie-rouge, petites cayes, coralita beach... we are beach peoples as you can see!!, and the more deserted beach the best..)

 

If you think we can do more, let me know..

 

thanks in advance and sorry for my english...

[L_T]

Wow! You've got a lot planned for one day! Being beach people, are you sure you won't stall out at the first nice beach you find??

We've gone to the island the past five winters - normally for three to four weeks - and have yet to see some of the places you plan to visit. There are regulars on this forum who will give you lots of great suggestions.

I would just make sure you know that simple theft from vehicles is common, so don't leave anything in them - and the Pic Paradise area is a well known rip off location. Have fun, it is a fantastic island. (we would just hit Orient Beach and spend the majority of the day there - but, hey - that's just what we do when we visit!!)

L_T

[ck53]

Check out tours w/ sxmtours.com w/ Bernard. We were going to rent but decided to do it w/ him. You can see where he goes and his van holds 12, he can adjust his schedule to accomodate you We did both Phillipsburg, Maho beach (in the afternoon)2 hours @ Orient beach and Marigot. His fee is $300 pp. He will do just about anything you want. Send him an email. He is a treasure!

[gtaylor]

Check out tours w/ sxmtours.com w/ Bernard. We were going to rent but decided to do it w/ him. You can see where he goes and his van holds 12, he can adjust his schedule to accomodate you We did both Phillipsburg, Maho beach (in the afternoon)2 hours @ Orient beach and Marigot. His fee is $300 pp. He will do just about anything you want. Send him an email. He is a treasure!

 

For that fee, I will fly down, rent a van and give you a very personal tour.

 

E-mail is in profile.

 

gary

[LaPetiteNancy]

Wow! You've got a lot planned for one day!

 

Well, not really if you think about it...

I've looked at the map and we will pass simpson bay and lagoon, so we would park, and photograph for a few minutes, nothing more..

Maho beach, it's for the planes landing low,. it's for pictures and vidéo, so as soon as we saw 1 or 2,. we're out of there..

Then Fort Marigot, we won't visit, just take pictures, It looks like a good place for good view, am I right?

Now paradise peak, yes, we have to take time there (to find the place, hike probably and take pics)

Friar's bay we only park there, so we can hike to happy bay, this should be the place where the 12 of us spend 1-2 hours if we have time, if we are alone..

I would like to see another beach though, so I thought of Guana bay on our way back, I won't go to Orient beach, because we saw it once and don't wish to go again.. way too much peoples for our likings..

And shopping in Philipsburg is so not obligatory, it's only if we have time before going back to our ship..

So it's not that much, is it?

How much time it takes to drive around the island, if we don't make any stops?

 

I would just make sure you know that simple theft from vehicles is common, so don't leave anything in them - and the Pic Paradise area is a well known rip off location.

Thank you for this warning!

 

Check out tours w/ sxmtours.com w/ Bernard

 

We won't take a private tour, thanks for the suggestion.. but I did go to his website anyways, and there is some itineraries and times he spends in one place, it helps alot.. so thank you!

 

His fee is $300 pp

 

Maybe you meant 300$ per vehicules, for 12 peoples?, or 30$ pp?

[marti2282]

I think $30 per person. That is the figure I have seen from other posters regarding Bernard.

[LaPetiteNancy]

Hmm,

I have contacted private tours company and they won't go to paradise peak.. even if I request it.

Is it THAT dangerous???

We will be a big group, it's not like we would go alone me and my husband and we know not to leave ANYTHING in the locked jeeps.. Is it still too dangerous?

 

I've been thinking and My new itinerary would be:

-paradise peak

-hike to happy bay (from Friar's bay, on the right, is that correct? is it obvious trail?)

-see planes in the afternoon at maho beach..

 

And If (and only if) we have time after we return our jeeps to the rental company we would walk/shop close to the Pier, or stay at the beach near the Pier..

 

Does that sound like a better plan?

 

Why we chose those places you ask? Because we love the thrills, the deserted places, the unknown, the *hard to get to* kind of places.. And those 3 places sounds perfect for that..

 

But I don't want to put me or my group in danger!

 

Thanks for your help

 

Nancy

[kal]

You're itinerary sounds fine. Pic Paradis can be a challenge if you are in a single car, but with a large group it should be fine. Allow lots of time as the road is a mine-field.

 

[LaPetiteNancy]

Thank you very very much Kal!

 

Nancy

[GSPLover]

Just checked cruise calendar to see what the port activity was on this date:

Caribbean Princess. Carnival Glory, Mariner of the Seas, Costa Fortuna, Explorer of the Seas.

 

That's a bunch of folks on a small island! :(

 

Good news: Next day, only the Costa Fortuna in Tortola! :D

[LaPetiteNancy]

???

I see only disney magic on april 15 2008 with us

LineShipPortDateArriveDepartwebcam

Disney Cruise LineDisney MagicPhilipsburg, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles (St. Martin)4-15-20088:00 AM7:00 PMPort Port

Royal CaribbeanLiberty Of The SeasPhilipsburg, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles (St. Martin)4-15-20089:00 AM6:00 PMPort Port

[CRUISINGALONGMAMA]

I just saw where you checked the cruise calendar to see what ships would be in port at the same time. Where do you go to check this as I am very interested in learning this.

 

Thank you so much!!!

[GSPLover]

I just saw where you checked the cruise calendar to see what ships would be in port at the same time. Where do you go to check this as I am very interested in learning this.

 

Thank you so much!!!

 

Go to www.cruisecal.com and click on 'Ports' in the left panel.

[CRUISINGALONGMAMA]

Thank you so much!!

[LaPetiteNancy]

Kal, (or others)

If I start my route on the right, instead of left..

I mean counterclock instead of counterclock, like My last plan..

What is the best way to get to Paradise Peak? Is it easy to find (is there signs on the road that will lead me to it?)

I can't find road maps online.. I am sure there is some somewhere,

can you help me find some?

thank you

Nancy

[kal]

If you travel counterclockwise, look for the signs to Pic Paradis after you leave Grand Case. The road is up and down hill with various curves. You can get a map from the rental car vendor.

[LaPetiteNancy]

Thank you!!

Nancy

[gtaylor]

Here's a scan of a map of that section of the island.

 

The labels are a bit misleading.

 

You will turn at the Rambaud label, but Rambaud is actually at the top of the hill preceeding the turn coming from Grand Case..

 

I will post additional information, but if you are really interested, please install Google Earth software, free and you can get it here.

 

Everyone here on the board should install that software, as I have some great views coming up to post.

 

gary

[LaPetiteNancy]

Here's a scan of a map of that section of the island.

 

The labels are a bit misleading.

 

You will turn at the Rambaud label, but Rambaud is actually at the top of the hill preceeding the turn coming from Grand Case..

 

I will post additional information, but if you are really interested, please install Google Earth software, free and you can get it here.

 

Everyone here on the board should install that software, as I have some great views coming up to post.

 

gary

 

Hello Gary..

I already have google earth, I had downloaded it before posting but it is not easy to see roads going to paradise peak..

I had seen 2 roads from Rambaud, one seemed to go to colombier and the other to pic paradis,

but in google earth the picture of pic paradis doesnt seem to be at the right place..

from the map you just linked me to, we see names and roads more clearly, this helps alot.

there is a fork (I dont know if you say it that way in english? In french we say *fourche*) the split where you can go right or left, I am guessing I will turn right at this fork?

thanks

Nancy

[mocpgc]

Go to www.cruisecal.com and click on 'Ports' in the left panel.

 

Is there a way to tell what time each cruise ships arrive without going to each lines web site??

[KYCruser]

Is there a way to tell what time each cruise ships arrive without going to each lines web site??

 

 

Sure Cruisecal.com can tell you that. Just use the main calendar. Enter the date range you are looking for, enter your ship and mark yes to other ships. Arrival and departure times are listed for each ship in port that day.

[LaPetiteNancy]

Hello all..

I am going on my cruise soon and I am almost ready planning my excursions..

 

I have a few more questions though.. All about times.. so I can Plan right and don't miss anything.

 

(I will go to the right, I mean counterclock?!?)

 

1) how much time from the Pier to Paradise peak?

2) how much time from Paradise peak to Friar's Bay?

3) How much time from Friar's Bay to Maho Beach?

 

4) At what time, the lastest, should I leave Maho Beach, considering my ship leaves at 6pm (but I have to give back car rental before 5pm)

I was thinking at 3pm or 3h30pm, is it OK?

 

5) At Pic Paradis (Paradise Peak) How long is the short hike and how long is the higher hike?

(I think I remember reading that you have 2 trails once at a gate?!?)

5a) And from the start of the road of pic paradis to that gate, how much time does it take to ride there?

 

thank you for your help, so far you all have been very helpful

 

Nancy

[MisterBill99]

OK I was going to create a new similar thread but since this one is here already, hopefully I can get help. We will be on Celebrity Galaxy in SXM in a couple of weeks. It's a Sunday so I know that some/most of the French side will be closed. We were in SXM a couple of years ago and it was some weird French religious holiday, so almost everything on that side was closed (my luck). I rented a car then and we went to the Butterfly Farm, Orient Beach, Marigot (where we did manage to find a nice sidewalk snack bar with amazing French pastries) and shopping in Philipsburg.

 

This time I would like to go back to the beach (how bad will Orient be on a Sunday?), Marigot (hopefully more will be open), someplace for more great French pastries, a French chocolate place by the name of Jeff de Bruges in Grand Case (if they are open on Sunday), a Dutch chocolate place calledThe Belgian Chocolate Box which is supposed to be great and which seems to be on the main shopping strip, and also do some other shopping there, and the zoo, which I heard is nice. I have a car rented from Hertz so I can get it right at the pier. Sadly there will be 4 ships in port the day we are there (why so many visit there on a Sunday is beyond me).

 

We don't need to spend an extended amount of time at the beach, an hour and a half is probably fine.

 

Does this sound reasonable? It is probably too much but we don't have to spend much time at each place. Is there any secret to finding parking in the Philipsburg. I'm also wondering if the Dutch chocolate place is even open since their website lists phone hours of Monday through Saturday. I just emailed them to find out. Suggestions for French pastries that will be open on Sunday would also be appreciated.

 

PS Cruisecal.com is broken so I can't see what time the other ships get in. It looks like we're in from 7a-5p and I am not averse to being off the ship and on my way to the beach at 8am.

[MisterBill99]

Update: looks like the only other big ship in early that day is Summit, and they get in at 9:30am. The Costa Atlantica gets in at 1pm. The 4th ship is the S.V. Polynesia, which is tiny. So if I can get an early start, maybe I'll be ok, at least until I get to the main shopping district.

[judyf]

MisterBill99 sounds like you have a nice plan I'm not that far yet.

 

I have a question for everyone, we arrive at 3pm and leave at 11pm Explorer

 

We plan to get right off the ship take a cab to Maho Beach spend time there watching the planes and visiting sunset beach bar.

 

Then what???????????

 

I'm thinking a casino. Any tips or suggestions?:confused: