Maho District

[SecondComing]

We will be staying at the La Plage for a week before our cruise out of San Juan. What kinds of stores, restaurants and activities are within walking distance from the Maho Beach? How about bus service to Marigot or Phillipsburg, or Orient Beach? How long a trip? Many stops?

Sorry for the questions, but our first time to the Carribean and our first upcoming cruise.

[The Big Booper]

There is a local bus service running over St. Martin. They are minivans with the bus sign in the window, and look like cabs. The fare is lower than the cabs but expect to spend more time, both waiting for a bus or while traveling as the drivers make frequent stops to take on/discharge passengers and to talk to their buddies.

 

Taxis are fairly cheap especially with 4 or more people on board.

 

The busses run from the major towns (P-Burg, Marigot, Maho) and will stop on the highways to take on or discharge pax.

 

Your call as always, time vs money.

[gtaylor]

There's a lot of information about the Maho area here.

 

Also, check out the Sonesta Maho website (it's the neighboring resort) for some additional information.

 

gary

[SunshineToGo]

We will be staying at the La Plage for a week before our cruise out of San Juan. What kinds of stores, restaurants and activities are within walking distance from the Maho Beach? How about bus service to Marigot or Phillipsburg, or Orient Beach? How long a trip? Many stops?

Sorry for the questions, but our first time to the Carribean and our first upcoming cruise.

 

We've stayed at La Plage for the last several years and are heading there soon for another trip. We haven't been there since last April so my info is a bit dated.

 

There are quite a few restaurants in that area, La Rosa II $$$ Italian and quite good but you really need to love garlic. Pizza Pasta, only one so so meal in many trips but very reasonable and great pizza. It's tiny though. Cheri's is very popular, just a little cafe/pub place with some funky entertainment at night. Mario's which is ok but probably wouldn't recommend. New for us to try this year is Bajatzu's, $$$ steak place getting rave reviews on another site.

 

Lots of jewelry stores, a few clothing stores, linen, little supermart right across the street. You can even borrow a grocery cart from La Plage to cart back and forth. Lots of security in front of LaPlage, Sonesta, Casino.

 

You're also very close to Simpson Bay which has a ton of great restaurants and only about five minutes away if you don't catch the bridge opening or rush hour. Favorites include SkipJacks, Halsey's, Pineapple Petes. New ones (for us) we may try that are getting very good reviews are Tutta Pasta, Uncle Harry's & Sebastianos.

[SecondComing]

Thank you for the replies, I checked out the web sites. I also appreciate the info on the busses. We have a whole week, we love traveling slow and getting to know locals. Can't wait !!:D