Thread: St. Maarten
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Old January 9th, 2006, 04:27 PM posted to rec.travel.caribbean
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Default St. Maarten


"Kent" wrote in message
ups.com...
On our upcoming cruise in November, one of the ports of call is St.
Maarten. Since we'll only have a day there, what are the most
important
things to do/see?

Thanks,
Kent Huffman
http://www.pruneville.com


You will be deposited at Philipsburg, which is largely devoted to
shops aimed at separating cruise ship passengers from their money.

St Marten/Martin is not really a sightseeing island. That said, a
drive around the perimeter of the island could be nice if you stop off
at look at the various beaches: Maho at the end of the airport
runway, a nice beach that served a now devastated resort, Long Bay,
Plum (Prune) Bay, Baie Rouge, downtown Marigot - good restaurants on
the harbor, crafts for sale on the waterfront, less agressive that
Philipsburg, Friars Bay, Grand Case - home a dozen of the best
restaurants in the Caribbean, Orient Bay - the best beach on the
island (south end nude). There are a number of restaurants on Orient
Beach.. Dawn Beach may be inaccessible since a posh hotel is being
built there but the drive from the town of Orleans to Oyster Pond /
Dawn Beach is over a good road with nice seascapes. .There is now a
good road from Oyster Pond back to Philipsburg.

Getting to Long Bay, Plum Bay and Friars Bay requires driving on dirt
roads. Drive SLOWLY on them.

The boat ride from French Cul de Sac out to Isle Pinel is OK and the
beach is fine. Beach restauant on Pinal.

I don't think Paradise Peak is worth the effort. Too overgrown and
there have been theafts from parked cars - a problem other places on
St Maarten/Martin.

English is the de facto language of both sides of the island.

Enjoy you day.