felixchon

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies for my previous post.
That was my first time post so I forgot to show my budgets and little bit more about details.
So my budget will be approximately $200-400 (4 days in St.martin) excluding my flight and hotels. Here is my new question.
1. I wonder if St.maarteen safe to hang around at the night. I am planning to go to club or bar at night and not sure whether it is safe to do so by myself.
2. Is driving in St.martin hard? Is it possible to walk all over the island? I am 20 years old and maybe not be able to get a rent car.

Thanks for your advice

Felix

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previous post:
I am currently university student and planning to go to SXM during my winter break.
Unfortunately, none of my friends is interested to go there, so I decided to go there by myself. This is kinda compensation for my hard work. But the main reason for this trip is that st.marteen is very well known for the aircraft landing spot. Since I am taking aviation photos as hobby and that place is like paradise for me! But I am kinda worried about going alone. I honestly don't know what things there other than maho beach. What would you do if you go by yourself?
I am in Alberta Canada right now, and will stay there for 5days.

BellaClaire

It is not hard to drive around the island. It's the only way to go. As for night life, I can't comment. I'm middle aged and don't go to the clubs I would say use your head, don't get drunk, park in a well lit place, etc. I'll defer to others who are into the night life and have been recently.

qwovadis

Been a bunch under 25 car rental sky high skip it

local transport fine Dutch side has cruise ship port

casinos French side Marigot best food prettiest nice

night life cute places in your budget heat there.

virtualtourist.com good local postings for you.

Per Bella Claire do keep your wits about you at all times

It is not a super dodgy island but a few may

scam you so be careful if in doubt politely say no.

If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

DavidSXM

Hi Felix

The Maho area is the closest to the airport, and has the best casinos, however you will easily blow your budget if you hit the night spots there - unless, of course, you get lucky in one of the casinos !

Personally, I think that, bearing in mind that you won't be photographing planes at night, you would probably be better off staying in the Simpson Bay area, where there is still plenty of active, but somewhat less expensive, nightlife, and from where it is still pretty easy to get to the airport the next morning after your hangover wears off.

Anyway, there isn't much for you to photograph there before about 11am, after which you will be kept pretty busy for several hours, in between regularly re-hydrating yourself in the Sunset Beach Bar - where topless women at the bar drink free. I once saw two 'ladies', charitably in their 60s, taking advantage of that fact. It quite put me off my drink !

As far as walking is concerned, it really has to be only for short distances - even if you are only 20 and as fit as I was at your age.

Public transport DOES exist, but if you can't rent a car, you will have to rely on taxis (preferably shared) or bumming a ride from a fellow tourist. Do NOT accept the offer of a ride from anyone you don't know.

If / when you get bored taking photos of airplanes, you really should try to see some more of the island. The French side is completely different from the Dutch side, and if you come here and don't at least get to Orient Beach, you will have missed out badly.

Have fun.

felixchon

Thanks for the tips! It really helped!