I would definitely go to Pinel Island. Last time I went in 2010 it was $7.00 round trip. You catch the ferry from Cul de Sac on the French side.

You could also do day trips to beautiful Anguilla - you can take a ferry...or take a day trip via catamaran to Prickly Pear, a fabulous little island owned by Anguilla - it'a a national park I believe. If you go to Anguilla, I've had a taxi drop me at Elodias and then I've walked down the beach to Gwens...it's on Shoal Bay East.....

For restaurants, I'd go to a Lolo (Taste of the Town) in Grand Case. GREAT BBQ..you can get that plus a beer for like $10.00. For fine dining, La Gondola in Cupecoy if fantastic. You might take a beach towel, bottle of wine or your fav beverage, and go to Cupecoy Beach or Mullet (by the golf course on the dutch side) for a lovely sunset and then go to La Gondola for dinner. For lunch, you could also go to Karacters on Simpson Bay Beach, just down the road from Mary's Boon Hotel - behind the airport. That beach is lesser known as it's filled with condos and 2 boutique hotels (Mary's Boon and the Horny Toad)...it's a great beach to walk, and of course Karacters is GREAT.

You could also do a day trip to Tintemarre, a small island off the coast I believe they have these mud baths...they have mud baths.

I would for sure rent a car and drive around the island, perhaps check out some beaches....Happy Bay for example or Mullet. Shopping in Phillipsburg is duty free. Shopping in Marigot is higher end. Fine dining all over Grand Case....Orient Beach offers parasailing, Kakao's & Bikini Beach Bar....In Simpson Bay, you have Pineapple Pete's, Lee's Roadhouse. Mr Busby's Beach Bar on Dawn beach is great for breakfast or happy hour - cheap Caribs!!!!

Watching the planes at Sunset bu Maho is crazy..sitting at the bar, they have these devices where you can hear the tower talking to the planes...and you can watch the crazy people who stand under the planes as they come in.....

and if you want some exercise, you can go to pic paradise, the highest point on the island. There are observation decks.

One last thing...the Piano Bar at the Pelican Resort was tons of fun...if you are in to that kind of thing.

I stayed in a condo on Simpson Beach, Unforgettable, in Las Arenas. In Phillipsburg there are some great restaurants Le Escargot and Antoines, o you could have a cocktail and appetizers on the patio at Holland House, Simpson Beach is close to Cupecoy - for La Gondola/Rare/Casinos/Great cliff beach for sunsets. It's close to Maho, Sunset beach bar, a little shopping, and Mullet Beach. Simpson Beach itself has Mary's Boon and Karacters to walk to. And in Simpson Bay, there are a ton of places to go to, Toppers, Pineapple Petes, Lee's, etc.

As for an island tour, I would suggest renting a car and drive around. It's easy to navigate and you can be on your own schedule.

There are great restaurants in Grand Case....I'm sure lots of people will give you great ideas....this time of year, some may not be open, so be sure to check first...

BellaClaire has given you some excellent suggestions. I just want to reiterate that you'll want to rent a car for the whole visit. Dawn Beach is a bit isolated from the restaurants of Grand Case and the shopping of Marigot and Phillipsburg. Rental cars are cheap and taxis are expensive. I think we've rented from Hertz the last couple of visits. It was fine, no problems. A pet peeve of mine anywhere we've ever been in the Caribbean is the windshield wiper blades are always poor and worn. Hopefully you won't need them!

Great information. We will now rent a car for the whole trip and will have a list of places to go. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Bill

Please let us know how it goes...have a safe and fun trip! I'll be going back this February - can't wait!!!!! LOVE ST. MARTIN/ST.MAARTEN!!!!!!!

Will do. We love the Caribbean and we tend to shy away from the crowds on vacation and do our own things with the locals as much as possible so your suggestions will really help. Thanks again.