The musts of St Maarten/St Martin are what?
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The musts of St Maarten/St Martin are what?
Leaving in a few weeks for St Maarten/St Martin. Staying the first two nights on the French side and the remainder of the time on the Dutch side. What are the things that we absolutely must do while on each side? Four adults, no kids.
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On your day of departure, check your bags early and walk (around 10 minutes) or taxi to Sunset Beach Bar -- you can have cocktails right beneath the flight path. I was there on Sunday, and its a lot of fun.
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A major problem with SM is driving, since the traffic is awful, the bridges are open when you approach them, there are no roads but potholes and speed bumps, and people and animals hang out on the sides.
But if you can stand the driving, you should walk in Phillipsburg, Marigot, and Grand Case. Walk the length of Orient Beach, and see the others, such as Maho bay, baie rouge, etc. Take the small boat to Pinel Island for the day.
But if you can stand the driving, you should walk in Phillipsburg, Marigot, and Grand Case. Walk the length of Orient Beach, and see the others, such as Maho bay, baie rouge, etc. Take the small boat to Pinel Island for the day.
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Awesome shopping in Marigot...have an outdoor market where there are many artists displaying their works of art. We bought 2 beautiful paintings on dried palm leaves that the artist even packaged well for our flight home.
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go to Spinnakers'Bar by the Simpson bay bridge for happy hour around 4:30 PM. watch the boats go out at 4:30 and watch the really big boats up close when they come in under the bridge at 5:30 pm.
It's great fun and it's awesome to watch those mega yachts come in.
It's great fun and it's awesome to watch those mega yachts come in.
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Which side of the island is better - or are they both about the same? Do I need to convert to Euros for the French side or is it better to use a credit card? Is this like Mexico - where I don't want to drink the water? Thanks for all info so far!
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I didn't get euros. I either used a credit card, or USD. Not sure if it's being offered in season, but there were restaurants in Grand Case that offered a 1 for 1 even exchange if you paid cash. Well worth it. Also if you do pay with a credit card, the tip has to be left in cash anyway. Also, not all gas stations take a credit card. To me there's a different vibe between the Dutch and the French side. People have their reasons for liking one over the other. I preferred the French side.
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I took the Voyager from Oyster Pond (the east coast of the island on the St. Martin/St. Maarten border) to St. Barths last week -- it was VERY choppy on the way to St. Barths, but very placid on the way back. A lot of people got sick on the way over.