St. Maarten Archives - Travel Blue Book

Best Things to Do in St. Maarten – St. Martin

February 18, 2016 By Greg Johnson 7 Comments

With so many things to do in St. Maarten – St. Martin, it’s hard to decide how to best spend your time there. That’s especially true if you’re just passing through on a cruise. Never fear! We’ve got you covered. Here’s our list of the 12 best things to do in St. Maarten!

St. Martin Island Facts

We fell in love with this tiny Caribbean island after visiting for the first time in 2015. St. Martin Island covers only about 34 square miles (88 square kilometers), measuring just 9.8 miles wide at its largest point. The island is divided politically into a north and south half, with the north side belonging to the French (Saint Martin) and the south belonging to the Dutch (Sint Maarten). While you can use U.S. dollars or Euros on the Dutch side, businesses on the French typically prefer Euros.

St. Martin Island is easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The island is covered in lush, tropical mountains. The beaches are pristine. Best of all, the people are welcoming. According to one of our taxi drivers, St. Maarten – St. Martin has yet to become very commercialized. Unlike some other Caribbean destinations, the people of the island own the vast majority of the businesses there – meaning they really want you to enjoy their island (and spend your money doing so). As somebody who loves supporting local businesses, I’m totally down with that!

If you’re planning a trip to the island, you’ll quickly discover that there are a ton of things to do in St. Maarten – St. Martin. Whether you’re just stopping by on a cruise or spending the entire week, be sure to check out some of the places listed below!

12 Things to Do in St. Maarten – St. Martin

1) Maho Beach (St. Maarten)

If you do nothing else in St. Maarten, you absolutely must check out Maho Beach. There is no place else like it! The beach actually backs right up to the St. Maarten airport runway – which means that gigantic airplanes fly right over your head all day long. You can even stand behind a 747 and get totally blasted by its jets as it takes off. Seriously, it’s incredible. (I wish I had some video of me standing behind the KLM 747, but my camera woman couldn’t take it and took off running. I made it though!) When we were there, we stayed at the Sonesta Ocean Point / Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and enjoyed watching the planes land and take off all day long. Here are a couple of pictures for you!

2) Pinel Island (St. Martin)

Pinel Island is a tiny little island located right off of Orient Bay on St. Martin’s French side. Take the shuttle from Orient Beach or visit while on a boat tour. The island is inhabited by some friendly iguanas, and there are also a couple of small shops. There’s even a cool little restaurant called Le Karibuni located right on the beach. Grab a drink and belly up to one of the tables on land or in the water!

3) Orient Beach (St. Martin)

One of the most famous beaches in the world, Orient Beach is also the busiest beach on St. Martin Island. Located on the French side, the beach is lined with orange umbrellas and happy beachgoers. If you’re feeling adventurous, there is also a nude optional section for you to enjoy.

4) Mullet Bay (St. Maarten)

Spending the afternoon at this secluded little beach is a great time for singles, couples, and families alike. We spent several hours there, sitting in our beach chairs and enjoying the views. We even did some snorkeling in the bay. There are a couple of small restaurants selling beach fare and drinks. A couple of times a day, a few cruise excursions make their way here. The beach is definitely big enough to accommodate everybody. However, when the cruisers depart, you can practically have the beach to yourself.

5) Zipline at Pic du Paradis (St. Martin)

If you’re into adventure travel, make sure to try the zipline at Pic du Paradis, St. Martin’s highest mountain. Located above the Loterie Farm, you can hike up the mountain or take a taxi. Either way, you’ll experience some incredible views from high above the island.

6) Philipsburg Boardwalk (St. Maarten)

Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side and a favorite port for many of the world’s top cruise lines. If you’re staying on the island or just visiting for the day, be sure to take a stroll down the boardwalk along Great Bay. It’s a lively area, complete with shops, restaurants, and plenty of people watching. When you’re done, pull up a chair and enjoy the beautiful beach along the bay. Cruisers can’t even get lost; just get off the boat, and you’re there.

7) Eat at a Lolo

If you want a fun and cheap St. Maarten dining experience, head to Grand Case and chow down at a lolo. These small barbeque-style restaurants will fill your belly full of delicious food for less than $15 a person. Be sure to try a the Johnny Cakes and crab backs as well. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

8) Rent a Car

One of things to do in St. Maarten – St. Martin is renting a car. That way, you can see the whole island at your own pace. St. Martin is small enough that you can easily drive a car around without getting lost. Because the island is mountainous, some of the terrain is a bit steep. Just take it slow around the curves/cliffs and enjoy some great views of the island from your own rental car.

9) Or Take a Bus

Driving a car seem a little much for you? Try taking a minibus instead. One of the coolest things about St. Martin Island is that you can get almost anywhere by group taxi. Fares are set prices and they run just a couple of bucks. Simply head to one of the “bus stops” and raise your hand when a bus is coming near.

10) Cheri’s Cafe (St. Maarten)

When you’re in the Maho Beach or Mullet Bay area, be sure to visit Cheri’s Cafe. Located just a few blocks north of the SXM runway and a few blocks east of Mullet Bay, this family owned restaurant is an absolute hoot! The food here is very good and the atmosphere is even better. Sit at the bar and enjoy the live entertainment playing each night. Make sure to get your picture taken by the owner and head over to their Facebook page to like it!

11) Casino Royale (St. Maarten)

After dinner, head next door to Casino Royale. This Caribbean casino is larger than most, and has plenty of games for any taste. My wife spent some time playing Hold’em in the poker room while I hit the blackjack and craps tables. The nice thing is that it’s large enough so it never feels crowded. Of course, it’s always more fun when you win!

12) Captain Alan’s Snorkeling

One of my favorite days in St. Martin was spent on Captain Alan’s 3-Island Snorkeling Tour. The tour leaves from Oyster Pond Marina and lasts about 4 hours. You’ll get to experience both Pinel Island and Tintamarre Island, as well as enjoy a boat ride along the beautiful St. Martin coast. You’ll snorkel a reef, swim with sea turtles, and enjoy a nice lunch. The hospitality is awesome, and I highly recommend this tour!

Enjoy St. Martin Island

With so many things to do in St. Maarten – St. Martin, you are sure to enjoy your time on the island. Whether you’re traveling alone or with your family, St. Maarten is a great place to visit. We love it there and think you will too!

Tips for Driving in St. Maarten

July 10, 2014 By Anne Keery Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: By M 93 via flickr and Creative Commons

Don’t take taxis, rent a car

Renting a car and driving in St. Maarten is a great and inexpensive way to see the island. Taxis in Sint Maarten are relatively expensive compared to renting your own car. A taxi trip to the other side of the island will set you back in the neighborhood of $40, with surcharges for luggage on top. Alternatively, a rental car will run you $30-40 per day and give you unlimited access to the island. Though there are larger vehicles, like Jeeps, available, most rental cars are tiny sub-compacts which fit on the narrow roads quite well. Additionally, they do not burn through very much gasoline, keeping your transportation costs minimal.

When you arrive in the airport, there are many rental car booths jostling for your attention, calling to you and offering to undercut each others’ prices. Negotiate for what you would like, especially if [Read more…]

Restaurants in Philipsburgh, Sint Maarten

July 2, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

Photo Credit: By Navin75 via flickr and CC BY-SA 2.0

The bright turquoise waters of Great Bay makes a gorgeous backdrop to dining and drinking in Philipsburgh, Sint Maarten. With competition fierce for the attention of the myriad of cruise ship visitors, who dock a short walk away, reasonable prices are available as well as a wide selection of food styles. A relaxed atmosphere permeates the area and the rules are equally relaxed. Pick up a $1 can of beer from Big Wood Grill and stroll down the Boardwalk. You may even get a chance to take your picture with some pirates, or some super heroes, depending on the outfit of the day for the crew!

If $1 cans of beer aren’t your style, try a bucket of Carib Lager, a light, corona-style beer that is the preferred brew of Trinidad and Tobago. You can choose to rent a pair of beach chairs and an umbrella, for around $10, to give you a place to sip your ~$15 bucket of six beers.

Big Wood Grill Restaurant and Bar

If you stopped in for the $1 cans of beer, stick around for a while and try one of the delicious wraps. The creamy feta and chicken filled Greek wrap will satiate your need for lunch, or try out the BBQ menu. The wraps will only set you back $10-13 each.

Taloula Mango’s and Blue Bitch Bar

Taloula Mango’s is the lower deck of the Blue Bitch Bar, serving up sunny seating with umbrellas and an international menu. The sides aren’t plentiful, but they are very happy to cater to allergies and provide a large variety of choice for a reasonable price point with their menu. Staying competitive, the beers and cold, cheap and keep on coming. Try out the mango chutney mahi mahi sandwich to take in some of the local flavours. Perhaps the best feature of this restaurant is the music stage across the boardwalk, with tunes provided by an energetic local band singing and dancing away to a huge variety of cover songs, all while joking and engaging with the patrons and passersby.

The Get Wet Bar

Tucked into a hole between brick buildings, The Get Wet Bar is a wooden structure with a shady deck covered with plastic lawn chairs and tables. While the atmosphere isn’t quite as fancy as some of the other Philipsburgh restaurants, the prices, service, and the portions will draw you in. At the time of writing, the daily special was $9 and served up a substantial amount of food. If you are a light eater, you can take your leftovers to go and have plenty for a second meal. A sample daily special is two large pieces of fried chicken served with fries and a small side salad or pork chops in mushroom sauce, also served with fries and salad. The burgers are larger than my hand and the on-site smoked ribs go down like a charm. Keep your eye out for the Canadian owner; he’s a chatty one and will keep you entertained.

There are literally dozens of Philipsburgh restaurants, bars and shops on the boardwalk alone. Taking a wander will give you several choices, each with their own unique spin.

Cheap Snorkeling in St. Maarten

June 19, 2014 By Anne Keery 4 Comments

Photo Credit: By tony_donnelly via flickr and Creative Commons

If you are looking to find cheap snorkeling in St. Maarten, the first thing you should consider is to bring your own gear with you. All of the beaches are public, so if you can find your way onto a beach, you can go snorkeling, for free! That said, not all of us travel with our own gear, and rates can get rather exorbitant quite quickly. At Orient Beach, one rental outfit was charging $25 per hour for a snorkel setup.

Enter Divi Little Bay, next to Fort Amersterdam on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten. To get there, drive toward Fort Amsterdam, which is the point just to the south end of Philipsburgh. Park just before the security hut for Divi Little Bay Resort, in the parking spots along the sea wall. From there, you can walk down through the resort to the beach. [Read more…]

How to Drink for Free in Philipsburg

May 27, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

Photo Credit: (By Ernst Vikne (Diamond ring) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Jewelry.

Now you’re thinking, “What? I thought we were talking about how to drink for free?!” Don’t worry, we are doing just that, but it all starts with jewelry, or jewelry stores, to be more specific.

Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side of the island of St. Martin, known as Sint Maarten, or just by the airport code SXM. It is home to a cruise ship terminal that sees five to seven cruise ships per day during the high season, with most boats holding 4000-6000 passengers plus an additional 2000+ person crew. That means that somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 people disembark on any given day, and competition for their business becomes fierce. [Read more…]

Taking the Saba Island Ferry

May 8, 2014 By Anne Keery 2 Comments

The Saba Ferry (Photo Credit: By puroticorico via flickr andCC BY-SA 2.0)

Saba is a small island in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean which goes by the name “The Unspoiled Queen.” Though it is only 5 square miles (13 km sq.), it rises to a whopping 2,910 feet (887 meters) at the peak of Mount Scenery. Figuring out how to get to Saba can be half of the fun, though! [Read more…]