Bernards Tours, or not?????

We have Bernards Tours reserved for our day at St Martin.

The day before this we have a sailboat chartered for our group for a full day of sailing/snorkeling at St Thomas.

It sounds like all Bernards Tours offer hours and hours of beach time. We will most likely not want to spend hours on a beach. What are the options for seeing the sights without a tour such as this??????

I've been on Bernards tour twice. Both times it was exactly two hours at Orient beach and 45 minutes at Maho Beach. At Maho you're watching the planes land overhead.

We had 2 hours at Orient Beach (the Pirate Bar :D) and 45 mins or so at Maho.

Great tour!!!

Our group was slow at Rima's store (the first stop) so we only got 1 hour and 45 minutes at Orient. It was enough for me to go swimming a couple times briefly, enjoy sitting and having a beer, and grab some delicious lunch before re-boarding the bus.

We had about 40 minutes at Maho, but mostly because Air France was early and that landing is what we were waiting for - everyone was ready to go after it arrived.

We have Bernards Tours reserved for our day at St Martin.

 

The day before this we have a sailboat chartered for our group for a full day of sailing/snorkeling at St Thomas.

 

It sounds like all Bernards Tours offer hours and hours of beach time. We will most likely not want to spend hours on a beach. What are the options for seeing the sights without a tour such as this??????

Are you booked on the "bus" tour or did you book a private tour with Bernard?

A private tour is just a bit more but you can go, do and see whatever you wish. Bernard is very good at accomodating your needs and wishes.

The regular bus tour has a 2 hour stop at Orient and it goes by very fast. The time at Maho is great. Even though it says Maho Beach it's not a real rgeat beach. It's just fun to hang out at the Sunset beach bar and have a drink and watch the planes come in.

This is for sure not a tour to be missed.

We toured private and had to ladies that wanted to go to a casino. We dropped them there while we spent a great afternoon at Maho. We ranged in age from 15 - 70 and everyone LOVED Bernard and his tour.

We have him booked agian for April 2010 and can't wait to tour with him again. His tour was the highlight of our cruise, for everyone! Keep your reservation.....you will enjoy your day with Bernard for sure!

Just returned, and we too had right at 2 hours of Orient Beach. It was plenty of time for lunch at Pedros (good by the way), some chair lounging and body watching, a quick stroll, and floating in the water. We like the beach, so sure about 30 more minutes would have been better.

But the rest of the tour was great and we would not wanted to have shortened any of it (except the driving in traffic of course).

We had eMailed Bernard from the ship - as our group plans changed last minute. He made a spot of six available right away. We had a separate van with one other couple for a total of eight. Joe, was our driver - and was wonderful, efficient, helpful, etc. Bernard checked with us and talked to us at several stops. Well done.

I would say Bernard's Tour is the 'opposite' of 'hours and hours' at the beach. You get some beach, but also a shopping, touring, sites, pictures, back roads - package deal. And it goes without saying, a WAY better deal than a similar-described tour via the cruiseline. We sometimes parked next to those crowded cruiseline busses and were so glad to be with Joe/Bernard!

I will work up a more complete review later in the week.

How much shopping time do you get in Marigot on the standard tour?

We have Bernards Tours reserved for our day at St Martin.

 

The day before this we have a sailboat chartered for our group for a full day of sailing/snorkeling at St Thomas.

 

It sounds like all Bernards Tours offer hours and hours of beach time. We will most likely not want to spend hours on a beach. What are the options for seeing the sights without a tour such as this??????

YES! YES! YES! Do Bernards Tours. We took it in April and it was great. Junior drove and Bernard was the guide. Don't miss Orient Beach. The two hours (or less) go by quickly and there is so much to see! LOL. Beach goers with or without clothes! His Rum Punch offered is pretty tasty and he offers, soda, water and beer. A great day for everyone. We were in Marigot about 45 mins. The planes landing at the beach near the airport was awesome. Something not to miss. In. St. Thomas we charted for our family of 5 (and just the 5 of us) Sail Island Girl. It was aweseome and so much better than being crowded on a Catamaran with 60 people from the Crown Princess. Enjoy your trip.

We just got back June 13th and we did Bernard's. Joe was our driver and he was very efficient. Bernard met us at the pier and also at Maho Beach. Just email him and let him know exactly what you want and he will accommodate you. We had the small van all to ourselves. We did not go to Orient Beach. We did Rima's and Maho Beach. He even took the time to get us mangoes. When I started getting dizzy from driving around he cut short the trip to Phillipsburg and took us back to the ship. All in all is was a wonderful tour and I would highly recommend him.

When I originally found Bernards Tours online all I saw were pictures of small vans. I emailed him asking for a specialized tour for 6 of us. He responded that the price was $35 each and we were good to go. After seeing reports of a bus tour I emailed him again confirming that we have a private tour. He said that we would be on the bus with 20 other folks. I cancelled our tour, I'm not a "bus tour" kinda guy.

I have had private tours at other ports, just our group, for the same price of $35, so I really didn't suspect anything was unusual.

We will just look for something at the port.

When I originally found Bernards Tours online all I saw were pictures of small vans. I emailed him asking for a specialized tour for 6 of us. He responded that the price was $35 each and we were good to go. After seeing reports of a bus tour I emailed him again confirming that we have a private tour. He said that we would be on the bus with 20 other folks. I cancelled our tour, I'm not a "bus tour" kinda guy.

 

I have had private tours at other ports, just our group, for the same price of $35, so I really didn't suspect anything was unusual.

 

We will just look for something at the port.

Bernards Private Tours include unlimited beverages. Water, soda, beer & rum punch. He must have somehow misunderstood you. That's a shame as we love the private tour and can't wait to get back and do it again! You really get to see & do and learn so much and go to both sides of the Island. All 8 of us that toured with him in the past agreed it was the best tour we have ever taken on an Island!

This may seem like a silly question, but is it awkward paying for Bernard's tour at the end with cash? I read that on his site and it just seems weird to me.

This may seem like a silly question, but is it awkward paying for Bernard's tour at the end with cash? I read that on his site and it just seems weird to me.

This island is part of Europe, place of high taxes, France or Holland. You get a better exchange rate paying in cash, no cc fee and the $ disappears in someone's pockets before the tax collector gets wind of it:)

This may seem like a silly question, but is it awkward paying for Bernard's tour at the end with cash? I read that on his site and it just seems weird to me.

We liked the idea of paying in cash after the tour. It is a gamble for him because there are some no shows..people who book and don't cancel when they change their mind..but believe me the tour is so great and he is so nice there is no awkwardness at all. There is an instant comfort with him because he loves what he does and that is very obvious.

Laura

Did you just build in a tip when you paid at the end? I'm used to just giving a tip at the end since excursion are usually prepaid for us.

Thanks!

At the end of the tour we knew how much we each owed and everyone just paid seperately and added what they wanted as a tip when they paid. No one really knew what eachother had given as a tip.

The price of gas and drinks impact their earnings. We know it must not be easy for any of those tour guides especially when business can be slow for them all.

Laura

I e-mailed them for our group of 6 and was told it was $35 per person and the bus held 30 people.

We were hoping for a smaller van or group than 30.

How did some of you get a more private tour??

Those tours with 30+ people can get a bit tiring. It seems we are always waiting for someone who can't tell time.

You can request a private tour. The private tour is 45/person. It gives more flexibility. In our case 13 are going including one w/severe disabilities and a 2.5 year old. 3 want to go horseback riding. So we will not go to Orient Beach but will go to Le Gallion Beach where there are stables. Also much better for the 2.5 yr old. Pretty much once I told what we had going on the private tour was recommended.

He quoted me $350.00 for 3 people for a private tour. Is that right? I don't mind going as a group for $35.00 pp but I thought if it was private we may have more beach time or shopping time.

$350 must be the going rate for a private tour. I was quoted the same price for 6. We ae going to grab a cab or min-van at the pier and do our own.

We just booked the group tour with Bernard (only 2 of us, so we weren't interested in a private tour) and we were put in a smaller van with a family of 6 and another couple, so 10 of us in total. We were with Bernard himself as well. I didn't see any buses - just 3 of Bernard's vans when he picked us up at the pier. I guess perhaps it depends on the number of people who book tours for any given day, and whether or not they can all fit in his vans without using a large bus?

Someone asked about the time in Marigot - we were there for 45 minutes, and that's how long it took to walk to the cafe and grab some lunch and walk back. We didn't have time to shop, but it was just the same souvenirs as they had in the store we stopped at, and the prices were much higher in Marigot.

As far as "too much time at the beach", if you aren't interested in seeing the beach at all, you can be dropped back at the ship. A couple in our van were dropped off at the ship after he dropped us off at Orient Beach, and ended their tour there.

We just booked the group tour with Bernard (only 2 of us, so we weren't interested in a private tour) and we were put in a smaller van with a family of 6 and another couple, so 10 of us in total. We were with Bernard himself as well. I didn't see any buses - just 3 of Bernard's vans when he picked us up at the pier. I guess perhaps it depends on the number of people who book tours for any given day, and whether or not they can all fit in his vans without using a large bus?

 

Someone asked about the time in Marigot - we were there for 45 minutes, and that's how long it took to walk to the cafe and grab some lunch and walk back. We didn't have time to shop, but it was just the same souvenirs as they had in the store we stopped at, and the prices were much higher in Marigot.

 

As far as "too much time at the beach", if you aren't interested in seeing the beach at all, you can be dropped back at the ship. A couple in our van were dropped off at the ship after he dropped us off at Orient Beach, and ended their tour there.

Would he allow more time at the beach? My ship doesn't leave until 8 pm. I'd hate to rush back and waste the rest of the day

Our ship was there until 9pm. The issue is, the sun sets earlier in the Caribbean year-round. It gets dark between 5 or 6pm and things start to close up on the beach.

I think your best bet is to e-mail Bernard and ask him what if you want to stay longer. If worse comes to worst, you could always just skip the ride back with him and take a taxi back (not sure what that would cost).

LOVED Bernard's tour. Would do it again. He is VERY accommodating and the nicest guy. Different parties at the end wanted to go different places and it wasn't a problem. It was a perfect day of sites, beach time (2 hours @ Orient), shopping, etc. The only thing I would change is more time in Marigot but it would be hard to fit in as you see so much on his tour and that's what I liked about it. However, I did make up for the shopping in Philipsburg... Even Rima's was fun, didn't buy anything but lots of fun things to look at. Have fun. BTW-great small bus/van, great AC and lots of drinks! Small enough group to get that "personal/private" feel. :D

Just found out Sunset Beach Bar is CLOSED until October. But Bernard stated to me in email that he goes there???

Also he now wants 20% deposit which makes sense but he does not have a secure website for payment. How is everyone handling this?? I'm getting a little skeptical about books and we're leaving SOON!!!:confused: