bubbleboy66

For the best SXM Car Rental deals on the island (both french and Dutch side), just contact Value Car Rental, or make an online reservation / booking through their website: -> http://www.valuecarrental.com

Their service is great and since they have rebranded and got under new management / ownership, their fleet of cars has been updated. We always rent with them and book upfront upon our arrival and make sure the car gets delivered on the location where we want it to be, or that we pick it up at one of their 6 locations on the island.

Their team of people is very professional, always smiling and the best thing about it is, that no other car rental company on the island can beat their prices. We always compare it with the other car rental companies on the island, before we even book, but nonetheless, their prices always show up as the cheapest. The cars are all fairly new, clean and well maintained. And starting at only $ 10,- USD a day, you can't go wrong.

Just take al look at Value's website and see it for yourselves. Their latest deals are always on their website, and if You have any specific questions, just send them an e-mail, and they usually reply very prompt. We would absolutely recommend renting a car from Value Car Rental.

The Swaliga 2 nowadays is most probably one of the better if not the best snorkeling tour boat excursion that you can do while being on St. maarten. I recently noticed they have updated their offers and trips on their website.

I have a different experience, but maybe it is because i am used to being focused in traffic. Always and anywhere, also on St. Martin. And yes I agree that there is more traffic, and especially the local women drive like maniacs. They will just enter the road from left and right without using their indicators or paying attention. So with that in mind driving on the Dutch-side when you are paying attention is actually very doable. The French-side is way safer when looking at traffic. For example if you rent a scooter in Simpson bay and drive from there over the bridge towards the airport, traffic ain't that bad, and you are still on the Dutch-side. From there you can watch the planes at Maho and after that continue all the way trough Mullet where there hardly is any traffic. And as soon as you reach Cupe Coy you are entering the French-side up the hill across the Terres Basses area and into Nettle Bay / Sandy ground of to Marigot. A very nice and easy route. So absolutely doable! From Marigot you drive back to the Cole Bay roundabout and you are back on the Dutch-side, go across the big new bridge over the lagoon and you are back to Simpson Bay again. And trust me that route is very easy when looking at the amount of traffic. Okay going into Philipsburg is a different thing, but if I was on a cruise and wanted to rent a scooter, I would just take a bus for 2 dollars from Philipsburg to Simpson Bay and stop at the Simpson Bay bridge across the Royal Palm and rent a scooter at Johhny. Because from there you can explore the island without any traffic problems.

I know this is an old topic, but for those that are still looking for a Scooter or ATV Rental, just ask Johnny of Johnny's Scooter and ATV Rental. He does tours as well. He is your number one scooter or ATV place to go on St. Maarten.

http://www.johnnysscooterrental.com

Belize is truly amazing and snorkeling over there is really like being in paradise. I remember being there on a vacation years ago (not by cruise) but it was truly amazing. We spent several days at several locations and I must say that almost every single location we have been snorkeling at were all just as amazing as the other ones.

This really sounds like a very good idea. I might bring some corked bottles to my next cruise as well. It would make a nice souvenir for each beach that we will visit the next time! Thanks for this!

On the market in marigot you can pay in dollars and euros. Most market stands will still do one on one. A dollar for a euro. Just like some of the supermarkets do that (Super U at Howell Centre in Marigot and Simply at Sandy Ground Bridge). But here and there you pay an extra 10%. The other way arround on the Dutch side a euro is always a dollar.

If you want to snorkel and watch the planes land you can do a number of things. rent a car for example. Or take a local bus from Maho towards Marigot and transfer from there into another local bus that will take you to Grand Case so that you are close to Creole Rock.

Another option would be to rent a scooter or ATV at Johnny's Scooter and ATV Rental in Simpson Bay or Philipsburg (they have two offices) and from there drive to Grand Case and Maho to do your thing.

Another option is to contact Swaliga 2 Snorkeling Tours and Boat Trips, they have an excursion that picks people up from the Cruise Facility by boat and the tour goes to Maho (to see the planes land and take of) and from there on of to Creole Rock, Pinel Island and Tintamarre and the tour will be back in time to be back on the ship before it leaves.

Right across from the entrance / exit of the port facility on your right hand side when you walk out there is a car rental, when you continue to walk that way and follow the road where you will enter the industrial / commercial complex, there are several more car rental companies. Another thing you could do is walk into Philipsburg and at the end of Cannegieter Street you will find another car rental on your right hand side.

A third option would be to take a local bus somewhere from the market square on the back side of the court house and go with a bus that says Maho or Mullet and for just 2 or 3 dollars per person you can get dropped of at the airport. The ride is probably 30 minutes and at the airport you will find several rental companies.

I have been snorkeling on both islands, but I must say that snorkeling on St. Maarten / St. Martin was a bit nicer. The last two times on St. Maarten we went with the Swaliga 2 Snorkeling Tour Boat Excursion, that took us to Creole Rock, Pinel Island and Tintamarre and we ( I was there with the family ) had an amazing day and great fun. A big plus was that we were back in time to make it back to the ship. I would definatly recommend this excursion to anyone that likes to snorkel when they are on St. Maarten.

On St. Thomas the environment looked a bit better maybe, also because I think St. Thomas is not as busy as St. Maarten is nowadays. The last time on St. Thomas we went with a company called St. Thomas Adventure Tours. Sorry i cant remember their website. And it was fun but far less professional than all the other snorkeling tours we made in the past. But maybe that is just a personal view on things.

Thanks for this topic it definitely reminds me of all the good times me and my family had while being on cruises to the Caribbean and all the beautiful islands in the Caribbean.