cjackso8

I found a really interesting page on FB. It's a local near the Sea Palace where my husband and I stay. He's been posting videos of the Philipsburg boardwalk before, during, and after Irma. There are several large boats that landed on the boardwalk. :o Amazing footage of one of my favorite areas on the island.

in case my link doesn't work, it's keepsxmclean on FB and IG

https://www.facebook.com/keepsxmclean/?ref=br_rs

I am so sad. It's been a long time since I've posted to the boards, but as soon as I started seeing pictures of the devastation, I knew I had to come. My husband and I stay at Sea Palace in Philipsburg yearly, and I'm so worried about the friends we've made on this beautiful island. (Sea Palace just finished its several year renovation project earlier this year :loudcry:). It's such a helpless feeling. I also have friends on St. Thomas, and I've been able to reach them today. Winds are high, but they aren't receiving the same direct hit St. Maarten did. Thanks to Gary and Karysa for the updates. I'll be watching the board for more as this progresses. We were planning on going back in Feb., but we'll obviously have to see what the situation is before we make any plans. I'm hoping for the best.

I really hope that someone is able to help you. What a lovely surprise that would be for your husband. Did you have any luck over in the roll calls?

If you take the water taxi to the boardwalk area, Holland house is easy walking distance from there.

There are a lot of great places along Great Bay beach who will rent you beach chairs and serve food and drinks. When I stay in St. Maarten, we stay at the Sea Palace, which is the big pink building at the far end of the boardwalk. We have enjoyed food and drinks at most of the establishments in that area, and you can't go wrong with any of them. :D

I can confirm that it is true. Topless ladies drink for free, but you have to remain topless while you drink. ;)

I contacted Sonesta Maho a few weeks ago. I'll be staying in St Maarten next month, and the majority of my group will be staying here. I was told that a day long all inclusive pass is $89/pp. This has the added benefit that you can watch planes land at Maho.

Reading the menu, I'm really excited about the Bloody Mary options!

I take my Bloody's VERY seriously. :cool:

We are not sure on which day we will be visiting Sunset, since we will be playing it day-by-day while on the island. We have visited many times by way of a cruise. This is our first time spending the entire week - we are very much looking forward to it!

 

We will positively be at Orient Beach (at the far end, naturally) on Saturday, 02/01. That is our only plan at the moment.

 

Are you visiting by cruise ship or staying on the island?

 

Warmly,

S&M

We'll be staying for a week. We've done this a few times now and love it. The only thing that we have planned so far is a catamaran trip to Anguilla. We are planning on Orient and Maho, just not sure what days though.

Thanks for clearing that up Gary. She told us that when they are very busy, she helps out with taxi services. Looking at her card now it does say tours, shopping trips, beach trips. I guess that if the OP wanted to schedule a beach/shopping trip that would still maybe be doable.

Well done! We will be in St. Maartin during the 1st week of Febuary. Not sure on which day we will be visiting the bar to drink and watch planes, but the DW will be topless. We are European, it is a European island and for "insert your diety here" sakes, they are only breasts - all mamals have them.

 

Let the flames begin,

S&M

No flames here. I'm pro boob. If they can get me a free drink, all the better. I've worked harder for less. (that sounds bad. It wasn't meant to sound bad)

I will also be in St. Maarten at that time. it can't come fast enough. The beach is calling.

I have also done the Golden Eagle tour. The staff is fantastic, and it's a well run excursion. I would recommend them.

I would recommend the greenhouse. It's a short walk from the pier and it has everything you've mentioned. the food is great. DH and I ate there a few times on our last week long trip.

http://www.thegreenhouserestaurant.com/

Gary would probably be able to answer that one better than me, but the only water taxi's that I've seen take you from the port to a pier in Phillipsburg further down the boardwalk. And that is really only on days where there are a lot of ships in port. If you want to get to the airport by boat, I would suggest any one of the catamaran excursions available on the island. They usually stop by Maho, but to my knowledge, I don't know of anyone who lets you off there.

"The gods do not deduct from man's allotted time those hours spent in fishing."

This brought a huge smile to my face. I have a lot of fishermen in my family, and many more whom I consider friends. I'm glad to have stumbled across this old post. :)

I asked a local what the most authentic St. Maarten food would be, or what I should try while I was there. She said that Bitterballen is very popular. It's a Dutch food. It's basically a meatball that has a doughy shell and is served with different sauces.

Won't even lie. I've been one of those ladies before, and it was midday. :o I didn't pose out by the sign, but if you keep your kids away from the bar you should be able to keep them away from rouge boobs. Also, I have seen topless women sunbathing at Maho, on the opposite end of the beach from Sunset.

I wouldn't say that the beach is very kid friendly. We had a day during our last visit that the waves looked like something that you would see in Hawaii. Huge. The small bar at the opposite end of the beach had to close because waves were coming through it, the road got flooded out, and one wave came up so forcefully that it hit a parked car and moved it. Not everyday is like that. But you have to read the waves. Also, when the big jets take off, it creates a sandstorm down the center of the beach, and sends people flying into the water. Maybe not super safe for the kiddos.

My DH and I, and two of our friends stay in St Maarten for a week each year. This last year we took a ride on the party bus. I cannot speak to the cruise ship excursion version, but we had a blast. We are considering it again for this year. The drinks on the bus aren't that great, it's rum punch, or shots of straight rum. There's a lot of opportunity for dancing on the bus, and the ladies that run it are very funny. At each stop, they offer you discounted drinks (there are no free drinks except for on the bus) They play a few drinking games while on the bus as well. It was a good time, and a good way to see the bars.

I will say, if you are easily offended, probably not your tour. I don't know if it's different for the cruise ships, but they passed out party beads with name tags on them, and at the end of the trip you had to "act out" your name. Some of the names were "sex u all", "salty nuts", and "flash dem breast". You can only imagine.

My opinion, would be to do the french side first, if that is something you want to do. Most people don't jump off of the ship and race to the french side. It shouldn't be that busy. Then, I would go to Maho. Most of the bigger planes land around noon-1ish. you can see incoming flight schedules here.

http://www.joyceprince.com/maho.html

I would then get back to Phillipsburg, making your way towards the cruise ship. Lots of fun places to stop along the way.

The link that I provided is for Joyce Prince tours. I've never taken a tour with her, but I had the good fortune of meeting Joyce during my last stay on the island. She just so happened to be driving the taxi my husband and I got into. She's an admirable woman, really has made a good name for herself on the island, and I would recommend her, even just for taxi services.

Have a great time on your trip, is there anything else you would like to know? or have me check into? I'll be on the island the week of Valentines day. If you think of anything, let me know.

Go Bucks!!

I love their watermelon wine! Agreed, it's not the best quality, and it's a bit pricey, but it's a fun souvenir!

What a wonderful story. If only everyone was as thoughful as you are.

I used to work for a scuba shop, I'm going to pass this along to them, and their camera guy. I love this.

and sea turtles are my favorite, the video made my day.:D