dawn beach resort st martin

[d1cso4]

we are going to be on the eclipse on 11/26/11.. and was wondering has anyone had done the celebrity dawn beach resort and shopping excursion ? we are kicking around ideas for the upcoming cruise and wondering what people think.

 

Thanks

[Lsimon]

There is no need to take a cruise line excursion for the beach or shopping. Traveling on your own to such locations in St. Martin is very easy, almost always less expensive, and much more flexible as far as timing is concerned.

 

You can easily catch a cab to dawn beach or any other beach. Taxi rates are posted at the taxi stand at the pier for all popular beaches and the signs include rates for shared taxis which get less expensive as more people share the taxi. The dispatcher there will group people together who are going to the same beach and this is quick and easy during times when you'd expect a lot of people to be headed that way. You can inquire of the dispatcher as to the need to pre-arrange a return ride with your driver or if there will be waiting taxi's at the beach for your return trip.

 

The main shopping district in St. Martin is in downtown Philipsburg which starts a little over 1/2 mile further than the taxi stand although the heart (middle) of the shopping district is probably more than a mile away. Most people either take a regular taxi or a short water taxi/ferry, neither of which are very expensive. We usually take the water taxi over and may take either type back.

 

More often than not we head to the beach mid-morning and take a taxi back after lunch either having them drop us off downtown for some shopping on the way, or head to the ship and change clothes first and then head to town, depending on how early we head back and how much shopping time we plan on spending.

 

Chart of taxi rates similar to signs at pier (I think the sign at pier has more locations): http://www.taxistmaarten.com/images/stories/Destinationsnew.JPG

And the home page for the taxi group has the rates for standard tours offered by the taxi drivers (click links on the left side of the home page for tour details and rates: http://www.taxistmaarten.com/

[phoenix_dream]

Agreed. There is absolutely no need to take a ship excursion to go to the beach, especially on St. Maarten.

[4evercruiser]

What are the best beaches in St. Martaan? Does Orient Beach tend to get crowded?

[KDC1224]

We did Dawn Beach and it was amazing!! No need like the others mentioned for ship/sponsored- just go on your own... we rented an open air Jeep and drove over the island on our own and it was really affordable.. enjoy!!

[Lsimon]

What are the best beaches in St. Martaan? Does Orient Beach tend to get crowded?

 

Orient beach does attract a lot of people and is very popular but it is a huge beach nearly a mile long so there is lots of room. It is our favorite beach although it has been many years since we went to Dawn Beach. The only time I've found Orient uncomfortably crowded was when we were on port on a Sunday. We've been there at least 4 or 5 other times with no issue. Right at noon some of the beach restuarants can be a bit busy but they are not that busy an hour before or after.

[Fblack]

To take a taxi to town to shop, they fill vans with passenegrs for about $3 per person one way.