Maho Beach

[New2Celeb]

Just there 12/10/11 KLM jet was an experience! Taxi cost us $8 p/person each way. Construction is done took about 25 minutes each way, but leave before 3PM, traffic gets very heavy.

Here is flight time link:

http://www.sxmarrivaltimes.com/

Everyone keeps telling me to the traffic is awlful, but are you saying it was due to contruction and it not bad...planned to leave after the 2:30pm AirFrance arrival...was your 25 minute taxi ride during the late afternoon?

[New2Celeb]

We have gone to this beach twice and both times we have taken the water taxi to town then taken the public bus @ $2.00 a person each way to the beach, we told the driver where we wanted to go and when he let us off He told us where to stand to catch the bus back. The beach is not bad at all and have seen many kids. Hope this helps.

 

Hello, I am planning on doing this the end of the month and everyone is advicing against it because of the traffic. Was there any particular bus you took, did it say Maho Beach, do you recall how long the bus ride was and did the buses come a pretty good standard schedule...like every 20minutes...Thanks, sorry for so many questions. It nice to find someone who is willing to use the public transportation like we are.

[BORN A BOWLER]

I am not sure what the bus said we just asked around what bus to take and double checked with the driver when we got on. They do run about every 20 min. The ride was around 20 min. That is another question you could ask the driver.

[topcop]

Your this link for the flight schedule.

 

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do;jsessionid=FA41560AB886F9CC64A24E92E36E1C10.web1:8009?airportCode=SXM&airportQueryType=1

 

It is only good for a day. So, if you are going to be in St Martin on, say a Tuesday, check it on the Tuesday before you leave for your cruise. It will give you the schedule of the regularly arriving flights for Tuedays..

 

The city bus is a minivan. We took it one way, and a taxi back.

 

Always leave plenty of time to get back to your ship. There is a draw bridge near the airport and when it opens it can back up traffic for a long time.

[♦ComeSailAway♦]

Just there 12/10/11 KLM jet was an experience! Taxi cost us $8 p/person each way. Construction is done took about 25 minutes each way, but leave before 3PM, traffic gets very heavy.

Here is flight time link:

http://www.sxmarrivaltimes.com/

 

Be there in less than a week → on TUES.!! Looks like the construction is done...according to the above poster..!! :)

 

SXM landing from Sunset Beach Bar (below)

◄ :D

[Hockeyparent]

We were there 3 days ago on the Serenade (and going through serious withdrawal now!). There were a couple of decent-sized planes around 1-1:30, but as others have stated there is a steady flow of planes landing throughout the day. The large jets arrive later in the afternoon. Given the uncertainty of traffic, we didn't want to risk waiting to see them.We rented a car for the day, so it was easy for us to come/go when we wanted. The water was very rough - we watched several children and adults get knocked down by the waves. It was lots of fun, and a great way to spend some time.

We will be there in Feb 12. Our shipped is docked from 8:00am to 11:30pm so we have some time:). We were thinking about renting a car (4 adults) but we had some concerns about safety and about parking. We thought we could got to Orient Beach in the morning, watch the planes mid-day then do some shopping. Did you have any problems with parking? Any issues about safety in a rented car? Thanks,

[sightseersalso]

We have gone to this beach twice and both times we have taken the water taxi to town then taken the public bus @ $2.00 a person each way to the beach, we told the driver where we wanted to go and when he let us off He told us where to stand to catch the bus back. The beach is not bad at all and have seen many kids. Hope this helps.

 

Did you get the all day water taxi pass or pay each way? If so, how much is the ferry? Also, the bus sounds great, where did you catch the bus? How often do they run? Are they reliable? This sounds like a good way to get Maho to watch the planes. Any help is appreciated. :)

[alansfreed]

We were there last week... what an awesome place! We rented a car right at the dock, and explored a bit of both sides of the island before going to Maho for the afternoon.

 

Traffic is very heavy all over the island, particularly on the way to Maho Beach. I don't know what construction was going on (mentioned throughout this thread), but the traffic was just heavy everywhere.

 

My daughter is 13, and we both LOVED watching the planes come in. If you stand right on the flight path, it really looks like the smaller planes are aiming right for you!

 

The surfboard at the bar gives a general list of expected arrival times for the big jets, but as with any flight arrival time, they're not accurate. Those are just the scheduled arrival times, which tend to vary quite a bit from reality.

 

As for parking... they allowed us to park at the nearby casino with no trouble. I was surprised that they were willing to let us park there with no hassle whatsoever!

 

Here's my favorite shot, taken from the Sunset Bar & Grill:

 

[Snostar]

Here's my favorite shot, taken from the Sunset Bar & Grill:

 

Great pic, thanks! I'm happy to see there is a beach, previous photos I've seen show just rocks.

 

I'll be there mid February, so if anyone has updates on if there is beach available to lay out on, I'm interested!

[mariamtzj]

Are there any water activities to do in Maho beach?...or is just basically watching the planes?

[alansfreed]

You're seeing really the entire beach in the photo I posted. It's not more than a couple hundred feet from the water to the road (which is smack up against the end of the runway). There's not a whole lot of beach there, really.

 

Watching the planes and swimming is really the only thing I saw there. The Sunset Grill is a great place to get a bite to eat... they had live music when we were there. There was a small tiki hut sort of area at the other end of the beach that may have had burgers/drinks. I saw it briefly, but didn't really look into it much.

 

Are there any water activities to do in Maho beach?...or is just basically watching the planes?

[danfiveoh]

We were there a few years ago. Took the bus and it was very easy. Just walked into a shop, asked where to catch the bus (actually a van), walked a couple of blocks, waved when we saw one coming and got on. The driver told us where to get off, Really easy and a very cool experience.

[gcvt]

I just booked Bernard's tour for the GF and myself. Considering that his tour goes back kind of early, we're researching options for staying a bit later to see the big jets and getting back on our own. Cab? Bus? What's the best way?

[Snostar]

I am not sure what the bus said we just asked around what bus to take and double checked with the driver when we got on. They do run about every 20 min. The ride was around 20 min. That is another question you could ask the driver.

Were you able to catcch a bus back? Did you ask around for it at the boardwalk area? Really $2pp!?

[SWACK]

Some shots of the beach..

 

[tty206]

We were there at the end of our tour day with Bernard's Tours and had a great time! There was quite a bit of traffic on the way back but we still made it back to the ship with ample time.

 

Here are some pictures from Maho Beach

 

 

 

[SDJen]

Just wondering... would this be an okay place to grab lunch with a 6 year old?? Is it totally a party atmosphere or ok for families?

 

Thanks!

[♦ComeSailAway♦]

Just wondering... would this be an okay place to grab lunch with a 6 year old?? Is it totally a party atmosphere or ok for families?

 

Thanks!

 

We went 2 weeks ago and it was Fantastic.! ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AN AVIATION geek. We were there from 11am till about 2:30pm and it was TOTALLY kid friendly. The "Topless Women drink Free" were not in sight. ;)(Believe that's a Night thing). Beach was packed with a lively crowd,

► See video below - and the pub tables area at Sunset Bar we're filled by noon.! SO GET THERE EARLY. →20 min Taxi/Van - 8 bucks pp- each way)

We had a front row table for the planespotting. Awesome.! place.!

Going back in Dec for the whole afternoon.!!!!

 

E N J O Y -

 

►►► video → my

 

 

 

YEAH→ THAT'S LOW ↓ :eek:

 

[MamaKD]

Were you able to catcch a bus back? Did you ask around for it at the boardwalk area? Really $2pp!?

We take the bus to Maho and back every time we go to St. Maarten and it is a great experience and at $2 each, there and back a real bargain! We just wander away from the shopping area till we find the main road, stand on the shoulder (where it's wide enough to be safe) and flag down one of the VW type minivans, one that has a sign propped on the dash for Mullet Bay. The license plate will say 'Bus'. The destination signs are usually homemade, lettered on a piece of plywood and you will be sharing the trip with locals going about their day. Tell the driver you want Maho and he will let you off at the roundabout just past the airport and you have a short walk to the beach. There is even a grocery store at the roundabout where you can buy cold beer. Going back to the port just retrace your steps and stand on the opposite side of the road and flag down the bus with the 'Phillipsburg' sign on the dash. I would say it's never taken more than 30 minutes each way.

 

You can rent loungers at Sunset Bar for $20, otherwise just use your towel.

[scapel]

[daliflor]

We take the bus to Maho and back every time we go to St. Maarten and it is a great experience and at $2 each, there and back a real bargain! We just wander away from the shopping area till we find the main road, stand on the shoulder (where it's wide enough to be safe) and flag down one of the VW type minivans, one that has a sign propped on the dash for Mullet Bay. The license plate will say 'Bus'. The destination signs are usually homemade, lettered on a piece of plywood and you will be sharing the trip with locals going about their day. Tell the driver you want Maho and he will let you off at the roundabout just past the airport and you have a short walk to the beach. There is even a grocery store at the roundabout where you can buy cold beer. Going back to the port just retrace your steps and stand on the opposite side of the road and flag down the bus with the 'Phillipsburg' sign on the dash. I would say it's never taken more than 30 minutes each way.

 

You can rent loungers at Sunset Bar for $20, otherwise just use your towel.

 

 

We did try the bus this past December (while cruising Celebrity over Christmas).

 

Agree - the local bus is actually a VAN with a sign for destination placed in the front window (similar van to most of the 'taxi"):

 

 

Once you reach the Back Street in Downtown (Philipsburg), if you see a van like the one above, you can also simply wave and the driver will stop and pick you up.

 

Below is the Bus Stop at the final destination (Maho Beach) and then the Bus sign 'on the other side' of the road for the return transportation:

 

 

 

 

Finally, some more visuals on our visit to Maho Beach using the local bus (December 2011):

 

Photos: Bus ride from Downtown Philipsburg to Maho Beach (Thursday 12.29.2011)

 

- See short VIDEO here:

 

 

Photos: Maho Beach - seeing the aircrafts landing in St. Maarten (Thursday 12.29.2011)

 

MAHO BEACH is a beautiful beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten. It is famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport adjacent to the beach. Arriving aircraft must touch down as close as possible to the beginning of runway 10 due to the short runway length of 2,180 metres (7,152 ft ) resulting in aircraft on their final approach flying over the beach at minimal altitude.

 

- See VIDEO here:

 

 

Happy sailing!

[Chardo]

When watching the planes, do you recommend ear plugs? Seems like it would be pretty loud there.

[Karysa]

When watching the planes, do you recommend ear plugs? Seems like it would be pretty loud there.

 

That would probably be a good idea especially for young children.

[gcvt]

Here's a couple of quick videos we shot last week...

 

 

Bernard's Tours was AWESOME!

[sightseersalso]

We are currently on our cruise and were at Maho Beach on Monday, Feb. 13 and it was wonderful. We followed the directions to take the bus to Maho Beach and it worked perfectly and was a very enjoyable ride. It cost $2pp. We caught our bus behind the Court House and were dropped off at Maho.

Re: the bus...It was interesting how the driver, as he was driving and would see someone walking in the same direction, would give a light tap and the horn and ask the person if they needed the bus. Some said yes and some said no. It was very user friendly. They take US dollars, and Euros. There was a couple on the ship that told us how they took a taxi and it was $16 plus the tip. We also enjoyed visiting w/the locals.

Re: the sound, we were at the Sunset Bar and Grill and there were families and a couple with a 7 month old and I tend to have problems w/loud noises and did not find it necessary to wear ear plugs. There were small planes at first and then large planes.

Re: standing in the path for planes taking off...We spoke w/a couple who had been there last week and they told us about someone who had done this and was blown into the water and lost both legs. So, with all the sand we saw being blown and peoples belongings ending up in the water, we would chose not to do this.

We enjoyed our trip to Maho and would suggest it.