getting to local bus/taxi from phillipsburg

[chelsearay]

can someone tell me exactly how to get from cruise dock to local taxis/busses in St. Maarten? how often do the run? anyone done this before? is it safe and worth it to save the money?

[pgharea]

We took the water taxi to town. Got off the boat and walked straight. Passed front street to back street and got a bus to Maho there. Very safe. All locals. $2 per person to Maho.

 

 

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[gtaylor]

Posted previously to a question about getting to the Maho/Mullet area.

 

Same applies to Marigot.

 

Some report that new signs indicate 'Bus Stop' now.

 

You can catch a public bus on Back Street, downtown Philipsburg. It is the next street away from the water after Frontstreet -- the main shopping street.

 

Look for a sign indicating Bushalte with a large 'X' box painted on the street surface. There is a stop directly behind the Courthouse.

 

Buses will pass from time to time as there is no set schedule. Look in the lower left front window of the vehicle for a sign indicating their destination. You should be looking for 'Mullet Bay', 'MBay' 'Mullet' or such. Some might say 'Maho', which is just short of Mullet Bay and might work for you.

 

As to where to get off, tell the driver where you are headed and let them suggest a stop, especially for Simpson Bay Beach, if you know where you're headed. Karakter specifically or somewhere else?

 

Fare should be $2.

 

gary

[palmettogirl]

We did the same. Took the water taxi for $6 each to Phillipsburg - it is on your left as you walk out of the ship. Walk straight and on Back Street, the stop was across the street on your right. We took the bus to Marigold for $2. Got out, walked the town, went to the market on the water, and continued on the bus (you have to go back to the bus stop - there is another one in town, but that is not the correct one) for another $2. Changed buses again for $2 and made it back to Phillipsburg. It was a great, inexpensive way to see the island. Most taxis charged $25 per person. Phillipsburg is a great walking town with oceanfront restaurants and bars with a gorgeous beach looking back at your ship. Enjoy!

[gtaylor]

We did the same. Took the water taxi for $6 each to Phillipsburg - it is on your left as you walk out of the ship. Walk straight and on Back Street, the stop was across the street on your right. We took the bus to Marigold for $2. Got out, walked the town, went to the market on the water, and continued on the bus (you have to go back to the bus stop - there is another one in town, but that is not the correct one) for another $2. Changed buses again for $2 and made it back to Phillipsburg. It was a great, inexpensive way to see the island. Most taxis charged $25 per person. Phillipsburg is a great walking town with oceanfront restaurants and bars with a gorgeous beach looking back at your ship. Enjoy!

 

The Water Taxi is $5 one way or $7 for an all day pass.

 

(click)

 

The 'local' bus to and from Marigot should be just $2 each way.

 

gary

[Dick and Jane]

It looks like an interesting adventure, but I'm not sure how much you save. There are taxis available at the port area to the right. I think we paid eight dollars each for a taxi to Maho.

 

 

Dick and Jane

Chicago, Illinois

[gtaylor]

Depends on if you wanted a private taxi or were willing to wait to share.

 

(click)

 

gary

[palmettogirl]

For a tour to Marigot and around was $25 per person for 4 in Jan 2014.

[dodger1964]

It looks like an interesting adventure, but I'm not sure how much you save. There are taxis available at the port area to the right. I think we paid eight dollars each for a taxi to Maho.

 

 

Dick and Jane

Chicago, Illinois

 

Agree.

 

For those that aren't aware the port is actually not the same place as the "water taxi" town area. As others have mentioned they took water taxi from the port area to town and then caught the bus..using these "shared" taxi vans you board right where the ships dock. Basically it is almost as cheap to do this and much easier. On way back shared van taxis will drop u off in town if you want or will bring you all the way back to the ship for same price.

[Dick and Jane]

If you're on a really tight budget and fairly healthy, you could walk from the pier into town. It would probably take you about 30 minutes to get to the bus stop.

 

 

Dick and Jane

Chicago, Illinois

[dodger1964]

If you're on a really tight budget and fairly healthy, you could walk from the pier into town. It would probably take you about 30 minutes to get to the bus stop.

 

 

Dick and Jane

Chicago, Illinois

 

Agree, there is always a steady flow of people walking when we have driven past them on way back to port...Very easy walk.

[chelsearay]

so tell me if i am understanding this correctly...

 

you get off the ship, and then you can either walk into town, or take the water taxi into town, then walk a bit to backstreet and get on a local taxi/bus.

 

is this correct?

[chelsearay]

also, where do i find the water taxi once off the ship?

[sparty1]

when you get to dock area,depending on which berth your ship is in you can walk from ship to landing area or take little trolley(they are feet apart, btw)[. You will go left to piers for small boats: water taxis, tour boats, fishing boats. Water taxi was $6 r/t or $4 one way. Goes about every 15 minutes to beach area in town. If you want land taxi or tour, continue walking into shopping area building. Go thru building to patio in back of center. There are options with signs(and usually lines) make sure you look at sign posted above to know where that line's taxis will take you. hope this helps. Just did this Dec.

 

QUOTE=chelsearay;41773584]also, where do i find the water taxi once off the ship?

[dodger1964]

so tell me if i am understanding this correctly...

 

you get off the ship, and then you can either walk into town, or take the water taxi into town, then walk a bit to backstreet and get on a local taxi/bus.

 

is this correct?

 

That is correct, BUT if you are willing to go in a shared van (really just a van taxi) you do NOT take the water taxi. You catch those right where you get off ship. Actually all ships dock and the passengers walk through a gate, once through that gate you will see a tourist building in front of you. The shared ride stand is just on the back of that building. Someone posted a picture of the prices above. Very easy and very reasonable prices. Last time we were there we did shared van and they had someone there directing you to the appropriate place to stand in line. Only took a few minutes to get going.

[eandj]

Do not get confused. There are shared taxi vans that you can get at the pier.

The vans, that you pay only $2.00 for, are the local BUS vans. That is a different experience. You kind of just wave down the "buses" and they can be very crowded and hot. We've used them a couple times. SOme might not be comfortable doing so. Especially if you don't know the area, where you pick up the buses and their routes.

[chelsearay]

If I want to go to cupecoy beach what should I take? And where to get off?

 

 

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