Nice beach, close with bar service not too crowded

[BURNS1]

I am traveling with my DH, in Oct on RCL.  We are looking for a nice beach, not too crowded, with bar service that is not too far from port.  Is there any that are recommended.  We have not been to St. Marteen before and looking at the posts I'm going into Vapor lock trying to figure out a plan.  Thanks

 

[cpl100]

Can anyone recommend a plan?

[wassup4565]

There was a devastating hurricane which hit the island a couple of years ago, and beaches were hard hit.  You can take a taxi to Orient Beach (probably about $25 or $10 pp if you share with others) a half hour or so drive from the dock, located on the French part of the island.  That beach was wiped out by the hurricane, but posts here and on Trip Advisor say that a few beach restaurants have re-opened.  They will rent you chairs and umbrellas, sell drinks and food, and offer washrooms.  The beach itself is fabulous, long, smooth, with a gradual slope into the water. Part of the beach allows nude bathing, but ask the driver, and you can choose. Arrange for the taxi to come back and pick you up later.

 

The other popular spot is Maho beach, a taxi ride from the airport.  This is a narrow, small beach with a couple of bars.  People go to watch the planes come in right over the beach just before they land on the runway.  There might still be a big KLM jet that zooms in right overhead around mid-afternoon.  The beach itself is not much of an attraction other than the planes.

 

There is a ton of duty-free shopping right in Phillisburgh, a brief cheap water taxi ride from the dock.  You can also buy every kind of knock-off purse, electronics, linens, etc.  Buyer beware, but great bargains.  Also where the water taxi lands is a lively, noisy bar/beach strip.  The island is not pretty.  It is naturally a “desert” island, with no rivers or water sources other than sparse rain.  You can get a taxi to take you on a tour - expect to see a lot of colourless succulents, iguanas, etc. No matter where you go, leave a generous amount of time to get back to the ship, because there are often traffic jams in the afternoon rush hour.

 

Hope this helps.

[soonernstlouis]

We liked Mullet Bay Beach very much when we went.  It’s just past Maho Beach but less

crowded and lots of shoreline.  Our ship was the only one in port the day we arrived last month; got there early & had a private beach for 1 1/2 hours.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/e8a5EWCEBwqfztic8

[TTEllis]

On 10/15/2019 at 9:36 PM, cpl100 said:

Can anyone recommend a plan?

Taxi to Orient Beach. Easy drive, best BEACH on St. Maarten. Great day.

[GimmeAdventure!]

I second Mullet over Maho-  much quieter and you can still see the larger planes land, without being sandblasted.  It was no problem getting a taxi from port to bring us and return for pickup.