• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Tell me about St. Martin

Aharami

Aharami

Lifer
So the wifey and I have been looking for a honeymoon spot (yes, although we've been legally married since last Oct, our wedding ceremony/reception isnt till this June...weird, I know). Her parents offered us their timeshare week as our wedding present and a week in Philipsburg, St. Martin is open.

We've never been to the USVI/BVIs, and was wondering what's it like there. I recall someone making a thread about the USVI (NuclearNed?) a while back, but I cant find it. I've heard that St. John is really nice and we'd like to visit that place also. How easy would it be to take a day trip there from St. Martin?


edit: so I was mistaken to think St. Martin was in the Virgin Islands. Looking into it more now and the resort we were given (link) looks to be pretty good. We are also considering the westin in St. John since we can book that with out Starwood rewards points.
 
You are in for a shock when you get there. St. Martin is not one of the Virigin Islands. 😉 It's half Netherlands Antilles and half French Overseas Collectivity. Interesting place. The airport is pretty amazing. There are lots of nude beaches.
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
You are in for a shock when you get there. St. Martin is not one of the Virigin Islands. 😉 It's half Netherlands Antilles and half French Overseas Collectivity. Interesting place. The airport is pretty amazing. There are lots of nude beaches.
Click to expand...

/scratches head

really? i gotta look it up on google earth.
so now everyone know that when I said I dont know anything about USVI, I wasnt lying.
 
USVI is mainly St Thomas, St John, and St Croix, with some minor islands too. BVI is Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van ***, plus lots of minor islands.

St. Maarten/Sint Martin is very different in it's vibe.
 
I went there for my Honeymoon. You'll like it. The dutch side is more built up and commercial, the french side is much quieter. We spent time on both.

Here's a few things we enjoyed:
1. Snorkeling trip, took the one that the timeshare arranged (for a price). It included pretty much an all day boat trip on a catamaran, a nice lunch on another island, and all the soda and rum punch you could drink. It took you out to a place where you could see all kinds of fish.
2. Shopping in Phillipsburg and Marigot. There's a few things that are cheaper there than in the US. Others of it you just can't find here. We got a picture painted by a local french artist, some great table linens (didn't get the ones from the registry so we decided to grab them ourselves) and spices from the spice market in Marigot. If you like BBQ grab some bottles of the guava berry sauce. The stuff is GREAT.
3. Butterfly farm. While it sounds silly this was one of the cooler things on the trip. Go early in the morning because that's when the butterflies are out. If you go early in the week they'll stamp your ticket to let you come back for free any time during your trip. We got a few framed butterflies (they wait until they die naturally before they frame them) to hang up. The blue morpho is amazingly cool, its got bright blue iridescent wings.
4. The beaches. AMAZING beaches everywhere. Get a travel book to figure out where to go and where to park. Some are clothing optional, especially on the french side but even that was pretty mild from what we saw. There was a few women with their tops off, that was it.
 
Am glad somebody corrected the spelling and explained the whole Dutch/French thing.

I visited many times in the Navy, during the spring and summer. I liked it. Relatively clean and safe (at least it was in '98, '99 and 2000) and was a lot of fun. Mostly we just roamed the streets & beaches and did the usualy party stuff. Its like a less-crazy version of Mexico during spring break. Plenty of hot chicks and while their were nude beaches, I dont think I had to guts to visit any of them.
Some guys tried to do some sight-seeing but I dont recall they had much fun.
 
so I was mistaken to think St. Martin was in the Virgin Islands. Looking into it more now and the resort we were given (link) looks to be pretty good. We are also considering the westin in St. John since we can book that with out Starwood rewards points.
 
He was the Bishop of Tours in early 300AD, whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela.

Anything else you want to know?
 
Originally posted by: Bignate603
I went there for my Honeymoon. You'll like it. The dutch side is more built up and commercial, the french side is much quieter. We spent time on both.

Here's a few things we enjoyed:
1. Snorkeling trip, took the one that the timeshare arranged (for a price). It included pretty much an all day boat trip on a catamaran, a nice lunch on another island, and all the soda and rum punch you could drink. It took you out to a place where you could see all kinds of fish.
2. Shopping in Phillipsburg and Marigot. There's a few things that are cheaper there than in the US. Others of it you just can't find here. We got a picture painted by a local french artist, some great table linens (didn't get the ones from the registry so we decided to grab them ourselves) and spices from the spice market in Marigot. If you like BBQ grab some bottles of the guava berry sauce. The stuff is GREAT.
3. Butterfly farm. While it sounds silly this was one of the cooler things on the trip. Go early in the morning because that's when the butterflies are out. If you go early in the week they'll stamp your ticket to let you come back for free any time during your trip. We got a few framed butterflies (they wait until they die naturally before they frame them) to hang up. The blue morpho is amazingly cool, its got bright blue iridescent wings.
4. The beaches. AMAZING beaches everywhere. Get a travel book to figure out where to go and where to park. Some are clothing optional, especially on the french side but even that was pretty mild from what we saw. There was a few women with their tops off, that was it.
Click to expand...

did you rent a car while there? do they drive on the same side as US?
 
I just got back from there about a week ago. I had a great time. The water is beautiful, the people are nice and the food quality is generally high. There are plenty of water activities you can do as others have mentioned.

Looks like everyone else has the details covered. We went to a couple of nude beaches, but we were moored up right off the beach. There wasn't anything to appealing there 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Aharami
is the food expensive there? Was it crowded there?
Click to expand...

It depends on where you go of course. More popular places tend to have a premium, but the main downtown areas have plenty of options and many are inexpensive.

It wasn't that crowded when I was there. I never had to wait for a seat for somewhere to eat, never had to look for a spot at the beach.
 
Originally posted by: Aharami

did you rent a car while there? do they drive on the same side as US?
Click to expand...

We rented a car and it was dirt cheap, even with me only being 23 at the time. We got a tiny little econobox but it was fine for just two people. They drive on the same side as the US but quality of the road can vary, some of them are VERY rough. We didn't really see much public transit so I'm not sure how you would get around without a car.

is the food expensive there? Was it crowded there?
Click to expand...

Food can be as expensive as you want it to be. We ate very well for pretty cheaply. Honestly, you could eat at amazing places that serve world class food but you'll probably enjoy yourself more if you eat the food that's unique to the islands. We had more fun at smaller places that we just randomly walked into. Lottery farms (I think that was the name, same place that they have a sort of ropes thing through the trees) was kind of cool for lunch though, the cafe you eat at is literally up at tree level so it gives a great view.

We went at the end of July and it was pretty calm. Technically June and July are in hurricane season so I think that affects the number of people there. Since you're going in hurricane season I would get trip insurance in case the weather doesn't work out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top