TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin P'burg at night

....we are looking at a rental close to the boardwalk....we like to be able to walk to dinner in the evening, and haven't seen anything lately about security in this area.....I did try to search past posts, but can't find anything recent.....anyone have any new info?

Leslie,

For what it's worth, we always wanted to stay in P'berg for a few days and we finally got around to doing it a couple of years ago so my info isn't new but it was recently updated as still being relevant.

What we discovered was it was great during the day, but not so much at night. We were advised by several Front Street business owners who we have come to consider friends over many years, that walking to dinner early was fine but it was really not such a good idea to walk after dark either on the Boardwalk or on the street. We stayed in one of the new units at the Pasangrahan (sp?) and thoroughly loved it there but we did end up driving to dinner at night which pretty much defeated the purpose.

In speaking to one of the restaurant owners during our April '16 trip I asked if the situation had improved and he suggested it really hadn't. Just the opinion of a few Front Street businessmen but people I thoroughly trust and whose opinions I respect. At the same time, there may be others who hold different opinions on this and I'm sure they will chime in if I'm wrong and things really have improved significantly. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Philipsburg at night.....dark and almost uninhabited. Unless it's Friday evening or there is entertainment going on, it is not a good idea and not safe to walk the streets of Philipsburg or the Boardwalk at night.

Times three. I wouldn't do it.

Leslie I sent you a PM look for the flashing envelope beside your name.

....thanks all, just as I suspected.....
..we stay for two weeks, but stay in 3 different places....just thinking of switching stuff up....

Leslie,

I have to add a quick thought. I don't know where you're thinking of staying but we had a beautiful room in the new section of Passangrahan and it was only for three or four nights. I have no regrets and I'm glad we did it that one time.

But the drawback was I had envisioned leisurely strolls on the Boardwalk to and from dinner and it just wasn't happening. We used our rental car to drive 3-4 blocks to ANTOINES and back and another evening we drove to Chesterfields and back. Parking wasn't a problem since they have their own garage and small lot out front but driving from point to point defeated the purpose of the lovely evening strolls I had envisioned. The only one we got to do was the short stretch of Boardwalk from the Pasanggrahan to the Holland House and we did that one before enjoying one of our dinners at the Passangrahan.

But at the same time, we really enjoyed watching the cruise ships come and go and we thoroughly enjoyed watching Front Street come to life the mornings we were there. Its pleasant to see the island residents as they proceed down the Boardwalk as they start their day and watching the beautifully lighted ships come and go from our balcony was the best.

And it was nice NOT to have to drive all the way into town from our timeshare at the Towers for meals at Pasanggrahan and some of the other places we enjoy, and to see friends in town as well.

Pros and cons to be considered but in all honesty, I'm glad we did it and no, the chances are pretty good we'd probably not be inclined to do it again. It's nice to experience other areas of the island since most of our stays over all our years of visiting have always been in the stretch of island from Cupecoy to Simpson Bay, or off island at St. Kitts, Anguilla and Saba. It's nice to change things up now and then. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Such a shame that that area isn't safe. It just seems like the perfect place for the leisurely moonlight stroll that you envisioned, Pat. I wonder why the local police force doesn't put some foot patrols along the boardwalk in the evening.

I was thinking the same thing - it really would add a nice option no matter where one is staying.