TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Simpson bay gas station

just an FYI for those renting a car,,the gas station in Simpson bay is being torn down,,,the next closest is the Texaco in Cole Bay,
no idea what is going there

Maybe they have to replace the in ground tanks. Happens in the states all the time.

it was open three weeks ago.....two weeks ago it was closed

doing more than replacing tanks...they were ripping down the roof on it today

So Texaco Station at car rental near airport is gone also? TY in advance

Pretty sure that one has been gone for some time now.

Our rental car driver told is a marina is goign in. It was open April 1st but closed on the 2nd.

cheapest gas we found last week was DP before Marigot on French side, on left if coming from Grand Case area. Next to the fire station .83 ltr

Are you talking Sol/Shell or the Texaco that was near the airport? Pretty sure the Texaco station was closed/torn down some time ago as I do not recall seeing it last month. Supposedly the airport was buying up a bunch of that road frontage for future expansion.

I confess I don't know which station it was, but there was a story in the DH yesterday I think, saying a station in Simpson Bay was being renovated.

Likely the Sol/Shell as I think the Texaco that was near one of the car rental places has been gone for a year or so. I may be 100% wrong but pretty sure Texaco has been gone for a year or so.

The Sol Station next to the Grand Marche Supermarket belongs to the Wathey Family and they will be building a big Marina from there to next to Paradise Car Rental.

Thanks Lesley. Is the Texaco near the airport still there or not?

The Texaco has been gone for more than a year.

Over two years and Avis has expanded there.

Interesting. I wonder whether the megayachts with tall masts will get in there.. Kinda close to the runway..

The (old) Gourmet Marche is turning into a Casino also.

That area has been ripe for re-development for a while.

So are they renovating the existing Sol station or closing it down? Hopefully not closing it down because it's a long way to the next station especially with the afternoon traffic jam.

it doesnt look like its being renovated...the pumps...along with the tanks have been taken out.

It is completely being taken down for a new Marina and Condos area.

Thanks. I would think the Simpson Bay area would be ripe for a new gas station then.

Actually we do need one , but time will tell.

Really a pain in the arse not having the Sol station there anymore. Rental car fill ups etc. more different now.

I would think an enterprising person or entity would find a way to have a gas station in Simpson Bay.

The land would be the problem finding.

Kenny,

Is this Theo's old station that leaked into lagoon about 15 or more years ago? That's what I remember anyway?
irina

It's the Wathey owned Station. He and Brenda .

Actually meant to say that fill ups are more difficult now.

Was told by Unity Car rental that it will reopen as Texaco. Nothing going on there as if today

No more gas station there. Totally different. The Tanks and everything was removed.

Lesley, I was told the tanks had to be replaced but that it was in fact going to become a Texaco by a rep for Texaco Caribbean. I guess we will have to wait & see because the two stories are totally different right now. They also said the building was rotted away which was why they were redoing everything. Of course this is SXM so there will probably be another 3 or 4 more different rumors about what is going there LOL...

Sharon, I hope that particular rumor is true, as Simpson Bay does need a gas station.

Sharon the Tanks were completely dug out and the holes were filled back fully solid . Condos , Restaurants and Marina is what is going to be there.

I'm glad, we got ripped off in March at that station.

Any station could do the same IF you do not know the exchange rate and how the gas is dispensed. Anyone that frequents the island should have a BASIC understanding of the gas situation.

No gas in Simpson Bay is going to put a real hurt on many tourists, locals and car rental agencies. This is not something I would be "glad" about.

Thank you J.D. Well said Bro !

Lesley,

Don't remember if I mentioned this or not but we had no problems at all finding the SOL Station across from the Harley dealership. Thanx!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

On Dutch side $20 should find the amount registered on the pump to be 35.7 regardless of how many liters are showing. The guilder has been pegged to the dollar at a fixed rate for many years.

I understand that and always figure accordingly. When someone alleges they were "ripped off" it implies a lack of knowledge and understanding on their part also. I am not at all saying what happened (whatever it was) was right. But to be "glad" a station is not going to be in in that heavily used and traveled area close to the airport is perhaps a little strong. It is going to have a negative impact on many people.

One needs to know the exchange rate, the price per gallon/litre and figure accordingly to avoid problems.

That is why Cadesco on way to Orient is a good deal At 0.83 US$ per liter.They take plastic now,but probably not $ for Euro at par.

Sorry, but if staying in Simpson Bay and you are needing gas or returning a rental near the airport, I don't get driving towards Orient to get the gas.