TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mother/Daughter Trip end of January

Im taking my 25 year old daughter to SXM at the end of January for 7 days. We are checking on our boat that is moored in Cole Bay so we will be sleeping aboard. Unfortunately Cole Bay is rather industrial and boat oriented. We may have access to our dinghy, not sure at this point as it depends on if there are boats moored next to us as we are tied stern to and dinghy is hoisted up on davits on the stern.

Anyways I am looking for suggestions as what do to as I haven't experienced a land based trip in SXM.

Here are my questions:


1. Should we rent a car for the week?
2. Will the 2 of us be safe venturing about? Most likely will not stay out past 8:00 pm
3. Any suggestions for activities during the day?


Thank you very much, and what a surprise to see my photo on memberspot light today.

Yes on car,
Yes safe to venture but always be wise
Id goto Maho Beach, Orient Beach, Mullet Beach🏝 ,
restaurants,
maybe sailing on someone elses boat,

Ill let others give better daytime activity suggestions as we are beach creatures.

A great mother-daughter activity would be to take a perfume-making class at Tijon in Grand Case. Unforgettable and fun!

Link to Tijon

Another really fun activity is the parrot sanctuary; the birds may light on your head or shoulder and will eat out of the seed cups you hold in your hand.

Link to parrot sanctuary

Don't know where you are anchored in Cole Bay but you can dingy over to Simpson Bay and have lots of options for restaurants etc.
Dingy to Sucriere for Breakfast.
Marigot for lunch. Lot's of spots.
Lagoonies is a bar in Cole Bay.
Cheers
irina

I would say yes to the rental car, but don't leave any valuables inside! As for being safe, you'll be fine. I wouldn't wander around the French Quarter or Dutch Quarter after dark, but otherwise I have never felt 'unsafe' here. Just use common sense. As for things to do there were more before Hurricane Irma, but many nice options still remain. Parrotville is a blast, assuming you like these colorful pet birds. Another fun day trip is a visit to Maho Beach and watching the planes land over your head. When you get tired of that, head to the Sunset Beach Bar and Restaurant where they have good food and good drink. And, my personal favorite has always been Orient Beach. Some of the beach bars have been rebuilt, and for $30 or so you can rent two beach loungers and an umbrella. Walking Orient Beach from top to bottom is also great way to get exercise, but you may (will) encounter nude sunbathers at the southern end of this beach (where the former Club Orient once stood). Of course, if you give this a try (like I did many years ago) you might like the 'au natural' approach!

Unfortunately, some of my favorite things from the past are gone (i.e., The Butterfly Farm), but St. Martin still has much to offer. It's the best Caribbean Island IMO, and far less expensive than neighboring St. Barth's. Just leave your cares behind and have fun here!

Thank you for the tips!

Love all the ideas. Want to see Parrotville - sounds intriguing - definitely check it out.

Also I love going to the beach and swimming in translucent water. In fact Tintamarre is one of my favorites, but since this is a land based trip will be looking for similar beaches.

Does anyone know if it is easy to drive to Anse Marcel? We would like to check it out as we are thinking of anchoring our boat there. My husband was concerned that garbage is being burned close by as we sometimes smell it when we sail by. Wondering if you can smell it at the resort or in the anchorage.

It’s not a hard drive to Anse Marcel but it can be intimidating since the road is very narrow and very curvy. Also very steep in places. With regard to the garbage burning, we’ve only day-tripped there but we’ve never noticed any garbage burning along the way or nearby, or any associated smell. Not to say it doesn’t happen but unfortunately, that seems to be a major problem on much of SXM these days depending on the dump fires, should there be any, and of course the winds strength and direction. Anse Marcel is one of our favorite beaches and I can’t wait to go back again since nothing was open during our November trip.

Second, activities that Linda suggested.

There is no operable resort at Anse Marcel at this time.

For my taste, Anse Marcel is the best beach on the island. A beach bar has just reopened there, and I've read it's better than before. Highly recommend Anse Marcel for a beach day.

Linda, didn't they open December 15th? I know that at least some of their rooms opened....

I was speaking of what used to be Riu, which I'm pretty sure hasn't been touched since Irma. Perhaps the de Lonvilliers (sp?) opened some rooms; not sure.

Yes, the beach bar reopened 12/15. Pretty sure the pictures of accommodations are pre-Irma.