TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Nighttime travel

Hello everyone, We are coming back to SXM in May (staying at GCBC...it's our 6th time back to the island and our 6th time back to GCBC)!!! I'm just wondering about driving at night from Grand Case to the dutch side for dinner and if people are doing this without any issues...also what about walking from GCBC at night to any of the restaurants in Grand Case....I know in the past we have always felt safe walking around in Grand Case but I know alot of the restaurants are still not open since IRMA....just wondering if GCBC has a security guard on the street like they use to or should we consider using our car? Maybe in May it will be a bit busier? We are so excited to come back and give back to the island....Thanks for any information!!!

If it were ME, I wouldn't be real crazy about driving through Marigot at night any more. There is so little open there at night. As far as walking to the restaurants in town, I am lazy. If it's still operating, post Irma, I would use the guy with the cart that does roundtrip for something like $10. I assume that GCBC still has security, but of course, that doesn't extend all the way to restaurant row, and as you point out, most of the restaurants there are still closed.

We were just there last month and made the drive without issues. Go through Marigot and cross the causeway.

Glad you had no problems. I just kind of get the willies going through Marigot at night any more..

If you are planning to drive from Grand Case to Philipsburg for dinner (i.e, Chesterfields, etc.) that drive would be fine after dark. Just don't stop in between. I wouldn't go the other way (through Marigot) after dark. As far as walking from the GCBC to whatever restaurants are open in Grand Case I would have no problems with this, and have done it in the past. Just watch out for traffic behind you!

We were on island last May and September staying at Le Jardin in Hope Estates. Had dinner on Dutch side several evenings and visited the Red Piano as well. Came back through Marigot without any problems. Hope this helps.

Only issue we ever had was last July where we were stopped and ordered out of the car, I ignored him and drove around safely, this happened at the airport, fully lit at about 10:30. It doesn’t matter where you drive or when, ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.

I had no issues or qualms about driving in Grand Case at night in Nov/Dec. Most of the restaurants that are open are pretty close to each other, and I always found parking on the street, pretty close to where I was going. No disrespect to Carol, but I think she is being unnecessarily nervous.

Driving through Marigot not a problem. Grand case street is a mess. Went through tonight & work being done on buildings didn't think we were going to be able to get to the endwithoit turning around but we did.

No parking on street right now unless really early

One thing we noticed French side is the abundance of gendarmes vehicles travelling the roads day & night & many local police as well. Feel very safe.
The security at super u sometimes has the German shepherd with him. Also the work clearing the sides if the road is extensive. Very impressed with the progress.

Driving in Grand Case, yes, no problem. The original poster's question was about walking from GCBC to restaurant row. My negative comment was about driving through Marigot, from a security standpoint. And yes, I may be too cautious.

I agree. Driving through marigot on the way back from GC to Dutch side at night isn't to my liking either.

We went through marigot, the main drag, without any issues. In fact, it looked much calmer and less worrisome than ever. I would not, however, go the baie nettle route. As Biturbo said, through Marigot and over the causeway.

This is the safest we have felt on island.

As always have your wits about you. Leave some space for the vehicle to move forward in traffic if womething were to happen. Locks and windows at night.

But really it was the most vibrant we had seen pedestrians and all going about their business in many years IOHO.

Exactly. We do NOT drive through the French lowlands at night. We have no problems driving through Marigot but our guard goes up once we hit the walled and gated area in the lowlands. "If" we're out after 9pm we come home via the causeway. Doesn't happy very often though LOL

You are an adventurous woman. I admire your ability to make things happen for yourself....

As I am not familiar enough yet with the island and I will be staying in Orient Village on this next trip in June, where and what area is the lowlands? In September when you gave us great directions from Pelican to orient Beach, we went through an area of town on what I believe was still the main drag which was sketchy.

Lowlands s the stretch along the water that goes by where dreams was between marigot towards coupcoy.

Oh OK. I don't believe I traveled to that area going to or coming from Orient Beach. It was our first visit there and I was hesitant to get lost because the roads are not marked well at all. On this next visit in June we may become a little more adventurous and check out other areas.

Honestly, by day it is really pretty hard to get lost. Go out and explore during the day time.

We have long found Sunday mornings to be a great time for island drives with lesser traffic to wade through and less opportunity for getting stuck in traffic. Unless, of course, you’re trying to get to and find parking at some of the incredible island patisseries, and then it can become a whole cdifferent experience.

We will need to drive through the lowlands in a few weeks as we are staying in Cupacoy. In the past we have been conscious to not stop for any reason and felt not much can happen. This refers to after hours like 10 PM

Is there something we are missing? Has there been specific crimes or incidents? Driving the causeway and then making our way through Maho would be quite a long trip.

I must admit this entire thread has me concerned. I am visiting St. Martin with my 25 year old daughter next week. We will be staying aboard my vessel in Cole Bay - an industrial area. I have rented a car for exploring the island and we may use our dinghy during the day.


I typically do not venture out late at night as I am not a night person and hate driving at night in unfamiliar places. I also worry about 2 women walking alone lets say from the restaurant Lagoonies to back to our vessel after dark. I understand I need to be aware of my surroundings at all time - which applies anywhere for that matter.

Anyways we are hoping to visit Grand Case, Marigot, maybe Grand Anse and Oyster Pond as well most likely during the day and returning not later than 8 or 9 pm - depending on what meal we eat out. I am have not driven on SXM as I usually visit with my husband and he drives. Is this an issue or should we limit our excursions to daylight hours? Meaning lunches out and back to the boat by sunset.

I'm confused! From airport to Cupecoy you don't go through the Lowlands.

We will be going to Grand Case at night several times. That is the worry.

Just use BIG city sensibilities. I think with lowlands at night, a lot has to do with that it is a dark and winding road and it feels too quiet. The only issues I know of that were pre-Irma, were that in Sandy Ground near the bridge, at night, occasionally some thugs would put trash in the road to cause a car to stop to rob. This was years ago. I would personally stay away from Sandy Ground and Marigot in a rented car after 22:00. There are some crack heads and I am not exaggerating. But we’ve never had a problem. To be honest, we’re more concerned being hassled by the Gendarmes, which has happened, checkpoints for documents (resident car, not rental). But there isn’t a need to drive in this specific area at night, so just avoid it. During the day though, it’s a beautiful drive. Common sense goes a long way and I think chances of an assault are extremely low if you use good judgment. Just like with most places in the world. Follow your instincts too! I personally have not felt unsafe in St. Maarten, but I live in Brazil so my radar might be more fine-tuned. I can’t wait to return ! St. Maarten/Martin is my most favorite place in this world!

I may be wrong but I don't think it's that much out of the way to drive back to the causeway and on to Grand Case if you want to avoid the lowlands. The island is only 37 square miles.

Don’t worry d fish. We are talking about one area where there is little tourist business and not really a convenient place for you to be from Cole Bay at night. Cole Bay to Grand Case...go thru Marigot main drag. cole Bay to Simpson Bay Area. You will be no where near the lowlands.

Perhaps some map and arrow savvy people could show d fish and others what we are talking about.

I would agree with everyone to avoid the lowlands and Baie Nettle at night. Just go through Marigot and take the Causeway. Then along airport fence, through Maho and the Mullet golf course and you're in Maho.

With my husband we've driven at night through the lowlands, but it skeeves me out. Doors locked, windows up, don't stop. But it's dark. No lights. What if something happens to the car? A flat? I'd personally not EVER want to be in that position. During the DAY a young female tourist was jogging and killed along that road. It's just too desolate and the unsavory factor is right nearby with their motor bikes and no jobs. I was even told by people who live on island that they also pose as landscapers along that road, with weed eaters and masks....and try to get you to stop....at an hour there should not be a government worker cutting back grass or weeds.

It's just not worth it when you have a safer option, but that's just my opinion. Things were delicate prior to Irma and now the fabric of society is stretched thin.

" Just go through Marigot and take the Causeway. Then along airport fence, through Maho and the Mullet golf course and you're in Maho."
Don't you mean you'll be in coupcoy?

Duh....yes. Maho, Mullet, Cupecoy.

Thanks for the correction.

Not a problem. Just didn't want OP to get confused. Not Like a spelling or grammer correction. That would make me a jerk. Lol

That wasnt pointed at you but you are the first to acknowledge reading it which makesmyou thorough and conscientous.

What?