TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Is car rental needed?

Hello will be in st. Martin in October staying at the cliff. Not sure if a car is needed we would like to go to Porto Cupecoy for restaurants, a few groceries, mullet bay beach, maybe Loterrie farms. Do we need a car rental or can we get taxi? Not sure if I can drive to those places I remember the driving was scary. Thank you Dolores

I wouldn't hesitate to rent a care. So much on the island to enjoy and not have to rely on a Taxi .

Sorry, I don't know why you remember driving as 'scary'. Driving on SXM is pretty easy. Rental cars are much more economical than taxi cabs.

Carol, I won’t drive in St Maarten & my husband thinks it’s scary but we are there in February not June.

I find it more scary driving at home on the west side of Washington St.

SandS--scary, how?? I just don't get it.

Carol, it can be scary if the motorcycle gangs are out and about especially at night. I have to drive alone now and it is much different than when my husband was the SXM driver. I do it, but it is not my preference especially when alone in the car at night. Thankfully I have some very good friends who I can travel with often at night.

OK, I can see where someone can be scared at night, especially a woman alone. We don't travel at night to many places we used to, like to Marigot.

Dolores, if you’re not comfortable driving then don’t, there is no need given where you staying.
So to answer your question, Lotterie farm taxi for sure. Mullet bay beach is a short safe walk during the day, in fact better to walk than to find parking. Porto Coupecoy is walkable but it’s a bit of a hike, wouldn’t do it at night so for groceries and alternate restaurants that are walkable and safe don’t discount Jordan village which is literally across the road. There is a relatively new market across from Rainbow and Carrefour express is in the village, also Jules is a great little bakery, probably 6 or more restaurants in Jordan as well, Barcode, Fat Tony’s and Spaghetti House are all good. Don’t forget one of the best Italian restaurants Mario’s is in your building. The new beach restaurant Kalatua on Mullet is nice and provides shuttles to the former Starz Casino which is across the road from The Cliff. There really is a lot very close to where you are staying.
Bill and Elaine live next door at Rainbow and might also have suggestions..

Mario's is more French/Caribbean cuisine than Italian

Correct. Never felt Mario's was Italian. Good food but not a place I'd go for Italian.

There is so much to see on SXM I would never go without a car rental....and I don't think it is a scary place to drive but I rarely drive after dark

You're on vacation - if something makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. But if you really want to explore the island, a car is necessary. However if you just want to hang out and relax you can probably get by using taxis. Taxis can be expensive though.

I would rather see you in your own rental car than to see you standing on the side of the road waiting for a cab or jitney van!! SAX rental company will set you up with a nice compact car, easy to park and safe! Contact Cindy Puran!! https://www.saxcarrental.com/

I really wouldn't want to be walking around via the Cliffs to many places, safer driving in the car!

I've started using the local busses, but I'm at LaTerrasse. I don't think all the bused go as far as Porto Cupecoy.

Not all busses go to Porto Cupecoy, or even to Cupecoy itself. They run mostly for the benefit of the hospitality workers all around us. After 4 or 5 pm it will be a lonely bus headed to Cupecoy, many turn around at Maho. More busses at shift change all over the island.

The following is purely MY opinion and I’m not trying to coerce anyone into believing one way or the other. I don’t drive on the island but then, I don’t drive at home if I can avoid it.
However, my dear husband does and has never found the driving to be SCARY, not even back in the 70’s and 80’s when too many of the roads were more like paths than anything we would consider to be a real road.
We’re more scared of the driver who has imbibed too freely or the person who can’t let their cell phone go unanswered and particularly, the suicyclists doing their craziness, but that’s us. And those things aren’t scary - IMHO - those things are just plain craziness!
As to whether or NOT one needs to rent a car, to me that is a purely personal choice. If you want to get out and really explore all the island has to offer, then YES, you need to rent one, even if only for a few days. Having a rental gives you a freedom you would otherwise miss out on.
But there are island buses that service the popular locations and certainly taxis will take you wherever whenever but for us, that requires planning and waiting and very little freedom for decisions made in the moment.
There are many vacationers who want an AI resort type vacation where they can lie on the beach and be catered to without having to think about anything, including where their next meal or drink might be coming from and there’s nothing wrong with that. And for these people, a rental car would probably be a total waste of money. But that certainly wouldn’t work for us.

A lot of bus drivers will take you up to Cupecoy for a couple of extra dollars. But getting back is t he problem - it's a good idea to have a taxi "on call"

Thank you so much for your input, we would go to a restaurant at night for dinner and go right back. Would love to show them lotteries farms. I mean scary in the sense that the traffic and the motorcycles were weaving in and out the hills not use to driving in that.

Rent a car for a few days, it's really the way to see the island!! Have you ever driven in Paris, London??? Aruba, Mexico??? Turks and Caicos??? If you have, this is all of those mixed in one!! Go slow, you'll get there. For the Evil Knevils going by you, keep your arms inside the car! LOL!!!

I don't remember driving being scary.

This post has me laughing. I have driven on SXM for over thirty years, and have never have found it ''scary''. Frustrating at times, but not scary. With that said, my wife has REFUSED to drive the car on the island at any time. She thinks nothing of driving all over at home at any time, and will drive anywhere, but absolutely refuses to get behind the wheel on SXM. Her excuse is always the bikers, the steep hills, etc. She has even taken the bus into town a few times, with the rental car just sitting in it's parking space. to each their own.

Hubby hesitates to drive at night especially on the road through the golf course. Most times road has no lights.

One year we were driving up middle road and I guy in a big car sped past us and made us pull off the road in a ditch. Now we won't drive that road anymore.