TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Itinerary critique request...

We've never vacationed in the Caribbean - we're staying on St. Martin in June with our 22 year old daughter, and I'm looking for input, tips, opinions and criticisms. I don't know if we're going to prefer quieter, more secluded beaches or more populated beaches with restaurants, etc. (we're non-smokers - not prudes, but not wild either).

We'd like to ferry over to St. Barths for a day. I figure we'd walk around Gustavia for a while and rent a car to beach-hop around the island. We may do the same thing to Anguilla - I'm trying to figure out if that would be worth it. If I could only choose one, I'd lean toward St. Barths because it's more mountainous and we enjoy the dramatic landscapes. I'd like to see the highlights while we're down there (while getting plenty of relaxation).

Current itinerary:
6/2 - Arrive at St. Martin, check into AirBnb and grocery store maybe catch a sunset somewhere
6/3 - (semi) secluded beach (Pinel Island or Friar's Bay?)
6/4 - Orient Beach
6/5 - Pinel Island Beach or Friar's Bay beach? Other? (may go back to Orient)
6/6 - Ferry to Anguilla, beach hopping
6/7 - Ferry to St. Barths, beach hopping
6/8 - Open (maybe repeat our favorite spot/experience)
6/9 - fly home

Is this a good plan? What are we missing? TIA for any help!

In my opinion, what you are missing is two days in SXM. St Barts and Anguilla are nice. But it's a lot.

Do not do 2 ferry trips back to back days, way more tiring and time consuming than most people assume.

You can Ferry to SBH and get a rental car but for Anguilla I would personally just do a sailing snorkeling type deal.

Smoking occurs on the French side, hard to avoid but at beach bars it is dispersed quickly.

We usually tentatively plan several trips, but if you are staying near a nice beach, ( you didn't say where you were staying) we end up spending more days at that beach than traveling. Anquilla is gorgeous, and well worth the time spent in travel, I didn't feel the same about Pinel, though others love it. I would suggest spending more time on St. Martin and at the beach near where you are staying. You didn't list Mullet Bay - if you like beaches, it is one of our favorites in SXM and you might want to add it to your list. Have a great trip.

I agree that in first trip / weeklong trip, it is a lot to do both St. Barth's and Anguilla. I understand your motivation - I had the same ambitions when planning our first trip and didn't end up doing either because there was so much to see in SXM. Indeed a catamaran / day sailing trip might scratch your itch for scenery and a little adventure, while still be relaxing.

Where is your AirBnB? With six full days you could do, in whatever order: 1) Orient 2) Pinel 3) catamaran 4)Friar's 5) something on the Dutch side - D's is popular with good food and a nice beach and 6) still have a day to do whatever you feel like you missed, or to the contrary, what you enjoyed that you'd like to repeat. Also, re: Pinel being secluded, I don't know that many people would classify it as such? Yes, you have to take a quick boat ride to get there, but my impression has always been that the two restaurants stay pretty "full" of folks.

If you're dead set on traveling to another island, I would choose Anguilla and consider it one of your more "secluded" days. We spent a day at Straw Hat and while there were other patrons at the restaurant, the beach itself was unlike any I've seen. There just really weren't a lot of people or noise around, and it felt very quiet and lovely.

I think we could help you better if you gave us a general idea of where you are staying. There could be a great beach very near there. To me, it's WAY too much to go to St Barts and Anguilla in one trip. I would agree with another poster, Pinel is not particularly 'isolated'. The best 'isolated' beach on SXM to me is Happy Bay, but it is a hike over from Friars Bay, and is a favorite of we naked folks, so perhaps not the best beach for you.

While there are many very nice beaches on SXM, definitely would make a quick stop at Maho to watch the planes and a drink at the Boat Bar and then a day at Mullet.

For something different, Orient beach has a cool vibe with expensive to comfortable beach bars.

Been to both islands, and not much can top a day trip over to Anguilla.
My preference would be Meads bay either at Straw Hat or Blanchard's.

The ferry over to St Barth's can be very rough and the islanders are not as friendly, especially compared to SXM.

You may find sand gravity take over as mentioned and just chill at the beach.

If you go to Anguilla, I would skip Pinel as it is very nice but might be a let down after Anguilla's most beautiful beaches

Hopefully you will enjoy and return to continue exploring the island and those surrounding

We just visited Saba for the first time after 15 years of SXM so there is always something new to do

I think you're going to need a vacation once you get home if you attempt to do all of this, LOL!!

Thank you all for these responses. We're staying on Pelican Bay (at least that's where I "requested" lodging on AirBnB - still waiting for a response from the owner). Based on your advice, we'll only do one ferry-ride to another island. I was thinking St. Barths (because of the mountains), but the consensus here appears that Anguilla is preferred (that may be a tough-sell to my wife and daughter!). Is airport noise a concern at places like Mullet Beach? What do you recommend as far as catamaran/sailing goes - we've never done that and I hadn't considered it.

People say the ferry to SBH is awful, its not that bad. Flamand beach and Gouverneur beach are 2 of the nicest I have seen. St Jean is the famous airport beach where the little planes land.

Having stayed multiple weeks at both Anguilla and St Barth, I would do a day trip to St Barth with rental car versus just a boat tour of Anguilla.

2 Dollars,

There are thirty seven beaches on st. Martin. I am exhausted just reading the itinerary planned. LOL We have been going to SXM for over thirty years, and found there is ''no place like home''. Over the years, we did Anguilla once, about twenty years ago, and found that the best part of our day there, was looking over and seeing the mountains of St. Martin. We also did the ferry over to St. Barths years ago, and yes it was beautiful, but if you do go to SBH, make sure you have and bring along plenty of cash with you. Very very very high priced, and ''snobby''. We never returned to either place.

Even us, with all the years of going, and we go for three weeks at a time, we still usually find us going to Orient, Maho and Mullet Beaches. We haven't been back to Baie rouge since the food places were taken away. Every year we keep saying we will find a beach we haven't gone to over the years, but once we get settled, sand gravity takes over. I don't understand how people can't wait to go to SXM for the first time, but then try to other islands at the same time, and don't even come close to see the beaches and sites right on SXM. Enjoy your trip

Keep in mind that most of the shops in St Barth your wife and daughter might be interested to shop in close for about 3 hours for their long lunch. Between the time the ferry docks and goes through customs/immigration and the time it departs back to SXM doesn't really allow a lot of time to shop, have lunch and tour the island.

Scuba, its not that bad. They have early ferries especially from Marigot. Customs/immigration is pretty quick. It's an expensive day but what isn't if going from island to island.

For just one week vacation to Sxm, I would not leave the island. Just enjoy them beaches.

Agree with others either no going to other islands or go to only one; my vote would be Anguilla.

One beach not on your list that is semi-secluded is Anse Marcel. It's a dramatic drive to get there with beautiful views along the way. One of the best beach restaurants on the island is Anse Marcel Beach Restaurant on opposite end of Secrets. Water is usually quite calm and great for relaxing. It's my favorite beach on the island. (As a point of reference, I am not a fan of Mullet Beach.)

I would do one day trip to another island not two if you must. If St Barths I would fly from Grand Case. But it gets very expensive. Budget 200pp round trip. But you are there in 15 minutes. Anguilla I would take a ferry from the airport. Again pricey. Double the Marigot Ferry. But you are there in 25 minutes and maybe 4 other people on your boat. It was 276 (I think) for two plus 19pp departure fee from Anguilla. But since this is your first time and you are here for a week. Honestly I would stay put and explore the island and maybe do Pinel for a day. Your week is really 5 full days and that’s a lot of traveling in a short time.

You've gotten lots of good advice. I would add, between Friars and Pinel, definitely Friars. Take cash; they don't take credit cards.