TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Parking at Cupacoy

I heard that there are guys there now charging $3 to park. Has anyone been there lately? I have no problem paying the $3. I am more interested in knowing that there is parking still available.

I actually thought it had been reported here they were charging $5, but that is what has been happening, yes, unless something has changed in the past couple of days.

The writer of a letter to the editor in today's Herald said he was charged $3. I remember someone posting a picture on=line of a sign saying $5. Perhaps it is variable. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps it's just someone setting up and charging for parking that should be free. I doubt the owner of the property is authorizing someone to charge. I could be wrong but it's common to tell you you have to pay when you don't.

Happens all the time in the free Marina parking lot in Marigot.

Actually, it was reported here that Dany got permission from the owner to allow people to come on the property and to charge money to park. I 'assume' that is correct.

As I said, strange things happen here when it comes to parking but what you say may be true.

I'm just reporting what was posted here before, have no idea if it's true or not.

I'll be there in two weeks, at the Ocean Club. Will surely see Dany and get the the straight poop. Will report back. BobD

Thanks! Report back, and more importantly, have a GREAT time!

The owner of the land has had it blocked off for a few years. He is charging Dany a monthly fee for parking access to the beaches, and Dany in turn is charging so he can pay the owner. The charge is $5. IMHO Dany has been put in the middle on this. He wants to provide parking and services for his clients, and the property owner wants control of the space. Hopefully the government will step up to the plate and come up with and enforce some rules for beach access.

Sounds like a good arrangement for Dany. Providing beach access or free parking are two different things. Providing free parking on a privately owned piece of land should not have government involvement.

It is true. A gate Is there. A guy charges $5.00. The money does go to Danny to pay the owner of the land. Was just there for 15 days and that's what we did

Sounds like the free enterprise system at work on the island.

I hate to see this BUT all of the years free parking was had by all. Beach is accessable. Burt if driving . Just where to park???? Private property @ $5.00 day is cheap in the scope of life IMHO what do you pay for a chair and umbrella?? What's next. Mullet?!!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

See I see it as about time. I can't go to my local beach and not pay to park, I can't go to my town park without a pass, can't go to beaches on Cape Cod and not pay to park. Maybe if the island would form a "parks department" it would benefit all. 5 bucks in cheap. And if the lot is full, we get turned away, can't just pull over on the side of the road and park or drive on a golf course to park

Good analogy. Something like that at Mullet Bay would be a great idea.

There is a Parks Department. Hopefully it will continue its conservation goals and not impose regulations restricting the current free "nude" use of Cupecoy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

I really don't think people sun bathing nude is high on their priority list. Contrary to popular beliefs the island won't sink if nude sun bathing isnt continued at Cupecoy <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

But wouldn't they have to enforce (no) ""nude" use of Cupecoy" if in fact it is not legal on the Dutch side? Frankly, if there is a Parks Department, or any department for that matter, they should enforce all rules and regulations under their jurisdiction.

I would have no problem paying for parking at any beach on SXM, but I think residents should have the right of free access and should NOT have to pay to use their own beaches.

Just curious, I have to pay to use my beaches, can you go to an ocean or lake beach in Canada and not pay or have a town pass? We have resident rates and non resident rates

Depends where in Canada. One lake beach near us does charge for parking but it is a Provincial Park. Our kids live in New Brunswick and a beach they go to does not charge.

We would be happy to pay to park if they improved the roads & the lots & provided some security. Perhaps the government should be buying the access roads & lots.

It is still free access to the beach by foot. You just want residents to park free on someones private property to avoid walking to use the beach. I don't get that mind set. Dany is renting the lot and then renting parking places to pay the rent so people can have a place to park. Good business practice for him and customers. It would be up to Dany to come up with a break for locals if he wanted to.

There is also supposed to be free parking next to Ocean Club but Sudi Ozkan, the billionaire who owns Port de Plaisance AND the property between Shore Pointe and Ocean Club, had put boulders there to prevent it. He said a week ago he would move them. He hasn't. There is a lot of rumbling about this on the island. I'm being interviewed on Oral Gibbes Live on SXM Cable TV 8 p.m. Tuesday night and I will ask this topic be brought up -- as well as timesharing owner consumer protection. Should be interesting.

History told to me was that the 'next to OC lot' was set up as public access to Cupecoy and the "lost" stairs were built there for the public. But, ....who knows.