TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Pinel ferry schedule

Anyone know the ferry schedule for the Pinel Ferries?

10-4 island time

With all due respect... Last April when US$Was 1.02/euro Captain stated 10 euro or 12.00$ us. As there were 6 of us I straight out said [censored]. No concession....we walked. Enuf already... Nothing missed by usBeen there done that... Oh We'll. Beach On <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The Euro has not been $1.02 since after the Euros came about. The lowest it dropped in April was $1.05 and that only lasted a 3 days April 10 - 13. After that it went up. It's his choice to charge what he wants and your choice to decline.

It actually touched 1.04xx in March (not that that rate would be available to a normal person at a bank) but it did not dip to 1.02. I think the current Pinel Ferry charge is $12 RT - do not recall hearing the guy give a euro number.

We were there today. The sign clearly says 10 euro or 12 dollars. This is one of those instances when using euros would be advantageous.

Can any one please let me know what to expect for the cost of 2 chairs at pinel. Thanks mike

Twenty at yellow beach. That's what I paid in May. Could be more for high season.

I have paid $25 at Karibuni in January.

I agree with Jollymonsrv 100 per cent. Way over priced now, ever since they chased the American off Pinel.

Pinel sure seems a crazy expensive day now. @$50 just to get there and get a chair?

Am I misremembering that the ferry was free not so long ago?

If you're remembering the ferry being free, that was a very long time ago. It's been at least ten or more years since we last went and there was a charge then. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Just a few years ago, the ferry was only $7, but now it has really increased. Pinel can be an expensive day for a family now.

Pinel is an expensive outing. 10 a person for the ride, $25 for two chairs and an umbrella, at least 50 dollars a person for food and drink and water that only comes up to your waist. Once every ten years is just fine for us.

It was 10 euros, 12 USD each for the ferry.

As I noted, we were there on this trip. Aside from finding it out for ourselves, we felt it really wasn't worth the trip. We could have done everything we did there for less, with less effort, almost anywhere else.

I used to go to Pinel every time I went to SXM. I didn't last year, and probably won't this year. I think Dreams will carry similar cost, and be a better experience.

I favor Dreams over Pinel: No cost to get there, no charge for the chairs. Went twice this trip, probably our last trip to Pinel was this year.

I agree. I'd choose Dreams over Pinel every time.

Where is Dreams? We get to St. Martin tomorrow for two months and would like to go there.

Dreams is in Nettle Bay.

If you're leaving Marigot on the lowlands route heading towards Cupecoy, Dreams is on the right hand ocean side of the road in Nettle Baie and is well marked with a big sign. It would be fairly hard to miss if you're looking for it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Just my opinion, but there is no way Dreams is nicer than Pinel. Boat ride back and forth is scenic, beach and view is better, backside of Pinel very romantic and C/O if discreet. Shallow calm water very peaceful, view of Orient is to die for. For those who are fit, rent a Kayak by the ferry launch for the day (teenage kids loved it), also calm water good for small children and older adults. Save money bring your own umbrella and chairs(rent from Packlight), bring a soft cooler with lunch and beers, much cheaper than eating at Dreams. Love to visit once every year..

See, that's why there is chocolate and vanilla! Everyone's needs and wants are different. They are very different beach days, for sure. For me, I have no desire to lug my own chairs and umbrella to the beach, and I love those wonderful, comfy chairs at Dreams, and the wonderful food. They are very much "apples and oranges" kinds of experiences.

And another opinion - while I love the comfy chairs at Dreams, the real draw for us is the wonderful food options. That beach itself would never be on my list of must do beaches if Dreams wasn't there.

But by the same token, while the beach area itself at Pinel is nicer, I hate being packed in anywhere like oily sardines in a can and the last few times we went to Pinel, that's pretty much the way we felt, never mind the expense of a day there.

So if I had to choose, I'd probably pack a bottle of wine in a cooler, head to Mullet down the beach from the pre-set up chairs and eat Rosies BBQ ribs and save a ton of money.

Or else, I'd try El Zafiro and see if their menu had improved! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> we thoroughly enjoyed our uncrowded and pleasant lazy days there in December.

And worse/best case scenario, if I really wanted to spend some serious dollars equal to that spent at Dreams, I'd go to the Restaurant at Anse Marcel and have the best of all of it - a roomy set-up of comfy chairs and umbrellas, a very nice and easily accessible beach and waters edge, and great food in a very scenic and nice setting.

But that's just my take..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> and all of which has absolutely nothing to do with the Pinel ferry schedule, so for that I apologize, but after writing all that in the first place I refuse to hit delete and start my own thread. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Adult Daughter and I did one day at Pinel (Yellow Beach) and one day at Dreams a couple of years ago. She was SXM newbie and loved both. Pinel for the beach and calm water and the ferry ride. Dreams for the food. I would guess Dreams ended up being the more expensive outing because the food was so amazing we kept ordering more. We also weren't really counting our pennies either, so I guess whatever you want.
Random question - some posters seem to be very angry about stuff on vacation. Why? It's vacation

I figure the guy who runs the ferry gets to charge what he wants. If that makes you angry, just don't go - no need to be verbally abusive by telling him his price is [censored].

Any idea how much the kayak rental costs?

I can see getting there easily, but maybe needing a ride back....lol...after a day spent enjoying food and drinking, we may not be inclined towards physical activity. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

$15 to rent a kayak for the day..so for $3 more you don't have to pay for the ferry and you have the use of the kayak all day..my teenage kids loved it and my wife and I used the kayak during the day to go out to the very small island about 1/4 mile away from pinel that has a postage stamp beach which we relaxed on.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to hijack this thread! But I'm headed down soon, and believe it or not, I've never actually spent a day on Anse Marcel (we've walked around and taken pix). What time does the restaurant's beach chairs open? And where can you park? I assume you're talking about the place to the left as your looking at the beach, correct?

To bring it back to the topic at hand, I think I'm going to pass on pinel this year. I'll spend a little more and hop over to Anguilla for the day.

Good plan re Anguilla, or at least as far as I'm concerned it is. I'd take a day on AXA over a trip to Pinel any day, but that's me.

Regarding Anse Marcel, when you come all the way down the hill and up to the RIU guardhouse, turn left and keep driving until you come to a cobblestone-like parking area, disregarding the signs that tell you otherwise, and you will ultimately end up in their parking area and almost at their door.

Once parked, there is generally a staff person who will help you find suitable chairs and umbrellas and will also take your lunch reservation and drink order, once you've found your beach set-up. The property opens at 10:00 if I'm not mistaken, and you can call ahead and reserve a beach set up and table if you're of a mind to. If going on a weekend or holiday, I'm thinking I would probably do this judging by its popularity. We've always gone on the weekdays and had no problem obtaining front row seats. And the set-ups are generally well spaced to give each guest a bit of room so if you can't have the 'front row' - which seems so important to many, you will most likely still have great seats.

While we were there last month, there was a very lovely young woman modeling beach attire from the shop there - eye candy for the men and a lot of wishful thinking for many of the ladies.

From trip to trip they seem to be adding to the place (or perhaps I just need to pay more attention?) and so far, all the additions have been wonderful, IMHO.