TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Travelling with adult children mid 30s to 40, 6 to

Hesitant, will they get bored, don't want them taking off alone, etc. Of course hub and I would book 3 br at BSV, but,we like to stay villa side one day, excursion the next, wonder if kids would like..advice? Experience? Flamingo has all inclusive, good activities?

Confused - they are mid 30s-40's and you don't want them going off alone? Why not? These are adults not kids, unless part of your title got cut off? Are they bringing their children?

Like Kim, I'm very confused by your post. If your kids are thirty to forty something - I think that's what you're saying.......surely you would all enjoy some of your vacation time together, but most that age would NOT want to be attached at the hip and would certainly relish the vacation with you but on their own time, too. Just sayin....... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

If these are your children, I would think you would know their likes and dislikes more than a stranger on this board.

I would not do an all-inclusive on SXM.

Call me a paranoid mom I guess....I would not to AI on SXM ruralcarrier....way too many place to visit/dine/have fun.... And my "grown" kids are so different, tough to please all all the time. Then again, if we're traveling on my dime...Just that I am so aware of how very careful you have to be, etc., guess I worry too much...thank all

You are traveling with adults (I think) so give them a tour of the Island on day one (or two) and let them decide where THEY want to go from that point on. No problem with them "going out on there own" if they so desire. I'm sure your suggestions will be much appreciated.

At that age, I was already visiting the island. You can bet I'd want my own damn car and to do whatever I wanted...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />....give them some ideas but let everyone chill as they wish. Build in some time to make mutual memories, but don't micromanage.
There had been a trip report here last year by a guy that stayed in a villa near Orient with his adult sons. Perhaps one was married.(?) their trip sounded so nice. Family dinners, push-up contests, pool time, individual time, etc.

BSV is a great choice!! We rented both 3 bedroom units plus a separate unit for us for our large group in July ("kids" were in their 20's) Everyone just loved hanging out at either the pool or in the water. Was a great place for having meals together, mostly breakfast and some dinners. It is within walking to Karakter and also to Maho (which we have done MANY times) if you are worried about them drinking and driving and also because it sounds like they may not be familiar with the island. I understand that concern. Our kids had to stay in the group but then again they are MUCH younger than yours! I would check in with Dave Herbert with Happy Hour Charters. He can set you up with a sail on the Celine Too. Great day with Neil! Everyone in our group loved it!! Also Dave and his lovely wife arranged a dune buggy tour of the island including a lunch stop. Very fun day and again we all had a great time. Fun way to see the island! You could take them over to Anguilla for a day trip. Totally different experience. There are places to rent jet skis if that is what they want. Trust me there is nothing boring about St Maarten!! We always end up on Anguilla just to take a rest from vacation before we have to head back to reality!!

Awesome ideas. I keep looking at AI on other islands, but my heart belongs to SXM for sure! I think you're right, a day out, a day at BSV...so much to do/explore/see that even my hub and I have not done...never been to Pinel, on Celine (missed it few years ago due to traffic!) Really you walk from BSV to Maho? Probably not at night? Then there is always the wonderful Mr. Wilfred Brooks to take whomever/wherever! thanks so much!

As JD said, you would know much better than we would, what your kids would like, but BSV seems like a perfect base camp for all of you to get together when you want and have the 'kids' take off on their own when they want. Certainly folks can walk to Maho during the day if they like, but not at night, also walk to Karakter during the day, but again, not at night.

As far as Flamingo, to my knowledge, they do not have a/i at Flamingo. Flamingo is a more convenient place for them to be able to walk to a bunch of different places, including the casino, Red Piano, etc., though. Not sure whether you're traveling during season or off season. As far as COST is concerned, if you travel off season and stay at BSV and cook in or get carry out for several meals, it would be a fairly economical trip.

...we walk from BSV just before sunset, stopping at Sunset Beach Bar, and then on to Maho for dinner....you can always find a taxi at the casino.....

"Flamingo has all inclusive" No they don't. Not sure where you got this information.

We have travelled to SXM with son age 42 and his wife to be age 30. We booked 2 weeks at Divi and they joined us for the 2nd week. We actually flew mid week and so left them alone in the condo for 3 days of the 2nd week.

We drove them around the island stopping in Orient for b'fast at Cheryl's gave them the lay of the land if they wished to stop back. Lunch in Grand Case several times: Calmos Cafe feet in sand, Sunset at GR Case Beach Club. Friars beach, shopping & lunch in Marigot. Maho beach, an evening in Maho at the casino. Dinner in Orient Village, A full day at Karaketer's. Beached it at Anse Marcel Baie Longue was their favorite beach.

We didn't go into P'burg because they said they weren't sure if they'd rent a car and could walk down to that area.

When they returned home they told us they'd spent most of time at Greenhouse in P'Burg.

My point is they found what they liked to do. And they were fine on they're own. Of course we told them about the pitfalls such as leaving stuff in the car and the reckless cycle drivers and overall congestion.

Re-read the post. It was a question and not a statement.

The entire post is confusing...

I agree. This is such a strange post. My wife and I spent ten minutes discussing it's oddness at breakfast this morning.
Long story short, it's a vacation, so the normal rules that govern our everyday lives shouldn't apply. Everybody does his thing.
I'm in my 40's, and when we travel with my parents, we spend most of our time with them, but then we also spend some time alone, or just with our kids.
Odd post.

I have to admit that I'm confused by the original post, as are other people. Singbeach, next time if you could write with complete sentences, then the rest of us would understand your questions much better. I've had trouble understanding lots of your previous posts, which might be a limitation on my part.

Also...your post's title was so long it got truncated to:
"Travelling with adult children mid 30s to 40, 6 to ".

...6 to WHAT?!?? You never did explain that mystery... Was that perhaps the beginning of a reference to the number of adult children? Was that a reference perhaps to the number of grandchildren they are bringing along?Was that the begining of a reference to the ages of said grandchildren?

Without that information your post reads like you don't trust your 30-40 year old children to be on their own...hence the confusion and perplexed responses you are getting...
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Well, let's just chalk it up to a very odd post and move on. I hope that whatever choices are made that the family has a great vacation and hopefully the adult "kids" can break free of their mother for a few hours and let loose.

Why would a 30 or 40 year old not be able to take off alone? For that matter, people in their 20's go on honeymoons all over the world, alone, just the two of them. Your post is unclear, to say the least.

I think we have drifted way off the intent of this post. I will agree it was confusing and I think the reason for the heading ending with "6 to" is due to the length of it. The heading can only accommodate so many letters/words and it exceeded that number.

Time to put this one to bed and perhaps a more concise and detailed post can follow if needed.