TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin provisioning and beach question

We are arriving on Friday afternoon, 1/29 to rent a cat out of the Moorings in Oyster Pond, leaving Saturday afternoon. I sent an email to Kenny to see if we might rent a car one way from the airport to Oyster Pond so we could use it for dinner Friday night and to provision the boat at Grand And Marche early Saturday morning. Is there a place where we could buy some swim noodles and a couple of cheap air mattresses that we can take on the boat with us? Our itinerary is still loose, but we'll be sailing around St Martin and to Anguilla for at least a couple days. From what I've read, it seems like there is little shade on the beaches and we need to rent chairs most places. Although we love the beach and water, we are not real sun worshippers and prefer to sit in some shade. Should we plan to purchase some inexpensive beach chairs and an umbrella? Or is this frowned upon at the beaches and should we just plan to rent chairs and umbrellas everywhere we go? Any advice is appreciated, including where we might purchase inexpensive chairs or umbrellas (if this is ok). Thank you!

Ace in Cole Bay sells chairs and umbrellas, yes. Are you planning on staying only on SXM? As I don't know about other islands, but technically all beaches on SXM are public beaches, so they can't prevent you from bringing your own chair. But you can't set your chair up in front of chairs that are already there. It really depends on what beaches you intend on going on. There is always a ton of room at Mullet, for example, and there are some relatively deserted beaches like Happy Bay that you might be able to get to from your boat, with a dinghy, and bring your own chairs and umbrella. Club Orient beach, you can also bring your own chairs and umbrella, but again, set up behind the other chairs. I don't honestly know, as I don't do sailing, but the charter boat doesn't have any chairs and umbrellas onboard?

With regard to provisioning, I'm not sure what the exact question is?

Provisioning, I think they are talking about buying groceries for the boat charter.

Well, yes, that's what I thought, but not sure what the question is, as in, where is the best place to provision, or what?

Thanks - I'll check, but am doubtful the Moorings will provide either chairs or umbrellas. Will check at ACE for swim noodles, too. Kenny's is booked for car rentals - any suggestions for another vendor? If worse comes to worse, I guess we can cab from the airport to Oyster Bay and then to the store. Thanks for any additional advice you might have!

Craig will deliver to your yacht
http://www.sxm-services.com/packlight/

I was going to suggest Craig, but I didn't know he would deliver to OP.

Check out the sponsor list for car rentals. The problem is probably the one day rental, as many car rental guys don't do one day. If you're not that familiar with SXM, I might just do a cab.