TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Leaving car overnight in Marigot

We will be going to Anguilla for an overnight visit and plan on taking the ferry out of Marigot to Blowing Point. When we did the trip a few years ago we were told by the ticket agent to leave the car parked out on the street and no one would bother it. We did and he was right, there were no issues, our little rental was waiting for us in perfect shape when we returned.

Does anyone know if anything has changed in Marigot? Can we still park for free outside of the ferry terminal with no issues?

Any info would be welcome.
Thanks

Teresa,

A few years back, we made the mistake of asking our rental company if doing this would be okay and he asked us please, not to leave the car parked there overnight, and of course, once he asked us not to, we couldn't go ahead with plan A. Marigot..... It isn't the sleepy little place it used to be and I guess there is the fear of vandalism or theft. Then again this was a few years ago......and I know people still do it but I personally wouldn't take the chance. As I recall, the rental car company actually offered to pick us up at our resort and drop us off at the Marigot ferry terminal.

And with the new parking ordinances in effect for the city proper of Marigot, it might be wise for you to check with your rental company or the local police? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We prefer trouble free vacation. We would taxi back & forth. That's us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

We did this a few years ago and when we talked to AAA (car rental agency) they offered to drive us to Marigot and meet us there with our car when we returned. Since we were renting by the week we paid for a day or two we didn't use the car but it was convenient and just one more reason we use that particular agency.

Lesley Bruce did the same thing for us so I'm guessing he didn't trust the reality of us leaving his car parked in Marigot over night. Guessing he knows a lot more than we do about what goes on there.

And I know there are new parking regulations in Marigot as well, though I don't know the specific details or locations where they would apply. To me, it just wouldn't be worth taking a chance at having something go wrong to take the pleasure out of our trip or add any possible stress to 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="" />

We have also been told not to leave our car overnight in Marigot and this goes back quite a few years.

I know of someone whose car was stripped when they left it overnight there. This was several years ago, but I would think it is likely LESS safe now. Also, that whole area is now "Blue Zone" (2 1/2 hr) parking, I believe.

Agreed, no way I would leave a car there overnight.. And the new blue zone parking means I guess that one now has to park fairly far away, just to go to AXA for the day??

I thought the parking area beyond the Immigration station was not the Blue Zone. Galis Bay I believe is NOT Blue Zone.

Below is a quote form a previous article:

The Collectivité encourages drivers to park their cars in the outer zones such as Bellevue, opposite the tourism office roundabout and the Galis Bay parking areas to optimise the blue zone parking for tourists.

A free shuttle service will be available to transport shoppers or workers from the Galis Bay parking area pick-up point into downtown Marigot at the drop-off point at the market roundabout. It will operate from 7:00am to 7:00pm with departures scheduled every 10 minutes.

The Collectivité encourages employees working in the centre of town to park their vehicles in Galis Bay and make use of the shuttle to get to work.


And the entire Article

Regardless, I would NOT leave a car parked there overnight.

I'm not exactly sure where the Galisbay parking is, unless it's the small lot just beyond the Yacht Club? Or maybe there's a larger lot near the sports complex that's further along that road? Will have to check to see if there are blue lines next time I drive through there.

Keep us posted if/when you do check it out.

Thanks!

No "Blue" parking lines at the parking lot by the Yacht Club or the larger one by the Sports Complex. The one closer to the Yacht Club may be safer, but still a gamble.

Can you just take the bus to & from the terminal from where you are staying and leave the car home?