Guana Bay Beach, located on the southeast coast of the island, offers great views of St. Barthelemy and is used for wind and kite surfing. This was worth the money. BTW, for what it is worth, the beach is just fine. We had a small group with a family my kids loved. $2 per person. It is easy to spend the day going back and forth between the beach and shopping or dining. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! Or walk into Philipsburg and catch a local bus heading to Maho Beach. Kind of like never standing at the back end of a horse. Maho Beach and Orient Beach. The planes are so low, I think you could wave to the pilot. The beaches are lovely and you can get a real eyeful at Orient Beach. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Steps into water taxi - Many people take a water taxi from the cruise dock to Philipsburg, but wheelchair users won't have this option. Thank you for a great day. The price for an entire day is $7 per person at the time of this writing. You want to cancel at any time, for any reason, before or after your arrival. Maho Beach. Waters are clear and mainly calm most of the times. The Airplane Beach in St Maarten is not what I was expecting. The water taxi station is located around 300 meters away from the cruise ship's dock, and to get there, you need to walk past Sharky's bar and continue straight along the path. Beaches In St Maarten Near Cruise Port (The Ultimate Guide), Living In The Caribbean (Pros & Cons Fully Explained). Taxis may not be waiting on your return, but your friendly local Maho beach bar (I would highly recommend Guy's) should be able to call one for you. To compare to the bus -- about what is the price of a taxi -- there are 8 in our group so not sure they have taxi-vans ??? There are no full restrooms but there is a port-a-potty available and usually there is a crowd on weekends. I'm guessing the challenge is to find your driver in the crowd and to then get through the self made traffic jam. If you're searching for something unique or adventurous, search again. We are stopping at Orient Beach, where its raining as we arrive. The crowds of people waiting for planes to land took up almost the entire middle of the beach closest to the runway. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-111088226', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise lines shore excursion to Maho Beach was canceled, and we still want to go. By Aburkhard7, November 19, 2022 in St. Martin/St. I would not do the bus if you have limited time available. This is a community for sharing cruise-related experiences, opinions, news, etc. Pretty pretty Funchal They were aware of the Harmony arrival times and told us the tour will be waiting for us to arrive. Up close and personal at Maho Beach for the airplanes is what the hype is all about. Have lunch at the Sunset Beach Bar and Grill!! We got dropped off at a bar where they rented chairs for $5. Please keep in mind that due to traffic, the return taxi ride can take twice as long. Got to Maho beach just in time to see 5 big planes land. Nassau is a beach-lover's dream port, with options for every kind of toes-in-the-sand experiencefrom a walk-to beach to one curated specifically for tourists. Some excursion operators quote prices as low as $15 per person for a transfer from the cruise port to Maho Beach. Experience a breathtaking time of low landing airplanes, Maho Beach is unusually close to the threshold of a runway, and is directly under the flight path, resulting in aircraft on their final approach . Great care must be exercised as persons have died in the past due to the effects of the jet blast. . From there, cruise visitors can walk, take a water taxi or a taxi cab to Great Bay Beach. With a car you loose rime renting, navigating to an unfamiliar area , and parking at Maho can be a royal PIA. Im thinking they should at least sink the boats it could eventually become a good snorkel spot? The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because they sent another driver (although they blamed me for being late- which was not the case). Just walk off the ferry dock and likely someone will be asking you if you need a taxi before you make it to the end. That's where you will find the $2 bus. Also how much a cab might be (round trip) and best time to see jets land? For photos and video go to TheHolloWAYtoTravel.com, Tour itself was excellent but started nearly an hour late waiting for customers from other ships Pic Paradis is located between Grand Case and Marigot on the French side. As a result, it is hugely popular with visitors taking photos and videos. Maarten. Along the way, enjoy complimentary beer, soda and water, and listen to your guide detail the rich culture and history of this divided Caribbean Island. Make sure you take a camera. Driver (Deuce) shared a lot of interesting information along the way. Two kids parasailed for $80.00 (not sure if that's good or not, they just wanted to try it). Good tour, covering the whole island of St Maarten, both Dutch and French sides. And the area directly in the path to the runway was naturally where people gravitated towards; everyone needs the money shot of themselves with an airplane zooming low behind. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Where are the car rental places in relation to the port? Thanks very much for all the helpful tips. . A certified PADI dive shop is located at the center of the beach. The beautiful waters and beaches. $2 per person. St. Maarten Beach Bum Combo to Orient and Maho Beaches Reviews, Was raining but still better then the weather back home. Orient Bay is a fairly quick drive by taxi, rental car or excursion bus from Philipsburg. It is located in the heart of the downtown capital Philipsburg and is about 3km from the cruise port. 1. Take the ferry from Sint Maarten to Anguilla Take the ferry from Anguilla to St. Martin Take a shuttle bus from St. Martin to Saint Martin Airport 2h 20m 1 alternative option Drive Drive from St Maarten Airport (SXM) to Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa, Grand Case 19 min Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Taxi would return you to the Cruise Facility. (There are 6 cruise ships docked in St. Maarten today.) Today, there are two of everything here, school systems, utilities, housing systems, languages, even two different names for the island. The journey is way too long to walk it, and costs around $15-20 per person depending on how many are in the car. The resort is located about 25 minutes from your cruise port. Whenever a plane appeared, twinkling in the distance of the now completely vivid blue sky, the throngs would gather tighter together, all vying for the best spot. Is parking an issue at Maho Beach? I REALLY appreciate it. We've done a lot of ship based excursions but this was the best. Any tours of the island for those spending a day? Marie Wegener - DSDS-Gewinnerin 2018 . Arriving aircraft must touch down as close as possible to the beginning of runway 10 due to the short runway length of 2,180 metres (7,152 ft ) resulting in aircraft on their final approach flying over the beach at minimal altitude. Call us on 305 6473141 or 1 721 5540202. . Fun way to see both the Dutch and French sides of the Island. Maho was crowded but to be expected. No accessible public transportation to get around island - Accessible public buses are not common in the Caribbean, and St. Maarten is no exception. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho Beach Half-Day Tour 349 5 hours Free Cancellation From $40.00 Half Day Snorkeling and Beach Tour/Excursion 11 3 hours 30 minutes Free Cancellation From $89.00 St. Maarten Maho Beach Tour 3 6 hours Free Cancellation From $40.00 Bernard's Tours Maho Beach Blast 13 4 hours Free Cancellation From $25.00 That's it, eleven of us. Maho beach is a manic place but worth experiencing. Grand Case Beach Club or La Playa Orient Bay? Water Taxi to Downtown For $7, you can get an all day pass for the water taxi that leaves right near where the cruise ships dock. I didnt find any app for St. Maarten taxis. Maho Beach is famous because it is located so close to the airport that landing planes will swoop so close over the heads of beachgoers that some of them get knocked off their feet. When you get off the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? -Googlemaps will show you the distance and drive time between any two points. The water, though, is nice, fairly calm, and enjoyable for swimming. . Rainclouds rarely stick around for long, and we were confident that by the time we reached the airplane beach it would have passed. She pointed to a man in a red cap. Rick, our driver and guide, was very informative and had a good sense of humour, pointing out places of interest and explaining the history behind them as well as the history of the island. Taxis are readily available at the cruise port, and at Maho. Numerous restaurants line the boardwalk; many more restaurants plus plenty of shopping lie only one block over on Philipsburgs popular Front Street. First timer - want to rent a large villa - so many questions. - how long by taxi from cruise port to Maho Beach? The beach is great for swimming but at times can be rough so definitely one has to be cautious with children. To get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach, you'll need to take a taxi. They advertise that they do exactly what you are asking for. . We would recommend this trip to everyone. The waves made Orient Beach fun. Locate land taxi station. It is very close to the cruise terminal and you can get there either by water taxi for $7 with a return ticket or pay $5 for a one way. . Little Bay, located near Fort Amsterdam and Philipsburg, is a beach dive location with calm waters and rock beach breaks. I would then like to walk to a beach. Note that the beaches are not wheelchair accessible due to the sand. . I have heard that there is a bus that you could catch from Back St. in Philipsburg. Remember especially if you are traveling via taxi or bus to give yourself ample time to get to your cruise ship. Email cisco2.godet@gmail. Water taxis to Maho Beach from the cruise port is easy to find and cost about $20. We had a group of 6 and everyone enjoyed it. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84536725', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane land - great but the beach itself is eh. Clothing is optional because it is secluded and located by the French St. Martin border. Great Bay Beachs location is ideal if you want to enjoy the beach as well as take advantage of the excellent duty free opportunities available on the island. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! This is a popular spot to catch great views of Simpson Bay. From $ 40.00. I understand that a lot of the mess I see was caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Know that the waves are strong here too. !as they posed for group photos. Mullet Bay has beautiful white sand with calm waters and amazing views and landscape. Some people go as part of their private tour. -Yes tip in Sint Maarten. Back on the van, more rum punch, and were off to the Dutch side again. Going on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Call 1 721 580 7594 for further assistance. If you want to go with a regular taxi, what the ride to intake around 15 minutes from the port to the beach along the Lagoon Highway. more, St Martin / St Maarten Destination Experts. The island only has one major road. jacksonville, nc news obituaries; quorn advert 2021 actors; eden bay tonic water leaking; Media. It's a nice combo. With a car you loose rime renting, navigating to an unfamiliar area , and parking at Maho can be a royal PIA. Unlike the not-so-long-ago days of haggling a price with your taxi driver, prices are set, and after paying for your return taxi, youll be given a wrist band in the style of a package holiday. For a slightly different vibe, and the opportunity to cook your own food on lava stones, head to the Palms Grill at the opposite end of the beach. If the cost of a taxi is not prohibitive, and you want to stay mainly at Maho, I would go that route. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-111089564', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St Martin are independent operators who generally are very friendly and professional. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. But there are signs posted so there is no "accidentally" wandering into that side :), We booked through Shore Excursioneer for our 6/24/15 cruise stop in St Maarten. This will be our first time in St. Martin/Marteen. If you like sun, go up the narrow ladder to the top deck. Maho Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world due to its location near the runway of the Princess Juliana Airport. Again, look for signs point the way. Do I need to take my passport with me on the St. Maarten Beach Bum Combo to Orient and Maho Beaches to show with my Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket? We went to to him, showed him our tickets, and he said get on. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. . Take a look at the end of my posting over in this earlier thread. Harmony of the Seas Day 4 Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin? You'll get back on the return bus on the other side of the street from where you got off. The island was discovered by the Europeans in the . The beach itself is fine, but you could do better depending on your interests. Round-trip transportation from your St. Maarten cruise ship terminal! BTW, for what it is worth, the beach is just fine. I cant answer the rest as Ive only done land trips, but cash is king. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. I had the pleasure of going on this tour last week (July 5, 2016) while on my cruise vacation with RCCL. I was picked up on time by a comfortable tour bus. Maho beach was fun , because of the Airplane traffic and the over experience. Does anyone know how long the drive to Maho Beach in St. Maarten is from the cruise port? Wife didn't like the noise and crowds but it was so fun and funny to watch nuts from around the world along the runway. Tortola forums. It is narrow, generally extremely crowded (especially when there are lots of cruise ships in port), and there are plenty of tacky bars offering neon-coloured cocktails, beers, and baskets of fries and chicken wings. The tour took longer than expected but was still able to get to the ship on time. They are also used as methods of touring the island, these water taxis stop at nearby beaches and near popular shopping centers. Surprised how picturesque the island is and well worth exploring. Aburkhard7. 5 1/2 hr tour covering both Dutch & French highlights of the island. Thank you SOOOOO much for the great information. This beach is about 30 minutes from the cruise port via taxi along Airport road. Report inappropriate content Cloudy036 Fife, United Kingdom Level Contributor 13 posts 204 reviews 125 helpful votes 8. That first driver was pleasant and very knowledgeable but we weren't with him for long. It's the next one over from Front Street, which is the one with all the jewelry stores. My teenage son loves airplanes so we are going to see the planes. . If you are looking for a beach away from the hustle of the capital city with a Caribbean feel, then Orient Bay Beach is an amazing option to consider. House of religious articles There was a nice place to eat and have drinks right at the beach. There are multiple steps down into the boat. Ships dock at the Dr. AC Wathey Cruise Facility in front of a sprawling outdoor pedestrian mall. Note that the beach is on the French side and therefore clothing is optional. . Ride in an air-conditioned van to Maho Beach on the Dutch side of this Caribbean island and Lucas Bay on the French side. Vote. . . Simpson Bay Beach is a long half-moon of white sand located by a fishing village. Get the most outstanding and fascinating look of St Maarten's Maho beach through the eyes of Bernard's Tours. Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. Orient Beach the water is very clear and you can purchase 2 chairs for about $10, a welcome drink and wifi. Harold Jack look out point, located on Cole Bay Hill, is a 10 minute drive from the cruise terminal. Additionally, when we met up with the original driver, he was unknowledgeable about any of St. Maarten's history. Budget-minded walkers will go less than one mile or about 10 to 12 minutes to reach the beginning of the beach. definitely take a taxi. This island is an extremely popular stopping point for cruise ships, and whenever we ported here there were at least three other ships parked up at the same time, although none of them were anywhere near full capacity. Is your upcoming Caribbean cruise docking in St Maarten? Bus, train to Philadelphia, fly 9h 50m. Seemed to have a platform that looked like a dock. . . If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Water taxi/tour to Maho beach? You can be just as close to the planes at most airports as you are to the planes at Maho if you are out in the water. There are many great videos of aircraft landings on youtube. The beach itself has suffered significant erosion due to the jet blast. Maho Beach is usually a favorite of visitors to the island and it is a tiny beach. Basically, you have 4 options: Private taxi Group van leaving from the cruise port Renting a car Catching the bus/public van from Phillipsburg straight to Maho Beach For the first two options, I don't even need to explain to them because they are very easy.but also expensive. Great Bay Beach is the closest beach to the cruise terminal in St Maarten.