Welcome to the forum LifesaBeachBum! There are a lot of wonderful folks on this forum and you'll receive a ton of information. I also agree that I wouldn't stay in Philipsburg but it has a nice boardwalk and a lot of shops. Good for a few hours. We stayed at the Divi back in June and rented a car. We've been to the island a few times and like to visit many of the beautiful beaches and restaurants. Looking forward to hearing what you choose.