TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Heineken Regatta advice

Hello, does anyone have any advice on where to park for all the Heineken parties or any advice in general? Like which parties to attend? Which to avoid etc.?

As a rule, the Sunday night party is on Kim Sha Beach. There is a large lot next to Royal Palm and parking has been available there for a charge. My personal advice would be to get there later afternoon, get a spot out near the road to avoid being blocked in and spend some time walking around. Get something to eat, etc. Unless it is a designated parking spot or lot, a lot of cars get towed the night of the party.

Looks like Saturday night is on Kim Sha this year also. Same advice as above.

There is usually a party Thursday night at PDP and there is ample parking there.

I have never been to the party in Marigot and from what I can tell on the website, there is NOT a party there this year.

The party in town is on the Boardwalk Friday night.

Wear comfortable shoes, be prepared to walk and experience large crowds. Be aware of your surroundings and leave the jewelry at home.

Here is a link for the parties.

Regatta Parties

JD is kind of the Regatta expert, but just to add a couple of extra things

* Do try to see if you can get on one of the chase boats so you can actually see some of the races. You can't see much from shore.

* Do try to visit the Yacht Club or the Upper View at Royal Palm for an evening bridge opening, as it is lots of fun to watch the sailboats come in.

* There used to be some pay parking almost beside Royal Palm for the party on Kim Sha. Not sure if they will be doing that this year or not. Since they're not doing a party on the French side this year, there will be two parties on Kim Sha, so hopefully they will be having that parking available. If they don't have it available, you may want to get to that area by mid-afternoon. Otherwise no place to park.

* Generally the Sunday night party does not run on time, so if you want to see the headliners in particular, plan on it being later than they are scheduled. Usually they are scheduled around 10 or 11?? Anyway, plan on it being later than that.

* On Kim Sha in particular, there are generally lots of food booths, where you can pick up snack type stuff, or just plan on eating somewhere in Simpson Bay. But if you have a large group, be prepared you may have to wait, to eat at any of the restaurants in Simpson Bay, unless you make a reservation.

*As he said, be aware of your surroundings--especially on Kimsha, there are large crowds and where large crowds gather, especially if you've been drinking, you are an easy mark for pickpockets.

Have fun!

The parking in the lot next to Royal Palm is sponsored by one of the island's Rotary Club's ( they will have T shirts on). Cost was $10. Not sure for this year. And the lot usually fills up early.

And the Thurs. night party at PDP is alot of fun. It will have food booths there also. Sometines there is a free dingy transport from the Yacht club to PDP.

SXM??? Wendell

This year there will be a shuttle bus running from the yatch club to/from Phillipsburg. Not sure of the "drop off", but You can contact the SMYC for details. they are trying to alleviate the traffic mess on KimSha beach. I would thing with both Saturday and Sunday parties there, parking space will be at a premium.

Hopefully there will be parking, wherever the drop off is in P'burg..

Hopefully the shuttle doesn't get stuck in traffic.

SXM??? Wendell

The Sunday night party goes mostly-local after about ten or so. It carries on well into the morning. Monday is something of a holiday most years, with lots of hangovers. The streets and the beach are trashed usually too.