St. Maarten - What would YOU do?

Hello fellow TTOLers and long time fans of St. Maarten. We are anxiously looking forward to our upcoming trip to our most favorite island in the world.

Question for you: Having vacationed on St. Maarten since the late 1980's we've covered every square inch of this wonderful island and enjoyed every minute. This time we're looking to push ourselves out of our comfort zone (and away from our favorite places) and do something different. An excursion is high on our list along with any dining "gems" or day trips you might suggest that bring you joy when on St. Maarten.

We'd love to hear your suggestions and opinions and all surrounding islands can be included. One point - We've often stayed a few nights on Anguilla and know it well, however, if you have some day trip suggestions please post them as well.

Thanks in advance! We love this forum.

I always like to throw in a new restaurant or two and HOPE for the best. Seeing the island from a different perspective is always good. A lagoon cruise, a trip on The Passaat for a lunch or sunset sail, a trip around the island. Try a beach you have not been to for some time. We went to LeGalion last week and it had been 10 years or so since last there. A very enjoyable day, especially considering the wind. I have never been to Saba but most that go enjoy a day there.

Teresa,

I don't know if you have time for this or interest, for that matter, but one of the best SXM times we've had in the last twenty years or so was our daytrip to Saba. It was so good that even given my DHes anxiety over the boat ride on the Edge, he agreed to return a year later for a stay-over. By the time the second trip took place, we actually flew and it was the experience of a lifetime.

I'm sure you know there are no beaches to speak of and we don't dive or hike but that first trip over was enough to make us know this was a place we wanted to return to. It's a photographers dream so bring a camera with an empty memory card.

That first trip we booked a packaged tour that included r/t transport on the Edge and a sight-seeing minibus tour on Saba with a full lunch at the Queens Garden Inn.

As we sat in their courtyard enjoying our lunch, we knew without a doubt, this was the perfect place to just plain chill, so the following year we booked an early flight over and a two night mini vacation in the middle of our timeshare stay and it was lovely.

If you have any interest at all, send me a pm and I'll share what we found regarding Saba. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat:

Is the Edge the name of the boat or the cruise company? I've not heard of it but it sounds like something Julie and I might want to check out.

Celine Too best trip on the island have done all of the trips can't go wrong with any or all of them !!!!!!!!

http://www.sailstmaarten.com/day-charters

The Edge is the name of a ferry that goes out of Aqua Mania to other islands.

Hi, Rick,

The Edge is a ferry that I believe can be booked through Aqua Mania or probably most of the hotel concierge/activity desks.

The ride over on the Edge is not for those who suffer from the dreaded mal de mer and we saw many holding their paper bags in hand on our trip over to Saba. Coming back it was much better and on our stay-over trip we flew r/t.

The taxi tour dropped off hikers and took us around the island allowing a restroom stop and then the tour itself with a stop at the lovely church out there, stops at the Saba Lace Shop where you could purchase beautiful handmade lace pieces and a ride through the hydroponic garden area and ultimately alovely lunch at Queens Garden. I don't know if you can specify where you want to eat lunch but that luncheon at QGI was incredible and I would find a way to eat there if at all possible.

We did have a brief stop for those wanting to purchase Saba Spice or souvenirs but there isn't (or wasn't when we were last there....) a lot of shopping ops though we did manage to find a tee shirt.

Thanks Pat. We'll check it out next month when we arrive.

Just a thought, Rick, but if you can't find a packaged trip such as we took, you could probably book the Edge all by itself and hire a cab driver once off the ferry at the landing. I don't know if you can rent your own car there, but even if you can, having been there twice myself, I definitely would not do it that way though I know there are those who do. You would miss all the knowledge and lore from a driver and many of the more beautiful sights and vistas as well.

The roads are interesting to say the least - I once read somewhere the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said neither a runway nor a highway could be built there. The Sabans basically said, "watch us...." and proceeded to do so. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

The ferry trip to Saba, like the ferry trip to St Barth, can be a bit rough. AquaMania's website says "The ferry ride can be bouncy November to April when we have Christmas winds. Travel time is 90 minutes long. Ask about sea conditions if you have concerns."
http://www.stmaarten-activities.com/en/edge-saba

The alternative is to fly over on WinAir. The runway at Saba is very short, and both the approach and the takeoff are "interesting".

http://www.sabatourism.com/

Even though the ferry ride back was rough, I really enjoyed our overnight trip to Saba a few years ago. We stayed one overnight at Juliana's. This gave us time to hike to the top of Mount Scenery (all stone steps) and have a couple of nice meals. The restaurants in Windwardside are quite good. Saba is totally different to any Caribbean island I have been to. People are so friendly, it is safe and the scenery is out of this world. We booked in advance on the Edge.

Spend a couple of days in Anguilla. Details of what we did are in my trip report from this past November.

We have done Anguilla, Saba and St Bart's we enjoyed Saba and St Bart's more than Anguilla
We enjoy renting an ATV in St Bart's and beach hopping we pack a lunch and drinks Saline is our favourite as well as sitting ing the hill above the run way and watching the planes come in
Saba we enjoyed the climb up Mt sceanery and walking around the little village and visiting with the locals
The view where we had lunch was awesome

Just wondering, Georgia, have you ever been over to Saba? It is so very beautiful and while I know the boat might not be your best choice, the flight is short and relatively painless and the arrival near the island and the landing itself are awesome experiences without even considering the rest of the island's many other features. <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 always enjoy doing a wine tasting and lunch at Select Wine Cellar.Lunch comes from Champagne Bistrot next door & is a little known gem!

The air landing at St Barth's is pretty interesting also!
cheers
irina

No Pat, we haven't been to Saba. Actually, this past year's trip to Anguilla is the first time we've left the island! Saba, though, is on the short list!

You will love it for the beautiful scenery but do yourself a favor jic and fly over. Literally, the Edge can, on very rare occasions, be smooth and lovely or NOT. And the NOT isn't a pretty thing to behold. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The hike up Mt Scenic on a clear day gives you a spectacular view of the surrounding islands. You'll go through tree distinct climate zones as you ascend. Just take plenty of water.

Been to Eustacia, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and Saba from SXM and Saba was the best! Never been to Pinel hope to this next visit.

Rosemary,

Just want you to know there is no comparison of Pinel Islet to any of the other islands you've mentioned. It's another beach with very shallow and calm waters and if I'm not mistaken, two or three lunch spots and a snorkeling trail.

And if you want to experience clothing optional on Pinel you can (or at least you could....) hike around to the back side of the island.

We used to go to Pinel a gazillion years ago when the boat was only a few dollars but it got to be too commercialized out there for my tastes although many others enjoy it. I felt like sardines the last time we went.......too many chairs too close together. Hopefully it's gotten better ....?

I'd like to know this answer too...

Well, I just made a liar out of myself, because we have been to Pinel. But, to be honest, I never considered that visiting another island, as it was only a ride to another beach for the day.

You are absolutely not a liar. You just had yourself a Senior Moment. I am sure it's not your first and I can assure you that it won't be your last.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

This year we took a tour with sea grape tours , it was an Art tour You pick 4 island artists studios to visit and the tour guide Ilja , who is also the owner of the company takes you to each studio along with island history as you go from studio to studio. This company also does birding tours.
Just a different island perspective

I meant to mention, don't feel bad about the Senior Moment, 93.2% of the other members of the forum are also experiencing those Senior Moments.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Thank you for your understanding. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We did both, air and the ferry. We didn't have a choice due to bad weather. Flights were cancelled and the trip on ferry still makes me shiver. We had great stay on Saba in private cottage during New Years holiday (four nights) few years back. Yes, we Are planing to return, we loved everything Saba can offer.

Our flight to Saba, many years ago video is here .

gary