Going To St. Martin on Short Notice...3 Questions

Hey!

I just found out I’m going to St. Martin (the French side) the last week in March.

I know it’s short notice, but my parents just announced we were going last weekend.

So I have three quick questions, if anyone can answer I’d appreciate that.

1. Do they have any restaurants that have a gluten-free menu?

2. What are the best things to see? I know we’ll be mainly going to the beaches, but what’s worth seeing inland?

3. Does anyone know a good workout program that I can do over ten weeks?

Sorry, I’m just not sure where to begin, so I thought I’d ask people who went. Thanks!

Not sure on the menus. We eat paleo and we can navigate pretty well through the restaurants. If you have celiacs then you may have trouble getting things prepared correctly.

Lotree farms, parrotville, the fort, Phillipsburg, Tijon perfume, Margot market are some things you should check out

For the next ten weeks you should eat sensible and exercise. Self acceptance is the key to happiness

Check out Rainforest Adventures .............. https://www.rainforestadventure.com/pages/stmaarten

Would second "Travelhat"'s list, moving Tijon up to top. Also add a visit to St Maarten Yacht Club to enjoy the mega yachts coming and going.

Can you go on the Yachts?

Thanks everyone, by the way. I’m not much of a nature girl, but those rainforest adventures do look like they’re worth a try.

I don’t have celiacs, so I can live with gluten. I just prefer without.

As for the workout program, I don’t need anything big like Croos Fit or something of that sorts. I just need something simple. This is St. Martin and we’ll be going to the beaches every day, so obviously I’d need to look good naked. It’s not like I’m training for a run or anything.

No, you can't go on the yachts.

Swimming is a great workout!

Do some HITT (high intensity interval training) as a workout. Very effective way to tone up. There are lots of videos on the internet. I went on body rock.com to get most of my workouts. You don’t need heavy weights and it will kick your a$$.

I also try to limit gluten in my diet. So, when we're traveling all I do is lay off the breads, rolls, danish, etc. and actually this is easy to do on St. Martin. Many of the restaurants have excellent seafood offerings, and I usually focus on that. If you like lobster, grouper, etc. you'll find no shortage of it on SXM. And, it's all 'gluten free!'

As far as doing stuff inland, I agree with all the suggestions above. Having a day or two away from the beach can be a nice break. If you like shopping Philipsburg and Marigot will have plenty of that. Unfortunately, the zoo and the butterfly farm were wiped out by the hurricane 16 months ago, but Parrotville has re-opened and is worth a visit. Not sure if the Yoda Guy is back in Philipsburg, but his little Star Wars museum and gallery was also a nice break (and it was air conditioned).

Can't help you with a workout program, but one thing my wife and I do when we visit Orient Beach (or any other beach that's long enough) is that we love to walk the shore from top-to-bottom. It keeps us moving and helps burn off all the food we've been consuming during our stay! And, Orient Beach is one of the best for this. It's about 1.3 miles from the northern tip near Mont Vernon all the way down to where Papagayo's used to be in Club Orient. So, round trip we would log about 2-1/2 miles with each walk. But, if you're thinking about strolling this in the 'buff' you are limited to the beachfront below the rocks where Pedro's used to stand. And, I wouldn't worry too much about how you look with or without a suit on. From my past experiences no one really notices or cares, and everyone there is happy just to be on vacation. Good luck.

The Country Club at Port de Plaisance has a great gym for workout, opens early, cardio and weights, and nice locker rooms. They offer monthly memberships for couples, singles and seniors. Senior special is $45 for a month. We have done this for several years.

My wife cannot tolerate gluten (just like her mother). She was very careful to ask (in the kitchen, not the wait staff) about which items are gluten free. Some restaurants like Sao in Orient Village have the menu clearly marked. Here is the question to be asked while holding the menu: Quels repas sont sans gluten? Repas is pronounced REY PA

Also, I’m wondering what everyone is wearing down there. I was planning on wearing tee shirts and crop tops, but I CANNOT WEAR TANK TOPS!! Sorry, didn’t mean to stress that, but whenever I wear one, my shoulders always get sunburned, BAD, no matter what kind of sunscreen I use!

Bring a minimum of clothing then shop in the boutiques of Grand Case and Marigot to get a feel for what people are wearing. Nothing better than bringing some French labels home.

What do they have? I need my shoulders covered at all times or they’ll burn. Are crops considered acceptable down there? Also, is the clothes they sell comfortable? Not to be picky but I also itch easily.

Have you ever tried Australian Gold sunscreen with a 50 spf rating? I found this sunscreen to be a bit different than others I have tried, and it sort of has a bronzing agent as well which helps minimize the sun's damage. I used this with a 50 spf rating the first few days on a trip to Playa del Carmen last year and nothing got thru (and I mean nothing). Switched to a 30 spf sunscreen the balance of the week so people actually knew I went to Mexico, and I got an awesome tan that really lasted. Might want to give this a try.

One other small tip I learned a long time ago is to apply sunscreen everywhere in the morning (in the buff) before you get dressed. The St. Martin sun has this ability to find small openings and roast you really good even if your just walking around and not on the beach. Oh, and don't forget your lips! Burned them really bad on a past trip and paid the price when I ate barbecued ribs later that night. A lip balm with sunscreen is a wise move. Hope this helps!

If you are that sensitive I recommend you bring your cloths from home and only buy something on island that you find you like. People wear all sorts of attire. There are no fashion police on island but someimes it's needed. Lol. Another option is to invest in some spf coverups for beach and casual daytime attire.

LoL!

Allison, lucky you to be going for 10 WEEKS?! Very nice.

As far as crop tops, wondering what age bracket are you in? as you say that your parents are taking you.

Tanks are cooler, sundresses, shorts, tank dresses, basically any summer wear is seen. If you go out to dinner in a nicer establishment, I personally would not suggest a crop top.

Lol I’m not going for 10 weeks, I meant I was going IN 10 weeks...well, 6 now. I’m 17, and, yes, I’m going with my parents and my boyfriend.

The problem is, I can’t even wear tanks at home, because my shoulders burn easily, even if I use sunscreen.

Blanc du nil ( nothing but white) has beautiful & cool to wear clothing on boardwalk in philipsburg 100% cotton & not itchy. Decent prices as well. Almost gauzy.

Blanc du nil did also have a store in Maho, I thought??

Yes they did before Irma. Also one in airport.

Not anymore

Thanks! I’ll definitely check that one out. That would be perfect, since it won’t absorb heat.

The shirts aren’t TOO nice, though, are they? I do plan on wearing one to the beaches, which means I’ll be swimming in one....

How about t shirts? Seems a simple answer. You will surely spend more $$ here than purchasing at home.

They are light cotton fabric & less bulky than a t-shirt in the water. Not fancy but comfortable in heat.

In the water? Get a rash guard shirt.

And for lower priced cover-ups there's a store at the west end of Front Street (end of boardwalk but door is on Front St.) Sorry, can't remember the name. It's one of the last stores down.

Absolutely! So many places to get a cute rash guard and has 50SPF.

Athleta, Amazaon, etc.
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/...8roxwwhlhrtdssrsssr/18roxwwhlhrtdssrsssr

Ever since my wife had 2 melanomas cut out she has replaced her SXM wardrobe with 50spf clothing and 50spf rashgards for the beach. Some rashgards aren't spf so look carfully at the tags and labels.

There is still one in Philipsburg, but in a different location.

It was closed the day we went. We were told the girl, who opens the store, left the key home--we returned a few hours later, but she never came back.

It is on the boardwalk .

I have, actually. My poor shoulders still got roasted, though not as bad.



LOL When I said “look good naked” I meant that as a figure of speech, not to be taken literally. I mean, 1, I will be with my parents at all times, 2, since I was six, nobody has seen me naked but me behind closed doors, and 3, my shoulders burn way too easily. In short, I don’t have any commitments to actually go naked on the beach, but if it happens, it happens....

I learned the hard way about 'respecting' the sun on St. Martin. First time we were on Orient Beach my wife applied 15 spf sunscreen to my back. Clouds were off and on that day, and a nice breeze made it very deceiving regarding the ultra violet rays we were absorbing. Got a serious sun burn that blistered up a few days later. What really cooked my grits is that I'm 95% Italian and still burned, but my wife (who is a mixture of many northern European cultures) tanned nicely without incident! Never made that mistake again. If you are that fair-skinned then don't take chances here. If you plan to walk the beach stay covered as best you can because your shoulders and upper torso really get pounded by the sun when upright. You can always discard this if and when you lay out under a beach umbrella. Visiting and experiencing SXM with a bad sun burn just isn't any fun.

Skin damage starts at a young age and keeps being sun damaged as years go on. Protect yourself now for a better future.

Right on, Scubaman. I remember very well rubbing down with baby oil with iodine and laying In the sun for hours. Today I have had many squamous cell carcinomas removed because I wanted a tan. How stupid we were.

And my wife was always very protected of her skin when she was young thanks to her parents. Still the melanoma got her. Luckily both were caught in time and all edges were clean after surgery. A complete change of lifestyle after those.

Glad to hear that about your wife, Scubaman. I honesty think that many people don't realize just how strong the tropical sun is even in the winter months. And, it's especially deceiving when a tropical breeze is blowing because people are being cooled by the breeze, but don't realize what's happening to their skin. My advice (for what it's worth) is for those flocking to the beaches to start with a 50 spf sunscreen, and lay it on thick. Do it before your put your swimsuit on. Pay close attention to your ears, lips, and the tops of your feet. Men who are balding should wear a hat, as well. If, after a few days you are not getting a tan then you can switch down to a 30 spf sunscreen, but be sure to reapply it often after you swim, etc. And, above all take some breaks from the sun and have a drink or a bite to eat in between.

Good advice. In addition to us balding men I put sunscreen on my bald spot too.

I was gluten free for a while and I found that every restaurant was only too happy to discuss the menu with me and discover what was right for me. Often they were aware and would recommend dishes for me.

How late are the beaches open? If they were open at dusk or night, this wouldn’t even really be a problem.

The beaches are open around the clock but the concessions have limited hours, usually closing at 5:00 or so. I would not recommend being on any beach after dusk.

Is it because of natural things (sharks, an undertow) or another reason?

Other reasons, primarily personal safety.

I’ll be with my parents and boyfriend at all times. Is it safe as long as I’m with someone?

I personally would not suggest it unless it is a well lighted beach and there are many people around and then only with using caution and extreme common sense. My common sense would tell me "NO" and I have been going to the island for 28 years.

I guess here comes the obvious question: is there a lot of crime on the beaches?

No, but why take a chance? Haven't read all the way back up the threads but basically, don't go to any dark corners, beach or no. Some beaches have more light than others and walking ( not alone) is perfectly safe until it's not. Used to walk Kim Sha as late at 11, but there's light and people there.

Not trying to be a smart-a$S but you will get responses on this board from seasoned visitors and residents, some local and some transplants. Trust me, they know what they are talking about.

Not a lot of crime on the beaches but don't put yourself in a position to be an easy target either. It only takes that ONE time of being in the wrong place and then your vacation could be ruined.

My experience with being out after dark at Orient Beach 10 years ago was that it could be hard to find your way home as it was so dark on the beach. My wife and I stayed at one of the bars between Pedro's and the village later than we should have. Needed to go back to our hotel in the village and had a heck of a time just spotting the right place to walk back in. After that we always made sure we were back in Orient Village before it got dark. Fortunately, Orient felt very safe back then. Not sure how I would feel about it these days since there are fewer people around.

Hopefully within another year we'll have a chance to go back as it's been three years now since we stayed there (for two weeks in an apartment).

No worries. I appreciate honesty. That is why I’m asking here lol