TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Pay to park at beaches???

With jazzgirls recent post about being charged to open a gate to Friar's Bay I decided to ask if we should expect to pay to park or enter at any beaches on the island?
Thanks

The answer is no, with regard to parking at beaches, per se. You will not need to pay to park anywhere on Orient, or at Mullet Bay, or on Simpson Bay. However, some beaches, it is difficult to park without going to a particular resort or restaurant, etc. For example, as far as Grande Case, if you go during the day, you probably should be able to park on the street, but there may not be any spots. If so, there are a couple of pay lots. Dawn Beach, in particular, is pretty hard to access because the Westin basically took over most of the beach. As far as Friar's Bay, my personal opinion is those people were running a scam, as, far as I know, access should be free there. Cupecoy is one I'm not sure about, as we haven't been there in a long time. I think that Dany charges $5 to park in his lot there. I'm not sure why anyone who is staying on the island would go there, but Great Bay Beach, you probably will have to use a pay lot to park. But most people staying on island will go to P'burg only to shop, not to the beach, per se.

Ok so it's Cupecoy beach that charges $5? What about Maho Beach? Great Bay Beach will not be a problem for us because we are staying at Divi the second part of our visit to the island.

As far as Maho Beach, the only reason to go there is to see the planes. The beach itself is nothing to speak of. There is very little parking in that area. There is a parking garage at Maho. I think it's $1 an hour. If you go to Sunset Bar and Grill and buy something, they comp parking there. Otherwise, it's $5. IF you find a space at the Boat Bar, it's free, but count yourself lucky.

Cupecoy has a free lot next door to Ocean Club. If you want to park closer to the opposite end near Dany's Beach Bar you will be parking on private property which Dany pays a monthly lease on. To park there it's $5.

we park at the La Terrase lot for $1/hour when going to Maho Beach. It's a great swimming beach most days if you go later afternoon once the cruisers leave. After 3.

Rainbow Cafe on Grand Case Beach has a a free lot in front of their restaurant if you are there early enough. There is also a free lot down the other end by Calmo's. Have NEVER found on street parking in Grand Case no matter the time.

So if we want to go to the Lolo's where do we park?

Best parking for the lolo's is in the public lot across from Calmos Cafe. Sometimes you may be lucky enough to find a spot on the street right in front of the lolos, but that is never guaranteed.

There is no gate to Friar's Bay, and parking there is free. It was the gate to Happy Bay where a couple of guys were collecting. I agree with Carol that that was a scam as I went by there a couple of days later, and the gate was wide open.

kind of like what happened to us a couple of years ago at the free parking lot across from calmos. we went in.....some guy directed us into a space...when we got out of the car he told us there was a charge for parking....so....we paid him. Found out a little later that it was a FREE lot...but plenty of people get ''caught'' and pay the fee. I am sure our guy had a drink on us....LOL We've been back many times since...and approached...but smart enough to know better now.

Good morning we have been here since 7/18. Went to Dany's beach and he never charged us, but we stay, eat , drink and rent the chairs from him as well ... I really don't think he charges ...