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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235640
09/28/2020 12:59 PM
09/28/2020 12:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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In a word, probably.
It’s an easy drive island and the rental car gives you more freedom and flexibility plus you aren’t dependent on taxis which always run the risk of being hit or miss.
Enjoy your stay.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235641
09/28/2020 01:10 PM
09/28/2020 01:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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jbutah--rent a car! Taxis are expensive, versus a car rental and they are inconvenient. It's not like NYC, where you can just walk outside and find a cab. You will have to call one and wait for them to show up. Especially if you want to visit the Dutch side, it's not very convenient for example to go eat, then have to call another cab to come pick you up to take you back to the French side. I'm not personally familiar with Residence Adam and Eve, but I believe it is a decent walk to the beach from there, and to Orient Village. Renting a car gives you the freedom to just explore. Do it!!
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: pony600]
#235648
09/28/2020 01:45 PM
09/28/2020 01:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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Check out this LINKin which Chuck talks about A & E and people addressed the walkability to Orient Village and Club O. If it's inside the gate there for Orient Village, I don't see how it could be 3 miles to Club O??
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#235652
09/28/2020 02:08 PM
09/28/2020 02:08 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 75 Palmetto, FL
jbutah
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 75
Palmetto, FL
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Check out this LINKin which Chuck talks about A & E and people addressed the walkability to Orient Village and Club O. If it's inside the gate there for Orient Village, I don't see how it could be 3 miles to Club O?? Thanks Carol. Chuck's review was one of the reasons I chose Adam and Eve. I believe their website said its about 3/4 mile to the beach. From all the suggestions thus far, I think I'll be renting a car.
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235660
09/28/2020 02:39 PM
09/28/2020 02:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
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Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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OK, I didn't think it could be 3 miles to the beach. Enjoy your trip!
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jeepers]
#235686
09/28/2020 09:11 PM
09/28/2020 09:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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jeepers--Sorry, this year, parking????????? Parking at Orient is never a problem and elsewhere this year, I don't think that will be a problem.
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235710
09/29/2020 08:47 AM
09/29/2020 08:47 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 604 PA
ChuckG
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Posts: 604
PA
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Check out this LINKin which Chuck talks about A & E and people addressed the walkability to Orient Village and Club O. If it's inside the gate there for Orient Village, I don't see how it could be 3 miles to Club O?? Thanks Carol. Chuck's review was one of the reasons I chose Adam and Eve. I believe their website said its about 3/4 mile to the beach. From all the suggestions thus far, I think I'll be renting a car. It's a bit of a hike especially if you are carrying anything e.g. cooler. I agree, get a car! Glad my review is a help! Chuck
Chuck and Joni
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235715
09/29/2020 10:45 AM
09/29/2020 10:45 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,656 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,656
United States of America
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We are going down to visit the island again in November for a few weeks. This will be our 41st trip to the island in 20+ years of visiting and each and every time we have rented a car. This November was the first time that I gave any consideration to not renting a car, but that consideration was short lived. Rental prices have gotten crazy compared to prior years and I understand that the rental companies are trying to survive by increasing their rates, but we actually drive the car so few kilometers while we are there. But then I thought of Covid, and continuing to protect ourselves while we are on the island. When we pick up the car, we can wipe the whole interior down with sanitizing wipes and then no one else will be in that car while it is rented to us and we can limit our own risk of infection. If you are relying on taking the buses or taxis than you are greatly increasing your odds of acquiring the infection. So for us, I will spend the money, rent the car, and reduce our chances of seeing the infection passed on to us. We are adapting for this trip and plan to eat fewer meals out and just let sand gravity take hold.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: bdeeley]
#235716
09/29/2020 11:04 AM
09/29/2020 11:04 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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bdeeley--I would never NOT rent a car in SXM, but you do have a good point there regarding Covid and taxis..
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: bdeeley]
#235718
09/29/2020 11:21 AM
09/29/2020 11:21 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313 Vancouver, WA
Todd
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313
Vancouver, WA
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I found that the rental prices were less than I have had in the past, starting in November into December. As for renting a car, we are actually going to start our trip for the first 3 nights with out a car staying in Grand Case before we pick up a car for our next 3 weeks. Goal is to bring down our heart rate to "barely fog a mirror" levels to start the trip. Cheers!
I prefer the Isle seat
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: Todd]
#235721
09/29/2020 12:02 PM
09/29/2020 12:02 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,656 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,656
United States of America
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Carol - We have never been on the island and not rented a car. This year, when I first started enquiring about pricing and saw that there was such a serious jump in prices from last November, than that is when I started to think about it. But with Covid, and knowing that I can have a vehicle that I sanitize and no one else will be in it but us for our stay, that was the decision maker. I'm just going to search out other providers and find a car that meets our needs at a reasonable price.
Todd - for the same number of days as last year, I am getting price quotes that are 50% higher than last November. The car sits most of the time that we are on the island except for going out to dinner in the evening and a few shopping trips.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: Todd]
#235765
09/29/2020 08:02 PM
09/29/2020 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,432 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,432
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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I found that the rental prices were less than I have had in the past, starting in November into December. As for renting a car, we are actually going to start our trip for the first 3 nights with out a car staying in Grand Case before we pick up a car for our next 3 weeks. Goal is to bring down our heart rate to "barely fog a mirror" levels to start the trip. Cheers! So happy to hear this; we might actually keep up with you two for the three weeks that follow.....nah.....
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235874
09/30/2020 11:04 PM
09/30/2020 11:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313 Vancouver, WA
Todd
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313
Vancouver, WA
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Lol, no Elaine, not this trip mostly because there is no way we can beat that last trip. Great memories, but you and Bill are a bad influence on kids like us.
As for car rental, noting we have friends going for their second time which the last time was four years ago and they got a car for about $24 a day all in. We got an SUV for $30 per day. You need to shop! I 100% get loyalty, and in a rare time we are switching where we get our car from but there are more cars then there are renters in the off season. Deals are out there, if the rates above are 50% higher than you paid before, wow.
GK, we are going to Whoooooooooop it up with you two! You can rest when you get back to NC! lol Really looking forward to seeing you two.
Pat, somebody warned me today that John is already working on finding a place where he can play "bingo" with MJ. Keep your eye on that guy!
Cheers all, looking forward to being on island and visiting with our island friends. Todd
I prefer the Isle seat
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#235894
10/01/2020 08:59 AM
10/01/2020 08:59 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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Methinks John has been looking for another Bingo date with MJ since that first one at Marty’s so long ago. So sad that we will miss seeing the early November group but looking forward to touching base with the Thanksgiving crew again, too.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#244646
01/11/2021 07:11 PM
01/11/2021 07:11 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
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SIM cards were readily available at many places, from the UTS offices to the Mailbox to the small groceries and Tech Hub (inside Carrefour grocery). Prices (20-$30) will vary and should include 10 minutes or so on the card. Make sure you have an unlocked phone. UTS StoresTECH HUBDriving is pretty easy, just pay attention and watch others as turns can happen any time and any place and you will see people stopping to talk to other drivers, which can back things up some.
J.D.
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#245659
01/24/2021 02:40 AM
01/24/2021 02:40 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,024 Westchester /NYC
Colour1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,024
Westchester /NYC
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From the airport to Orient it's one road just a little left right in Marigot and you're on your way!! Now some words of advise. DO NOT leave your car with your luggage inside! If you want to stop a long the way, make sure one of you stays with the car!! Never ever leave anything in the car, before or after the beach!!! This holds true for all the islands, be proactive. You'll have a great time!! 20 years and counting!!
Sand Gravity, got to love it!
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#246047
01/29/2021 10:14 AM
01/29/2021 10:14 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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Wow, sorry to hear your trip was cancelled, but, as you say, good that you got tested. Sounds like you are physically OK though.
Carol Hill
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Re: First Trip to St. Maarten
[Re: jbutah]
#246057
01/29/2021 11:51 AM
01/29/2021 11:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
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Sorry it turned out this way. Good luck.
J.D.
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