TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Daily Routine and Must Dos?

What is your daily routine like? What time do you get to beach? How late do you stay? Do you go to happy hour (straight from beach or on way to dinner)? What time do you generally have dinner? Do you go out after dinner? Spent a week at an AI last year in Punta Cana and never left resort except by boat so I'm sure this trip to St Maarten will be totally different.

We are 3 women 47. - 55 staying at Divi June 13 - 20 for a well deserved girls trip. Absolutely renting a car. Plan to visit at least 3 beaches, plus Pinel and a day trip to Anguilla. The sunset or dinner cruise on Passat is also on the list. I've read about 3 years worth of posts on this forum. I love it - I call it my vacation foreplay!!!

So what is your typical daily routine like and absolute must dos?

Not having a routine or a watch is what makes a SXM vacation different from being home.

I'm sure everyone is different, but here is our general day:

We get up, make some coffee and enjoy the view from balcony. Leave for a different beach every day by about 9am. Have lunch on said beach and lounge around. Leave beach around 3 to head to happy hour or Maho to watch planes and back to condo to spend a little time in the pool before getting ready for dinner - dinner around 8 ish and maybe listen to some music then home to bed to start all over. We love not being on a schedule, so just do what we want when we want. We may throw in a boat trip one day and maybe half a day of shopping and lunch in phillipsburg. The rest of the week is spent on the beach of our choosing that morning.

Daily routines vary. Here is ours.

Best practices and observations from this board say that you should try to get to the various beaches by 10 a.m. or perhaps a bit earlier to make sure you get a good place to park and get the best choices of location for your chairs etc. on the beach.

We try to do that but are admittedly sometimes late.

We leave the beaches around 2 p.m. or so and head back to our housing. Once there a nap is usually in order along with preparing for dinner.

We head out for dinner at 5-6 p.m. and plan to have a cocktail or 2 before eating. Dinner in most places takes an hour or longer. You should try to make a reservation even in the low season to lock in your seating time.

After dinner, we usually head for one of the casinos for some fun or go to the Red Piano or another of the live music venues.

Hope this helps.

8 AM - get out of bed, go for a walk, buy fresh baguette.
9 AM - back to hotel, eat something light, switch to bathing suit
9:30 or 10 - wife heads to beach or pool, I got the cafe for a coffee
11 - I meet wife at beach/pool
1:30ish - snack time of cut veggies, bread, cheese, wine, etc
2 - beach
4 - back to room to sit in the shade
5:30 - shower and dress
6:30 - watch sun set, then walk to dinner

Other days vary, but the morning walk and evening sunset and dinner stay the same. We are never in a hurry to get anywhere or do anything. Enjoy!

Jag. Enjoy your girls trip. Don't make an itinerary and just enjoy the island we all love. Talk to people when you get there and you will figure it out. I envy you for having the first time experience. It's the best!!!!

I'll be at Divi from June 6-27. I can't say I have a daily routine, but I do alternate days: one day I'll stay at Divi (I call those Divi Days), and then the next go elsewhere, maybe a boat excursion or just to another beach.

I almost always have breakfast on my deck, which overlooks Little Bay. I leave when I get around to it and usually stay on the beach until 4 PM or so. Sometimes I'll go to HH with a group direct from the beach; other times I'll go back to Divi to clean up first. I'm not much of a drinker so HH isn't important to me.

I rarely make dinner reservations; in June, it's just not a problem to get in where you want to.

Don't try to structure your trip too much as your plans likely will change due to what's called "sand gravity." Personally, I'm not that impressed with Pinel, but others are. I'm glad you're going on the Passaat; it's a magical experience to me.

I hope to meet you all when you are at Divi.

i agree about Pinel....and never plan to return to Anguila either. Best part of Anguila was looking over the bay to see Saint Maarten. There are 37 beaches on SXM, and if you are only going to be there for a week, the two things i would wait on would be Pinel and Anguila. That's my opinion anyways.

Pinel is overrated but 2 of the 37 beaches are on it.

We've been going to the island at the same time each year for several years, so have a lot of friends who are there at the same time that we are. Our plans are rarely made until the morning, when we connect with them, or don't, as everyone needs time to themselves occasionally.

I generally get up before 6, make coffee, and enjoy that on our balcony while watching the sky light up, and the cruise ships arrive. I catch up on TTOL, and connect with our friends on Facebook so plans can be made.

We generally end up at one beach or another by 9:30 or 10; we like to get there early to be sure to get front row chairs. A bloody Mary usually follows, and a walk on the beach.

Around 12:30 we'll head to the restaurant (if we're at a beach that has one, and we almost always are) for lunch. Usually it becomes our main meal of the day and is an event that lasts a couple of hours (or more if we're with friends) along with a bottle or two of wine. Another beach walk after lunch to work at least a few of the calories off, more chair time, and we usually head home around 3 or 3:30.

Evening plans depend on how big our lunch was: either dinner of cheese, crackers, fruit and wine on the balcony; or a meal out with our friends or sometimes just the two of us.

We're not late night people, so we're usually tucked in by 10.

I enjoy the loosy-goosy feel of our stay without making a lot of plans and feeling like we're running every minute. But we're there for three weeks, so it's easier not to feel that we have to cram a lot of vacation into a short time.

We are not lie in the sun people so the beach is either early am or 4pm for us.

When we stay at Divi we have coffee on the lanai and watch the cruise ships arrive; then a walk on the beach, lounge for a time, take a dip. Then it's off to explore this island we should know by heart by this time; however, we always discover something we've missed on past trips. We love driving in & out of all the nooks & crannies and on to places more well known to see what has changed.

We stop for lunch---sometimes light, sometimes it's our main meal. We love the fixed price lunch at Le Taitu, off the road to Pinel Ferry. One day it's Marigot, another it's Grand Case or Anse Marcel. Back to Divi for a 3p-4p stroll on the beach and a nap in a lounge chair.

In the evening it's off to dinner: Grand Case, Sol e Luna, or just pizza in Oyster Pond.

On those visits when we stay at Grand Case Beach Club, we don't rent a car. Early am swim, walk on the beach, lunch in town or on the balcony with bread, cheese, wine. Afternoon read in the shade followed by dinner in town.

We've never taken a boat cruise except as transportation to another island when the mood hit us. Nor have we done the zip lines. We do enjoy the butterfly farm (never gets tired), the Marigot market, or strolling the Marina Royal. We used to visit casino but having never won we decided it's not for us. Back in the 80's we partied late, drank a lot and spent most days on a beach.

Whatever you do just make memories!

Hi Jag...My husband and I are in our 50's and we having been coming to the island for 14 years. We don't really have a plan everyday, but we are always up by 7AM having coffee on our balcony enjoying the breathtaking view of the ocean. We also like to take a walk on the beach around 7:30, then take a dip in the pool, go upstairs have breakfast and are at the beach by 9:30-10, and leave by around 3. When we leave the beach we usually do something spontaneous, go to Maho watch the planes, have a cocktail. We always meet new people while on vacation which is always fun. We then head back to the room take a nap, usually up around 6:30-7PM take showers head out for dinner, then off to the casino. We love Hollywood casino it is close to the Red Piano. This is just one day for us in paradise, we like to do different things every night. The beach we do everyday.

I usually don't plan... but was thinking of adding activities to my next trip (and making it longer than 4 days) if I do I HAVE to build in days for the hangover-a rest day between activities-nappy, beachy,,dark air conditioner,,, beachy,, no plans days.. I don't recover like I used to.

Wonderful comments. I'm definitely trying not to have any schedule or itinerary, and I'm so glad to hear that we won't need dinner reservations that time of the year. Would much rather take it as it comes instead of planning days around dinner.

I just wanted to get a feel for the flow of how people spend their days. We are definitely lay on the beach people. My idea of a great day is an early morning walk followed by leisurely coffee on the balcoy and landing on the beach by 10 or 11 staying until at least 4. I love calm ocean waters where I can just lay on a raft and not be tossed around by rough waves ( we have those waves here In NJ). We do like our cocktails so happy hour straight from beach sound great.

Jazzgirl, your days sound spot on, and We will surely meet up at Divi.

It's interesting that Anguilla and Pinel are not as sought after destinations as I imagined. I thought Shoals beach was voted one of 10 best in the world. We are interested in doing a boating/day trip so Anguilla sounds like a good plan for that. The other beaches that have made my "list" are Nettle Bay (Dreams), Orient (Palm or Kakao), Simpson (Karakter), Mullett (Rosie's), Anse Marcel, Baie Rogue, Grand case. Obviously won't make it to even half - how do you decide? And of course Little Bay is our home base.

Regarding June - should we be expecting places to be closed for off season?

i believe in trying to see/experience as much as you can on your first trip...you can't do everything obviously, but try to do as much as you are comfortable with, without feeling like you're "on the run" all the time...for this reason, i think visiting Pinel and Anguilla would be worthwhile <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

then when you return in the future, you can slow it down some as you'll have a better idea of what to revisit and you'll still have new things/places to experience

We generally get up around 7:30 or so, make coffee and breakfast - we bring from home and stop and get fresh croissants. Sit on lanai and enjoy the morning. Read a book, while hubby gets latest sports news. Head off to the beach around 10:30 or so and stay until around 4 pm. We'll have a light lunch if there is a beach restaurant at our location. Back to our unit - shower and change into comfy clothes and then it's wine & cheese time!! We'll get dressed for dinner and head out around 7 pm.
I loved our day trips to Anguilla. We did stay for a couple of nights one time and I'm glad we saw the island. I thought it was worth it to see a little different side of Caribbean life. We took the ferry over and took cabs to the local beaches. We did St. Barth's but I didn't like it as much as Anguilla.
No matter what you do; you'll have a great time. I know when I'm with my "girl" friends we always have a great time!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

As far as June, we often go to the island in June and usually there is no problem with any places being closed. This year will be different on Orient, as the section of restaurants closest to Club Orient will be closed for a few months, starting at some point in June. Otherwise, as far as places being closed, they may not be open every night, but there really should not be many, if any, closed for vacation.

I personally love anguilla we are going there for the day on Monday. Also love pinel. We will go there too. Happy hours are the best. 2 for 1 drinks!!! Have a great 1st trip and be sure to give a trip report when you get back.

There should be no daily routine and no must do's! You are on vacation and you need to get away from a daily routine!. On the island everyday is different, and should be designed around YOUR personal choices. We all like to do something different at different times and planning your special time to mimic what others do removes the flavor for your personal vacation.

Make your island vacation different from others and then share your adventures with us upon your return. It is the uniqueness that makes for enjoyable reading!

Enjoy every moment in paradise! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

that is great advice Island Gem. I feel the same do whatever you want whenever you want enjoy your vacation don't worry about time whatever you do you will have fun

Must do would include a drive around the island, which will not be easy the 1st time, going to Grand Case, hitting at least 3 beaches, at least a brief visit to the 2 cities.

I'll also 2nd the Butterfly Farm.

We do best when we arrive with a list of things that we could do. Possibilities for each day. We rarely make "plans" but each day review the possibilities we collected before we left and decide which one strikes our fancy.

We have now spent 5 weeks on the island and are about 1/2 of the way through the list we created for our first, one week visit.

Well said island gem

Much like others... We are very early risers so we watch the sun come up over our Dawn Beach villa... I cook breakfast while Bob goes and ices down the ice chest. We like to be out of the door by 9 or 930 arriving at a beach of choice by 10 or 1030... By 330 we have had enough sun so we head back and spend the late afternoon in our pool...

We like to allocate 2 days to just enjoy the villa and maybe light shopping.

We go out to dinner or barbeque in the evening..

2 evenings are casino evenings...

2 are Red Piano Bar evenings

1 is Cheri's

The other 5 or 7 are early evenings back at the villa sipping on a cocktail or 12, enjoying music around the pool and just visiting....

Again as others have said keep the "plans" light... these are generally how our 10-14 days are spent..

If you like calm waters then you will like Pinel... It is why Bob & I DON'T like Pinel.. we prefer a little wave action and the water at Pinel is Lake-like calm..

Have not been to Anguilla and on't have any intention.. SXM is fine for us... thus can't offer up any comments

Wetend to be very lazy when we are on island time. We decide the night before if we are doing breakfast in or out. I try to wake-up by 8 and relax on the balcony (Divi) if we are eating in. Always try our best to get to the beach by ten but there are times when that doesn't work. We get there whenever, we are on island time. Sometimes we bring a cooler with sandwiches etc and other times we eat out.
Happy hour usually on the way home at the Greenhouse for a quick beer or two then back to the Divi for a clean-up.
Dinner is always out. Whether it be a burger or a nice dinner but always out.
Heading back we sometimes stop for a quick deposit at one of the casinos and of course, before we leave for end, shopping on Front Street.
In the fifteen years plus more than visits we have never gotten to Anguilla or Saba but did spend a day at St. Bart's.
No matter when you plan on doing no doubt you will have a great time there is no excuse not to.
Enjoy the weather, the food and the people and have a great time.

The idea of an island drive around is a very good idea, particularly if you can do it on a Sunday morning......less traffic and easier to navigate and it's a great way to acclimate yourself.

Do remember that it's your vacation so a set agenda can become much like the rigors of home and work. Relax and let the mood of the moment be your final decision maker.......and I truly hope you enjoy all this great place has to offer. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

i'm up early, make espresso or cappuccino, (I bring my own), wait for hubby to wake, buy croissants, have breakfast, sometimes we go to sbyc or marigot for crepes. decide what we are eating for dinner, I'd RATHER EAT HOME..we bring a lot of food from USA, off to beach or boat ride..home, shower reeeeelaaaxxxxxx eat, bed. ditto next day. so boring but so perfect for us. after 30 yrs of SXM this is what we enjoy.

We've been going to SXM for a long time and our daily routines have changed. We stay @ Belair.
We used to go to different beaches every day.
We used to go to Marigot often to shop/dine/get baguettes.
My wife used to have lobster every day.
I used to smoke 2-3 Cuban cigars every day.
Now:
We haven't been to Marigot for several years.
I may go to Orient 1 or 2 times.
We usually go to Antoine's/Chesterfield's/Greenhouse/Mark's Place for dinner but eat at Gingerbread or in apt. half the time we are in SXM.
Wife has lobster a couple times and I smoke Dominican Cigars that I take with me from PA.
All the rest is sand gravity/books on Kindle/crosswords from local papers.
Love it as much as ever.

That's what I do.! Lots of pre-vacation research - which gets me all psyched up for the trip and gives me a list of all the possibilities. Then I just pick and choose as the mood strikes. Based on the recommendations from everyone on those kinds of boards, I know I am going to be choosing from great options - from restaurants to excursions. More often than not I wind up only doing a few of the things but I like to be prepared for the possibilities. .

Since this is your first time on St Maarten and you're renting a car, I would drive around the island to get the general layout. See something interesting, go there and check it out. In my opinion, Anguilla's beaches are beautiful so it's a must do. It's a lot different than St Maarten; quieter and more laid back. Don't worry about not doing it all as you will be back. Everyone comes back!

Our daily routine is heavily influenced by sand gravity. We're now up to 3 weeks in October at GCBC, followed by a few days at Mary's Boon, but this is about 75% of a typical day.

I try to wake up a bit before 6 am to catch the sunrise and experience the wakening of the resort and the town of Grand Case, as viewed from a chair with a mug of coffee.

Put on coffee, open front door to let in most of the cats, open back door to let in Ginger, feed cats, fill carafe with coffee and fill my mug, chase the cats out, and head out to enjoy the beginning of a new day.

Walk into town to get baguettes and croissants and come back to eat breakfast. Then it's time for about an hours dip on the Petite Plage side of the resort, followed by a leisurely lunch, either out or some combo of pate, cheese, bread, doggy bag, or maybe, I even cook.

More time under the sea grape trees and a few more dips in the water. If I get real motivated, I may mosey over to the Grand Case Beach side of the resort. This consumes the rest of the afternoon.

As sunset is around 5:45, we shower around 5 ish, change into our evening finery (a clean island shirt), open the wine or bubbly and head to the waterfront in pursuit of the elusive green flash, which we have seen only once, or less than 1% of the days.

Then around 7:30, it's off to a leisurely dinner, which always seems to take two hours or more, and back to the room to offer the cats a nightcap, and rest up for the next day.

We may go to another beach on one or two days, but sand gravity seems to demand we stay in Grand Case. You really can't fight Mother Nature.

Hi - love the answers and all the enthusiasm, which I feel too. The days before going to St Maarten feel to me like the days leading up to Christmas as a kid.
I especially like the answers referring to sand gravity. Not to get all metaphysical on you, but I think what the term means is something like this. It's not what you did or where you went, but who you were with and did you have a good time. So to me that means put the emphasis on enjoying the moment, not chasing the next cool place.
That said, I would explore Orient, Maho and Grand Case, and from there on go back to your favorite of the three, repeatedly.
Have a great vacation.

One thing I forgot to mention is that Divi has water aerobics, I think at 10 AM, a few days a week. If I'm having a "Divi Day," I like to go to the aerobics. If I'm going elsewhere, it makes it too late a start on the day to go to aerobics, then get cleaned up to go elsewhere.

After reading all these posts it appears our daily routine may be on the boring side. Usually wake up by 6:00 no matter when I get to bed. Enjoy coffee on the patio until my wife wakes up around 7:00. Enjoy more coffee and time relaxing with her. Have breakfast and then it's pool time until lunch. Back in for lunch and then back out to the beach or pool. In the meantime a few rum punches have been included. By 4:00 it's time for us to head in and clean up unless there's something going on at the pool. Then we either make plans to go out for dinner or throw a steak on the grill as we always bring plenty of frozen steaks with us. Always at the Red Piano on Monday nights for Church along with one or two other nights. Throw some time in at the table at the Casino also. Now these are our normal days. Others include time at Orient Beach, maybe a trip with Captain Neal, time at the beach at Rosie's, and plus a few other spots. Sounds fairly boring I suppose, but my how we love to be bored in SXM. lol! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

This is #1, #2 and #3 on my list. Without rum (rhum) why go? Ti Punch is still my favorite drink in the world.

However, the other options for a great rum drink are quite nice.

We rent a villa with view & pool top of the hill overlooking Orient Beach, so our routine (if there is one)is get to Club O early to grab a waterside lounge for the day. Usually pack a lunch, drinks, etc...and a book & crossword. Lot of distractions there, however.

Things we like to sneak in when we are moved to do so:

-Visit Marigot: breakfast at La Croissanterie (Marina Port Royale for the best croissants anywhere!!) Then walk the streets a bit on the way to see what Sir Richardson has newly created at his gallery on Rue de la Republic. Then across the street, I stop in to the little cigar store for some yummy hand made torpedoes. I usually buy a box for island and home.
-A couple snorkel/sails. Around the island one day and a nice sail to Anguilla another. Maybe do another one like a sunset. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/titanic.gif" alt="" />

-On a day when just one ship is in port we shop Phillipsburg, get a couple bottles of Extra Old Mt. Gay rum. We found on ship days there are more stores open and we can get whatever we hanker for at good prices. Not an option for everyone...
-Stay mostly on French side. After all, it's so French! Great markets with cool prices on wines, pates, cheeses and the like. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
-I like to cook so I bring a few frozen steaks, side of salmon and cook in a few times. Super(European)ingredients available <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/chef.gif" alt="" />

Tell me more about Red Piano on Monday. Is it worth a drive from Orient Bay at night?

Thank you all for your thoughts. Got some new ideas. Might even try to get up to see the sunrise <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" />

The only thing close to a routine (and it's followed loosely) is to only go out for one meal a day, i.e. we rotate breakfast, lunch and dinner. The rest of our meals we have back at our unit. We usually have dinner earlier than most - probably 6:30 - 7:00. We've been staying at 2 different places, 1 week at each, and love them equally. When we're at Club O, we're at the beach and have reserved chairs. We like to go for a few hours in the AM, and return mid-afternoon, staying 'til the sun goes down (our favorite beach time). Going for sunrise walks on Orient, with a quick dip, is very enjoyable. When staying elsewhere, we try to get to the beach at 10-ish, or we just laze by the pool. But, definitely renting a car enhances your island experience, having the ability to go when and where you want. The island is easy to learn, there is one main road that basically encircles it. Enjoy, and please let us know how it went.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />I love all the replies this post has gotten. It's exactly what I hoped to hear. With so many returning year after year, I knew there are just certain things you must look forward to each time that contributes to that special feeling you have when you're there - the things that always draw you back. Even if it's just getting "sand gravity"" it's part of what makes it special to you, so thank you all for sharing.

Red Piano does sound like a great time, particularly on Mondays, we will be sure to check it out. I'm glad to hear that most places wont be shut down for off season. I actually prefer traveling some place new when it's off peak season - can usually get a more authentic experience, people are more relaxed, and take time to talk. And again, not having to worry about having dinner reservations is ideal.

49 days to go....I can't wait! I haven't had a grown up (no kids) vacation in.......years!

I'm the opposite because I figure if I like it a lot, I'll be back. We used to take student trips to NYC and new parents would try to pack it all in in one week... I figured if you're our students you'll be back every other year or so until you're 18... plenty of time.