TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Gypsy Taxi...Why Not?!?!?

Article Daily Herald

Some restaurants and casinos may have independent drivers or taxi drivers they work with but unless they are willing to vouch for them, I would stay with a licensed taxi.

another reason to rent a car, my car never beats me for refusing to give it 20 buck, it just stops running

Sometimes though (for many various reasons)people choose to take a taxi. While I prefer a car myself, if I were going to certain places and alcohol was involved, it would be a DD or a taxi for sure.

Nobody should refuse to pay a fare, especially if agreed to ahead of time, but we have warned against "gypsy" taxis for a long time now.

Wasn't there a very major incident, possibly even a death involved, with someone crewing on a private yacht that used a gypsy cab a couple of years ago after an evening of partying somewhere on the island? Just not cool....

We prefer our own wheels also and fortunately, we have a DD as a matter of course, but if I were ever required to use a cab, I think I'd let my hotel or restaurant call one for me that was well known to them as opposed to using an unknown entity, but that's just me and I'm a 'what iffer?' . <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 seem to recall something like what you are describing.

Most hotels/resorts/timeshares have certain licensed taxis they work with and are "on call" for them.

Yes, as I recall, it was a chef from a cruise line.

Reading the article I did not think he got the ride, but a beating for refusing to take it. May have been some nastiness in the way he refused that triggered a nastier response.

Thats how i read it Bobm, didnt like the price and they didnt like him not liking it

That's exactly the incident I was thinking of and it was a while back but it's still something to think about.

In this particular case, I don't know if the passenger accepted the fare or not or why and how he refused to accept and/or pay it, and there usually are at the very least, two sides to every story and quite often they differ. But either way, it's one more reason why we should check the plates and markings before we jump into a cab or bus anywhere.

That very well could be and the facts may be different than what was reported. The fact it was reported as a "gypsy" taxi is what I wanted people to be aware of. I don't know if they are talking about a one way fare or a round trip fare for $20. Perhaps it was the same driver who took him from the ship and nothing had been paid yet. No idea, just posting a link to what was reported.

Here is another report with the time being reported different and also a mention of a prior problem with a "gypsy" taxi.

One thing I learned from reading the article and doing a web search is that prostitution is legal on the Dutch side of the island and ignored on the French side. Amsterdam has a huge reputation, but never thought to relate that to SXM.

Technically, I believe that prostitution is illegal on the dutch side, but they just call it something else at the time... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Carol - from some web searching, it does appear to be legal as well as Curacao and the DR. Makes no difference to me, but it could to some of the boating crews, which is why this thread was started.

Not trying to stir the pot, but just found this to be interesting.

web page

I don't think that law was ever passed. It is my understanding that prostitution is still illegal. I don't think it really matters that much in this instance, as the thread was starting talking about the dangers of dealing with gypsy cabs, not prostitution, legal or not.

I think the Carolina Bar or "Club Carolina" might be a place where those services, legal or illegal (I have no idea) might be engaged in.

This is what started my web research is reading the linked article. Also kind of funny that the name is Carolina. I tried to research that club and lots of stuff turned up as a result. The Seaman's Club was highlighted on the web search.

I will check with my local friend but I am pretty sure that is one of a number of places similar to the Seaman's Club. I figured the name would get your attention!

Club Carolina has excellent food - on the restaurant side to the right. Never been on the left hand side. And only been during daylight.

When we used to stay at Oyster pond we were made aware (by what I now realise was a gypsy driver)that prostitution is readily available anywhere on the island in particular a place called Casa Blanca. A web search today discovered that this place is alive and well I won't provide the link here but it's not hard to find.I take no position on the topic as I don't judge others for their own preferences but sex as a purchase isn't my thing.