1st Timers Questions

We are considering a trip to St Maarten after many years of all-inclusives in Jamaica and Mexico. We are looking at hotels or rentals in Orient Bay, walking distance to Club O and restaurants. We do not want to rent a car for our entire stay, maybe one day for site seeing.
He are our questions;
Can anyone recommend a place to stay?
Are taxis expensive and available to take us to the Dutch side casinos restaurants. to and from the airport etc?
Is there American cell service in that area? (We have Verizon)
Any recommended websites besides this one and Trip Advisor?
Are the casinos similar to American ones?
Is there a rainy season?

Thanks

Tim and Di

I've never stayed in orient if you are worried about driving due to drinking then go to the sponsor page and contact Wilfred Brooks. He's great and dependable. he will transport you to where ever you want. Driving yourself though is pretty easy. Casinos are pretty much the same as here. I've always used my Verizon but can get pricey. POSTERS on here are very knowledgeable They will give you alot of info (I've only been going for 10 years and consider myself a newby) I'd also go to the main page and scroll down and click on sxm trip reports. I've gotten alot of good ideas from reading those. You'll find slot of good info on club o and especially eating out lol. I must warn you. Once you visit it may become the only place you'll ever wanted to visit. Have a great trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Many Verizon phones don't have the GSM card necessary for international service. Be sure that yours does if you want to use it here.

I can recommend both Alamanda and Palm Court. This site will give you plenty of St Martin info. Use the search feature or ask away. Taxis will be costly from Orient to casinos if you do it on a regular basis. There are enough restaurants in orient village and immediate area of you don't want to drive or take taxi nightly .

Taxis are expensive on the island, and not always around when you need one; whereas rental cars are relatively inexpensive. A round trip taxi ride from one side to the other, will probably cost you more than an entire day's car rental.

That is why most here rent a car.

I agree with Rasputin. I would rather have a car sit for a day or two and have the flexibility than pay that same price for one round trip to the store. (Don't be too literal folks, I know there is probably a store a mile away, was just making a reference)

Last time we went we said no rent a car for the week. That lasted 36 hours. I am looking at Cote Reve and Cote Mer in OB. Never stayed there, usually Grand Case, but they have good reviews and price looks good. Club Fantastico gets great reviews on this forum but a car would be necessary IMO.

Tim and Di,

Do yourself a favor and rent the car for the time you are on island. There really isn't much in true walking distance...and even if you use the car twice to three times on your vacation, you will find it pays for itself...especially taking a taxi to and from the airport!!!! I have been going to SXM for over twenty years, and now for three weeks at a time....i probably use the car maybe 7 or 8 times during my vacations, but at least i have the flexibility to go where i want, when i want so find it worth the few bucks to have it. You can probably get a small car for under 200 bucks for the week including taxes...and a few taxi rides will eat that up real quick. Even though Club O is at Orient Beach, i wouldn't advise walking to Orient Village at night...it's just not the safe thing to do. Take everyone's advice and ''just do it''. Enjoy your first time....it won't be your last!!

Alamanda is a good place for a first visit. If you really want to try the nude beach then Club O is a wonderful experience. The folks staying there are just unbelievably nice. Esmeralda is nice though pricey. Do get a car--its just good to have it though I drive very little at night, I do use my verizon phone there though its like $4 a minute. Taxis are too expensive from the Orient Beach area. If you have any specific questions I would be happy to answer via email or private message. It will be a wonderfuk trip

All rentals are within walking distance to club o... just head to the beach and saunter along, distracted by the 20+ beach bars calling your name until you reach the famous c/o sign.

club o on the other hand is not walking distance to anywhere at night. beware.

taxis: since 2009, I have travelled 2x/yr for a total of six weeks/yr on 10+ islands and have never rented a car. after 8 visits to orient bay, I still preferred taking taxi. the cost is a little more as renting a car, yes however all parties can imbibe and none of us have to be concerned about car/property theft or parking. there is an inconvenience of waiting for the taxi, but pick the right driver and you are set for your entire trip. I have been fortunate to 'add on' to existing rides wherever I go. get to know a taxi driver and ask him when he is going in your direction... the cost has been free to near nothing for us every time.

if you stay in the village, you will enjoy the square live bands, plenty of restaurants and bikini beach bar late at night, all within walking distance.

consider renting self catering apts. check homeaway, vrbo, flipkey, wheretostay, wiol, expedia, kayak, hotels.com and many other sites. be aware st martin does not provide toilet paper or soap or dish soap or.... yeah, one of the drawbacks that makes no sense to me.

hope this helps. you will love orient beach. so many beach bars and so little time.

don't forget to say: good morning/afternoon/evening to the locals.

enjoy your first trip and don't forget to write a trip report.

(OK no bashing me.. it's getting old)

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />

i suggest you read this thread (dated 10/31/14)

"from a first time vistor to first time vistors"

Tim & Di,

to hit some of your other questions -

The larger casinos we've been to (Westin, Casino Royale, Atlantis World, Princess) are very similar to American casinos. The smaller ones around Philipsburg tend not to have table games, just slots and video poker.

September to November is considered the rainy season (and the tail end of the Atlantic hurricane season of course), but it's not uncommon to get showers at other times of the year. They usually clear off quickly, though. If you go in May, the forecast for every day will be the same: 86, partly cloudy, chance of rain. Every day is beautiful anyway ...

As for other websites, I've yet to come across one with more info on St Maarten/St Martin than this one ...

"Walking distance" is a relative term. Everywhere is within walking distance during the day and I often walk the whole beach twice a day (and I am not a spring chicken). Night time is totally different and I do not venture outside of tbe Village (Bikini to Alamanda) at night on foot. I could be totally happy not venturing outside of the village for a week (including Plantation and Esmerelda). Having said that, we have always rented a car for the trips to SXM, groceries Grand Case, etc. Also, if I were a first timer I would want to explore...

Since we spend every day at the beach at Club O we stay at the resort there. Basic accomodations but it works well for us as we go to SXM pretty much exclusively for the beach. We do rent a car due to the small cost even if we leave the resort only a couple of times it is worth it to us. Enjoy your visit! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />