Bill wrote:
>"Rosalie B." wrote:
>>
>> We are going to be on a cruise that stops at St. Maartin. Last time
>> we were there it was a Sunday and the shops in Marigot were closed,
>> but on the way there I saw a lighthouse out of the bus window.
>>
>> This time we will not be there on a Sunday, and I'd like to go back
>> and take a picture of that lighthouse. None of the excursions look
>> interesting to me - I hated the first one we went on and don't think I
>> really need to do the second one again.
>>
>> So how expensive and/or difficult would it be to either rent a car or
>> hire a taxi for the day?
>
>We were in St. Maartin a couple of years ago and the French side
>was closed because it was some sort of French religious holiday.
>It was very disappointing because I had rented a car and I drove
>over to Marigot for some good French pastries (after going to
>Orient Beach). The entire town seemed to be closed except for a
>small snack bar (for lack of a better description, it's really
>doing it a disservice calling it that) called Sarafinas which
>had wonderful croissants and other pastries. It was well worth
>the drive for that.
>
>As for driving, it was easy, there is one major road that
>circles the island. The major car rental places are at the pier.
>Get off the ship early and you have your pick. I rented from
>Hertz because I always do, but I probably could have gotten a
>better deal had I declined their offer and gone to Avis and
>Budget to try and get a better deal. As it was, I think it was
>only $50 or so including the insurance. You can likely book in
>advance as well and might be able to negotiate a good deal that
>way (I'm sure the folks on CC have advice).
>
>BTW, why would a ship schedule a port day in St. Maartin on a
>Sunday when they know that half of the island is closed? I know
>they have to do ports in some order but it seems like a really
>stupid thing to do. Of course, on my ship they didn't tell us
>that the French side was closed. I felt sorry for the people who
>booked an excursion that went there since the only other thing I
>saw that was open was a pathetic little flea market.
>
Thats what we saw too (the flea market). It was a repositioning
cruise, and the shops on the Dutch side were open.
One of the cruises I'm going on has us in St. Lucia on Christmas. How
much will be open then? Will the excursions really go? |