St. Maarten – Snapping The Globe

Ache-y Wave-y

Teenagers always keep you on your toes…and sometimes hobbling along after you’ve gone along with their adventurous plans!

Our sons were extremely interested in going jet-skiing while on vacation in St. Maarten. They have watched many people ride in our local lake while out boating, but they have never had the opportunity to try their hand.

After checking out many websites, we were a bit dismayed to find that most operations only allow renters over the age of 18 to ride solo. Since both of our boys were under the age of 18, we would have had to rent two jet-skis and my husband and I would have had to each take one of the boys as a passenger. Of course, they would hear none of this! They wanted to experience the exhilaration of piloting their own watercraft.

Finally, after many hours of perusing the internet, I happened to find Jet Extreme Watersports, which not only specializes in Jet-ski tours, but also Hoverboard, Flyboard, Wakeboarding and Waterskiing. They also allow riders to ride solo from the age of 16. Okay, so we had a 15 1/2 year old and a 17 year old…we fudged just a little for my youngest!

Booking on our last day, we scheduled an 11:30 am Terres Basses/Lowlands Tour which was to last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Scheduling the trip that morning and finding the location (at the Mercure Hotel) was quite easy and we arrived a bit early than planned. The staff was extremely friendly, helped us to fill out our paperwork, let us watch the required video and then sent us off to the pool to relax a bit before our tour.

After the arrival of our tour guide, we were soon ready to depart, each of us on our own Jet-ski. Luckily, no others were booked on the tour, so it was as if we had our own personal trip! Strapping on a Go Pro, which we rented from JetExtreme, we planned to document our adventure and we set off through Simpson Bay lagoon and out to Nettle Bay on its north side.

After departing Nettle Bay, we rounded the western point and cruised near Baie Rouge, known for its famous color, then past Plum Bay, Baie Longue, Cupecoy, Mullet Bay, Maho Bay, Simpson Bay. Our guide pointed out areas of interest, including Donald Trump’s vacation home in Plum Bay and then allowed us to have a swim stop and rest near the cliffs of Cupecoy Beach. We then continued on to Maho Bay where we watched a couple of planes land from a much different vantage point. After passing our condo at Simpson Bay Beach, we reentered Simpson Bay lagoon, crossing under the bridge we traversed many a night dining in that area.

Riding the jet-skis was much different than I had imagined as I think I had only ridden a couple of times with my husband many years ago. The jet-skis were easy to operate and riding in the bays on calm water was a lot of fun since you could go quite fast. When we headed out to open water, however, it was a completely different story! A bit windy around this part of the island, you could not head full steam ahead unless you were prepared to be jumping waves! Maybe my boys cup of tea…not mine. I managed to sort of ride a bit in the standing position which helped when I did come down hard.

After finally returning to the Jet Extreme location, I was amazed to find my legs a bit shaky when stepping back to shore and my arms quite sore! Of course, my boys thought it quite funny…it’s always much easier when you are young! My husband was in the same shape as me and for the next couple of days, I have to say, we were both had a hard time moving around.

The location provided showers for us and also allowed us to use the pool for a while as we waited for our Go Pro footage to be downloaded. Take a walk around the premises, there are lots of sculptures and while you are down at the water’s edge, keep your eyes peeled for the cool jellyfish that hang out in the shallows.

A very fun time, indeed, my boys say that they would like to come back and try the Around the Island Tour. Lasting about five hours, it sounds like a lot of fun, but it also sounds like I might never be able to walk again if I try it!

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Jet Extreme

http://www.jetextremesaintmartin.com/
Address: Hôtel MERCURE – Baie Nettlé, 97 150, Saint-Martin
Hours: Open daily, 0830-1700
Terres Basses Tour/Lowlands – $120 per person, 1 hour 15 min

Picturesque Phillipsburg

St. Maarten is an island divided between two nations…the French and the Dutch.

The two neighboring countries live in harmony and travel across the border between the two sides is not regulated. In fact, while driving, if you did not encounter the “welcome” signs as you cross the border, you would not realize the change except for the few features that set them apart.

The island was split into two parts after the Treaty of Concordia in 1648. The larger, northern part was granted to France (Saint Martin) and the southern part (St. Maarten) was given to the Netherlands.

Many visitors to St. Maarten arrive by cruise ship which docks at the port in Philipsburg, the island’s capital, founded in 1763, by John Philips, a Scottish naval captain. Visitors enjoy the Dutch side for its casinos and duty-free bargains, art galleries and historic forts, while many visitors flock to the French side for its shops filled with French fashions and imported Gallic goodies as well as its beautiful beaches.

If you are not arriving by cruise ship, a short drive to visit to Philipsburg during your stay is a must as there are many things to see and do.

If you are an architecture lover, you will appreciate the many buildings that line Front Street. As opposed to the French side and its French Colonial and Creole buildings, the colorful half-timbered Dutch houses are the pride of their inhabitants. As you wander along, these buildings give off an air of friendliness and hospitality with their elaborate carvings and wrought iron balconies.

The Courthouse, built is 1793, as the home of Commander John Philips, has served as a court for successive governors, a fire station, a jail and a post office during its long existence in the town. One of the island’s most prominent landmarks, it is easy to spot on the main street. It is owned by the government of St. Maarten and maintains a spot on the list of major historic monuments.

Another building worth noting is St. Martin of Tours Catholic church. While the interior is quite plain, the exterior is bright and Caribbean-like maintains a location facing the beach. Another more impressive church belongs to the Methodists on Front Street. Sometimes referred to as the Old English or Wesleyan Church, it is a beautiful wooden clapboard structure with light blue accents. Built in 1978, it replaced the original church which was built in 1851. The inside is quite interesting with its blue and red accented galleries and wooden walls and ceilings, giving it a ship-like feel.

If you are in the mood to get out of the heat and learn a few things, a couple of museums exist in Philipsburg. The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit (see my post, “The Yoda Guy”) run by artist and movie effects specialist, Nick Maley, is a fun place for the family and Star Wars fans. The Sint Maarten Museum is a great place to learn about the island’s rich heritage.

Shopper alert!!! There are many duty free options where you can buy a treasure trove of items. St. Maarten, a free port, has no local sales taxes, VAT or other indirect prices. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, settings, bands, watches, electronics, perfumes…they are all here. Make sure you do your homework and be prepared to bargain.

Liquor prices on the island are some of the lowest I have ever seen. Many cruise ships will tell you that you can bring back five bottles of liquor per person, however, US customs allows one liter per person.

There is also a stall-type craft market that runs to Front Street. The vendors are extremely friendly, not pushy and willing to bargain. If you say no…they back off, unlike many other islands that I have visited. We did find that venturing into Philipsburg ensured better bargains and of course, less congestion, on days when cruise ships were not in port.

Another thing that I absolutely loved about Philipsburg was Great Bay and the beautiful beach that acts as a border between the many cafes and bars and the pristine, blue water. Tired of walking along Front Street? Take the boardwalk that runs the entire length of the beach. Some in your party don’t want to shop? Get them a chair and an umbrella. They can refine their tans while you shop til you drop! Great Bay and its beautiful beach is very unique and sets it apart from many other Caribbean islands that I have visited.

Whatever you decide to do in Philipsburg…eat, drink, stroll, shop, photograph or tan…you won’t be disappointed. It may be a cruise port, but one with a distinct character that has much to offer.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Philipsburg

Philipsburg Courthouse, Front Street, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Philipsburg Craft Market, behind the Courthouse, between Front Street and Back Street
St. Martin of Tours, 51 Front Street, St. Maarten, Voorstraat, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, http://www.catholicchurchsxm.org/
Methodist Church, Front Street, St. Maarten, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit, 19a Front Street, St. Maarten, http://netdwellers.com/mz/planetp/home.html
Sint Maarten Museum, 7 Front Street, St. Maarten, http://www.museumsintmaarten.org/
Map of Philipsburg, St. Maarten, http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/islands/sm/pbmap.shtml

Thirty-Seven

Thirty-Seven! Yes, there are thirty-seven beaches to visit on the island of St. Maarten!

While we loved the beach in front of our condo, we learned that many people pack up and drive to other beaches seeking a different experience each day.

We checked out a few others on our 8 day trip…here are our thoughts.

Simpson Bay Beach

Simpson Bay Beach parallels the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport and the picturesque fishing village of Simpson Bay. Primarily undeveloped, this beach runs to the foot of the Pointe Burgeaux rocks and was the beach in front of our rental unit. Though a little rougher on some days than the tranquil waters on other beaches, the sand was very soft, the water very close to our door and hardly a soul was ever on our beach.

Although our boys snorkeled the waters many times, no reefs are present and the only things that they ever found were some starfish and a few sand dollars. But the most exciting thing happened one day…we were extremely fortunate to witness a nest of baby turtles hatching and making their way toward the water!

Great Bay Beach

Located in the heart of Philipsburg, a promenade runs most of the way across its length and a great many bars and restaurants line the beach, making it a very convenient place to take in some sun. The waters are flat, clear and warm and there are plenty of beach chairs for rent and jet skis for hire.

Because it is convenient to the cruise ship port, accessible by a convenient water taxi, on cruise ship days, expect it to be quite the hopping place! It is a great place to get some shopping done as many vendors walk along the beach, but a block away there are lots of stores to browse when the sun’s rays get to be a bit too much!

Grand Case

After departing Philipsburg, we headed up the eastern side of the island. Not quite which beach to try next, we decided to stop in the charming fishing village of Grand Case. A little concerned when we first set eyes on the area, we found the beach to be a bit narrow and not many chairs appeared to be available. After walking a bit, a wonderful Frenchman at Le Soleil restaurant offered us the use of his loungers. He was extremely attentive and brought us beers throughout the afternoon and kept an eye on our belongings (though I don’t think there was much risk in our things walking away).

Grand Case Bay is a long narrow beach lined by celebrated gourmet restaurants and smaller barbeque-style eateries known as lolos. The smell from these lolos was divine and we actually came back on another day for lunch!

The water was calm, clear and flat and although not much to see in the way of snorkeling, my boy did find some pretty large starfish. There was also a partially collapsed pier that extended into pretty deep water providing a great place for my boys and some of the local children to do some diving and back-flips. Creole Rock is also located just off-shore and attracts many jet-ski tours, snorkelers and divers.

Dawn Beach

Located on the western side of the island, Dawn Beach was a bit difficult to find. After pulling into the Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa and asking the security guard how to find the access point, we were instructed to park in the Westin’s lot and walk along the right side of the property.

Though we found fine sand and beautiful palm trees, there were also continuous piles of seaweed lining the water’s edge as well as extremely rough water. Not spotting many swimmers or sunbathers, we decided to leave the location.

Orient Beach

Often described as the “Saint Tropez of the Caribbean”, we were anxious to see what this beach entailed. Situated on the north-eastern part of the island, it is one of the island’s largest and most popular beaches and well-known for being a clothing optional beach.

Having not planned to spend much time at this beach, as we had heard that chair rental and drinks were quite expensive, we pulled up and took a peek at what there was to offer. There were many restaurants, hotels, shops and water-sport rentals, such as jet skis, kayaks, sailing boats and paragliding trips.

The water was a beautiful shade of blue, although much rougher than what we expected. There were many small beautiful islands dotting the coast, such as Caye Verte, Tintamarre and Pinel Island, the latter of which is accessible by small ferries. Although visiting Pinel Island was tempting, we had just visited Anguilla the day before an decided to stay on the mainland.

Mullet Bay

Mullet Bay was recommended by another visitor at our villa unit. We were told to try and visit on a weekday as weekends were quite busy with locals.

Finally, making our way to this fine-sanded beach, located near a golf course and Maho Bay, we found the parking lot to be quite full…even on a weekday. The beach was quite steep descending into the calm, clear and blue water and extremely packed as three catamarans, filled with cruise ship passengers, were docked in the bay.

There were a large number of chairs for rent and a bar and restaurant. The ruins of the Mullet Bay Resort were visible on the point on the left side of the beach and provided for some nice photographic opportunities.

Maho Beach

Having seen pictures of airplanes flying right over Maho Beach, I have always wanted to visit. World-famous for its unique location right at the business end of the Princess Juliana Airport runway, crowds gather each day to watch airplanes take-off and land. This is a must-see!

More busy when cruise ships are in port, the narrow beach becomes extremely crowded and finding a place to lay a towel is difficult, although leaving anything on the beach makes it susceptible to jet blast blowing it away! Some chairs are available to rent at the Sunset Bar and Grill.

The water is calm, clear and blue and much quieter on days when cruise ships are not in port. There are a couple of restaurants and bars flanking each side of the bay, with the most popular being, Sunset Bar and Grill as well as a small supermarket on the northern end of the beach.

Some snorkeling can be done on the southern end of the beach and you may see the occasional tourist boat docked nearby for this reason.

Each of the many beaches on St. Maarten are different and offer many unique opportunities and amenities. Whatever it is that you are looking for…privacy, snorkeling, dining, watersports, relaxation…there’s a beach for that! Set out in your rental car and see how many you can check out on your vacation!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

The Yoda Guy

St. Maarten, a place of sand, sun, culinary delights…and Yoda?

One of the most unique tourist attractions on St. Maarten…or any island…has to be the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit, located on Front Street in Philipsburg. A welcome respite from the usual touristy shops in the cruise ship port, the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit is a small non-profit museum concentrating on movie memorabilia and history. After telling my husband and sons about the museum, there was no turning back…being huge Star Wars fans, they demanded that we visit while spending the morning in Philipsburg.

Nick Maley, an international artist and movie effects make-up wizard, known for his key contribution to the development of Yoda and other Star Wars characters, opened the unique museum in 2011. The museum houses Nick’s private collection of movie relics, duplicates and collectibles, including artifacts and life-size figures. The exhibits focus on the individuals and techniques that brought to life Yoda, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, the Terminator, Alien, Highlander and Superman, Harry and the Hendersons among others.

Our favorite pieces were the facial molds taken from various movie sets. So many familiar faces are on display.

There are many screens throughout the museum playing video of Nick recalling his part in making the many classic films that he was part of. There are also some new pieces from Planet of the Apes that are being prepared for the exhibit.

After making our way through the museum, we encountered Nick, in the memorabilia and art gallery part of the store. A kind and gracious man, he chatted with us for a while, answered our questions and even showed my boys how the museum’s Yoda was operated when it was on the movie set.

When taking a break from the the usual Caribbean island experiences, make your way down to this small, but amazing museum. A truly unique experience, the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit should not be missed!

Check out more pictures on Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit

http://netdwellers.com/mz/planetp/home.html#_=_
Address: Planet Paradise, 19a Front Street, Philipsburg, St Maarten,
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 0930-1700
Admission: $10 per person