Any Advice for a Day in St. Kitts and a Day in St. Maarten?

[MRM]

Spring break is coming at just the right time this year, and we got a good deal on a cruise with Celebrity Cruise Line that docks in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Considering that today was "warm" because it got up to 14 (plus) and it was the first time I could wash the cars since Christmas, we're really looking forward to some fun in the sun.

Our situation is that we'll be traveling with mother-in-law ( a completely delightful and pretty sporting MIL) and our 17 year old son. We've done two prior cruises and quickly realized that the cruise's shore excursions are usually way too expensive for what you get and not nearly as much fun as can be had on our own. The pattern we've struck on is to disembark as early as possible, walk to the nearest cab stand, asking what the cabby would a friend who could only visit there once and for one day, and negotiate a flat rate for the cabby to take us to the whatever the locals think are the best attractions. We did this in Alaska and Hawaii and I can't recommend this approach highly enough.

The problem is that I know nothing about St. Maarten or St. Kitts, and what I see on the internet seems very basic touristy reviews of what tourists who don't know anything more than me did when they were wandering around without a plan or insider information. I don't think I could intelligently discuss a potential day trip with a cabby and make a good decision on what to do and where to go. And if we wanted to get on a sailing excursion or deep sea fishing, we would almost have to make the reservations, or at least know who we were looking for, before we left. Otherwise, by the time we get to the dock it will be too late and we won't know what our real options are. The best would be to make arrangements in advance, if I knew who to contact or where to go.

We love the beach, but we also love the water, so I was tentatively planning one beach day and one activity day, preferably deep sea fishing or a sailing excursion, or something like that. For the beach day, I know there are hotels that offer all-inclusive day packages, some of which apparently link up with your account on Celebrity, but the specifics are pretty hard to pin down.

Does anyone have any day trip, beach or water activity suggestions? Any suggestions for a local captain or guide?

[doug_porsche]

St Maarten

Sint Maarten Guavaberry | Rums | Hot Sauces | Buy Online | Folklore

[onlycafe]

sunscreen on the outside, boatdrinks on the inside.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by MRM

walk to the nearest cab stand . . . and negotiate a flat rate for the cabby to take us to the whatever the locals think are the best attractions.

You have the correct approach here. ^^^ We have done this many times & it always turns into an adventure. Get the cabby with the best languages skills - often an old scraggly guy & enjoy his repartee. You will pay him too much, but the trip always seems a bargain afterwards.

My wife has convinced me to book a villa for 10 days in Saint Lucia next February. She is fed up with this winter & for her sanity, she needs somewhere warm booked for next winter. I am having a hard time saying no.

Ian

[Vintage914Racer]

I've been on a few cruises that stopped at St. Kitts. We typically do a catamaran tour to Nevis, the neighboring island. It gets you on the water, you get to enjoy a nice beach and the most hospitable crew you'll find around. If you like rum punch the sail back home could be pretty fun.

[MRM]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any suggestions for who to book a cruise/tour through?

[Vintage914Racer]

I believe the ones I've been in we're with leeward island charters. We've typically booked through the ship though.

[Gogar]

In St. Kitts you can take a cab to Turtle Beach or South Friars Bay and "Mr. Mongoose" beach. There's a few tiny bars and some good umbrella-beachy action. Very small. Swimming is not really that great except for a few designated de-coraled areas, but the view is nice.

As mentioned, Nevis is fun and has a slightly better beach. Go to Sunshine's bar and have a "Killer Bee."

[sketchers356]

How did you wash your car in 14F weather?

[MRM]

It was a sunny day. I have a big driveway and a two story brick house that faces due east. Even in the winter if the sun is bright enough there's enough solar radiation captured by the combination of the front of my house and my driveway to keep water from freezing long enough to wash a car. As long as the sun keeps shining directly on the car it keeps the surface of the car warm enough not to freeze for the most part while it dries. You learn how to do things like that when you live where there's nine months of winter and three months of poor skiing.

Did I mention I need a spring break?

[porsche4life]

It was a sunny day. I have a big driveway and a two story brick house that faces due east. Even in the winter if the sun is bright enough there's enough solar radiation captured by the combination of the front of my house and my driveway to keep water from freezing long enough to wash a car. As long as the sun keeps shining directly on the car it keeps the surface of the car warm enough not to freeze for the most part while it dries. You learn how to do things like that when you live where there's nine months of winter and three months of poor skiing.



Did I mention I need a spring break?

I read this and I wonder how in the hell anyone does it? Everyone makes fun of the heat in AZ, but 4 months of bloody hot,8 months of paradise seems way the hell better than that!

[HarryD]

Been on cruises there a few times.

Best time we had was the time we rented a van with another couple and drove to the French side for topless beaches and lunch.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by MRM

walk to the nearest cab stand, asking what the cabby would a friend who could only visit there once and for one day, and negotiate a flat rate for the cabby to take us to the whatever the locals think are the best attractions. We did this in Alaska and Hawaii and I can't recommend this approach highly enough.

Done this recently in Macau. Got to see lots of very cool things off the beaten track. Cost us AU$100 for 7 hours.

Hope you have a great trip.

[Rtrorkt]

Two words on St Martin; "Orient Beach"

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by rtrorkt

two words on st martin; "orient beach"

^^

[Seahawk]

The World Federation for Coral Reef Conservation has asked me to propose mapping Simpson Bay with the systems I own.

I am writing the proposal today...is the "O" capitalized in "Orient"?