Independent tours

[lidorose]

We are interested in doing a tour of both sides of the island. I read on these boards that there are a number of independent tour operators at the port. Has anyone taken this type of tour with one of them? Can you recommend? How was the price?

 

We are just trying to see which is better: going with the flow once we get there or booking this shore excursion with our cruiseline (HAL).

 

Thoughts, comments welcome. Thanks!

[mwsrccl]

There is a SXM taxi Authority right at the pier when you get off. Tours are customized and run about $20-30 a person and are well worth it. We did one with Johnny 5 and loved it, all drivers are certified tourist guides. You will not be disappointed!

[TrentS]

As you exit the pier veer to the right through or around the large yellow building... In front of that building is a large taxi stand with maps of the island and different colored lines on the roads indicating the different lengths of tour. Decide which one you want and then tell one of the starters and he'll arrange it with a driver. If you don't have a van full they'll try to find others coming off the ships who want to do the same tour. We did a complete full circle island tour (oddly enough also with "Johnny 5"), and it was great. The cost was $25 per person and it took about 3 hours with stops at Orient Beach and Marigot.

[lidorose]

I am traveling with a group of eight. Would that be considered a van full?

[TrentS]

Yeah, they hold more, but eight would be considered enough for a "full" load.

[lidorose]

How long do they stop at Marigot? I just want to know for comparing to the cruiseline's tour, which gives you 50 minutes there, I think.

[TrentS]

Yeah, we had about 45 or 50 minutes, but they'll customize the tours to whatever the group wants. He asked what we all wanted to do, if we wanted more shopping, or no shopping, more beach stops, any stops or none, etc... They're pretty flexible.

[Marykatesmom]

How long would the full circle tour take if it goes without stopping?:)

[teflonjeff]

I have some questions on these taxi tours. How much time for $25 was included and how long were the beach stops? Is anyone still posting here?

Thanks,

Jeff