Question re scooters/mopeds

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

I'm in a group of 4 that will be in St. Martin the first week of June (myself, hubby, his brother, and brother's wife).

Can anyone provide info about renting mopeds for the day? We'd like to go to Orient Beach, also maybe Maho Bay, and of course some shopping.

Does anyone have experience with renting mopeds/scooters that they can relate? I've read some 'not so good' experiences, but I want to get more input before I make a decision.

We're all in our late 30's/early 40's, but still have a little sense of adventure left!

Thanks for your help!
Cindy

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002
Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917[/url]
Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

[bob&karen]

We were in St. Martin on 4/13 and took a taxi to Orient Beach. On the way our driver, as part of his informal tour commentary, pointed out all the locations where he has seen moped accidents / fatalities. There were a bunch of them.

He went on to recommend renting a jeep if you wanted to drive yourself and have an open-air experience. Not trying to rain on your parade, but I'd have to agree with him. In addition to the safety factor, we saw several instances of mopeds stuck at the bottom of big hills with insufficient power to proceed - not a situation I'd care to be in.

Bob

[img]http://www.animationlibrary.com/Animation11/Geography_and_History/Islands/Ship_at_island.gif[/img]
"Ohhh these moments we’re left with --
May you always remember
These moments are shared, by few
And those harbor lights, lord, they’re coming into view
We’ll bid our farewells much too soon
So drink it up, this one’s for you -
Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise."
-- James W. Buffett

Carnival Triumph, April '02
Carnival Sensation, January '04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;4;10;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
(Golden Princess, 4/10/04 - "Grown People Acting Like Children!")

4/10/04 Golden Princess Rogue's gallery: [url="http://community.webshots.com/album/126040133QEaDiP"]http://community.webshots.com/album/126040133QEaDiP[/url]

Cruise pix at: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/mageesworld"]http://community.webshots.com/user/mageesworld[/url]

e-mail: [email]bobandkarenny@yahoo.com[/email]

[rick10010x]

Driving a moped on the roads of St. Martin will require more than a "little sense of adventure." I agree with the recommendation to rent a Jeep.
Rick

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

Thanks for your replies, guys! My hubby was wondering about this...I'm one of those 'get a taxi and get there' kind of people when I arrive in port. I think hubby doesn't understand the environment there and probably pictures it as being a wonderful ride w/no problems whatsoever.

I'll have to remind him of when we were in Jamaica last year.....

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002
Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917[/url]
Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

[gtaylor]

I couldn't possibly recommend a scooter rental, but if you've done so In Jamaica, then it would probably be a piece of cake on St. Maarten. Those Jamaica drivers are WAY over the edge.

I'd recommend renting a car for your group to share. Probably about the same cost, and a LOT safer.

If you decide on the scooters, check out the package that includes the rental and the purchase of a funeral plot in a single, discounted package.



_____
We must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. Oliver Wendell Holmes

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

gtaylor, I had to LOL about the "package plan" you mentioned!!!!!!

No, we've never rented scooters anywhere, sorry if my last post gave that impression. I meant to point out to my hubby the conditions of Jamaica in the area we visited that day, and to use as a comparison.

In some places it was a little scary to be, even WITH our taxi tour driver!!!

Cindy

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002
Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917[/url]
Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

[BigEd1340]

Geez..what a bunch of "old hens" some of you are. We just got back from ST. Maarten,(Carnival Victory) and had a great time on scooters. In fact, if you walk to the end of the pier to the road, there are 3 or 4 scooter rental guys you will have to beat off with a stick. It was $50 for all day (4:30pm)and if you just "ride with the flow of the traffic" and stay on the main road that takes you around the whole island, you will be fine. If you don't find the "scooter dogs" at the end of the pier, go left at the main road about a mile and there is a scooter place on the right. You will see the scooters out front.
Like I said, we had a great time on scooters and we are 30's & 40's people.

Have fun

[Andee]

We're in our 50s, and loved our day on the scooter. We thought St. Martin was a pretty good place for scootering, as the island is relatively flat, the roads are smooth, not real curvy and well marked, and they drive on the side of the road we're used to.

however, I think a car would be more fun for four people, as you could all be together.

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

Oh, man, this is making my decision difficult!
I wish things were clear cut!

What we might do is make one of those 'gut feeling' decisions when we get there.

Sovereign of the Seas-June 2002
Voyager of the Seas-April 2003-Read My Review Here [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6323075917[/url]
Mariner of the Seas-May 30, 2004!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;05;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Til we cruise on Mariner--woo hoo!

[mandiecandie5]

BigEd and Andee thanks for the information on the scooter rentals!! I am relatively experienced with these and have driven scooters for many years and on many islands.

Did either of you drive entirely around the island? How long do you think it would take? Also did the "scooter dogs" bargain with you at all or was it a straight price of $50? Thanks again!

Days till Caribbean Princess 12/4/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;12;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[rainy54]

Depending on where you go the island, is not flat. There are certain roads that are hair pin steep roads. If you stay on the main road and do the entire island you will understand what I mean. On the west side Dutch-French boarder past Cupacoy, I would not recommend scooters. It is dangerous enough for a car. In a car, you can circle the entire Island in an hour, that is without stopping. Scooters to Dawn Beach would also be dangerous. There is a very steep hill going over the mountain.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;3;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Till NCL Dawn cruise

[Let_It_Ride]

I agree with BigEd and Andee, we were in St. Maarten in May and rented a scooter. We had no major issues, my wife and I toured the whole island with a few stops in about 3 hours. There are a few times when I felt underpowered when going up hills, however, I just moved over, did not stop traffic behind me and went along. If there are four of you, it might be for fun in a jeep. There are rental scooter on the right hand side of the pier. We paid $40 for 4 hours.

____________________________
See my pictures at:
[url="http://www.fradom.com/photos"]http://www.fradom.com/photos[/url]