Marigot and Phillipsburg

[Ozzmund]

We have been to St. Marten previously and have done the beach thing.

This time we would like to see Marigot and the boardwalk area of Phillipsburg.

 

We are planning on hitting Marigot first, then cab our way back to the boardwalk.

 

Here is a question for those of you who have been to Marigot before.

 

What time do the shops open? We are planning on a leisuely morning and heading over there around 10:00. Too early/just right?

[Hlitner]

The stores will be open before 10 and stay opened until at least 1 (many Marigot stores close during the afternoon). We always thought Marigot was a pretty neat place until our recent 2 week trip (just got home yesterday) where we stayed nearby in Grand Case. A couple of trips into Marigot was enough to last us forever. We were not too impressed :)

 

Hank

[Ozzmund]

Hank,

 

If you don't mind, can you elaborate on the source of your disappointment in your trips to Marigot?

 

Thanks

[Karysa]

Marigot is not a place that I would stay at or venture to at night. In the day I think that it is worthy of a visit. We stopped there earlier this month on a Wednesday morning an really enjoyed browsing the crafts at the market. Our daughter bought a lovely coconut leave that was handpainted and I got a great belt.

The fort is also worthy of a visit as is the Marina Royale. Serafina's bakery is great for pastries and iced coffee and I hope to try some of th local eateries this summer.

 

I think that Maigot looks better than it did several years ago. The euro and recession effected Marigot more than Phillipsburg and it is not as spruced up looking as it was during our first trips to the island in the early 90's but it's better than it has been in recent years IMHO.

 

Now, Grand Case well that place just gets in your soul, but I don't think that this happens on a short stop. :)

[Hlitner]

Hank,

 

If you don't mind, can you elaborate on the source of your disappointment in your trips to Marigot?

 

Thanks

 

Fair question and I want to try and give you a reasoned answer. DW and I are very well traveled (more then 3 years cruising and over 100 countries visited) so perhaps we have become a bit too cynical about certain places. Marigot does have a few nice shops/boutiques, but you are going to certainly find more variety (and usually lower prices) in Phillipsburg. The harbor area in Marigot is attractive, but it does not have the downtown beach option offered by Phillispburg. So, you have to consider that a cruise ship visitor can either walk or take the inexpensive water taxi over to Phillispburg, do their shopping, go to the beach, visit the casino, eat a nice lunch, etc etc. But when you go to Marigot from the port you are talking about a minimum 40 min each way (and this can easily take an hour if there are traffic issues which is too common on the island). Some folks like to talk about the waterfront outdoor market in Marigot, but DW sums up that market by saying "sameo sameo (not sure how to spell this faux word)." Marigot does have a few decent restaurants, but so does the area around Phillipsburg (a lot closer to the cruise port). So, you might ask why we chose the French side (Grand Case) to spend a recent 2 week vacation rather then staying on the Dutch side. The French side is more laid-back, and does not get overrun by cruise ship passengers (except at Orient Beach). We can easily find quiet beaches, good food (on and off beaches), etc. Not sure many others will agree with my thoughts....but you did ask :)

 

Hank

[whataboutport]

This was quite helpful to me, as I'm deciding between two RCCL sponsored bike excursions, one from Phillipsburg and one from Marigold. thank you, you helped me make up my mind. Plus I'm not into pastries and carbs, so Serafina's isn't really a big draw for me. :)

[Ozzmund]

Hank,

 

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your comments and since we have been to neither place, Phillipsburg sounds like a better option. I especially like the fact that when I tire of the shopping (30 min max), I can stroll down to one of the beach bars, rent a chair, umbrella and enjoy an adult beverage or two while my wife supports the local economy.

[Karysa]

Phillipsburg has better and cheaper ( think Rima) same old same old beach wraps, bags, hats and cheap jewelry but on Wednesday and Saturday there are some great crafters at the Marigot Market that are tucked in with all the other "junk" but worth searching out.

 

In Philipsburg take some time to shop on Back St which is the street behind Front St.. Many bargains can be found here on clothes and shoes etc.

[Salaway]

Interesting to read these helpful hints....trying to plan outings for our VERY FIRST CRUISE! Thanks all

[welikepalms]

Fair question and I want to try and give you a reasoned answer. DW and I are very well traveled (more then 3 years cruising and over 100 countries visited) so perhaps we have become a bit too cynical about certain places. Marigot does have a few nice shops/boutiques, but you are going to certainly find more variety (and usually lower prices) in Phillipsburg. The harbor area in Marigot is attractive, but it does not have the downtown beach option offered by Phillispburg. So, you have to consider that a cruise ship visitor can either walk or take the inexpensive water taxi over to Phillispburg, do their shopping, go to the beach, visit the casino, eat a nice lunch, etc etc. But when you go to Marigot from the port you are talking about a minimum 40 min each way (and this can easily take an hour if there are traffic issues which is too common on the island). Some folks like to talk about the waterfront outdoor market in Marigot, but DW sums up that market by saying "sameo sameo (not sure how to spell this faux word)." Marigot does have a few decent restaurants, but so does the area around Phillipsburg (a lot closer to the cruise port). So, you might ask why we chose the French side (Grand Case) to spend a recent 2 week vacation rather then staying on the Dutch side. The French side is more laid-back, and does not get overrun by cruise ship passengers (except at Orient Beach). We can easily find quiet beaches, good food (on and off beaches), etc. Not sure many others will agree with my thoughts....but you did ask :)

 

Hank

 

Thanks for your honest opinion Hank! We may not have time while in in

St. Maarten during our May cruise to visit Marigot but I will keep your honest thoughts in mind for our next visit. We are doing a fairly long excursion while there and want to get to Maho Beach if possible so Marigot may have to wait.

 

Happy Cruising

[mollanjake]

Phillipsburg has better and cheaper ( think Rima) same old same old beach wraps, bags, hats and cheap jewelry but on Wednesday and Saturday there are some great crafters at the Marigot Market that are tucked in with all the other "junk" but worth searching out.

 

In Philipsburg take some time to shop on Back St which is the street behind Front St.. Many bargains can be found here on clothes and shoes etc.

 

 

The Marigot Market is only on Wednesday and Saturday? We will be there on Tuesday, so no luck? I have an excursion booked and think we spend about 1 hr in Marigot..... Should I book something else? We basically booked an excursion that allowed me to visit "the french side for shopping" wondering if this s a mistake.:confused:

[Karysa]

The Marigot Market is only on Wednesday and Saturday? We will be there on Tuesday, so no luck? I have an excursion booked and think we spend about 1 hr in Marigot..... Should I book something else? We basically booked an excursion that allowed me to visit "the french side for shopping" wondering if this s a mistake.:confused:

 

The Marigot Market is in full swing on Wednesdays and Saturday as those are the days when the fruit and vegetable vendors are at the market. There are all sorts of vendors there every day but Sunday. Some of the crafters that I met only go on Wednesdays and Saturdays but you will have plenty to see and there are many stores nearby. One hour is not a lot of time in Marigot. There is a nice fort that you can climb to but you will need more than an hour if you want to shop as well. Go and enjoy:)

Edited January 24, 2013 by Karysa

[QuattroRomeo]

Great information here. We will be in St. Martin on a market day and although we have been to Philipsburg many times, haven't spent more than an hour or two at Marigot. Thought we might make a day of it at the market there for a change. We are there 8-5, and there will be 7 ships in port that day, in December.

So, we should allow at least an hour each way for a taxi ride? Is it any faster in the morning?

[Karysa]

Great information here. We will be in St. Martin on a market day and although we have been to Philipsburg many times, haven't spent more than an hour or two at Marigot. Thought we might make a day of it at the market there for a change. We are there 8-5, and there will be 7 ships in port that day, in December.

So, we should allow at least an hour each way for a taxi ride? Is it any faster in the morning?

 

30 minutes should get you from the pier to Marigot in the morning by taxi. I would suggest being dropped off by the stairs nearest to the fort and walk up the last set of stairs and visit the fort for beautiful views. You can walk down to Marigot in about 15 minutes from there and go to the market. After the market you can browse the shops and have lunch at the Marina Royale. If you leave Marigot in the mid-afternoon 45 minutes should get you back to the pier but leave another 1/2 hr just in case.

[QuattroRomeo]

Thanks Karysa, you have given us a wonderful itinerary for the day!

P.s. Have you tried the Tropicana restaurant? Seems to have a ton of good reviews.

[Karysa]

Thanks Karysa, you have given us a wonderful itinerary for the day!

P.s. Have you tried the Tropicana restaurant? Seems to have a ton of good reviews.

 

Maybe this year will be the year that I make it there. I have never made it to Tropicana but I have wanted to go there for years. We tend to go into Marigot in the early morning and fill up on pastries. I have heard wonderful things about the food and the service and look forward to trying it. I hope that you have a great day in Marigot. Remember if you want to shop in the stores in town go before lunch as the shops in Marigot close down in the afternoon for a couple of hours.:)

[bookmama22]

It's been a very long time since I was last in St. Martin/St Maarten, close to 30 years. DH and I stayed both times at hotels in Marigot and we really loved those vacations.. so we are leaving in a few weeks for an Eastern Caribbean cruise and that is one of the stops. We were planning to take a cab and spend some time wandering around, see if the hotels we stayed at are still around and how much it has changed. We did this on a cruise stop to Aruba and Curacao about 4 years ago and neither hotel we had stayed at had really change. The Aruba location had expanded across the road with a casino and condos but the original footprint of the hotel was as we remembered it, although now it was an all-inclusive.

 

Had originally looked at just renting in Grand Case instead of going on a cruise but as it has been so long ago wasn't really sure and didn't want to commit..

[QuattroRomeo]

It's been a very long time since I was last in St. Martin/St Maarten, close to 30 years. DH and I stayed both times at hotels in Marigot and we really loved those vacations.. so we are leaving in a few weeks for an Eastern Caribbean cruise and that is one of the stops. We were planning to take a cab and spend some time wandering around, see if the hotels we stayed at are still around and how much it has changed. We did this on a cruise stop to Aruba and Curacao about 4 years ago and neither hotel we had stayed at had really change. The Aruba location had expanded across the road with a casino and condos but the original footprint of the hotel was as we remembered it, although now it was an all-inclusive.

 

Had originally looked at just renting in Grand Case instead of going on a cruise but as it has been so long ago wasn't really sure and didn't want to commit..

 

Wow- it will be interesting to see it after all that time.. make sure you tell us what you think when you return! Love to hear your thoughts.

[Nole0202]

It's been a very long time since I was last in St. Martin/St Maarten, close to 30 years. DH and I stayed both times at hotels in Marigot and we really loved those vacations.. so we are leaving in a few weeks for an Eastern Caribbean cruise and that is one of the stops. We were planning to take a cab and spend some time wandering around, see if the hotels we stayed at are still around and how much it has changed. We did this on a cruise stop to Aruba and Curacao about 4 years ago and neither hotel we had stayed at had really change. The Aruba location had expanded across the road with a casino and condos but the original footprint of the hotel was as we remembered it, although now it was an all-inclusive.

 

Had originally looked at just renting in Grand Case instead of going on a cruise but as it has been so long ago wasn't really sure and didn't want to commit..

 

You will enjoy a visit to Marigot. Consider renting a car for a stop at one of the beaches just north or south of the city.

 

Phillipsburg is just like a big outlet mall and not the place that we consider to spend vacation time on.

[Laid-back]

The Marigot Market is in full swing on Wednesdays and Saturday as those are the days when the fruit and vegetable vendors are at the market. There are all sorts of vendors there every day but Sunday. Some of the crafters that I met only go on Wednesdays and Saturdays but you will have plenty to see and there are many stores nearby. One hour is not a lot of time in Marigot. There is a nice fort that you can climb to but you will need more than an hour if you want to shop as well. Go and enjoy:)

 

Have been in Margot on Sunday for the past two years and will be there again next month. Both previous times the market was open on Sunday. From what you are reporting that is no longer the case. Is your info more recent than 10 months ago? Just curious as that will certainly affect our plans. Thanks.

[Karysa]

Have been in Margot on Sunday for the past two years and will be there again next month. Both previous times the market was open on Sunday. From what you are reporting that is no longer the case. Is your info more recent than 10 months ago? Just curious as that will certainly affect our plans. Thanks.

 

No new information. On Sundays in the summer I have seen some t-shirt sales people and others that sell St. Martin souvenirs made in China but the crafters and the fruit and vegetable vendors are at the Market on Saturday and Wednesdays. One crafter that I spoke to last month told me that she is at the Market on wed, thurs, and sat so it's kind of hard to keep up with who's there and when.

[glentally]

The stores will be open before 10 and stay opened until at least 1 (many Marigot stores close during the afternoon). We always thought Marigot was a pretty neat place until our recent 2 week trip (just got home yesterday) where we stayed nearby in Grand Case. A couple of trips into Marigot was enough to last us forever. We were not too impressed :)

 

Hank

 

Hello Hlitner,

 

I've done the Orient, Marigot and then Maho twice. I might still do Maho but where else or what else would you do? I may or may not rent a car.

[glentally]

 

Now, Grand Case well that place just gets in your soul, but I don't think that this happens on a short stop. :)

 

What is Grand Case? What is there to see or do? Any other ideas? I'm leaning on NOT renting a car this time, just cabbing it, but to where?

[navybankerteacher]

What is Grand Case? What is there to see or do? Any other ideas? I'm leaning on NOT renting a car this time, just cabbing it, but to where?

 

Grand Case is a smaller town north of Marigot - lined with small restaurants along the shore. Aside from the restaurants there is not much to do on a short visit, as there is not much of a beach.

[Karysa]

Grand Case is a smaller town north of Marigot - lined with small restaurants along the shore. Aside from the restaurants there is not much to do on a short visit, as there is not much of a beach.

 

There is lots to do in Grand Case on a short visit. You can go on a snorkel or dive through Octopus diving on restaurant row. Creole rock watersports has snorkel trips as well and they rent beach chairs, kayaks, paddle boards and other watersports as well. There are plenty of boutiques to browse as well and a perfumery where you can make your own perfume. I must also add that in January when you visit yearly the north swells make the 2 Grand Case beaches non-existent at times but we just visited in May and visit yearly in the summer and the beaches are really lovely. I did visit while on a New Years cruise a few years ago and we could not get in the water due to the high swells so I do understand where you are coming from but to say as a blanket statement that there's not much in the way of a beach in Grand Case is simply very different than my experiences other than that visit in January when you say that you go.