St Maartin car rentals

[headstalkn]

I will be visiting St Maartin on 12/16. is it better to book a rental car in advance or are there enough options to rent once off the ship?

[Bonnie J.]

We have never rented a car on around 100+ cruises. Why? Because then you have to know where you're going, watch the road so you can't see the scenery or look at anything, and there are some crazy drivers on the narrow roads, etc.. We hire a cab to show us around and will talk price with more than one until we can agree. We have toured with another couple so they pay half. The drivers know their island and we can also ask them to take us to wherever we want to go or just have then show us the highlights.

In St. Maartin we usually take the LOCAL bus (which is a long van) to beaches, Maho or where ever but they do not go to the nude Orient Beach.

[dread_pirate]

If you do decide to rent a car, check with your auto insurance company. Many policies do not cover cars rented outside of the US and Canada, so be prepared to pay for the agency's insurance.

[brunello22]

St. Maarten is a very easy island to drive around. We have always booked the car in advance and have used Coastal Car Rental each time.

 

Be sure though, not to drive through Downtown Philipsburg on the way back to drop off the car, as the traffic can be heavy. I suggest once you get the car, to drive towards the west of the island first, towards Maho Beach, and then make your way around from there towards Marigot. Stop in Gran Case on the French side for the fresh fish restaurants along the water.