MarkE Posted February 16, 2019 #1 Share Posted February 16, 2019 We will be on the Allure March 24 and my grandsons want to go to Maho to see the planes. Cruise line offers an excursion a bus ride to there and back for $41 it will last 4 hours. I know you can take a taxi or pile into a van does anyone know the cost of those? We dont want to stand in line or be packed into a small van, ship tour states a bus to beach. Anyone done this tour or any recommendations of best way to get there. Is the bar,restaurant still right there next to the beach does it still have a pool for the kids? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseguy1016 Posted February 16, 2019 #2 Share Posted February 16, 2019 We have always taken a taxi to Maho Beach. I think it's $8 per person. There is a bus that's even cheaper but I don't know any details on that. There are two bars at Maho beach, one at each end. We prefer to get our drinks at the Driftwood Boat Bar at the north end of the beach. The Sunset Beach Bar (with the pool) is at the south end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cello56 Posted February 16, 2019 #3 Share Posted February 16, 2019 If you take a taxi, just be absolutely sure that you leave in plenty of time to get back to the ship before sail away. There is basically only one road between Maho and the ship, and if there is a crash that closes the road you will be SOL. At a Captain's corner one of the Captains said that Maho beach is the reason that St. Maarten has the highest number of passengers left behind of all the Caribbean ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted February 16, 2019 #4 Share Posted February 16, 2019 The bus was $2 per person, each way, the last time we were there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBumb Posted February 16, 2019 #5 Share Posted February 16, 2019 It is a must imo. Take a taxi. Leave with plenty of time to get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&J_Pgh Posted February 16, 2019 #6 Share Posted February 16, 2019 We learned both the scary and expensive lesson that the actual taxi drivers last call is 2:00. If you chose to stay longer you get a jitney. If the people we shared the van with didn't know this, we would have been left behind. Jitney drivers aren't allowed into the port so he tried insisting on dropping us at the ferry which was another $7 per person. He earned enough on 5 of us that the leader of our group told him he'd better be buying his wife a lobster dinner because that was what we were having for dinner that night for Valentine's Day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAYSWIN Posted February 16, 2019 #7 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Take the ship tour...peace of mind. No white knuckling on Maho Beach. Enjoy...it is a special spot!! ❤️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBumb Posted February 16, 2019 #8 Share Posted February 16, 2019 I’ve started out early. Gotten taxi and done Maho and orient beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DragonOfTheSeas Posted February 16, 2019 #9 Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) There is really not that much sand on Maho beach to spend hours there. JMHO. . . . but, a very interesting spot to visit. I can see spending time at the beach bars. Edited February 16, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhafod Posted February 16, 2019 #10 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Better if you take a tour that goes around the island (french and dutch side) with plenty of stops (orient beach, maho beach, etc.). I would recommend bernards tours and I am sure they will get you to the ship before it leaves :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted February 16, 2019 #11 Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) I usually just taxi. Research plane schedules, often the larger ones don't land in the morning, but lots of small planes do. Around lunch and early afternoon it seems the larger planes begin reaching there. The largest of the planes are not flying as frequently as they used to so it's mostly 737, 757, A320, an A330 once in a while but a lot of island hoppers - single/twin engine prop or turbo prop. This site will give you an idea of a typical day of planes using SXM: https://flightaware.com/live/airport/TNCM Edited February 16, 2019 by twangster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelJ Posted February 16, 2019 #12 Share Posted February 16, 2019 We used Bernard's Tours and had a great, stress-free time. Bernard knows the scheduled times of the big planes coming into Maho, and he will curtail the stops on his tours to make sure you experience the planes. The website is bernardstours.com, and Bernard has garnered rave reviews on Cruise Critic and Trip Adviser. I haven't read of anyone missing a ship when on one of Bernard's tours. He offers group tours and private customizable tours. I recommend that you consider this as an option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkkunk Posted February 17, 2019 #13 Share Posted February 17, 2019 If you just want to go to Maho, I would do a taxi or van to get there. Much quicker and less expensive. Just make sure that you have plenty of time to get back to the ship when you leave to come back. If you want a tour of the island, which will also stop at Maho, I would also recommend Bernards’s Tours. We have have done both with no problems. Enjoy your cruise!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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