Touring on own

[shensadie]

Thinking about touring on my own at ST. Marten-just taking a taxi to the beach for a day. Advice?

[Roz]

Are you a man or a woman? As a single woman who travels solo quite a bit, I would never get in a taxi alone with a man in a foreign country. There are dangers for men as well.

 

My recommendations would be to do a ship excursion, or try to find other women or a man to share the taxi with you.

 

A couple who are friends of mine thought I was being a "worry wort" (sp?) when I told them to be extra careful in Jamaica. They hailed a cab in Montego Bay and asked to be taken to a nearby beach. Everything was fine until they wanted to go home, then the cab driver extorted them out of an additional $100. When they reported it to the police, the attitude was what do you want us to do about it.

 

Roz

[kathy32259]

There is a water taxi at the end of the pier (close to the pier shopping) in St. Maarten. You can ride that over to town - 5 minute ride - with a whole group - no one will know you are alone. On the town side, there is a beach, alot of little bars and restaurants, and right behind are all of the stores! Even a couple of Casinos. I can't remember - but I think it is about $5 round trip.

 

I agree with Roz - don't get into a taxi in a foreign country alone. I would always book an excursion with a group from the ship. I'm not a worry wort - just cautious. As a business traveler - I have learned that preventative measures go a long way!

[Roz]

Kathy,

 

That's great advice about the water taxi in St. Maarten. I'd forgotten about that. I agree, much safer than going to a beach alone with a taxi driver.

 

Roz

[kathy32259]

The water taxi was foremost in my mind because I will be there real soon!!!!:D My DD and her DBF are going - we will all take the water taxi to the beach and then I will head downtown to do some shopping while they bask in the sun! There is a cute little Casino on the corner - very clean - and when I was there in January it was pretty much empty. So I may stop there for an hour or so.

 

Do you know the name of the jewerly store that has all the fabulous jewerly that only movie stars and billionaires could buy? They have necklaces that look like collars (all diamod and gems) etc? I want to show my DD. I have never seen anything like that jewerly - it is beautiful!

 

Only 33 days and I will be in lovely St. Maarten. I think it might be one of my favorite ports!:)

[gtaylor]

Do you know the name of the jewerly store that has all the fabulous jewerly that only movie stars and billionaires could buy? They have necklaces that look like collars (all diamod and gems) etc? I want to show my DD. I have never seen anything like that jewerly - it is beautiful!

 

Our favorite jewelry store on St. Maarten (actually, in the Caribbean) is Shiva's on Front Street, and they have some very high-end items.

 

I have some photos posted over in my PhotoBucket.

[kathy32259]

gtaylor - Thanks for the pictures! I will check it out - in 15 days! :D I am so excited!!

[Urban Chic]

I've cruised "solo" many times, and St. Marten is one of my favorite ports.

 

Orient Beach is a very popular beach to visit for cruise ship passengers, and there ALWAYS seems to be "at least" a dozen cruise ship passengers at the taxi stand at the end of the pier asking if anyone wants to share a cab to orient. I've gone this way several times (and even a time or 2 on my own over to Marigot, and then on to orient), and have never had any problems.

 

My advice would be to of course to always pay close attention to your surroundings, but don't be so"overly-causious" as to let it prevent you from going to the places you want to see, and doing the things you want to do while you're in st. Marten.

 

Always Use common sense when traveling alone . . . But don't let it prevent you from having fun!

 

Chic

[Island Annie]

I've taken a taxi solo several times while in St. Maretin and have never had a problem.

 

St. Martin's taxi area seems to be very well organized with destinations & prices listed on a chalkboard right where the cabs pull up. As Urban Chic mentioned above, there does always seem to be a LOT of cruise passengers gathered in that area asking if anyone would like to share a ride. It's a great idea if you're trying to save some money, just use your best judgement as to who you agree to share with.

 

Orient Beach is one of the more popular beaches in St. Martin, and there always seems to be a LOT of passengers taking a taxi there. Many of them will be looking for someone to share the ride.

 

If you prefer to go on your own, you shouldn't have any problems, (as always pay close attention to your souroundindings) I've always found the locals in St. Martin to be very friendly & helpful.

 

O'Bay is a GREAT beach!! Go, relax, and have FUN!

 

Annie

[gxchan]

I don't dispute the idea of not allowing fear (and that is what we are talking about) keep you from doing what you want on vacation (land or cruise) but there are definite issues women who travel solo must address and one of them is security. I've traveled solo since I was 16 (an early bloomer) and by the time I was 20-21, I fully appreciated the woman traveling solo issues. I've had personal experience with men who look ordinary, nice, seem friendly, etc. turn very unpleasant (and this was in the US) and the same type of men being just great (and that was in Europe). Looks really don't matter. Remember, bad guys lie and cover themselves better than good guys because they have more experience at it.

 

As for your getting to the beach, I would suggest hooking up with someone form your crusie ship to share the cab and also to have a "touch stone" while at the beach. I'm not saying don't go or be joined at the hip with others but rather that you don't give the appearance of being completely alone.

 

Solo traveling is great and I highly recommend it but part of it is keeping yourself safe in an environment where you are on your own.

 

Have a great time. Stay safe.

[kathy32259]

My two DD's are freaking out because I am going solo in October. They are worried that I will be at sea alone - not to mention touring in the ports. Here is their concern - how will anyone even know if I go missing - because no one on the ship will be expecting me to show up anywhere.....

 

Anyone have any words of encouragement I can give to them? :confused:

 

I told them they don't worry so much when I travel for business, and I am home all weekend with no one checking on me - so what is the difference.... Well that did not reassure them. :o

[Lois R]

Hi Kathy, nice to know your raised such caring kids:) but sounds

like they are looking at things with a negative extreme:eek:

 

This might help them ..... you can tell them you know

many people who sail/travel solo. Now, I am not sure if you

do, but you know us from here!

I have cruised many many times solo.....and nothing negative

has happened.

I feel very safe on a ship and from everything I gather, you

sound like a bright person. Common sense is a big factor

and I am sure you have that too:D.

 

It is very easy to meet people on a cruise and in my opinion,

the majority are good folks.

 

Enjoy your cruise:)

[gxchan]

My two DD's are freaking out because I am going solo in October. They are worried that I will be at sea alone - not to mention touring in the ports. Here is their concern - how will anyone even know if I go missing - because no one on the ship will be expecting me to show up anywhere.....

 

Anyone have any words of encouragement I can give to them? :confused:

 

I told them they don't worry so much when I travel for business, and I am home all weekend with no one checking on me - so what is the difference.... Well that did not reassure them. :o

 

I understand your DDs concerns about no one knowing you are missing because you are alone, as that is my concern traveling solo, as well. Obviously, I don't let it keep me from going. It is different on a ship than on land. You will make friends and meet crew on the ship. Let people know when you are going off on your own off the ship, what you are planning to do (get some sun at such and such beach), etc. Also, I use e-mail to touch base with someone at home each day to reassure everyone I'm o.k. None of these things detract from the solo experience but provide a simple bit of security. You will be fine but it doesn't hurt for you and your love ones to know you are still tettered, if only by e-mail, to them. I never expect something bad to happen but feel it would be careless to not have a plan if something did go wrong. But that is just me, I'm a planner.

 

Please don't worry about the bad stuff, it can happen, but God willing it won't happen to you!

 

(I'm sorry, I feel like a stick in the mud here going on about security issues but we are living in a different world now and hate to think anything would happen to good people.)

[Lois R]

I understand your DDs concerns about no one knowing you are missing because you are alone, as that is my concern traveling solo, as well. Obviously, I don't let it keep me from going. It is different on a ship than on land. You will make friends and meet crew on the ship. Let people know when you are going off on your own off the ship, what you are planning to do (get some sun at such and such beach), etc. Also, I use e-mail to touch base with someone at home each day to reassure everyone I'm o.k. None of these things detract from the solo experience but provide a simple bit of security. You will be fine but it doesn't hurt for you and your love ones to know you are still tettered, if only by e-mail, to them. I never expect something bad to happen but feel it would be careless to not have a plan if something did go wrong. But that is just me, I'm a planner.

 

Please don't worry about the bad stuff, it can happen, but God willing it won't happen to you!

 

(I'm sorry, I feel like a stick in the mud here going on about security issues but we are living in a different world now and hate to think anything would happen to good people.)

 

Hi Ginnie, you are not a stick in the mud. We all have our

own ways of living...traveling, cruising, etc. and you are offering

friendly advice.

 

I, on the other hand am not a planner and never check in

with anyone here at home while I am away.

I don't mean to sound morbid...but if it is my time to go...

well, just send me out to sea...I would probably feel

more at peace out there than I do on land.

 

 

Kathy, I am sure you will be fine:)

[kathy32259]

:) Hey Lois and Ginnie -

 

Yep - I KNOW I will be fine. I am not the one who is worried - ;)

 

The DD's are the ones I have to convince. Maybe the email will work for them this time around - although personally, I really don't want to go near a computer - cause that is what I do all day now. Maybe I'll just give them a call when I get to Key West - I will be in Florida, so no LD charges on my cell.

 

Thanks for all of the encouraging words! Only a few more days and I will be back on the sea - :D

[luvcruzing]

Kathy, I think your daughters are probably apprehensive about your sailing solo because of all the publicity over the last couple of years about cruise passengers going missing - whether they were alone or with family.

 

I don't know if I would tell my children that I would e-mail them daily to ease their minds. What if I was having a blast (okay, I'm a product of growing up in the 60s) and then simply forgot to e-mail them one day? They would probably be freaking out. I might tell them that I would e-mail them once or twice in a week, and then I could always do it more often if I wanted to.

 

I, also, just wanted to point out that when you disembark the ship at a port, you swipe your cruise card, and then have to swipe it again when you return. So, the ship's crew knows who has returned and who hasn't.

 

I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise. Please let us know how everything went.