Best Way to Get to French side of St. Martin

[cruiseonly]

Cruise ships dock in Phillipsburg the Dutch side. They have mostly tours on the Dutch side.

 

What is the best way to get to the French side. Is taxi the only way to go.

 

Also the stores on the French side are open 9 - 1, and 3 - 7, whereas the Dutch side is open 9 - 9.

[alphakitty]

We rented a jeep at the cruise dock and drove all over....driving was easy, the roads are pretty good. It was a great day! We enjoyed a couple of hours at Orient Bay, had lunch in Grand Case at a Lolo....good BBQ and shopped in Marigot after stopping at Friar's Bay Beach. We were back on ship 2 hours before sail away.

[DiTomCruisers]

Theere are taxis / small buses right outside the pier.. I think the fare was $6 or $8...

[kal]

...Also the stores on the French side are open 9 - 1, and 3 - 7, whereas the Dutch side is open 9 - 9.

 

The shops on Front Street in Philipsburg open at 10:00a and close at 6:00p. A few shops open a little earlier (~9:30am).

[janetz]

If you go to Margot, on the French side to shop, go early. Traffic gets heavy late in the am and then the shops shut down for a few hours at lunchtime. :)