We are so happy to have you attend this special gathering with us! This site will provide you with additional information about the island and some of the activities we have planned.
Please note that the only required events during your stay are: the wedding on Friday, and the ladies brunch hosted by Jenny Marcus on Thursday. Everything else is organized by us to spend some time together but you are not obligated to attend since none of those events are sponsored. If you have RSVP’ed for an event and decide not to come, do let us know (for now its just the Sunday boat trip).
We will continue updating this site with itinerary so please check back as you get closer to the departure date.
Island communication: since most of us will stay at one hotel it will be easier but for others, we suggest enabling international text massaging plan for the duration of your stay so we can send text messages to each other.
Neighboring Islands Worth Visiting
Anguilla (UK)/St. Barths (Fr)/Saba (Neth)
Some Practical Information
The Island - St. Maarten/St. Martin is an island shared between two nations, French and Dutch.
Transportation — Car rental is the best way to explore the island but taxi service is available on the island.
Detailed Activities can be found here (great resources)
Affordably Fun Things To Do in St. Maarten
St. Martin (dot) ORG
Instagram
please use Hashtag: #SXMWDAY
Eat & Drink
French cuisine consists of cooking traditions and practices from France, famous for the rich tastes and subtle nuances with long and rich history. France, a country famous for its agriculture and independently minded peasants, was long a creative powerbase for delicious recipes, that are both healthy and refined.
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Kayaking in the Lagoon — Simpson Bay Lagoon is a great place to go kayaking — the waters are stable, clear, and the scenery’s beautiful. Kayak to one of the small islands in the lagoon and do some exploration. There are several shops you can rent kayaks, but at Tri Sport, you can rent a double and go with a buddy for $29 for 4 hrs.
Butterfly Farm — Hardly any locals come here. Most people who come here are cruise ship tourists. Nevertheless, if you like caterpillars and butterflies all around you, this is the picture perfect place. $15 per person.
Pinel Island — This offshore island is pure-joy to be. It’s a nice place to lay on the beach or go snorkeling, and offers a wonderful view of St. Martin. Ferries leave from French Cul-de-Sac every half hour until about 4 or 5pm. Tickets are $7 per person round-trip.
Go Kart racing — If you drive past Marigot right before you get to Grand Case, you’ll see a Go Kart racing place on the right side. I don’t know how much it would cost but I can’t imagine it being that much. One of the classes at AUC once had a fundraiser Go Kart racing tournament here.
Paintball – There are two places I know of on the island where you can go paintballing. On the Dutch side, in Simpson Bay, not too far from AUC, is Kookamanga’s. They have a paintball court up front, with a crashed airplane in the middle of the court, and a tapas bar and restaurant in the back. They also have live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. If you are driving from AUC to Simpson Bay, look for the airplane on the left. It’s hard to miss. Another paintballing place is on the French side near Orient Bay by the Cadisco gas station. Here, cost is around 20 euros, which include all the equipment you need minus the bullets. They are open Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Look for the signs.
St. Maarten Zoo — The St. Maarten zoo showcases hundreds of animals from all over the Caribbean and beyond. There is a bat house, a reptile house, and an enclosed aviary you can walk into. For the kids, there is also a petting zoo and a fun pirate-ship-themed playground. The most fun part about the zoo, in my opinion, is that you can purchase peanuts to feed the animals in the zoo, and that’s something you can’t do in most zoos in the US. To get there, drive to the north side of the Salt Pond in Philipsburg. Entrance fee is $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Sunday Brunch — Have all-you-can-eat champagne, oysters, crab legs, sushi, Italian pasta bar, hand-carved roasted lamb, fondue, and more at the Westin in Oyster Pond for $48 (you’ll eat your money’s worth). Then spend some time relaxing on Dawn Beach (where the Westin is), one of the nicer beaches on the island.
Activities
Scuba Diving — With clear, azure waters and diverse marine life, St. Maarten is the perfect place to learn how to dive. If you’re already certified, great! Some well-known sites include Creole Rock on the French side and Proselyte (a huge sunken ship) on the Dutch side.
Parasailing – You’ll be surprising how relaxing it is being 800 ft in the air on
a parachute dragged by the boat. Parasailing tours are available at Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg. It’s $50 for 400ft and $80 for 800 ft.
Jet Skiing — Any touristy beach like Orient Beach or the one in Philipsburg will have them and they usually charge per 15 minutes. Some places offer jet-skiing tours around the island or in the lagoon.
Kite Surfing — If you go to Le Galion Bay on the French side, you’ll see tons of people kite surfing, or in layman’s terms, surfing over the water while navigating with a kite.
Zip Lining — Zip from tree to tree, criss-crossing a valley high above the tropical forest below. The only way to do it is at Loterie Farms on the French side. The most exciting zip lining course (and only one you should consider doing) is FlyZone Xtreme. Tickets are $80 and lasts an hour and a half or so.
Mud Bathing in Tintamarre Island — Tintamarre Island is a small island just off the coast of St. Martin. Despite its size, it has a fascinating history. At one point, it was home to 150 people, had its own airport and airline serving the region, and even had its own “king” at one point. All this is gone, however, and the island is now uninhabited. Today, the island is known for its mud bathing, where people come and lather themselves in the mud and baking in the sun before taking a dip in the warm waters of the beach. Once rinsed, your skin will feel soft and smooth. There are many tour boats that can take you to Tintamarre, usually as part of a snorkeling package. *Sunday sail tour will take us there
Deep-Sea Fishing Trip — There are many charter boats that offer half-day or full-day deep sea fishing trips. Fishing is a pricey sport, but you may catch your money’s worth! Or, you can buy a cheap fishing pole from Ace’s Hardware in Cole Bay and go fishing off the docks anywhere around the island.
Horseback Riding — Go horseback riding on the beach at sunset with your loved one or go explore the trails of St. Martin Nature Reserve with a group of friends. Horseback riding can cost anywhere from $70 to $95 per hour per person. Several places offer it: OK Corral in Oyster Pond or Bayside Stables at Le Galion Beach on the French side. The best bargain would be at Seaside Nature Park, with rides starting at $60.