Five Most Common Ticketing Errors — And How to Avoid Them
May 12, 2008
This story I picked up from Frommers’ this morning and I would agree with the author Cristopher Elliot that it pretty much covers the range of mistakes people make when booking flights. One addition I would like to insert is the luggage, as luggage is the 6th mistakes that airlines happily profit from. Read the small print on what you’re allowed to bring! Read more
Crab Burgers
May 12, 2008
Crabs make up 20% of all marine crustaceans caught and farmed worldwide, with over 1½ million tonnes being consumed annually.
Food lovers on America’s coasts have long known that crab cakes Read more
Weather May 12, 2008
May 12, 2008
May 12, 2008 Today: Sunny and artly cloudy with scattered shower possible and still some haziness. High 86F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Tonight: Variable clouds with a chance of a shower very early in the morning. Low 77F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Tomorrow:Mostly sunny and some clouds with the chance of a shower developing in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Tomorrow night:Partly cloudy. Low 77F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Increasingly cloudy, chance of showers in late afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 70s.
Wednesday:Scattered showers. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 70s.
Special Features: No Special Features
Cruise Schedule May 12 - 18, 2008
May 12, 2008
Week May 12 - May 18, 2008
The below schedules may alter based on Sea conditions and advisories.
Monday May 12
- No Cruise Ships in port
Tuesday May 13
- Liberty o/t Seas
Wednesday May 14
- Carnival Glory
Thursday May 15
- Carnival Victory
- Mariner o/t Seas
Friday May 16
- Adventure o/t Seas
Saturday May 17
- No Cruise Ships in Port
Sunday May 18
- No Cruise Ships in Port
Events Week May 12 - May 18, 2008
May 12, 2008
Week May 12 - May 18, 2008
The Fête du Nautisme (May 12 - May 22) or Nautical festival is kicking off today Monday May 12 in Marigot, Saint Martin organized by L’Association Metimer.
Monday May 12
- Fête du Nautisme
- L’Association Metimer
- Pentecost Monday (Official holiday on Saint Martin and St. Maarten)
May 14 - 15
- Captain Oliver’s & Carib Beer Regatta
- : wide range of monohulls & multihulls sail around the island
- Organized by Captain Oliver’s Marina and hotel
Thursday May 15
- Fête de Saint-Louis
- most popular traditional and cultural games, music local and cuisine
- Organized by L’Association des Femmes de St. Louis
- Location: St. Louis
Sunday May 18
- Road Runners Lagoon Half Marathon
- Contact Rose Bernard (rosebernard@caribserve.net)
- Organized by RoadRunners
Special look ahead: SMART, the annual Regional Tourism convention
May 20 - 22
- SMART, Annual Trade and Tourism convention
- Organizer: SHTA (St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association)
- Contact Robert Dubourcq (rdubourcq@shta.com)
- Location: Sonesta Maho Convention Centre
Nautical and Marinas
May 11, 2008
The Marine industry is the fastest growing industry on Saint Martin-St. Maarten, due to the protected coves of Oyster Pond, Anse Marcel and the Simpson Bay Lagoon, as well as the island’s strategic location in the Northeastern Caribbean with excellent direct airline connections to the United States and Europe.
The pristine, blue waters that surround the island provide a colorful home for thousands of fascinating underwater “creatures”. Many day trip cruises and dive excursions begin and end at the Simpson Bay Lagoon, while many Mega yacht charters originate in the territorial waters of the island. In for a dinner cruise or a day charter? Just check the many options available.
There are 5 main areas on the island that service the marine industry, each with their specific expertise. All types of watercraft are expertly serviced on the island, from Mega yachts to Cargo vessels and from sailing yachts to dinghies. Island Waterworld, Budget Marine and Bobby’s Marina are the major servicing points with dry-docks, lift capacity and boatyards.
Other yachting areas of more limited technical service are Oyster Pond with its charter yacht outfits and East Great Bay in Philipsburg. Marinas with full service dockside facilities from water, power and cable hook-ups to internet services, are also located in Simpson Bay, Oyster Pond, Anse Marcel and the French side capital of Marigot.
Chandleries, purveying services, sail lofts, engine repair shops and other services that cater to the marine industry are located mainly on both French and Dutch sides of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Every imaginable service can be found here. The lagoon can be accessed during certain times of the day through drawbridge service on both Dutch and French side. Upscale Marinas are Port de Plaisance, Isle de Sol, La Palapa, Simpson Bay Yacht Club at Plaza del Lago, Anse Marcel, Captain Oliver’s and Marina Royale, with Sandy Ground Marina and Dock Maarten serving the less demanding cruisers. Fuel docks and water supplies are available at Bobby’s Marina in Great Bay, in Sandy Ground, Anse Marcel, Simpson Bay Lagoon and Captain Oliver’s.
Shopping
May 11, 2008
A Caribbean vacation, to most people is more than just laying out on a white sand beach next to the beautiful Caribbean Sea or water-skiing and wave-riding and eating and dancing the night away. Yes, St. Maarten and Saint Martin offers duty-free shopping!
The lovely little dual-nation island is a shopper’s paradise, with several thousand stores and boutiques and no sales tax nor import duties. Dutch St. Maarten’s shopping district in Philipsburg has often been called the Mecca of Caribbean shopping. Visitors from the Caribbean region and around the world travel to the island to shop at world famous stores like Boolchand’s, Klass Electronics, Om Jewelers, Diamond International, Angelo’s Boutique, and dozens of world reknown franchise sell their merchandise at prices that easily outmatch their other Caribbean outlets simply because French Saint Martin and Dutch St. Maarten enjoy a duty-free port without the hassle of high import tariffs that drive prices up elsewhere.
Jewelry, electronics, cameras, gold and silver, watches, designer couture, leather handbags and accessories, linens and liquor and tobacco are a handful of the real deal offerings on the Friendly Island. Saint Martin’s West Indian Mall and the Marina in Marigot, the French side capital, are popular areas for shoppers on the northern part of the island. With daily discounts and a rich selection of products, both attract shoppers that enjoy diversity and great prices.
Why St. Maarten and Saint Martin
May 11, 2008
Whether you are a first time traveler to the Caribbean Islands or a seasoned pro, you may want to consider a number of approaches to a successful stay. Your first question is what type of a vacation am I dreaming of. If it needs to include lots of sun, pristine beaches, deep blue waters and a generally laid back atmosphere, any choice of the Caribbean Islands is pretty much on the mark. Beware however that some of the volcanic islands, such as Saba, Montserrat and Dominica, have only few and mostly black sand beaches. Next question is traveling to and from your choice island.
Are you traveling alone or just with your spouse and have all the time in the world to get there, or do you bring the entire family with luggage and toys? Well, going to one of the smaller islands will most of the time involve one or two stop-overs, depending where you’re coming from. St. Maarten-Saint Martin has many direct flight gateways. Think about security checkpoint hassles and then decide how much you can handle. Next thing is language.
Now here the entire Caribbean has become quite accessible since even the French and Hispanic islands master English pretty well. Next thing is currency. Well since the dollar in recent times has dropped considerably in value against the Euro, this aspect can become quite tricky and therefore expensive. Most islands accept dollars but beware of the rate exchange. St. Maarten’s fixed exchange of 1.8 Antillean Guilder to 1 US Dollar makes it a safe option. You see a price in guilders, divide it by 2 and add 10% and you have the dollar price.
Okay back to some decision making issues:
Are you looking to just stay at a resort on a nice beach, with beautiful pool and great bars and restaurants, friendly service, preferably all inclusive, well most islands have at least one or more of those resorts.
Are you interested however in tasting some European/Caribbean flavors, enjoying exciting nightlife, the greatest food this side of Europe, real duty-free shopping with a special emphasis on jewelry, designer clothing and electronics, magnificent beaches, friendly “natives”.
Saint Martin-St. Maarten has become a major tourist destination in recent decades with lots of vacation offerings. In that process it has lost a little of its Caribbean flavor, yet added a lot of international flavors. It has become cosmopolitan in the sense that supermarkets look and display the familiar range you have at home, fast food franchises with your well-known brandnames are plentiful and most if not all of your comforts and amenities at home, are available. Sounds like South Beach Miami! Some areas on the island definitely match that description, yet you can still find the secluded palm-lined beach, with a hand-built wooden bar to dream the day away.
Our dual island nation of Saint Martin-St. Maarten offers perfect choices for any vacationing family, couple or individual, exploring foreign cultures in a secure environment loaded with “homegrown” familiarities. Maybe this doesn’t sound very adventurous, but it pretty much guarantees a great vacation experience.
Travel Docs
May 11, 2008
St. Maarten and Saint Martin Entry Requirements!
U.S. citizens require the following:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
Canadian citizens require one of the following:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket or
A certified copy of birth certificate, a photo identification and a return/continuing ticket.
European Community citizens require:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
Nationals of the following countries listed below require a visa for entry into the Netherlands Antilles for a maximum stay of 3 months (effective January 1, 2005) :
Afghanistan,
Albania,
Algeria,
Angola,
Armenia,
Azerbaijan,
Bahrain,
Bangladesh,
Belarus,
Benin,
Bhutan,
Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Botswana,
Burkina Faso,
Burundi,
Cambodia,
Cameroon,
Cape Verde,
Central African Republic,
Chad,
China the Peoples Republic, with the exception of Hong Kong SAR en BNO document holders,
Colombia,
Comoros,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Democratic Republic (formerly Zaire),
Cuba,
Djibouti,
Dominican Republic,
East Timor,
Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea,
Ethiopia,
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Fiji,
Gabon,
Gambia,
Georgia,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti,
India,
Indonesia,
Iran,
Iraq,
Ivory Coast,
Jordan,
Kazakhstan,
Kenya,
Kiribati,
Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan,
Laos,
Lebanon,
Lesotho,
Liberia,
Libya,
Macedonia (formerly the Republic of Yugoslavia),
Madagascar,
Malawi,
Maldives,
Mali,
Marshall Islands,
Mauritania,
Mauritius,
Micronesia,
Moldova,
Mongolia,
Morocco,
Mozambique,
Myanmar (formerly Burma),
Namibia,
Nauru,
Nepal,
Niger,
Nigeria,
North Korea,
Northern Marianne,
Oman,
Pakistan,
Palau,
Palestinian Authority,
Papua New Guinea,
Peru,
Philippines,
Qatar,
Russian, Federation
Rwanda,
Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia,
Senegal,
Serbia and Montenegro (Yugoslavia),
Seychelles,
Sierra Leone,
Solomon Islands,
Somalia,
South Africa,
Sri Lanka,
Sudan,
Swaziland,
Syria,
Taiwan,
Tajikistan,
Tanzania,
Thailand,
Togo,
Tonga,
Tunisia,
Turkey,
Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu,
Uganda,
Ukraine,
United Arab Emirates,
Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu,
Vietnam,
West Samoa,
Yemen,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
For other countries, kindly contact your closest Dutch Embassy/Consulate or a St. Maarten/Saint Martin Tourist Office.
Of course don’t forget to bring your valid driver’s license, any vouchers or reservation papers for carrental, attractions, trips etc.
Bring with you…and leave home!
May 11, 2008
Outfits and Personal Belongings
Remember it’s a tropical island. At best you’re required to wear tropical elegance in an upscale restaurant. Casinos require pants, dress shoes and a shirt, but a tie is not a necessity. We suggest beach wear, light summer outfits for daytime shopping, shorts, t-shirts, blouses and shirts will do fine and some elegant slacks, shirts, dresses and shoes for the evening activities. Too much skin in towns and stores is still frowned upon.
Limit personal belongings as well. No need to show off your Rolex if the only thing you need is a simple water resistant watch to tell time. And even then….time is different in the tropics and Happy Hour starts when you want it to start. Personal belongings that need to be watched constantly are a strong deterrent for a pleasant vacation.
Bringing Family and Friends?
The more the merrier, we would say. Just an advice, if you need to rent a car, make sure to make reservation way in advance as there are also so many vans available. The same goes for restaurant reservations. For the rest, St.Maarten is a family friendly destination with lots of kids attractions, reputable sitter services and something to do for everyone. Most hotels cater to family vacations, so if you plan to bring family and friends, be our guest.
Medication and Prescriptions
By all means, yes bring your prescriptions as you will find that your re-fills will save you enough money for an evening in a good restaurant. Most U.S. prescription drugs are either brandname available or in generic version. And please don’t think the generic version cannot be good. They are as good as or better.
Also, if you’re a fan of natural medicines, the island has a lot to offer in this regard, mostly in the French side Pharmacies and prices are very low. So bring your medications and rest assured that if you run out or lose them, you are in good hands. Pharmacists on the island are highly educated Medical Professionals and operate under strict supervision.
Your phone and laptop
By all means bring your laptop if it is necessary for you to stay in contact with work, friends and family. There are many Wi-Fi spots on the island, especially on the Dutch side, while a lot of hotels and even bars feature Wi-Fi connections. It will keep your staying in contact cost way down. Of course if you just occasionally have to check-in you may want to consider one of the many Internet Cafes on both sides of the island.
Most hotels (anywhere) view their phone system as a potential profit center. Some charge $4 per minute to call the U.S. Stay on the phone for an hour and a flight to nearby St. Thomas would have been much more economical. There are many alternatives however. Calling directly via the local phone company is cheaper. There are many call USA phones in Philipsburg where AT&T can be reached and can connect you. The Mailbox (phone 545 3890) in Simpson Bay uses a callback system that is about as cheap as you can get.
Another approach is rent a GSM cell phone for about $40 per week before you leave the U.S. or ask your mobile phone provider for their international package. You buy a prepaid phone card for a minimum of $20, non-refundable. Use up your $20 at the rate of 36 cents per minute for local calls, 50 cents for long distance and 40 cents back to the US. If you arrange the rental in advance and get the phone number, your friends can call you. Incoming calls are free. Of course you may ask your service provider at home for a plan that allows you to roam from island. Might be a little expensive however.
For longer stays it may make sense to go through the hassle of bringing your cell phone, as it can be made to work by replacing the SIM card. However it can be expensive. Cheapest by far is to use Skype, that is if you take your computer with you.
Pet and Travel
If you want to bring a pet to the island (and not anything exotic or potentially dangerous), you should go to your vet within a week of traveling and get a health certificate, essentially claiming that the rabies vaccination is current and that the animal is in good health. Shortly before you return, you may have to get the same from a vet on the island. We’re saying “may”, because the rules are not completely clear here. And that is probably because most people don’t bring a large animal for a week’s vacation.
However, should you need a health certificate to take your pet home, there are several vets on the island, one in Concordia near Marigot, One on the waterfront in Marigot, one on Union Road in Cole Bay (Chris and Terry), one off Welfare Road in Cole Bay and the St.Maarten Animal Hospital on Cay Bay Hill.
The airline may charge you for transporting the animals and if they are allowed in the cabin, you may need reservations. Make sure to check in advance.
What Not to Bring!
Well that is of course a personal preference but here are some tips that may help you decide.
- Don’t bring cigarettes or cigars if you’re a smoker. Much cheaper down in St.Maarten.
- Winter clothes? Uh no.
- Suntan block, any of your favorite foods, perfumes, alcohol, jewelry, toiletries, beach gear such as towels,…none of the above. St.Maarten-SintMartin has hundreds of duty-free stores that will happily sell you these items at great prices.
- You may want to bring you’re your surfboard, golf clubs and tennis rackets if you like to travel with maximum load, but considering how cumbersome and trying air travel has become, you might simply want to rent or buy these items when on the island.
- It is a known fact that many timeshare owners used to bring at least a suitcase full of food items for their vacation. The charge of luggage transport by some airlines at $20 -$50 per checked piece, will equalize the slightly higher cost of foods on the island, with a lot less hassle while traveling.
And just a suggestion, leave your work at home, because you will find at the end of your vacation that there really was no time to work. After all St. Maarten - St.Martin has a reputation to keep up: the party island.
