Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Getting into Philipsburg

The port authority puts the walk at 15 minutes, and the tourism board agrees. If that is more than you want on a hot day, the water taxi runs to three stops along the waterfront: Captain Hodge Wharf, Walter Williams Jetty and Bobby's Marina. A day ticket is $6 for unlimited rides.

At the pier itself, Harbour Point Village has duty-free shops, souvenir stalls, bars and restaurants, an information desk, and more than a hundred taxis.

Taxi fares, which the government sets

Fares are regulated by zone. From the cruise port, the published rates are:

Published extras: $5 for each additional checked bag, $4 for boxes or coolers, a 25% surcharge between 10pm and 6am and on holidays, and waiting time free for five minutes then $5 per quarter hour. In a shared taxi each party pays 75% of their fare.

Those are the Dutch-side zones. The regulated table does not cover Marigot, Orient Bay or anywhere else on the French side, and meters are generally not used there, so agree the fare first.

Maho Beach, and the official warning

The famous beach at the end of the airport runway is a 25-dollar taxi ride for two. Before you go, read what the French St. Martin tourism board publishes about it: local authorities warn that being close to aircraft taking off or landing "can cause serious injury and even death." They advise staying away from the area in line with the runway and the engines, covering your ears because jet noise there exceeds 120 decibels, and closing your eyes if caught in a blast, because it throws sand.

It is a real spectacle and people enjoy it safely every day. It is also not a gentle stop, and that is worth knowing before you commit a port day to it.