Travelling to the Dutch Caribbean

Has anyone ever travelled to French or Dutch St. Maarten. What about places to stay on the island? Can anyone share?

I've been there but on a cruise. It felt very geared to American cruise visitors - lots of jewellery shopping with not much landscape.

I have been there also from a cruise ship and I disagree with AndyF about the landscape. It isn't spetacular but there are some nice beaches and interesting things to see. The first tour we took in 2005 was mostly a shopping tour but the second one took us to the zoo and showed us some other aspects of the island.
https://grandmarreposition.travellerspoint.com/36/

The roundabouts have statues in them representing the history of the island. I haven't seen them all.

One that I haven't seen is a woman and child which the Peridot Foundation erected in 2003 in response to the public outcry against domestic violence. And I don't think I have seen One T'ete' Lohkey,considered an anti slavery heroine,who was recaptured after an escape attempt. Her breast was cut off as punishment. Eventually she escaped again,successfully.

There is one with three statues. One was Jean Frederique Brooks “Tata the Bus driver,” who was best remembered for transporting students to from school. The second was Alexander Lionald Richardson “Alec the Butcher” , father of 42 who was best known for farming and selling fresh meat. According to his daughter her father introduced the Dr. Claude Wathey to politics as he was a member of the National Party. The third is Florian Eulalie Duzanson “Lalie.” She was known for providing fresh bread, tarts and shelter to those in need. While baking was her source of income Lalie also cared for students and people who came from Aruba to St. Maarten, she also provided shelter to many during disastrous moments such as hurricanes.

I have seen the Freedom fighter, because he is near to the cruise ship terminal. I have also seen the Salt Pickers which shows workers engaged in the various aspects of salt harvesting. Five figures are depicted. The central figure is a man using a shovel to mine the salt. A man and a woman are transporting a large tray of salt while two women are shown gathering salt.

I have seen the Roundabout Statue of - Osborne Kruythoff's supposedly real job was to clean up seaweed on Great Bay Beach. But St. Maarten had gone from 83 motor vehicles to some 200 or more in the early nineteen sixties. Osborne,on his own, decided that traffic on the square in front of the Court House needed someone to properly direct it. How he acquired a traffic whistle no one knows. However, Osborne's whistle became as familiar as a train whistle must have been in former times to those living along the train tracks. Osborne's outfit consisted of a brown khaki uniform, a white tropical helmet and a machete used as a baton to direct traffic with. If the car did not obey he would give it a good planass, which is the art of hitting someone with the flat part of the machete. He started putting flowers in the helmet and in his shirt buttons, so much so that he looked like a walking flower pot and had to push aside the flowers covering his face, in order to get his traffic whistle in his mouth. This is a very interesting statue and you ought to look at it.

The French side is famous for the many French restaurants especially in Grand Case. And also for the clothing optional beaches. You can also get the ferry to other islands at the Gare Maritime, and there is a open air market.

On the Dutch side there is a beach where the planes come in so low over the beach that you think you should duck - they barely clear the fence. And in Philipsberg there is a Star wars museum.
https://grandmadisney.travellerspoint.com/54/

I really don't know much about the hotels - the Dutch side has casinos and things are open even on Sunday. (which they are not on the French side).

GrandmaR you have a lot of knowledge about the island. I heard there is suppose to be a play about one T'ete Lokhey. The island does have a lot of rich history and it's good to know more about it.
Are there any good places to stay on the French part?

BelleOverture: So, I'm curious. On your profile, in the travel helper section, you write "I live on sunny St. Maarten!" - so what's your intent with these questions?

[ Edit: Edited on 1 Dec 2023, 07:47 GMT by Sander ]

Quoting BelleOverture

GrandmaR you have a lot of knowledge about the island. I heard there is suppose to be a play about one T'ete Lokhey. The island does have a lot of rich history and it's good to know more about it.
Are there any good places to stay on the French part?

I don't know anything about the hotels on either side of the island other than what anyone could find out from a google. A lot of them seem to be AI (all inclusive and not artificial intelligence) which would not be my option.

Not to be unkind, but the original poster says on her Profile Page that she lives on the very island she is asking about. It makes me feel like we're being setup for an advertisement . . .

LOL! No I'm here to advertise. No you're not being unkind at all but very direct. Would just like some general feedback about the island.

Quoting Sander

BelleOverture: So, I'm curious. On your profile, in the travel helper section, you write "I live on sunny St. Maarten!" - so what's your intent with these questions?

Hi. I'd just like to know what people think and know about the island. Is that a bad thing?