Curious - Lucy, have you ever been to St. Maarten?

Continue to live in denial. Ignore the negative and never apologize for anything. The schools in the Caribbean are poor, too.

I think Lucy has had one to many tokes on the ole crack pipe LOL

Ignorance is bliss.

Lucy: Being careful when you leave a casino with your winnings isn't confined to St. Maarten--the same advise would apply to Atlantic City or Las Vegas or any place else. Likewise, asking what the fare is before you get in a taxi that doesn't have a meter is good advise anyplace in the world. I don't see that as negatives about St. Maarten exclusively. Very few places in the U.S. have well-developed public transportation systems, outside of the major cities, so tourists would have to rent cars those places too.

I don't think St. Maarten is "perfect" or even "paradise" but it is a lovely place to visit. It's sad that someone tried to rip you off, but thankfully you recognized the problem and got out of the taxi. Your story has reinforced Barbara1's advise to settle the fare ahead of time. Besides that, I'm curious what else you would like to tell us about the night life on the island.

P.S. Have you been posting on orientbeach.com, accusing someone of trying to force you to have lemonade and leaving you stranded somewhere?

You probably posted about the lemonade yourself. I was never left stranded by anyone. The island has a way of doing that to you itself. St. Maarten/St. Martin could use more improvements in many aspects. The nightlife on both sides of the island is transportation-dependent. It filters out those who don't drive and is reserved for those who rent cars or knows somebody who does. This restricts the possible flow of tourism from the under 25 crowd. I don't think it's good to be limited in its offerings. Other underdeveloped islands are the same. St. Maarten is in the same category as those that need aid. I don't see how this is a good thing. The nightly entertainment does not offer as much variety as Cancun.

Lucy,

There are many who would say, "Thank God for that!!" re the comparison to Cancun. Now, there's nothing wrong with Cancun but if that's what you're looking for, then go to Cancun.

I'm not sure what your problem or complaint is - the under 25 crowd can and do rent cars. My kids did. Young friends I've sent there have. And if you CHOOSE not to, then just suck it up and deal with the costs of the cab fares.

Many love St. Martin/Sint Maarten exactly because it is NOT Cancun, Miami or Puerto Rico and because it is not as developed as these places. And in that light, many hope it will never become so.

Apparently I'm missing something in your posts but if you've had a bad experience here and Cancun is to your preference then I think the solution to the problem is obvious.

<<<<AGREES with Pat......

If St. Maarten disagrees with you so much Lucy, then please go to Cancun.

Just less traffic and one less "pushy American" who thinks a foreign country should match her standards. LOL

DONT STOP THE CARNIVAL !!!!
KIPP n SLIPP

It's good to be offered many options and to not need to pick all of them. Transportation and healthcare are important options in life. Those who don't like advancement in society may choose to stay in a lesser-developed island on their vacation just to get away from it all, but it is always good to have the things available in case you need them. Having to spend extra money to rent a car is enjoyment to some people.

Have you read in the Daily Herald that St. Maarten wants to be independent from the Netherlands Antilles? It wants to be its own independent island? I think it needs the help from the Netherlands Antilles, Kipp. It's not ready to swim by itelf; not by a long shot. St. Maarten needs an increase in traffic, not a decrease. In order to win over more tourists like me, they need a better plan.

Lucy,

With no disrespect intended, I don't think St. Maarten/St. Martin cares if it wins you over.

It is what it is and if you knew the island, you would know what their major complaints are and why they wish to leave their present arrangement.

The island has issues but sadly, whether or not the occaisional tourist who CHOOSES not to rent a car is happy with the current island transportation system, really does NOT rank high on their list of issues.

Yes, many of us choose it because it is not as developed as here at home (ie - many see differences as good things) but if that isn't to our liking, then we are free to stay home or go elsewhere. If your choice is Cancun, that's fine and if your choice is to stay home, that's fine. If you don't like the island as she is, just go elsewhere but please, don't rip her apart because it doesn't conform to your standards of perfection.

And yes, you certainly are free to voice your opinion but don't think for one minute that yours is the only right one. Opinions are interesting things - we all have them and they're all different.

I don't think that my complaint against the lack of organization of the transportation on both sides of the island is unique nor is it restricted to tourists. Natives need to have a reliable source of transportation on a daily basis. My sentiments to them if they are not getting heard. Your one-sided unbiased support of St. Maarten is heart-warming. Do you feel the same way about Anguilla? Why have you left it behind? There are those in Anguilla who would fight for their island to the end. St. Maarten needs as much tourism as possible.
They need my $20 departure tax. They may not care about the individual but I believe they are not the devil.

Lucy,

What are you talking about??

Natives? Anguilla? The devil?

Aren't we talking about St. Maarten?

The island has a transportation system and those who live on the island aren't complaining. Most of the islanders drive. Those that don't have friends or family who do or they use the local system and make it work for them. If it suits there needs what's your problem?

I'm beginning to see why others on this thread made negative responses to you and before I fall into the trap, I'm out of here!! As you stated earlier, ignorance is bliss and I wish you a blissful existence.

I was referring the the Islanders' ignorance of what they don't have. Just make do with what they have if the government is not willing to better the buses, schools, boardwalks, subways and libraries. Where is the St. Maarten public library?

Subways on an island!!!!! Doesn't take an engineering degree for that one! There is a reason the cemetaries are above ground and you won't find many basements in homes! Library, what's wrong with the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (Sint Maarten) founded on November 23rd 1923. from the Daily Herald (yes they have a daily paper also), "Philipsburg Jubilee Library became the first library in the Netherlands Antilles to be fully automated. They have books, video & audio cassettes, a Caribbean collection, reading room, study room, juvenile section and more." Schools and buses they have also. Why the need for a boardwalk? What they need to do is remove cars from Front street during peak times!