Student Speed: Floors tips for Energetic Excursions on St. Maarten
Caribbean Connaisseur Floor
For todays visitor highlight we interview Floor Bos. Bos is a law student from Groningen, the Netherlands. She has visited St. Maarten often, as well as other Caribbean islands, and knows her favorites very well.
If anything, sitting still is not something she tends to do when on island. A beach set is always ready. Her claim is to have visited at least half of the island’s 37 beaches, which gave her distinct preferences. “Though many beaches come with amenities and liveliness, which is great for some days and nights out, I prefer to go with my own crowd on others and have a more quiet beach like Little Bay or Baie Rouge / Red Bay . Just chatting with some drinks and delicacies until the sun drops into the Caribbean”.
Activities with Adrenaline (and view)
When it comes to St. Maarten excursions , she considers the Rainforest Adventure Zipline a must. Not just for the adrenaline pumping ride down Sentry Hill, but also because of the view over valleys, seas and other Caribbean islands nearby. “When you take the Soualiga Sky Explorer up, make sure to take some time to roam around all decks of the platform on top of the mountain before you take the zipline ride down. Every side has a different view. Some people tend to overlook the wooden walkway in the back, providing a great view over planes landing and departing over Maho Beach and adjacent Princess Juliana International Airport “.
Jetskiing on Great Bay Beach was an experience not to forget either. Floor explored every corner of Great Bay, from the Philipsburg Cruise Port all the way to Fort Amsterdam. As a Dutch Blonde, she could not but pop by the namesake Dutch Blonde Beer Bar on the same beach and try the local “Naughty Blonde” Cocktail in the process.
Her drive to truly experience destinations she visits led her at one time to a graduation of fellow, local students at a St. Maarten school. She recollects the liveliness of the event and the happiness of the people receiving their certificates. “A better way of celebrating compared to Europe, I find. You worked hard, you are happy you passed, so why not celebrate it to the fullest?”
Off the Beaten Track Thinking: Swimming at Night
Another fun thing to do on St. Maarten for Floor, one that not many people think of, is night swimming. The Caribbean waters remain at a highly acceptable temperature at night too, says Bos: “You might not have the sun on your face at night, but the moon and stars lighting up the water instead. A whole different experience to explore, and as the beaches are freely accassible, nothing keeps you from experiencing this”. She does advise to always do this in a group as Caribbean currents can be fierce.
Her evening activities after sundown even resulted in a prize. Her sunset photo of Grand Case made her win a contest of pictures portraying the famed Caribbean sunset on island. She is looking forward to collect her awarded Seaside Nature Park Champagne Horse Ride when she is back on island to add to her list of St. Maarten experiences.
A Medallion Shopping Quest
Shopping in Philipsburg brings back fond memories too. “I was looking for a specific, befitting medallion for my favorite aunt. There are many jewelry specialists in Front Street, so it was a grateful but time consuming task to find the best one”. She laughs when reflecting on the running in and out of stores back when, even speedier when closing time dawned. In the end, she was very content with a golden medallion she found that could open up.
In a moment of not paying attention, she was lured into the AMAsterdam cafe “Red Light District” selfie gimmick, resulting in some unexpected Caribbean holiday pictures. She still remembers, but will not spoil the joke and recommends the activity as “best to find out for yourself”.
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