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1. Are there
accessible transportation services like Dial-a-ride or taxis
willing to transport someone in a wheelchair just as long as
the wheelchair folds up?
Yes, definitely they will. There is no Dial-a-Ride on the island;
but, there are approximately 100 taxis at the Cruise Ship dock
in Philipsburg whose drivers will carry or help the client into
the taxi and put the wheelchair in the trunk.
2. Are there
wheelchair accessible tour buses?
Numerous
island bus companies were telephoned and unfortunately none of
them are wheel chair accessible. Like the taxis, they assist
the client on to the bus and stow the chair away.
3. Is there
somewhere on the island that I can rent a beach wheelchair for
the day. Unfortunately,
there aren't any.
4. Are there
adventure things to do like parasailing or diving or snorkeling?
Normally, the crews on each activity are very good about helping
the disabled; this of course depends on which activity the client
is interested.
5. Are there
accessible villas to rent out or hotels?
The
bigger hotels in general are accessible, but with each villa
rented from an agency, you would have to ask, as there are so
many villas on the Island for rent.
6. Are restaurants
and shopping accessible?
In Philipsburg (Dutch SXM) the shops are on Front Street and
mostly on the ground floor but there are at least one or two
steps to get into each shop.
Kind Regards,
Gail
Aqua
Mania Adventures
Your One Stop Vacation Shop!!
Located at
Pelican Marina, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
PH: 599 544 2640 FAX: 599 544 2476 (dial 011 prefix from US and
Canada)
Yahoo Messenger: debbylindsteyn@yahoo.com
Visit us at www.stmaarten-activities.com and www.diveadventures-sxm.com
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Dear Sam,
There is a
company on the French side named Total Access that specializes
in organizing stays for handicapped travelers. You can email
them at medicall3@wanadoo.fr. They will certainly
be able to give you more accurate answers than I, but feel free
to ask if you need more help
Regarding Diving
for disabled travelers, we can do it from the French side. The
boat we have on the Dutch side is not easy for handicapped people,
but we will have a new boat next season. I will send you more
info about the new boat a soon as it is here.
Best regards,
Antoine
Mignot
contact@scubafun.com
Scuba Fun
Caraïbes,
PADI Gold Palm Instructor Development Center # 19461
Scuba Fun, PADI Gold Palm Resort # 798686
Dutch Phone ++599.557.0505
French Phone: ++590.690.272.350
Fax ++590.590.873.652
Visit our web site: www.scubafun.com
*********************************************
Sint Maarten 12 Metre Challenge, Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Tel: 542.0045/46 Fax: 542.6419
Email: info@12metre.com
www.12metre.com
GUESTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Every effort is made to accommodate "Guests with special
needs". However the nature of the St. Maarten "America's
Cup" 12 Metre Regatta is very participatory and the
motion of the boats may cause problems for some. We therefore
request that a guest with special needs be accompanied by a companion
who has the capability of assisting the guest onto and off the
boats. If the companion feels at the point of departure that
the experience will prove to be too much for the guest, we will
be happy to offer a refund for both tickets returned.
Our business
is on the dock level at Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg; but our
boutique is up one step. Also, the restrooms will most likely
be a problem as the entrance willl facilitate a wheelchair, but
the stalls will not and there are no bars on the walls. Great
Bay Beach is accessible via the Boardwalk. The America's Cup
Regatta race as well as other sailboats and yachts are available
to disabled traveler, but as mentioned they must be accompanied
by a companion.
Many thanks,
Sue
Sint Maarten
12 Metre Challenge
Note:
My thanks to Gail (Aqua Mania Adventures), Antoine (Scuba Fun)
and Sue (12 MetreChallenge) for their replies.
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Restaurants - Dutch side
Lee's Roadside Grill & Restaurant, Simpson Bay Lagoon
Buccaneer Bar & Restaurant, at Pelican Resort
Toppers Restaurant, Simpson Bay
Pineapple Pete's, Simpson Bay Lagoon
Ric's Place, Simpson Bay Lagoon
Turtle Pier Bar & Restaurant, Simpson Bay Lagoon
Oualichi Beach Bar & Restaurant, on the Boardwalk,
Philipsburg Beach
Taloula Mango, on the Boardwalk, Philipsburg Beach
Most restaurant restrooms are small and not accessible
to wheelchairs.
Restaurants - French side
Many of the restaurants in the Marina Port la Royale in Marigot
are at sidewalk level including:
La Petite Auberge des Iles
Le Main de la Pate
Le Chanteclair
The Fish Pot in Grand Case has a wheelchair ramp leading
to its front door.
La California Restaurant, Grand Case is at the sidewalk
level, but has one step.
The Lolos, Grand Case, are at the sidewalk level.
Most restaurant restrooms are small and not accessible
to wheelchairs.
Casinos - Dutch side/no casinos
on the French side
Dolphin Casino, Sunset Building, Simpson Bay
Hollywood Casino, at the Pelican Resort
Diamond Casino, Front Street, Philipsburg
Casino restrooms are generally large and are accessible
to wheelchairs.
Shops
Many to most of the shops in Philipsburg and Marigot are at sidewalk
levels. Likewise, some of them are up a step or two from the
sidewalk. Most of the entrance doors to the shops are wide enough
for wheelchairs and many shops have double doors. Generally,
restrooms in shops are not accessible to wheelchairs.
Venetian
Jewelers,
#11A and #54 Front Street, (two locations), Philipsburg, St.
Maarten
Tel: 543.3336 or 542.3414. Fax: 542.3428
Email: venetianjewelers@hotmail.com
The stores are at sidewalk level with one small step for entry
through the entrance door which is wide enough for wheelchairs.
The sales staff is always ready to assist.
Heritage
Foundation,
Front Street, Philipsburg
Email: heritage@sintmaarten.net
Tel/Fax: 542.4917
The museum shop is located on the ground floor and is accessible
for people in wheelchairs to enter and browse. The museum itself
is located on the second floor.
The Butterfly
Farm,
Quarter D'Orleans, St. Martin
Tel: 590.590.87.31.21 or 599.547.1097
Email: info@thebutterflyfarm.com
The Butterfly Farm is "wheelchair friendly." Many cruise
ship visitors, several who were senior citizens in wheelchairs,
have taken the tour. The entire building is at ground level;
and, although, there is one step up to the reception/shop area
and down the other side, it is navigable with some assistance
from friends or staff. Restrooms are at ground level, but do
not have sidebars attached to the walls. Inside the exhibition,
the pathways are very wide and the ground is hard compacted sand.
The tours are very slow moving and guides will bring to the visitors
anything of interest that they cannot reach such as a caterpillar
on a high leaf for example.
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These following hotels/resorts have
indicated that they provide accommodations for physically challenged
tourists. Please contact the specific resort for details or questions.
Esmeralda Resort, Orient Beach, Orient Bay, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.87.36.36 Fax: 011.590.590.87.35.18
Email: esmeral@wanadoo.fr or esmeral@saint-martin.com
Esmeralda has 2 rooms, which are wheelchair accessible, one has
a King bed and the other two twin beds, shower with seat inside,
and terrace overlooking the bay. There is a ramp to their restaurant
L'Astrolabe, a ramp to the beach, and Coca Beach Restaurant on
the beach.
Mercure Simpson Beach, Nettle Bay, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.87.54.54 Fax: 011.590.590.87.92.11
Email: H1100@accor.com
The hotel has 5 rooms, which are wheelchair accessible including
the bathrooms. They are at ground level and have a garden path,
which provides access to the pool, restaurant and bar.
Hôtel Beach Plaza, Marigot Bay, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.87.87.00 Fax: 011.590.590.87.18.87
Email: beachplaza@wanadoo.fr
The hotel provides wheelchair access from the parking area to
the reception lobby. Two large elevators permit access to all
areas of the hotel without the worry of steps; and, the restaurant,
bars, game room, snack area and pool are all at ground level.
There are four specially equipped ocean front rooms where the
entrance door pulls open so that it doesn't get in the way of
a wheelchair. The bathroom has a large door, a special toilet
with handrail, and a large shower with easy wheelchair access.
Two rooms can be combined with twin beds in one and king bed
in the second. There are two steps down to the beach from the
hotel.
Le Flamboyant Resort, Bay Nettle, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.87.66.00 Fax: 011.590.590.87.99.57
Email: leflamboyant@wanadoo.fr
Le Flamboyant has ample handicap facilities, ramps run throughout
the property, and public bathrooms are spacious. Restaurants
have wide entries and ramps. Both pools have areas with shallow
water, ideal for sitting, and the pool staff is available for
assistance. Handicapped rooms have wide doors, light switches
located lower to the ground, and spacious bathrooms with shower
and handlebars.
Le Petit Hotel,
Grand Case, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.29.09.65 Fax: 011.590.590.87.09.19
Email: info@lepetithotel.com
There is a ramp leading to the reception area and the hotel has
two units specifically for physically challenged tourists. Restrooms
are at floor level and the unit doors, restroom doors, baths,
showers and toilets are all wheelchair accessible.
Hotel L'Esplanade, Grand Case, St. Martin
Reservations/Tel: 011.590.590.87.06.55 Fax: 011.590.590.87.29.15
Email: info@lesplanade.com
Two of the Studio units are handicapped accessible with a ramp
leading to these guestrooms. The rooms, doors, and restrooms
to these two units are totally built to code for physically challenged
tourists.
Medicall Total Access, Marigot, St. Martin,
Tel: 011.590.590.29.04.04 Fax: 011.590.590.87.17.27
Email: medicall3@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.medicall.net
Medicall Total Access provides handicap accessible transportation,
medical emergency evacuation, and activities on the island.
***************************************
The St. Maarten Tourist Office has
indicated that the following resorts all have accommodations
equipped for physically challenged individuals, but details are
not available at this time.
Atrium Beach Resort, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Reservations/Tel: 011.599.544.2126 Fax: 011.599.544.2128
Email: atriumgm@sintmaarten.net
Great Bay Beach Hotel & Casino, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Reservations/Tel: 800.223.0757 or Tel: 011.599.542.2446 Fax:
011.599.542.3008
Email: greatbayhotel@sintmaarten.net
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, Maho Bay, St. Maarten
Reservations/Tel: 800.223.0757 or 011.599.545.2115 Fax: 011.599.545.3180
Email: info@mahobeach.com
Princess Port de Plaisance Hotel
& Casino, Cole Bay, St.
Maarten
Reservations/Tel: 800.622.7836 or 011.599.544.5222 Fax: 011.599.544.2315
Email: pdp@sintmaarten.net
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August 3, 2005
Hello Sam,
Well, I'm back. I didn't have a good
time. Nothing on Carnival Cruise Lines' ship was wheelchair
accessible (except for the casino, and I don't gamble plus the
casino was the only place on the ship that smoking was allowed,
gross! None of their shore excursions were wheelchair accessible
so I found things on-line to go and do myself with my friend.
Well, that was a disaster. The beach I found online that had
a ramp into the water, the government closed that beach down
because the ramp was corroding. The next island they changed
the schedule on me. They went there a day earlier than was on
my itinerary; therefore, the ride that I set up with a wheelchair
transportation company was all messed up. The ship tried to call
them and see if they could come out a day earlier, they could
but 4 hours later and they would pick me up to return in 3 hours,
so that cut my time off the ship.
The best island that we went to was
St. Martin. Someone actually
lifted me into the taxi and a fellow taxi driver was there to
help me out when we returned. There was a taxi van with a lift,
but it wasn't attached so they couldn't bring it with us so I
wouldn't be able to go with the group when they stopped and the
driver said he wouldn't be able to leave the air conditioner
running while they were gone. It was a very gorgeous island.
We weren't there long enough. I would love to spend time just
on that island.
I'm very blessed to live in the US.
Ann
Marie
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