St Martin/St Maarten Island Facts
Currency: US dollar is universally accepted. The Euro is primarily used on the French side and Dutch Guilders are accepted on the Dutch Side.
Electrical: The electrical standard on the Dutch side is the same as the United States with a 110 volt standard. All US appliances are compatible. The French side has a 220 volt standard requiring a converter if you are staying on the French side.
Taxes: There are no additional taxes on purchase items. If you are bringing items back home, please refer to the duty policy of your country.
Gratuities: Most restaurants have now added 15% service charge to the bill. Make sure to ask if a service charge has been included on the bill. It is now customary to leave a tip for good service.
Transportation: The public transportation in our opinion is not convenient. We highly recommend a renting a car on St Martin since St Maarten is a relatively small island that is easy to circumnavigate with easy access to the islands attractions and stunning beaches . Rental car rates are affordable and very worthwhile. Email us for any tips or guidance relating to car rentals.
Traffic: When traveling by car we highly suggest knowing the bridge openings of Simpson Bay and Marigot. The bridge opening times on St Maarten/ St Martin can be found below and at the website of St Maarten Marine and Trade Association.
Weather: The weather on St Maarten is ideal. The Netherlands Antilles enjoys one of the best weather cycles. Typically in the low season the temperatures range between 75-85 buffered by the cool trade winds. The high season is slightly warmer but just as comfortable since the days often have a passing 10-15 minute sprinkle of rain during the mid day.
Language: The most commonly used languages on the island are English, French, Dutch and Spanish. The local dialects are Creole and Papiamento. All tourist services and most commercial locations are bilingual with English spoken throughout however a few key phrases in French or Dutch would serve you well and garner general appreciation from the locals.
Medical: In a medical emergency ask the hotel staff or caretaker for the closest hospital. The Marigot Hospital located in Concordia offers the quickest medical access point for guests staying on the west side of the island (Simpson Bay, Maho, Cupecoy, Terres Basse, Nettle Bay, Marigot and Grand Case). The phone number of the hospital is (590) 590 29 57 55. Pharmacies on the French side are designated with green crosses. The cost of medical treatment at the Marigot Hospital is very reasonable.
The Dutch side or eastern half of the island can seek medical attention at Sint Maarten Medical Center on Cay Hill. The phone number of the hospital is (599) 543 1111. There are several clinics conveniently spread out through the island to render non-acute care.
Shopping Hours: A helpful hint as to not waste time for shopping trips is to learn the commercial hours of each half of the island or hire a personal St Martin shopping guide. The French side offers the European standard for commercial hours from 9AM-1PM with a two hour siesta. The stores reopen from 3PM-7PM. It is highly recommended to account for the 1-3PM midday closings on the French side as not to ruin a shopping trip.
The Dutch side has western business hours with most stores open from 9AM-6PM Monday through Saturday. Limited stores are open on Sunday depending on the tourist season and the presence of cruise ships.
Entry Requirements: As of January 2007, US citizens require a valid passport and return ticket. Canadian citizens require one of the following: a valid passport and return ticket, certified copy of birth certificate and return ticket, landing permit (permanent resident card with valid passport and return ticket. Consult your government or airline agency for further information.
Communications: The dual nation status can lead to confusion if make inter island calls. Full international codes are required if calling from the Dutch side to the French side and vice versa. Calling from the French to the Dutch side requires dialing (00 599) first and then the seven-digit number. Dialing from the Dutch to French side require the (00 590) prefix plus the nine digit number , dropping the 0. European cell phones with the GSM standard are compatible. Several US cellular companies do have compatibility with the St Maarten's cellular network but reception can be difficult. The island does offer cellular rentals at various locations.
Banking: Several banks are represented on the St Maarten/St Martin. The main banks on the Dutch side of St Maarten are RBTT Bank and Windwards Island Bank. Chase bank has an office location in Mullet Bay. ATMs can be found throughout the island and in most shopping plazas. Casinos usually have an ATM conveniently located. The use of the ATMs may offer the most convenient use of monetary access and the best exchange rates La Poste (post office) and main banks have cash points that accept most cards. Banking hours are 8:30-3:30 on weekdays and some banks on the Dutch side are open from 8:30 AM to noon on Saturdays. |
