St. Maarten/St. Martin 101: Basic Information

St. Maarten/St. Martin 101. Visitors to St. Maarten/St. Martin are bound to have some miscellaneous questions. From dressing for dinner to departure taxes, from public holidays to parking, the following are some useful bits of information about the island.

How to call St. Maarten and St. Martin
To dial Dutch St. Maarten (part of the Netherland Antilles) from the US, dial 011, then 599 the country code, then the local phone number (a seven digit number). To dial the French side, St. Martin, dial 011, then 590-590, then the telephone number. Find hotel phone numbers listed in Lodging. Get helpful local Dutch telephone numbers.

Island Banking
You won’t have any trouble finding banks or automated teller machines on the island. Windward Islands Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, RBTT St. Maarten and First Caribbean Bank have credit card-friendly machines across the island, including in Philipsburg, Prime Plaza, the Princess Juliana International Airport and the Maho District. Island banks are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Business Hours
You’ll need to consider local island business schedules when making your plans. Hours of operation do vary between stores and parts of the island. Stores in Philipsburg are usually open Monday to Saturday from 9 or 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., but only some are open on Sunday. Mediterranean style is more evident in Marigot, where stores are generally open from 9 or 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., but tend to close between 1 and 3 p.m. Store hours vary on Sundays, depending on cruise ship arrivals, and most restaurants are also open.

Credit Cards
Major credit cards—American Express, Visa and MasterCard—are accepted in most places. You’ll need to check with individual merchants, as some stores and restaurants may not accept them. U.S. dollar traveler’s checks are accepted everywhere with identification.

Currency
One island. Two governments. Three currencies. However, the island’s currency sector isn’t difficult to understand. The official currency of Dutch St. Maarten is the Netherlands Antilles guilder; the official currency of French St. Martin is the euro. Islandwide you’ll find most prices listed in several currencies, with the U.S. dollar prevalent and accepted virtually everywhere. Make sure to let merchants know which currency you intend to pay with and keep an eye on the rate of exchange, which is posted in most hotels and banks. The Eastern Caribbean dollar and the U.S. dollar are the currencies of Anguilla. St. Barths accepts both euros and U.S. dollars, and Saba and St. Eustatius accept guilders and U.S. dollars.

Departure Tax
As you prepare to depart St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, you’ll notice a window for payment of a departure tax. Those leaving on an international flight must pay US$30, unless the arrival and departure are on the same day. Those traveling to another island within the Netherlands Antilles pay US$10. Payment is required before boarding, and you’ll need cash or a traveler’s check. Many airlines include the departure tax in the price of the ticket, but if you are unsure, check with your individual carrier.

Dress
You can vary your dress code as much as you desire on St. Maarten/St. Martin. It’s mostly a casual island in which cotton and linen will be your mainstays. However, it is also a modest island, so swimwear is appropriate only at the beach. In the island’s fine restaurants and casinos, you’ll feel more comfortable upgrading from shorts and T-shirts.

Drinking Water
Tap water on the island comes from desalinated seawater and is drinkable. Bottled water is also readily available.

Electricity
You’ll need to consider which side of the island you’re on when it comes to using small appliances during your stay. On the Dutch side, the current is 110 volts AC, like in the United States. The current on the French side is most often the European standard, or 220 volts. Converters are available at several electronics stores in Marigot and Philipsburg.

Language
Dutch is the official language of St. Maarten and French of St. Martin, but you’ll hear English spoken everywhere. During your stay, you’ll also hear Papiamento—spoken mainly in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao—and other languages such as Spanish, Creole patois, Italian and German.

Newspapers
St. Maarten/St. Martin has its own version of The Miami Herald International Edition that’s printed on the island and distributed to hotels and newsstands. It has up-to-date major news, sports, people and stock market information. You can also find The New York Times, USA Today and some local newspapers, like The Daily Herald on the Dutch side and Le Pélican and the St. Martin Week on the French side.

Medical
Island pharmacies and hospitals can attend the medical needs of visitors. Pharmacies carry both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and can be identified by a mint-green cross out front. Both the Friendly Island Pharmacy in Cole Bay (599-544-4290) and the Simpson Bay Pharmacy (599-544-3653) in the Yacht Club carry some of the largest selections of European and U.S. merchandise on the island, all at a substantial savings over U.S. prices. The pharmacists are multilingual and familiar with both U.S. and European pharmaceutical products. They also accept prescriptions from U.S. doctors and medicine bottles with a refill label. The hospital on the Dutch side is located in Cay Hill, next to Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. The French-side hospital is located near Marigot in Concordia.

Post Offices
St. Maarten has very colorful postage stamps that make excellent souvenirs. The main post office is on Walter Nisbeth Road, and there’s a branch at Simpson Bay on Airport Road. The main post office on the French side is in Marigot, on Rue de la Liberté.

Shipping
John Cassidy & Sons and UPS can ship your purchases home with minimum expense and no hassle. Large items are not a problem, and they handle all the U.S. Customs documents.

Staying in Touch
It’s easy to remain in contact with loved ones or business associates back home while on the island, thanks to the excellent infrastructure of Internet and cellular telephone networks. One of the easiest ways to stay in touch is to bring your own GSM cell phone and have it activated for credit card roaming by East Caribbean Cellular (simply dial 0 upon arrival and the customer service reps will take care of the rest). If you didn’t bring your own phone, don’t worry—several establishments here offer cellular phone rentals as well. If you’d like to use your BlackBerry for both calls and e-mails on the island, T-Mobile offers service through a roaming agreement with TELCell N.V. Several companies in St. Maarten/St. Martin offer Internet access: International Data Limited (599-544-3188); United Telecommunications Services (599-542-0101); Caribserve.net (599-542-4233), which offers wireless services for both home and businesses; and TelNet (599-543-7952).

Religious Services
Island venues provide worship services, as well as other activities. In general, Catholic Church services in Philipsburg start at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. The Methodist Church service, however, begins at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, and the New Testament Baptist Church holds Sunday services at 11 a.m. There is a full time rabbi on the island, Rabbi Moshe Chanowitz and his wife, Rebbetzin Sara. They can be reached at 599-520-1717 and can help with kosher meals and services. There are services on the Dutch and French side for the major holidays. You can reach them through www.jewishsxm.com. For information on these and other services, ask at your hotel’s front desk.

Tipping
In most restaurants around the island, a 15 percent service charge is added to your bill. Additional tipping for fine service is appreciated.

Transportation
On this island of two distinct cultures and an incredible diversity, it’s remarkably easy to get around.

Car Rentals
This is by far the most convenient way to move around St. Maarten/St. Martin. Rates are reasonable, and most agencies offer unlimited mileage, pickup, delivery, emergency services and additional insurance. You’ll need a driver’s license and a major credit card or cash deposit. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road throughout the island. Once you’ve had a chance to evaluate local etiquette, you’ll find driving here is easy to pick up. Be sure to check with your rental agency to see if there are any minimum age restrictions. U-Save Car & Truck Rental (U.S.: 800-272-8728; Local number: 599-544-2197) offers competitive rates.

Parking
Here’s a useful tip for those of you who have rented or will be renting cars: Be careful where you park, especially in town. Make sure that you’re not parked in a tow-away zone. Make sure to watch the traffic signs properly. There are no parking spaces in town, which is the toughest place to park. There’s one paid parking lot, but there are rarely spaces available.

Gas
St. Maarten/St. Martin has several gas stations—Shell, Star Mart Quality Station, Tackling Shell Service Station, and Texaco Star Mart. Some of them are open 24 hours and offer well-stocked convenience stores with cold drinks, telephone cards and much, much more.

Taxis
You’ll never have to wait long for a taxi on the island. They’re generally available at hotels, major streets and venues throughout both sides of the island. It’s a great, personalized way to see the island and learn your way around. Taxi drivers often have a host of useful information and are more than willing to share their knowledge.

Taxis are not metered here; the government sets rates, which are based on carrying two passengers. A fee may be added for additional passengers. Your hotel’s front desk can arrange for a taxi 24 hours a day (call 9221). From Philipsburg, taxi rates are as follows: $8 to the zoo; $12 to Marigot; $ 18 to Orient Beach; $22 to Paradise Peak; and $25 to Pinel Island. From Princess Juliana International Airport, rates are $6 to Maho; $12 to Marigot; $12 to Philipsburg; $20 to Grand Case; and $30 to Pinel Island. Deepbleu Water Taxi offers water taxis around the lagoon with stops in Simpson Bay, Summit Hotel and Marigot, as well as others, and is a great way to beat the traffic. Visit them online at www.deepbleusxm.com for additional information.

Buses
To really see St. Maarten/St. Martin, hop aboard one of the island’s buses. They regularly run between Philipsburg and Marigot (via Cole Bay), Dutch Quarter, French Quarter, St. Peters and Mullet Bay. Prices range from $1 to $2, and routes often include breathtaking scenery without the responsibility of driving yourself, thus affording a full view.

U.S. Shopping Regulations
How much can citizens or residents bring back home? Visitors from the United States who travel to St. Maarten/St. Martin can bring back up to $800 worth of items without paying duty when going through U.S. Customs.

If you come to the island as part of a cruise and the ship docks at another island that’s a U.S. territory, like the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can bring back up to $1,600 worth of goods and not have to pay duty. However, the rules say only $800 worth of those goods can be from the island; the other $800 worth has to come from the U.S.-controlled locale.

If you’re 21 or older, you may bring home up to 2 liters of alcohol, duty-free, from St. Maarten, as long as one of the liters was produced locally. You’re allowed to bring home up to 200 cigarettes and 100 non-Cuban cigars. These regulations are subject to change. For more information, visit www.cbp.gov.

Public Holidays
A plethora of holidays bring fun and festivities to St. Maarten/St. Martin. But they also bring many closed businesses on public holidays and during Carnival. Check with your hotel’s front desk if you have any questions.

Easter Monday is observed on both sides of the island the day after Easter Sunday. The Queen’s Birthday (Dutch) is celebrated on April 30, while the French side celebrates Bastille Day on July 14. On November 11, both sides celebrate St. Martin’s Day; however, on the March 23, the French side observes Concordia Day. Christmas and Boxing Day are also shared between the two sides.

Carnival
There's no denying it — if you haven't experienced a Carnival, you haven't lived the Caribbean. On the Dutch side, the Carnival kicks off in April with 17 days of parades, jump-ups, concerts, pageants and a Carnival Village, where a sampling of spicy food can be savored. Thousands line the four-mile-long parade route jumping and jamming on the streets of Philipsburg as flamboyantly costumed revelers, magicians and musicians entertain in true Carnival spirit.

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On your tour around the island, sample the island's cuisine. Use our restaurant guide to help plan as well as a handy guide to activities and sights here.