St Maarten/St Martin Island Information
Facts and Figures of the "Friendly Island"

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Airports (SXM)

The main airport is Princess Juliana International Airport (code SXM), on the Dutch side of the island. It has direct flights to/from cities in Europe, USA and Canada.
A small airport is located in Grand Case on the French side, for interisland connections with Air Caraïbes to Martinique, Gouadeloupe, St. Barth, and Santo Domingo (DR).
Airport Flight Information: (599) 545-5757
Airport Information Desk: (599) 545-4211

International Airlines serving Sint Maarten:
From USA: American Airlines, 1 daily flight.
Continental Airlines Wednesday, Saturday &, Sunday
From Canada: US Air on Saturday & Sunday.
American Airlines, Air Canada
From France: Air France, 1 daily flight.
Corsair on Thursday and Sunday
From Holland: KLM on Monday and Thursday

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Banks

Banks on St. Martin and St. Maarten are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm on both, the French and the Dutch side. You will find Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) at most of the banks. ATM' s usually accept Visa, MasterCard, and Cirrus.

Border

The Border between the French and the Dutch side is marked by a few signs along the road saying "Bienvenue dans la partie Francaise" (Welcome to the French Side), and "Welcome to the Dutch side". Otherwise, the border is invisible, and only marked on maps.

Beaches

There are over 30 beautiful white sandy beaches on St. Maarten and St. Martin

Click on photos for description & pictures of beaches!

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Capital

The Capital of the Dutch Sint Maarten is Philipsburg, and the Capital of the French Saint Martin is Marigot.

Climate

St Maarten/St Martin has a great variety of landscape including the mountain of Pic Paradis (424m/1400 ft). It benefits from a typical tropical climate, predominantly dry with average temperatures of 80F or 27C. Sun and trade winds year round. Actual Temperature, see here.

Clothing Optional

see under "Nude Beaches"

Currencies

The official currency of Dutch St. Maarten is the Netherlands Antilles Florin (NAF, or guilder). Since Jan. 1st 2002, the Euro (€) is the official currency on French St. Martin.
One US dollar equals approx. $1.80 NAF (Jan. 2007) whereas the exchange rate Euro to US-$ will continue to oscillate... US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere on both sides, and are often quoted in shops, especially on the French side. Exchange booths are available, dealing in the major currencies. US traveler checks as well as most major credit cards are widely accepted.

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Driving

Traffic is on the right with international signs on St. Martin and St. Maarten. Foreign and international driver licenses are accepted when renting a vehicle. Patience and a sense of humor are helpful while driving on island: natives often take time to stop and greet a friend, or to drop off deliveries. So, be aware of frequent stopping. It is common to use the horn or high beams to greet or thank another driver for the right of way.

Departure Tax

If not already included in your airline ticket price, US-$ 30.00 or €30.00 are required in cash (no credit cards, no cheques) per person age 2 and up, leaving on an international flight from St. Maarten's Juliana International Airport. If traveling from St. Maarten to another island in the Netherlands Antilles, the tax is only US-$ 6.00. Since summer 2007, there is an additional airport tax of $5.00 per person to pay in cash on the counter, unless already paid with your airline ticket.

Duty Free

Yes, it´s true. The island enjoys Duty Free and Tax Free Status, see our Shopping section.

Electricity

Dutch Sint Maarten runs on 120 voltage, 60 cycles (American outlets). French Saint Martin runs on 220 volts, 60 cycles (French or European outlets). Most hotels have converters available, if needed.

Formalities

When entering the country you will need a valid passport. US citizens may also enter by providing photo IDs plus certified copies of birth certificates and copies of marriage licenses. Passports are definitely easier. US citizens need a passport to re-enter the USA. For those travelling with animals, health certificates are required.

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Gas Stations: are found all over the island

Geography

the island is 37 square miles, of which the French side is 21 square miles. The French part has approx. 35,000 inhabitants. The Dutch side is 16 square miles, populated by approx. 40,000 people. To the East of St. Maarten/St. Martin lies the Atlantic Ocean, to the West the Caribbean Sea. The island lies at the crossroads of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, approximately 144 miles/300 km Southeast of Puerto Rico. The island is mostly volcanic. There are several mountains with the tallest being Pic Paradis (424 m/1400 ft) on the French side. St Maarten was never an island with lush vegetation, which is due to a lack of rain and rivers. However, the island enjoys of an abundance of beautiful white beaches.

Government

Both the Dutch and French side are self governed by democratic institutions. French St Martin as being a Départment of France, soon to be a "Collectivité" is member of the European Union.

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Hospital

The hospital in St. Maarten can be contacted at (599) 522-300. The Medical Center at (599) 543-1111. On the French side, there is the Marigot Hospital located in Concordia, (590) 590 295-757.

Holidays

The following are national holidays on the island: New Year's Day January 1, Epiphany Jan. 6 (French side), Carnival early February. Good Friday & Easter Monday April, Labor Day May 1, Ascension Day early May, Bastille Day July 14 (French side), Schoelcher Day July 21 (French side). Assumption Day August 15, All Saints Day November 1. Concordia Day & St Martin Day November 11. Christmas Day & Boxing Day December 25 & 26.

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Information

Tourist information can be obtained at the Tourism Offices. Dutch side: Vineyard Building, Philipsburg,
(599) 542-2337, Website:
French side: Route de Sandy Ground, Marigot (590) 590 875-721, email:

Internet

Internet access is available in several Internet Cafés on both sides of the island. Most of those Cybercafés are offices (not cafés!) with scheduled opening hours on weekdays only.

Island Tour

Take our map guided tour, click here!

Jewelry

The island enjoys the reputation as a shopper´s paradise (remember, it´s all duty free!), which is also true for jewelry. You will find a fantastic selection of fine jewelry, loose diamonds, an other precious gem stone mainly in the boutiques and Shopping areas of Philipsburg and Marigot.

Jeeps

Yes, definitely, you can rent Jeeps, and it makes sense due to the bumpy roads! Click for Car Rental page.

Jet Skis: are available, e.g. on Orient Bay and at Divi Resort on Little Bay. For more info, go to our Activities page.

Kids & Kites

You can bring both of them along with you to St Maarten or St Martin! There´s lots to do and to see for kids, such as visiting the Zoo or going to a family beach. Some beaches, e.g. Le Galion on the French side, are ideal for preschool kids due to their shallow calm waters.

Kitesurfing

There is also Kitesurfing on the island. See our activity section.

Language

The official language of St. Maarten is Dutch, while the language of St. Martin is French. English is widely spoken, especially on the Dutch side. Spanish is often spoken, too. The local dialect is Papiamento, the original language of St. Martin, or Creole, widely spoken by the large Haitian community.

Location

The island is located at 18N, 63W or 144 miles/300km Southeast of Puerto Rico. It is located in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, or right in the center of the Northern Caribbean islands.

Lolo's: Small open air food places or roadside stands for snacks. The most famous one is "Johnny under the Tree" in Cole Bay, and the Lolo's in Grand Case.

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Maps See our map page for some useful material. Our map guided video island tour does provide additional orientation.

Movie Theatres

On the French side, you can watch movies at the cinema MCJ in Sandy Ground. On the Dutch side, the main Movie Theater is at the "Megaplex" in Simpson Bay, and a smaller cinema is next to the Subways in Philipsburg at the Salt Pond.

Museums

There is currently one museum on the island. It's on the Dutch side that holds the Sint Maarten Museum, open from 10am to 4pm Monday-Friday, and from 10am to 12 pm on Saturday. The French "On the trail of the Arawaks" Museum closed down in 2006, and is now home to the Air Caraibes office.

Money

See Banks or Currency

Nationalities

There are over 100 nationalities represented on the island, primarily French, Dutch, Haitian, Dominican, Jamaican, African, American and Canadian.

Nightlife

There are over a dozen of Casinos where you can gamble Black Jack, Roulette, Poker, Craps, Baccarat and Hot Slots. The casinos are all located on the Dutch side of the island, mainly in Philipsburg, Maho Beach, Cupecoy and Simpson Bay. In the same areas, you will also find bars, night clubs, discotheques, and adult entertainment.

Open Bridges

While getting around, try to avoid the following bridge opening hours, as they usually cause long waiting times and traffic jams:



Simpson Bay Bridge (Dutch side): 9am, 9:30am, 11am, 11:30am 4:30pm and 5:30pm, Monday-Sunday
Sandy Ground Bridge (French side): 8:15am, 2:30pm, (except Sundays and Holidays) 5:30pm.

Online News

and and

Police

For police on the Dutch side, call 111 for Police, 130 for an Ambulance, and 911 for an Emergency

Population

The estimated population of Dutch St. Maarten is 40,000, and 35,000 for French St. Martin. The "Friendly Island" is recognized as the smallest piece of land shared by two countries.

Public Transportation

The island has a well developed network of mini-buses, primarily used by the local workforce as an inexpensive way to get around. Keep in mind that these buses frequent the main business and commercial areas of the island such as Philipsburg, Cole Bay, Marigot and Grand Case. Typical tourist destinations such as beaches are not served!

Rental Cars

Car rentals are available from many major international agencies, and local agents such as Alizes Car Rental or St. Louis Car Rental at reasonable prices. For more information on renting a vehicle, click here

Seagulls

Sandy, shallow beaches....

Sunsets

on St Maarten and St. Martin - they are just gorgeous, e.g. on Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, Long Bay & Plum Bay!

SXM

SXM is the international airport code for Princess Juliana airport on Dutch Sint Maarten.

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Time Zone

St. Martin and St. Maarten are in the Atlantic Time zone, which is -4 hours from Universal Time UTC (GST). During the winter +1 hour from Eastern Standard Time, in summer on same as EST. -5 hours from Paris or Frankfurt in winter, and -6 hours in the summer.

Taxis

A comfortable way to tour the island. Most of them are air-conditioned. Taxis are not metered, but are required to display a list of fares. Rates are set by the government, see rate table 2007 (PDF file). Charges are based upon two passengers and on the destination. Additional passengers cost extra. Both, Dutch and French Taxis pick up and drop off anywhere on the island, regardless which side you travel. Make sure to ask the driver the fare in advance. Taxi booths are located at the airports of Princess Juliana and Grand Case, at the port in Marigot (next to the Tourism Office), and in Philipsburg on Wathey Square and the Cruise Ship Pier.
Taxi Hotline: # 9247 or (599) 543-7814.

Telecommunications

Now, that´s a pretty cumbersome procedure due to the fact that two countries share the island! Calling within "your side" is easy: on the Dutch side dial the 7 digits starting with 54 or 55. On the French side dial the 10 digits starting with 0590 (fix) or 0690 (cell phones). If you want to call from one side to the other, you have to dial the full international code, which gives the following:
To call from the Dutch to the French side:
dial 00590 + 590 + six digits local number
To call from the French to the Dutch side :
dial 00599 + 54 + five digit number
dial 00599 + 55 (or 52, 53, 58) + five digit cell number
To call the US from the Dutch or French side:
dial 001 + area code + phone number
To call from the US to Dutch St. Maarten:
dial 011 + 599 + local number (7 digits)
To call from the US to French St. Martin:
dial 011 + 590 + 590 + six digit local number
dial 011 + 590 + 690 + six digit local cell number
Prepaid calling cards are available at several locations on both sides, e.g. InterCard at Dauphin Telecom in Marigot.

Umbrellas you´ll definitely need them on some beaches!

Vacation Villas

You will find a broad range of vacation villas and villa rentals on both, Dutch and French St. Maarten/st. Martin. There is everything, from plain 1 bedroom villas to luxury vacation homes. Click to log onto our link to Villa Rentals and Vacation homes !

Water

Tap Water on St. Maarten is processed by a desalination plant on the island, or from individual water tank systems. Fond'Or is the locally produced bottled water of the French side. Other international brands are also available such as Evian, Volvic, Pellegrino or Perrier. Please help to save water, it is precious on the island!

Watertaxi (Simpson Bay Lagoon)

Deepbleu offers a relaxing alternative to get around the Simpson Bay Lagoon, Dutch or French side. Take a ride to your favorite lagoon-side restaurant or shopping place or just ride around the lagoon taking in all the sights, like those unbelievable mega yachts! Rates are comparable to the land taxis and each boat is rain-protected with deep seating for 12 passengers. For pick up anywhere on the Lagoon call (599) 580-3314.

Xorry! Nothing in here!

Deepbleu Water Taxi

Yachting

Besides Simpson Bay and Marigot-Marina Royale, it seems that Oyster Pond is becoming more and more popular for mooring yachts and boats, because of its safe shelters. More on boat rental can be found on the activities page under "boat trips" or click below for private Yacht charter with Beauty III.

Zoo

One of the many attractions of St. Maarten is its Zoological and Botanical Garden "St. Maarten Park", which is home to over 100 animals of 35 species, and 100 plant species of South America and the Caribbean Basin. Click for Zoo!

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