St Maarten and St Martin

Visiting St Maarten/St Martin is a unique experience: it is an eastern Caribbean island divided between two sovereign states, France and the Netherlands, with an un-policed border cutting through its southern portion, allowing you to sunbathe in the French St Martin in the afternoon, and stroll over to dine in Dutch St Maarten in the evening. The French and the Dutch have shared this Caribbean gem peacefully for more than 350 years ever since, as legend has it, a gin-drinking Dutchman and wine-imbibing Frenchman walked around the island to see how much territory they could claim for their country in a day. The Frenchman gained two-thirds of the island, but the Dutch maintain that their representative claimed the prize part of the property.

The Dutch portion is in the south, with the capital Philipsburg being a duty-free shopping Mecca that draws thousands of tourists every day of the year. Dutch St Maarten arguably has the best (certainly the most developed and crowded) beach resorts, clustered along the southwest coast near the island's international airport. French St Martin is more scenic and less developed, but no less popular as a holiday destination.

The island is renowned as being the gourmet capital of the Caribbean and for providing the liveliest nightlife, mostly centered on the island's 35 enticing white-sand beaches. The small island's main attractions are shopping, relaxing on the crowded beach or dipping in the clear turquoise waters; there is little of historic, cultural or architectural interest or natural attractions beyond the sand and sea.

Basics

Time: GMT -4.
Electricity: 110/220 volts, 60Hz.
Money: On the Dutch side the currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (ANG or NAFl), where one guilder is divided into 100 cents, but US Dollars are also widely accepted and prices are usually quoted in Dollars as well as Guilders. On the French side of the island the Euro (EUR) is the local currency, although establishments will also accept US Dollars. There are numerous bureau de change and banks throughout the island and ATMs in the main towns in both national sectors; travelers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted.

 

Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only.

Language: Dutch and French are the official languages, but English is widely spoken. Locals commonly use a language known as Papiamento, a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English.
Entry Requirements for Americans: US citizens need a valid passport to enter either St Maarten or St Martin; a return ticket or proof of onward travel is also required. No visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.
Entry Requirements for UK nationals: British citizens require a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months. A return ticket or proof of onward travel is required. This applies to both Dutch and French national sectors of the island.
Entry Requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens need a passport or proof of citizenship and/or identity to enter either St Maarten or St Martin, and a return ticket or proof of onward travel is required. No visa is required for a stay of up to 14 days.
Entry Requirements for Australians: Australian nationals require a passport valid for the period of intended stay. Visa not required if coming for a stay up to 14 days. For longer than 14 days, but less than 30, a Certificate of Admission for a temporary stay can be obtained on arrival.
Entry Requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport valid for the period of intended stay and a visa issued prior to arrival by the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles.
Entry Requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 14 days. For a stay exceeding 14 days but less than 30 days, a Certificate of Admission must be obtained on arrival.
Passport/Visa Note: All tourists must have a return ticket, or an onward ticket to a foreign destination, and sufficient funds. Passports must be valid for the length of stay. From 23 January 2007 all US citizens traveling to and from St Maarten/St Martin by air will require a valid passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well.
Health: No vaccination certificates are required for entry into either St Maarten or St Martin, however a yellow fever certificate is required for travelers arriving within six days from infected areas. The Manchionneel tree that grows all over the island, mainly along the beaches, is extremely poisonous: the sap and fruit, which look like small green apples are caustic and burn the skin. Water is safe to drink. Medical care on the island is good, but patients are likely to be transferred to the US for anything serious. Medical insurance is strongly advised.
Tipping: On the Dutch side of the island hotel bills include a tax of 5%, and often a service charge of 10 to 15%. Waiters and bar staff should be tipped between 10 and 15% if not included in the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip. On French St Martin hotels usually add 5% occupancy tax per person, but a small gratuity is appreciated for good service. Restaurants and hotels usually add a service charge of 10 to 15% to the bill, and it is always best to check the bill. Taxi drivers and porters expect to be tipped.
Safety: Most visits to the island are trouble-free, however crime has been increasing in recent years and visitors should refrain from leaving valuables unattended on beaches, in cars and hotel lobbies. Burglaries and break-ins occur sometimes at resorts, beach houses and hotels and there have been incidents of armed robbery. Precautions should also be taken against car theft and insurance cover is advisable.
Business: On St. Maarten/St. Martin things are fairly informal, but jackets and ties should be worn by men for meetings. English is spoken widely throughout both the French and Dutch parts of the island and is often the language used in meetings. Business hours are generally 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The country code for St Maarten, as part of the Netherlands Antilles, is +599. The code for French St Martin is +596. The outgoing code for both sectors is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are not in use. GSM 900 and 1800 mobile network coverage extends across both parts of the island. Internet access is available at Internet cafes, and in most resorts.
Duty Free: Arrivals in St Maarten/St Martin will not have to pay customs duty on a reasonable amount of goods for their own use. Reasonable constitutes about 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, and 2 liters of alcohol.
 

Philipsburg

Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St. Maarten and the only town of consequence on the island. It has two main streets, Voorstraat and Achterstraat, connected by several bustling cross-streets, filled mainly with duty-free shops, cafes, hotels and courtyards overflowing with flowers. The town has an unusual setting, sitting on a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay, on the south coast of the island, and the Great Salt Pond (a huge marsh). It is the port of call of hundreds of cruise ships, filling the primary need of the day-tripping passengers who come ashore mainly to shop for everything from Italian leather goods and Japanese cameras to native crafts. The town's nightlife is regarded as among the liveliest to be found in the Caribbean. Architecturally the town, founded in 1763 by John Philips (a Scots captain in the Dutch navy), is quaint, with characteristic pastel-colored West Indian houses lining the streets, and a few Dutch colonial landmarks.

 

Climate

The island is sunny and warm all year round, with average monthly temperatures varying little throughout the year. Temperatures in coastal areas range from 72º to 86ºF (22º to 30ºC) and from 66º to 81ºF (19º to 27ºC) in inland areas. Cooling winds buffet the island all throughout the year. Showers can be expected at any time of year but rainstorms pass quickly. Winter and the Christmas/New Year holidays are traditionally the most popular time to visit the island but summer is a great time to visit because lodging rates are much lower and the beaches, roads and restaurants are not crowded.