|
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. Some of the French
banks close at lunch time. You will find Automatic
Teller Machines (ATM) at most of the banks,
and on a few public places, e.g. at the airport and Simpson Bay Yacht Club.
ATM's usually accept Visa,
Master Card, and Cirrus.
|
Climate: The island benefits from a typical tropical climate, mainly dry with average |
|
|
temperatures of 80F or 27C. Sun and trade
winds year round. Great variety of landscape
including the mountain of Pic Paradis (424m/1400
ft). |
|
|
Internet:
Internet access is available in several
Internet Cafés on both sides of the
island. Most of those Cyber cafés
are offices (not cafés!) with scheduled
opening hours on weekdays only. |
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.
Museums: The Dutch side holds the Sint Maarten Museum in Philipsburg,
open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday, and 10-noon on
Saturday. For lovers of movies, there is a very special museum of "The Yoda Guy" Nick Maley, movie make-up wizard (and EMMY nominee) of movies like "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars" to visit on Front Street in Philipsburg (on the Eastern end, towards Jump-Up Casino).
Nationalities: There are over 100 nationalities represented on the island, primarily French, Dutch, Haitian, Dominican, Jamaican, African, American and Canadian.
The picture shows a Haitian
women, a few years ago, at that time the nanny of our son Valentin. |
|
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.
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 for French St.
Martin. US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere
on both sides, and are often quoted in shops.
US traveler checks as well as most major credit
cards are widely accepted.
 |
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. |
Water:
Tap Water in 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!
|
|
| Casinos: 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,
i.e. in Philipsburg, Maho Beach, Cupecoy, Simpson Bay, and - with the opening of the Westin Resort - now also on Dawn Beach. |
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. There are marked stops along
the roadside, but by waving them down you can
be picked up virtually anywhere along the main road in the South and West of the island.
Time
Zone: The island is 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.
Shopping
|
| high quality duty-free goods, often up to 40% lower than US retail prices. In this shopper's paradise, you will find local crafts & arts, exotic foods, jewelry, liquor, tobacco, leather goods, and elegant designer goods, duty free tax free. Chic Marigot on the French side, and Front Street in the heart of Philipsburg are the two main shopping areas. |
|
Capital:
The Capital of Dutch Sint Maarten is
Philipsburg, and the Capital of French
Saint Martin is Marigot.
|
|
Info
Tourism Offices:
Dutch side: Philipsburg
(599) 542-2337
Web site: 
French side: Marigot
(590) 590 875-721
Web site: |
Driving:
Traffic is on the right with international signs
on St. Martin and St. Maarten. Foreign and international
driving 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.
Pretty common: goats on the road!
Geography:
the island is 37 square miles, of which the
French side is 21 square miles and the Dutch
side 16 square miles. To the East lies the Atlantic
Ocean, to the West the Caribbean Sea. The island
lies 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.
Local kids on the road |
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.
Clothing Optional
Beaches: There are several nude beaches
on the island, the most well known being
Orient
Bay.
Click on photo for clothing optional and secluded
beaches on St. Martin and St. Maarten.
|
|
Taxis:
A comfortable way to tour the island. Most
taxis are air-conditioned. They are not metered,
but are required to display a list of fares.
Rates are set by the government and the Taxi Drivers' Association. Charges are
based upon two passengers. Make sure to ask
the driver the fare in advance. Taxi booths
are at the airports of Princess Juliana and
Grand Case, at the port in Marigot, downtown Philipsburg
(at the Court House) and at the cruise ship facility on Wathey Square. Taxi Hotline #9247 or call (599) 543-7814. Click here to download Taxi Rates 2007. |
