Saint Martin is an island in the Caribbean that is split between the French collectivity of Saint-Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten. Beauty abounds on the island, with bluffs overlooking pretty harbors, sandy-cliffed beaches and tranquil rocky coves where fish provide the beauty.
CITIES
Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch side. This is where most cruise ships dock.
Marigot is the capital of the French side.
Grand Case is on the French side and has excellent restaurants.
UNDERSTAND
Saint-Martin – the northern, French side is 54 km2 and the southern, “Dutch side”, Sint Maarten is 41 km2. To avoid confusion, refer to them as “the French side” and “the Dutch side”. There is no real border, only monuments and signs. Over 350 years ago the two decided that residents of either country could travel across both sides without worry, which helps tourism considerably. Phoning between sides is, in effect, an international call and requires special dialing instructions.
Sint Maarten is a leading destination with many developments, high-rise flats and waterfront communities, popular especially to Americans. Tourists are frequently approached by time-share offers. Almost everyone speaks English.
Money: Netherlands Antilles florins (NAF) or guilders, but the US dollar and the euro is accepted. The florin is officially pegged to 1 USD = 1.79 NAF. Cruise ships flood Philipsburg, one of the Caribbean’s best shopping towns, go to the beach and have a drink, or play at one of the 9 casinos, 4×4 excursion. The Maho and Cupecoy area has the best nightlife and best beaches.
Saint-Martin is governed by Guadeloupe and is more European than the Dutch. Language is French, has the same laws as France, has no casinos and is less developed, but has better natural wonders, including the clothing-optional Orient Beach, the adjacent nudist resort, Club Orient.
Language. Language is typically not a barrier when visiting the island.
GET IN
Visa is valid for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands but is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands.
By Plane.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). Dutch, larger and busy. iest. Planes land and take off unusually close overhead to sunbathers at Maho Beach.
Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG). Serves inter-island flights, commercial and private. Exit tax on international flights US$30.
By Boat. 1.3 million people visit by cruise ship, landing mostly in Philipsburg offloading perhaps 18,000 or more passengers per day in high season. Docks are 1.6-km walk to the east end of Front Street and shopping. Water taxis run continuously in a circular route to Philipsburg. The long lines rarely have a long wait.
Most inter-island ferry service also arrives/departs at Marigot.
GET AROUND
By Car. Rental cars are available at the airport. The roads are narrow, sometimes quite bad on both sides and often very crowded between Philipsburg and Marigot.
Scooters and motorcycles speed around you on both sides of the road.
By Motorcycle. Motorcycles, quads and scooters.
By Taxi. Taxi cabs are usually vans to service the cruise ship traffic and most drivers are quite willing and able to hire-out as tour guides at US$45-50 per hour, less expensive and more versatile for 3-4 people.
By Minivan. The bus system gets most anywhere especially between Philipsburg and Marigot.
By Foot in towns.
SEE
Butterfly Farm, ☏ +1 721 587 3121, +590 590 873121. Rte. de Le Galion, Quartier d’Orléans. Daily 9AM-3PM. Stroll through hundreds of colorful butterflies under a tented mesh. A fun outing. US$12 (good for your stay on the island).
Pic du Paradis, Route de Pic du Paradis from Friars Bay Beach. Pic du Paradis is the highest point on the island (1400ft/427m) with two viewing areas that provide great views. The road is steep and isolated and four wheel drive is required. This is also an isolated area and is safest seen as part of an excursion or tour.
DO
Beaches are a main attraction. Saint Martin has 37 beaches fine for swimming and hotels holding the property. Orient Bay has an underwater marine reserve with snorkeling.
Clothing optional beaches. Cupecoy Beach tolerates it on the Dutch side.
Maho Bay beach (Dutch) is at the end of the airport’s runway with large aircraft flying just feet over the beach. Holding on to the fence is not recommended due to flying gravel and people have been injured, a very few killed doing.
Casinos are also a popular attraction on the island, but only on the Dutch side.
Loterie Farm restaurant, lounge with tapas, hikes and ecotours and several zip lines.
Money. Euros and US dollars are commonly accepted on both sides of the island, as are credit cards (many places do not accept cards).
Shopping. Rivals Saint Thomas for price. Both sides are duty free with no tax.
French Side. Unique items are at the water-front open-air market in Marigot. On Sunday, forget the French side.
Dutch side. Front Street in Philipsburg is the center: jewelry, liquor, cosmetics, cameras, electronics and tobacco, with souvenirs everywhere. A small open-air bazaar is behind the courthouse.
Food. 300 restaurants with a wide variety. Tuesday evenings in Grand Case are not to be missed as the main street dons carnival atmosphere and opens up to street vendors with French cuisine and local creole fare.
To save cash, eat where the locals eat at Chinese restaurants or roadside food trucks. Enjoy lunch, swim on a beautiful Beach and watch the Airplanes land at Tortuga at Maho.
Save money: 15% may be added to your bill as Tax or SC (Service charge) but the island has no dining tax so the restaurant may be taking advantage of North American tourists and is your tip. Water is assumed to be bottled water – US$4-5 per bottle, more expensive than beer or wine. Specify clearly for tap water.
Drink. The Dutch side has more night clubs.
Accommodation. US$100 per night and often much more with generous taxes and service charges. Ask for the “local rate”.
STAY SAFE
Sun sunscreen frequently, brimmed hats, umbrellas and light clothing.
Crime Generally safe, parked rental cars are commonly rifled. Organized teams can break in effortlessly. Leave nothing of value in them at any time.
Drinking is a national pastime in St. Maarten and inexpensive – US$1.25 ice cold Heinekens are available almost everywhere.
Drugs Readily available but marijuana is not legal and not regulated as in Netherlands.
Parking Philipsburg has very little parking and the tow zone areas are very poorly marked. If the spot is free and you think it shouldn’t be, then it is probably a tow area.
LGBT travelers If you are LGBT be careful, the local culture doesn’t have the same level of acceptance found in other countries.
Tap water comes from desalinization and is drinkable.
Respect. Dress codes are uncommon on St. Martin. St. Martin has a great deal of cultural diversity, and true locals are far outnumbered by immigrants from poorer and less urbane areas. It is illegal to wear a swimsuit except when you’re at the beach or pool, and it’s also disrespectful and likely to result in poor treatment
Connect. The Dutch part has North American so its country code is +1. The French part has country code +590. Phone calls over the border are charged as international calls – the same rates to use it in French Saint Martin but as Dutch Sint Maarten is not a part of the EU, the costs are higher.
Go Next. Short-hop flights and ferry boats access Saint-Barthélemy, Anguilla, and Saba only 30 minutes or so to St Barts and Anguilla (StMartinbookings.com)
============================================================NOMAD MANIA France – Saint Martin
Islands: St. Martin/St. Maarten
Borders
Saint Martin (sea border/port)
St. Martin-St.Maarten (land border)
Airports: Grand Case (SFG)
World of Nature: National Nature Reserve
Beaches: Baie Longue
NOMAD MANIA Netherlands – Sint Maarten
Borders
Sint Maarten (sea border/port)
St. Martin-St.Maarten (land border)
Airports: Sint Maarten (SXM)
Museums:
Philipsburg: Sint Maarten Museum
Philipsburg: Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit
Zoos: Philipsburg: St Maarten Zoo
Experiencs: King’s Day/ former Queen’s Day
Beaches: Maho Beach