St. Maarten Travel Tips

Lenny Dorsey at the vista point for Marigot Bay, St. Martin; (c) Soul Of America

St. Martin / St. Maarten Travel Tips

Facts

Official Language: Dutch (St. Maarten) / French (St. Martin)
Currency: (Dutch side) Netherlands Antilles Florin or Guilder / (French side) Euro
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time
Est. Population: 41,000
Cruise Port City: Phillipsburg (Sint Maarten) / Marigot (St. Martin)

Travel Tips

Passports are required for U.S. citizens.

Major credit cards are accepted by most establishments.

St. Maarten/St. Martin is on Atlantic Standard Time.

French is the official language in St. Martin, but English is widely spoken. English is also widely spoken in St. Maarten.

You can make phone calls at stations near the cruise port.

The post office is located on Rue de la Liberte. Post office hours are 7:30 am-4:30 pm (Monday-Friday).

Bank hours are 8 am-3 pm (Monday-Thursday) and 8 am-1 pm (Friday). Many banks close for lunch, but ATMs are plentiful.

Most stores are open from 9 am to 6 pm (Monday-Saturday). Many stores close for lunch.

Drink bottled water when available. Bring sunglasses, a hat and plenty of sunscreen lotion.

Electricity is 220 volts, so you need a converter and adapter coming from America.

Cruise ships dock in Phillipsburg on the Dutch side of the island at the A.C. Wathey Pier. You can take a water taxi from this pier to the center of town. Marigot, on the French side, is a taxi ride from the cruise ship terminal.

The crime rate is less than in a metropolitan city, but visitors should use common sense when out and about. Women should feel comfortable walking alone in the major tourist and shopping areas.

The major holidays in Sint Maarten are New Year’s Day, Easter, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Ascension, Antillean Day, St. Maarten Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day.

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