Useful and Practical Information...

Find all the little details that make your stay in St. Martin - St. Maarten a memorable moment...

Getting around	Water	Entry formalities
Electricity	Currencies	Upon return
Telephone	Languages	Tourist Office
Local time	Emergency numbers

Getting around the island

Bus
The bus service is provided mainly by mini-bus according to the main roads without a fixed schedule. The bus stops are more or less respected ... Most often, for taking a bus in St. Martin, you just have to signal the driver, who will stop at your level.

Taxis
There are several transportation links available between Marigot, Philipsburg, other villages and the airports.
Princess Juliana Airport : (1-721) 545 5757
L'Espérance Airport Grand Case : 0590 97 53 03
Marigot : 0590 87 56 54
Philipsburg : (1-721) 542 2359
Quartier d'Orléans : 0590 87 31 44

Car rentals
Driving is on the right and road signs with international standards, even if you do not find here grade crossings and very rarely traffic lights...
It is relatively complicated to navigate on an island, as throughout the Caribbean, the indications are often very vague and do not be surprised if your hotel is "just right after the palm tree...". Don’t worry, you'll just have to ask your way.

To fully enjoy your stay in St. Martin and visit the island, it is highly advised to rent a car. St. Martin offers a wide selection of international and local car rental agencies. While the park car rental is very important, it is advisable to book your vehicle in advance.

Electricity

French side : 220 V, 60 Hz. European plugs.
Ducth side : 110 V, 60 Hz. American plugs.

On both sides of the island, the electronic shops offer home appliances, stock transformers and adaptors for European and American plugs. So electrical appliances can be used on both sides of the island.

Telephone

The international codes for Saint Martin are: +590 (French side) and 1 721 (Dutch side).

To call Mainland France or the French side of the island from the French side, simply dial the 10 digit number of your correspondent.

To call the Dutch side from the French side, dial: 00 1 721 and then the 7 digit number of your correspondent.

To call the French side from the Dutch side, dial: 00 590 then the 6 digit number (to call a mobile phone: 00 690 then the 6 digit number).

Jetlag Local time

Compared to Metropolitan France:
- 5 hours in winter (from the end of October to the end of March)
- 6 hours in summer (from the end of March to the end of October).

Compared to New York:
+1 hour in winter (from the end of October to the end of March)

Compared to universal time (GMT):
- 4:00

Do not forget that under the tropics the sun rises early (between 5:00am and 6:00am) and also sets early (between 5:30pm and 6:30pm).

Water

As the island has no natural spring or river, water is supplied from desalination plants exclusively.
Many mineral waters are also available in grocery stores and supermarkets.

The water is here scarce and expensive. We count on your action to preserve it and avoid waste.

Currencies

The Euro on the French side and the Netherlands Antillean florin (NAF) or guilder on the Dutch side are the official currencies but the U.S. dollar is accepted on both side of the island.
Travellers checks and major credit cards are accepted everywhere. Many change offices are available on the island. In contrast, off-site checks are often refused.

Languages

Thanks to bilinguism, the French side of the island speaks French as well as English.
The Dutch side speaks English.
In addition, the Dutch, Creole or Papiamento are also spoken.

Emergency numbers

St. Martin (French side)
SAMU : 15
Police : 17 or Marigot : 0590 87 88 33 - Grand Case : 0590 87 19 76
Firefighers : 18 - La Savane : 0590 29 02 86 - Grand Case : 0590 87 95 01
Gendarmerie - Marigot : 0590 52 21 90 - La Savane : 0590 52 30 00 - Quartier d'Orléans : 0590 52 35 95
Medical Center Guard : 0590 90 13 13
Hospital Louis Constant Fleming : 0590 52 25 25 - Emergencies : 0590 52 25 52

St. Maarten (Dutch side)
Emergency : 911
Doctors on duty : 5111
Police : 111 or 542 2112
Firefighters : 120 or 542 6001
Hospital : 543 1111

Entry requirement

In the new (2006) Princess Juliana International Airport, often called PJIA, serving the long flights, entry requirements are reduced with the passage of immigration, since there are no customs restrictions.

Except for rare exceptions, the conditions of entry can be summarized as:
- Presentation of a valid passport.
Citizens of the United States may present a birth certificate.
Citizens of the European Community must present a valid passport (identity card no longer allowed to Princess Juliana).
- Possession of a return ticket.
- Possession of a sum of money sufficient for the stay.
- FULLY completed immigration card given to you generally on the plane. It is necessary to know in advance the exact place of his stay in St. Martin.
No vaccinations are required.
Pets are allowed on presentation of a recent health certificate issued by your veterinarian.

All information relating to airlines are in our topic : GETTING TO ST MARTIN

Book online your flight to St. Martin in our topic : BOOK YOUR FLIGHT

Check flight schedules to or from the arrival of Princess Juliana Airport in our topic : FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Upon return

While many other tourist destinations claim to be "duty-free", St. Martin - St. Maarten is the only real duty-free destination of the Caribbean. The absence of customs duties, VAT and other indirect taxes guarantee unbeatable prices on many items. It is advised to inquire into the conditions these purchases can be bringing back to home.

For residents of the European Community, Canada and the United States, the outline of the customs regulations are as follows :

European Community
Residents of the European Union, who made a trip to Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy enjoy the following allowances:
per passenger over the age of 16 years, 200 cigarettes (or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars), 2 liters of still wine and 1 liter of alcohol over 22 °, or 2 liters of alcohol less than 22 °. The above limits are not cumulative.

Canada
Residents who have performed abroad in seven days or more are exempt from customs $750. They are also entitled to an exemption from $400 for an absence exceeding 48 hours per term. These exemptions can not be combined. Residents over 16 are entitled to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 2 pounds of tobacco per person. Residents of legal age can also bring 1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of beer or ale.

USA
Residents of the United States after an absence of 48 hours or more are entitled to duty free of $800 if they have not benefited from this exemption within 30 days. This amount is personal, but cumulative: a family of four persons is entitled to a combined deductible of $3200. Customs duties are calculated on the difference between the value of goods and the combined franchise. In addition, each person can bring 200 cigarettes, and more than 21 years are entitled to 2 liters of alcohol.

Tourist Office of St. Martin

Saint Martin
Route de Sandy Ground
97150 Saint Martin
Tél: (59) 0590 87 57 21 - Fax: (59) 0590 87 56 43
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Europe
10, rue Pergolèse
75116 Paris - France
Tel: 01 53 29 99 99 - Fax: 01 42 96 15 16
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North America
825, Third avenue 29th Floor - NY 10022
Toll free 00 1 514 288 1904
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www.stmartinisland.org