St Maarten and St Martin Basics

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The Basics

Time: GMT -4.

Electricity: 110/220 volts, 60Hz. Standard, flat, two and three pronged plugs, as found in the United States, are used.

Money: On the Dutch side the currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (ANG), 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 bureaux de change and banks throughout the island and ATMs in the main towns in both national sectors; travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted.

Currency Exchange Rates
ANG1.00 =	US$ 0.55	£ 0.34	C$ 0.59	A$ 0.61	R 4.26	€ 0.37	NZ$ 0.75

Note: These rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline 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: United States citizens require a valid passport. No visa is needed for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders endorsed British Citizen, British Subject, British Overseas Territories Citizen, or European Community do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles. Passports endorsed British National (Overseas) also do not require a visa for a stay of 90 days. In all other cases a visa is required.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians must have a valid passport. No visa is needed for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australians must have a valid passport. No visa is needed for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport and Schengen visa for entry into the Netherlands Antilles.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is needed for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay. No visa is needed for a stay of up to three months in the Netherlands Antilles.

Passport/Visa Note: All tourists must have return or onward tickets, all documents needed for next destination and sufficient funds. Passports must be valid for the length of stay. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA a valid passport will be required by immigration authorities.

Travel Health: No vaccination certificates are required for entry into either St Maarten or St Martin, however a yellow fever certificate is required for travellers 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 15%. Waiters and bar staff should be tipped between 10 and 15% if not included in the bill. 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, particularly if they have handled luggage.

Safety Information: 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 +590. To dial Dutch St Maarten dial 599-54 plus a five-digit number, and to dial French St Martin dial 590-590 plus a six-digit number. Phoning from one side of the island to the other is considered to be an international call. 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, 2 litres of alcohol and gifts to the value of ANG100. .