St. Maarten Travel Guide

St. Maarten: The Practical Guide

The things nobody tells you, gathered in one place, from people who live here.

Two countries, one island

Sint Maarten is Dutch; Saint-Martin is French. There is no border post between them — a sign at the roadside is the entire formality.

That single fact shapes almost everything practical about a visit here, from which socket your hairdryer needs to what your phone does about roaming. See the Dutch side and the French side.

Money

US dollars work everywhere on the Dutch side and almost everywhere on the French. The euro is official on the French side and occasionally buys you a slightly better price.

Cards are widely accepted in restaurants, shops and hotels. Taxis are often cash only, in dollars, which catches people out at the airport rank.

There is no sales tax on most goods on the Dutch side, which is what "duty free" means here and why Front Street exists.

Getting around

The island is 37 square miles and you can drive round it in about two hours. Nothing is far, but journeys take longer than the map suggests.

The Simpson Bay bridge opens on a published schedule and stops the main west-side road entirely while it does — fifteen to twenty minutes, several times a day. It is the single biggest variable in any journey here.

Roads are fine on the main routes and variable off them. Secondary roads are often unlit and occasionally narrow with drops.

There is no Uber. See Uber in St. Maarten.

Renting versus a driver depends on your week rather than on principle — the honest comparison is here.

Electricity

Dutch side: generally 110V, US-style sockets. French side: 220V, European sockets.

On the same island, twenty minutes apart. If you are staying French and your devices are American, or the reverse, bring an adapter.

Phones and data

Your phone may switch between Dutch and French networks as you drive across the island, and for roaming purposes that can mean switching country — with charges to match.

Check that your plan covers both, or expect a surprise. It is one of the more common complaints from visitors here and it is entirely avoidable.

Water and sun

The mains supply is desalinated and treated and is generally considered safe. Many people drink bottled for taste. In a villa, ask.

The sun is stronger than most visitors allow for and there is very little natural shade on the beaches. That is a genuine, practical warning rather than a formality — the most common thing to ruin a week here is a first-day sunburn.

Tipping

Dutch side — as in the US, 15 to 20%, unless service is already added, which it often is.

French side — service is generally included by law. A few extra euros for good service is normal; a full American-style tip on top is not expected.

Read the bill. Both sides add service more often than visitors notice, and paying twice is easy.

Safety

Ordinary sense, ordinary precautions. The genuine risk here is not what visitors usually worry about — it is driving unlit roads at night after dinner. See is St. Maarten safe for the honest version.

Language

English is the working language of the Dutch side and widely spoken on the French. Dutch, French, Spanish and Papiamento are all in daily use, and Haitian Creole is spoken by a large part of the working population.

You will not have a language problem as a visitor. Learning a few words of French for the French side is appreciated in the same way it is anywhere in France.

Questions people actually ask

Can you drink the tap water in St. Maarten?

The mains supply is desalinated and treated and is generally considered safe on both sides. Many visitors and plenty of residents drink bottled anyway, largely for taste. In a villa, ask the manager rather than assume.

Do I need to tip?

On the Dutch side, tipping works as it does in the US — 15 to 20% unless service is already added. On the French side, service is usually included by law and an extra few euros for good service is normal rather than expected. Check the bill; many places add it.

What plug and voltage is used?

The Dutch side generally uses 110V with US-style sockets. The French side uses 220V with European sockets. On one island. Check which side your accommodation is on before you pack adapters.

Is English spoken?

Widely on both sides, and it is the working language of the Dutch side. On the French side, French is the daily language but English is understood almost everywhere a visitor goes.

Everything under this

Beach Clubs in St. Maarten How beach clubs work on St. Maarten and Saint-Martin, what a day costs, and how to pick one that matches your group rather than the first you find.

Cupecoy, Mullet Bay and the West End The western end of the Dutch side — Mullet Bay for swimming, Cupecoy for the cliffs and sunset, and what the difference is between them.

Getting to St. Barths Getting to St. Barths from St. Maarten: which ferry leaves from where, how rough the crossing is, and whether the short flight is worth it instead.

Grand Case A guide to Grand Case, Saint-Martin — the best eating on the island, what the lolos are, when kitchens close, and the parking problem nobody warns you about.

Maho Beach: When to Go and What to Know A practical guide to Maho Beach, St. Maarten — when the planes come in, where to park, the jet blast danger, and whether it is worth a whole day.

Marigot: The French Capital A guide to Marigot, Saint-Martin — the waterfront market, Fort Louis, the shopping, and how it differs from Philipsburg.

Nightlife in St. Maarten Where to go out on St. Maarten — the casinos, the Maho and Simpson Bay bar strips, what time things actually happen, and the drive home.

Orient Bay A guide to Orient Bay, Saint-Martin — which beach club suits which group, when the wind spoils it, and whether the 45-minute drive is worth it.

Philipsburg: What Is Actually There A guide to Philipsburg: Front Street shopping, the boardwalk, the water taxi from the cruise port, and why the number of ships in decides your day.

Princess Juliana Airport (SXM): What to Expect Arriving at Princess Juliana: immigration, the taxi queue, whether there is Uber, and how long it takes to get anywhere on the island.

Simpson Bay: The Lagoon and the Bridge A guide to Simpson Bay, St. Maarten — the marinas, the bridge schedule that governs everything, the beach, and the bar strip.

The Anguilla Ferry How to get to Anguilla from St. Maarten — which ferry leaves from where, how long it takes, what documents you need, and whether it works as a day trip.

The Dutch Side and the French Side Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin: the border with no checkpoint, which side to stay on, currencies, and what actually changes when you cross.

The St. Maarten Cruise Port A guide to the St. Maarten cruise terminal at Pointe Blanche: the water taxi into Philipsburg, real drive times, and how much time you actually have.

Things to Do in St. Maarten What is actually worth doing on St. Maarten and Saint-Martin, from someone who lives here — including the things that are not worth the drive.

When to Visit St. Maarten When to come to St. Maarten — high season, the quiet months, hurricane season explained honestly, and why the cruise schedule matters more than the weather.

Where to Eat in St. Maarten An honest guide to eating on St. Maarten and Saint-Martin — where the good food actually is, what the lolos are, and what it costs to get home afterwards.