Saint Martin/Sint Maarten is located at 18.02° N latitude and 63.07° W longitude. The Island is 37 square miles.
The French side is 21 square miles while the Dutch side is 16 square miles. Simpson Bay Lagoon is the largest lagoon of the Caribbean (11 square miles).
Sint Maarten is an Island Territory of The Netherlands Antilles, which is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There is no numeric Postal code on the Dutch side.
Saint Martin is an Overseas Territory of France. Its Postal code is 97150.
Marigot is the capital of the French side and Philipsburg is the Dutch side capital. Philipsburg is named after Captain John Philips, a Scotsman in the Dutch Navy in 1763.
"Soualiga" was spotted by Christopher Columbus in November 11, 1493. This date is the Holy date of the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours, hence the name.
The Treaty of Concordia, signed in 1648, divides the Island between the Dutch and French.
There are people of more than 100 nationalities living on the Island.
There are 36 beaches.
Peak Paradise on the French side is the highest point on the Island at 1,390 feet or 423.7 meters.
The Dutch side power company G.E.B.E. has a maximum output capacity of 44 megawatts of electricity.
The length of the runway at Princess Juliana Airport is 7,708 by 148 feet or 2,349 by 45 meters. ICAO ID TNCM. The length of the runway at L'Esperance Airport is 3,937 by 98 feet or 1,200 by 30 meters ICAO ID TFFG.
Beaches
There are 36 beaches on SXM, they are ALL open to the public.
• Simpson Bay is next to the airport
• Burgaux Bay is in Beacon Hill, a residential area
• Maho Bay is at the foot of the airport runway
• Mullet Bay is in the middle of the golf course and has food vendors at one end
• Cupecoy is actually three separate bathing areas which change on a seasonal basis
• Baie Longue has snorkeling in front of La Samana Hotel
• Baie aux Prunes has a small beach and breaking waves a bit farther out
• Baie Rouge has parking and limited commercial facilities and some great snorkeling
• Pointe du Bluff at the defunct La Belle Creole Hotel is only accessible by boat
• Nettle Bay is a very long beach with several hotels and restaurants, watch for sea urchins
• Marigot Bay is narrow and bordered by several hotels
• Friar's Bay or Anse Guichard has several restaurants and home to the Full Moon Party
• Happy Bay is another beach which changes with the season, no facilities here
• Grand Case beach is lined with bars, restaurants and Lolos
• Petite Plage is on the far side of Grand Case Beach Club Hotel and a great family beach
• Anse Marcel is another calm beach good for kids
• Wilderness is usually a bit rough and good for surfing when there's a swell rolling in
• Petites Cayes is difficult to find through French Cul de Sac
• Tintamarre Island has a great beach with no services on this uninhabited Island
• Pinel Island has a couple of beaches and three restaurants, take the ferry from French Cul de Sac
• Orient Bay is THE tourist beach with a naturist hotel at one end
• Green Cay is the small Island towards the southern end of Orient Beach catch a ride the water sports folks
• Le Gallion beach is great for kids and has a restaurant operation too
• Coconut grove is adjacent to Le Gallion, no services and calm also
• Coralita Beach is just before Oyster Pond with several closed Hotels bordering it
• Oyster Pond has a small beach on the northern side, some claim that the sand is green
• Dawn Beach is protected by a good snorkeling reef. Several restaurants and The Westin Hotel & Casino
• Guana Bay is usually a bit rough and can have a bad under tow, be careful
• Great Bay in Philipsburg is lined with hotels, restaurants and shops. Lot of activity from the Cruise Ships
• Little Bay has two hotels and water sports operations
• Cay Bay is a narrow beach and is host the Dutch side power company G.E.B.E.
• Pelican Key is another residential area with views of Saba and Statia
• Pelican and Flamingo resorts share a beach with plenty of activity
• Kim Sha Beach has Hotels, water sports, a SCUBA dive operation and of course Buccaneer Beach Bar
Dutch Side
(011-599) Phone 1 Phone 2
Airport - Princess Juliana (SXM) 545-5752
Alcoholics Anonymous 557-1271 544-3203
Air Ambulance 545-4744 557-0725
Ambulance 912 542-2111
Animal Ambulance 542-0600
Coast Guard 913 545-5263
Customs Department 542-1008
Emergency 111 109
Fire Department 919 542-6001
Hospital - Philipsburg 910 543-1111
Hotline 108
Police 911 542-2222
Post Office 542-2298
Safe Haven For Women 188
Sea Rescue 199
Taxi - Airport 545-4317
Taxi - Philipsburg 147 532-2359
Telephone Information 150 542-2211
Tourism Office 542-2337
Weather 123 545-4228
French Side
(011-590-590) Phone 1 Phone 2
Airport - L'Esperance (SFG) 87-53-03
Ambulance 29-29-34 87-86-25
Fire Department 87-50-08 87-95-01
Gendarmerie (Police) 87-50-10 87-32-10
Hospital Marigot 52-25-25 29-57-57
Police Municipal 87-73-84 87-88-33
Post Office 87-53-14
Taxi - Grand Case 87-75-79
Taxi - Marigot 87-56-54
Tourist Office 29-05-73
Airport Departure Fee
At Princess Juliana International Airport a departure fee for all international departures. This fee is included in the price of tickets from the major carriers. The departure fee for travel to other Netherlands Antilles Islands is different.
Passengers who are in transit, from arriving flights, now also pay a fee.
ATMs Dutch Side
Bodly go and walk through the lobby at Oyster Bay Beach resort first - its nearest - The ATM is located opposite the check-in desk in the left hand corner.
First Caribbean Bank has one ATM at the office in Philipsburg.
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with MasterCard and Visa.
RBTT Bank has ATM's in the following locations:
- the main branch in the center of Philipsburg,
- one at the branch at the end of Front Street in Philipsburg,
- one at the entrance to the closed Food Fair in Madame Estate,
- one at Prime Plaza (Grand Marche),
- one at their branch in Cole Bay,
- one at their branch in Simpson Bay,
- one at the check in area at the airport and one in the Departure area
and one at their offices in the La Terrace Hotel in Maho.
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, MasterCard, Plus and Visa.
Scotiabank has two ATM's at the following locations:
- the main branch in Philipsburg,
- the branch in Simpson Bay Yacht Club
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, MasterCard, Plus and Visa.
Windward Islands Bank has ATM's at the following locations:
- at the main branch in the center of Philipsburg,
- in Wathey Square in Philipsburg,
- at Bobby's Marina next to The Greenhouse Restaurant,
- at the new cruise pier facilities,
- at the Shell gas station near Madame Estate,
- at Prime Plaza (Grand Marche),
- at their branch office in the Orange Grove Shopping Plaza,
- at Lido Food Center in Cole Bay,
- at their Simpson Bay branch office,
- at Princess Juliana Airport - one in the check in area and one in the departure area
- in front of Casino Royale in Maho,
- in front of Atlantis Casino in Cupecoy.
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with AMEX, Cirrus, Kompa Leon, MasterCard, Plus and Visa.
ATMs on the Dutch side dispense either NAF or US Dollars.
ATMs French Side
Banque Des Antilles Françaises (BDAF) has ATM's at the following locations:
- the branch on Rue De Holland in Marigot,
- three at the Branch on Rue de la République in Marigot,
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus, Visa and Visa Electron.
Banque Française Commerciale (BFC) has ATM's at the following locations:
- the branch on Rue De Hollande in Marigot,
- US Import near the French Bridge,- the branch in Howell Center and
- at the Gess gas station in La Savanne.
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus, Visa and Visa Electron.
Banque Populaire/BRED has one ATM at their office on Rue de Republic in Marigot
Their ATM accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, EC, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus, Visa and Visa Electron.
Crédit Mutuel has two ATM's at their office on Rue de Republic in Marigot
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, EC, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus, Visa and Visa Electron.
La Poste, the French Post Office has ATM's at the following locations:
Two at the main post office on Rue De La Liberte in Marigot,
One at the branch in Howell Center
Their ATM's accept cards affiliated with Cirrus, EC, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus, Visa and Visa Electron.
All of the above French side ATM's dispense EUROS (€) ONLY!
Border Crossing
There are four border crossing points on the Island, Lowlands, Oyster Pond, Middle Region and Cole Bay.
There are no formalities at these points, merely signs to welcome you to "The Other Side".
Banks (French Side)
Banque Française Commerciale (BFC) has branches on Rue de Hollande, and at Howell Center
Open from 8:00AM to 12:15PM and from 2:00PM to 4:00PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesday from 8:00AM to 12:15PM
Banque Des Antilles Françaises (BDAF) has branches at the corner of Rue de Hollande - rue de la République in Marigot
Open from 8:00AM to 12:15PM and from 2:00PM to 4:00PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesday from 8:00AM to 12:15PM
Banque Populaire/BRED is located on Rue de la République in Marigot
Open from 8:00AM to 12:15PM and from 2:00PM to 4:00PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesday from 8:00AM to 12:15PM
Credit Mutuel is located on Rue de la République in Marigot
Open from 8:00AM to 12:15PM and from 2:00PM to 4:00PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and on Wednesday from 8:00AM to 12:15PM
Banks (Dutch Side)
Banks on the Dutch side are open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 3:30PM
First Caribbean Bank is located on Cannegieter Street in Philipsburg.
RBTT has branches in the following locations:
On Cannegieter Street, Philipsburg near the Government Building and Head Of Town on Front Street, Union road in Cole Bay near the French Border, Airport Road in Simpson Bay and at La Terrace Hotel in Maho.
Scotiabank has branches in the following locations:
Philipsburg Headquarters on Back Street and at Simpson Bay Yacht Club
Windward Islands Bank has branches in the following locations:
Philipsburg Headquarters, Bush Road at Prime Plaza, Simpson Bay near the Airport and Cole Bay in the Orange Grove Center. Their branch at Prime Plaza (Le Grand Marche) is open from 11:00am to 6:00PM Monday to Friday.
Bridge Openings (Dutch Side)
The John Sainsborough Lejuez Bridge in Simpson Bay opens:
Daily for outbound traffic at:
9:00AM, 11:00AM and 4:30PM
Daily for inbound traffic at:
9:30AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM
During the "low" season (May through November),
Daily openings are for two way traffic at:
9:30AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM
Outbound traffic goes first!
Maximum 56.5 feet beam and a draft of 20 feet
The bridge operator monitors VHF channel 12.
Should you need the bridge to open other than at scheduled times, you need to pay a fee to the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority at the Police Station in Simpson Bay at least 24 hours in advance.
Bridge Openings (French Side)
The bridge in Marigot (Sandy Ground) opens :
Monday to Friday for two way traffic at:
8:15AM, 2:30PM and 5:30PM
Saturday and Sunday openings are at:
8:15AM and 5:30PM
Outbound traffic goes first!
Maximum 32 feet beam and a draft of 10 feet
Bridge operator monitors VHF channel 16
Buses
There are no scheduled bus lines on the Island. Here we have a variety of mini buses or vans. There are several routes and the vans run independently of each other. Trips are either $1.00US or $2.00US. There are many marked bus stops/shelters around the Island. They generally run from 6:00AM to 10:00PM.
Cruise Ship Schedule (Dutch Side)
Click on the below link for the current scheduled arrivals.
www.portofstmaarten.com/schedule.htm
Climate
The climate is fairly constant year round, around 80°F. The humidity rises a bit in the summer months.
Car Rentals
There are numerous car rental agencies on the Island. Please check our Links page.
A word of caution to US Citizens, not all GOLD cards have automatic collision damage coverage OUTSIDE the USA. PLEASE call the 800 number on the back of your card and have them email or fax you verification of coverage.
Bowling Alley
Yes we have a bowling alley on the Island. Crown Pin is located in Madame Estate, Philipsburg. Phone : 543-0203.
It is a modern facility with both food and beverage services.
Dining
Decisions, decisions, decisions! With more than 300 restaurants to choose from there is one for every palate.
Dress
Dress is casual here. You will see some jackets at dinner.
Bathing suits are for the beach!
Drinking age
The drinking age on the Island is 18 years of age.
Drugs
If you have to ask… Just stay at home.
The jails ain't pretty!
Casinos
There are 14 casinos, all are on the Dutch side. You must be 18 years of age to gamble.
Atlantis Casino is located in Cupecoy past the golf course.
Casino Royale is in the Maho complex near the Airport.
Dolphin Casino is in Simpson Bay near Atrium Hotel.
Hollywood Casino is in the Pelican Resort.
Paradise Plaza Casino is next to Caribbean Cinemas in Simpson Bay.
Tropicana Casino is located on Welfare Road in Cole Bay.
Princess Casino is in the Port de Plaisance Resort on Union Road in Cole Bay.
Great Bay Casino is in the Great Bay Hotel near the start of Front Street in Philipsburg.
Rouge et Noir Casino is on Front Street in Philipsburg.
Coliseum Casino is also on Front Street in the center of Philipsburg.
Beach Plaza Casino in near the Court House on Front Street in Philipsburg.
Diamond Casino is at the end of Front Street in Philipsburg.
Jump Up Casino is also located at the end of Front Street in Philipsburg.
Dawn Beach Casino is located at the Westin Dawn Beach Hotel.
Drivers License
To operate a motor vehicle you need a valid drivers license from your home state or country.
There is no local "temporary license".
An International Driver's license from AAA is NOT needed.
Driving
Driving is on the RIGHT hand side of the road. Beware of locals who slow or stop to say "Hello".
There is no "right on red" at traffic lights on Sint Maarten. Traffic signs are European or International.
Currency
The Official currency on the Dutch side is the Netherlands Antilles Florin (NAF) which converts to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of exchange.
$1.00US equals NAF1.80. For quick conversions divide the NAF price in half and add ten percent to get the US Dollar amount. NAF10.00 = $5.50US.
The Euro is the Official currency on the French side. This rate does fluctuate. Currently 1.00€ equals $1.45US.
The US Dollar is accepted everywhere. Many smaller businesses, bars and restaurants do not accept credit cards. Travelers cheques, in USA Dollars, are widely accepted.
You may still receive Chiclets (2 pieces per box) as change in some of the smaller grocery stores instead of pennies!
Duty Free
The Island is a Freeport. There are no import duties levied on goods brought to the Island. Liquor, cigarettes, jewelry, electronics are imported and sold duty free.
Duty Free Allowance (America)
USA Citizens may bring back with them $800.00US worth of merchandise DUTY FREE. Included are two liters (33.8oz x 2) of liquor, one being a product of a Caribbean Basin Country. You are also allowed one carton of cigarettes (200) and 100 Cigars in this DUTY FREE allowance.
NO CUBAN Products! If you go over the limit you may be subject to additional Duty but there will still be considerable savings from what you normally pay in the USA.
Currency Exchange
There are several currency exchange shops in Marigot. Change Point is on your left, across from Home 'n Tools,
as you enter Marigot they are open from 7:30AM to 6:30PM Monday to Friday and from 8:00AM to 6:30PM on Saturday.
Customs and Clearance for Boats (Dutch Side)
The Clearance office at the Police Station in Simpson Bay is open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, Saturday & Sunday 07:30 to 15:30. The Clearance Office is closed on public holidays, but you may clear out in advance!
The Immigration Department at the Police Station in Simpson Bay is open daily from 7:00AM to 5:00PM
In Philipsburg the Clearance office is next to the gates of the Commercial RoRo Dock in Point Blanche.
Their hours of operation are from 8:00AM to Noon and from 1:00PM to 4:30PM Monday to Friday On Saturday and Sunday their hours are from 9:00AM to Noon. You may also reach the office on VHF channel 12 or phone them at 542-2348 or 542-2277.
You no longer go to the Police Station in Philipsburg!
All firearms and ammunition aboard boats must be declared when you clear in!
Churches on St Martin
There are many Churches on the Island including Roman Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Adventist,
and Pentecostal. Here are a few!
Churches (Dutch Side)
Anglican Church, Back Street, Philipsburg 542-2437 Services 8:00AM Sunday
Christian Fellowship Church, Airport Road, Cole Bay 544-2208 Services 11:00AM & 7:00PM Sunday
Cole Bay Methodist Church, Union Road, Cole Bay 544-5286 Services 9:00AM Sunday
Methodist Church, Back Street, Philipsburg 542-2284 Services 8:45AM Sunday
Mary Star Of The Sea Catholic Church, Simpson Bay Services 5:00PM Sunday, 7:00AM Wednesday
New Testament Baptist Church, Philipsburg 542-5727 Services 11:00AM Sunday
Original Pentecostal Church, Sucker Garden Road Services 9:00AM & 6:00PM Sunday
Power Praise & Deliverance, Orange Grove 544-3428
Simpson Bay Methodist Church, Simpson Bay 543-2284 Services 8:00AM Sunday
St. Maarten of Tours Catholic Church, Front Street, Philipsburg 542-2303 Services 8:30AM Sunday
Churches (French Side)
Christian Assembly Ministries, La Savanne Services 10:00AM Sunday
Church Of God, Route d'Orleans
Ebenezer Methodist Church, Rue de la Liberté, Marigot Services 8:30AM Sunday
French Quarter Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Rue de Coralita Services 9:15AM Saturday, 7:15PM Sunday and Wednesday.
Mary Star Of The Sea Catholic Church, Boulevard de Grand Case Services 8:45 Sunday and 6:30PM Thursday
Methodist Church, French Cul de Sac Services 8:30AM Sunday
Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Route d'Orleans
Tabernacle Methodist Church, Route d'Orleans, Quartier D'Orleans
Trinity Methodist Church, 13 Route de L'Espérance, Grand Case Services 9:00AM Sunday
Electricity
The Dutch side operates on 125 volts, 60 cycles with USA style plugs. The French side operates on 220 volts, 60 cycles with round prong plugs. Many French hotels have 120 volt outlets in their bathrooms.
Fast Food
Yeah we've got it.
Burger King, Domino's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Quizno's, Taco Bell and Subway.
Gas Stations and Prices
There are plenty of gas stations around the Island, some are open 24/7. Gasoline is sold in litres, not gallons on the Island. The price on the pump is either NAF or Euro per litre. The current price on the Dutch side is 1.60NAF per litre or @ 1.75NAF to US Dollars equals $0.91US per litre. Which converts (3.785 to 1) to $3.44US per gallon.
Diesel fuel at 1.55NAF per litre equals $3.35 per gallon.
The current price on the French side is 0.95€ per liter or @ 1.25US to 1.00Euro equals $1.19 per liter. Which converts to $4.50US per gallon. Diesel is $4.26 per gallon.
Golf
There is one golf course on the Island, Mullet Bay. The resort has been closed since Hurricane Luis hit in 1995. The course is playable but not nearly as well kept as when the resort was operating.
There is also Sputter's Miniature Golf in Simpson Bay on Welfare Road they are open from 3:00PM to 10:00PM everyday. Their "clubhouse" has cold drinks, including beer, and a variety of snacks.
Grocery Stores (Dutch Side)
Cost-U-Less is a Costco style of store including club pack food stuffs. They are open from 9:00AM to 9:00PM Monday to Saturday and from 9:00AM to 3:00PM on Sunday.
Food Express has several locations on the Island including one at La Terrace Hotel in Maho. The Maho location is open from 8:00AM to Midnight everyday. The Ram's in Cole Bay is now a Food Express.
Le Grand Marché is the largest of the Islands Supermarkets and is located on the roundabout on the way to Philipsburg. Their hours of operation are from 8:00AM to 8:00PM Monday to Saturday and from 9:00AM to 2:00PM on Sunday. Le Grand Marche has a wide variety of foods including Dutch, French, Indian, Oriental and Kosher. Their two other stores are Le Grand Marche on the Union Road in Cole Bay near the entrance to Port de Plaisance and Le GOURMET Marche in the old Sambuca/Hot Tomato building in Simpson Bay.
Sang's Super Center is in Philipsburg near Bobby's Marina, its opening hours are from 8:00AM to 9:00PM Monday to Saturday and from 8:30AM to 3:00PM on Sunday.
Grocery Stores (French Side)
Match Supermarché is located in Howell Center and is open from 9:00AM to 8:00PM Monday to Saturday
and from 9:00AM to 1:00PM on Sunday
U.S. Import is located in Marigot near the French bridge, it is open everyday from 8:00AM to 10:00PM.
Post Office
The Post Office of the Netherlands Antilles has its main office on the Pond Fill in Philipsburg and a sub branch in Simpson Bay in the Palapa Complex. The Main Office is open from 7:30AM to 5:00PM Monday to Thursday and from 7:30AM to 4:30PM on Friday. The Simpson Bay Office at La Palapa Center is open from 8:30AM to4:00PM Monday to Friday. On the French side La Poste is headquartered on Rue De La Liberte in Marigot with branches in the Howell Center and in Grand Case.
Language
While French and Dutch are the Official languages of the Island, English is the universal one. With over 100 nationalities represented on the Island you will hear a wide variety of languages. Common to residents are Patois, Creole and Spanish.
Library
The Philipsburg Jubilee Library is located at 12 Ch.E.W. Voges Street in Philipsburg 542-2970. It is open from 4:00PM to 6:30PM on Monday, from 9:00AM to 12:30PM and 4:00PM to 9:00PM on Tuesday, from 9:00AM to 12:30PM and 4:00PM to 6:30PM on Wednesday, from 4:00PM to 9:00PM on Thursday, from 9:00AM to 12:30PM and 4:00PM to 6:30PM on Friday and from 10:00AM to 1:00PM on Saturday.
The Bibliotheque Municipale is located at 5 rue du Palais de Justice in Marigot. It is open Monday & Tuesday from 2:00PM to 7:00PM, on Wednesday from 9:00AM to 7:00PM, on Thursday & Friday from 11:00AM to 7:00PM and on Saturday from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.
Lolos
What's a Lolo? It is a "Locally Owned Locally Operated" BBQ style food establishment. There are many on the Island, but the better known are in Grand Case and on the water front in Marigot.
Passport
A passport is now required for USA citizens arriving by air. Cruise ship passengers may still use a raised seal birth certificate with a photo ID. Processing times for obtaining your first passport may take as long as TEN WEEKS. For an additional fee you can have the process expedited to take two weeks!
Public Holidays 2008
January 01
April 06
April 08
April 09
April 30
April 30
May 01
May 17
July 14
October 21
November 11
December 15
December 25
December 26 New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Carnival
Queen's Birthday
Labour Day
Ascension Day
Bastille Day
Antillean Day
Saint Martin's Day
Kingdom Day
Christmas
Boxing Day Both sides
Both
Both
Both
Dutch
Dutch
Dutch
Both
French
Dutch
Both
Dutch
Both
Both
Laundry
There are a variety of laundry services available around the Island.
Pets
There is no quarantine for arriving pets. You do need to bring a recent certificate of good health from your Vet.
Pinel Island Ferry
The Pinel Island Ferry runs from the large sandy parking lot in French Cul de Sac to Pinel Island. In season the schedule is 9:00AM to 5:00PM Daily. During the "low" season the ferry runs from 10:00AM to 4:30PM Monday to Saturday and from 10:00AM to 5:00PM on Sunday.
Red Cross
The Red Cross Building is located at 34 Airport Road Simpson Bay 545-5263, and 545-2304.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is located at 59 Union Road in Cole Bay. 544-5424 and 547-7353.
Scuba Diving
There are many SCUBA shops on the Island, see our links page. If it came from the Sea, please leave it in the Sea!
Service Clubs
Jaycees meet at the WIFOL Building the last Thursday of every month at 8:00PM
Kiwanis meet at the WIFOL Building on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30PM
Lions meet at the Upper Princess Quarter Community Center the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 8:00PM
Rotary meet for lunch at Divi Little Bay Resort every Wednesday at Noon.
Rotary Mid Isle meet at Le Charolais Restaurant in Maho every Tuesday at 6:00PM.
Shopping Hours
Stores on the French side operate in the same manner as France, from 9:00AM to 1:00PM and from 3:00PM to 7:00PM Monday through Saturday. Dutch side stores are generally open from 9:00AM to 6:00PM Monday through Saturday. If there are any cruise ships in port on Sunday then many stores will be open.
Sunburn
Do be careful and apply lotion liberally!!
Don't forget the back of your knees when snorkeling!
SXM
What is SXM? It is the three letter identifier for Princess Juliana Airport, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.
L'Esperance Airport in Grand Case is SFG
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport in Saba is SAB
Franklin D. Roosevelt Airport in Sint Eustatius/Statia is EUX
Gustav III Airport in Saint Barthelemy is SBH
Wallblake Airport in Anguilla is AXA
Taxis
Taxis are readily available on the Island. There are taxi stands at both Airports, Wathey Square in Philipsburg
next to the Courthouse and on the Marigot waterfront. Rates increase at 10:00PM and again at Midnight.
Do confirm the fare as you enter the taxi!
Telephone
One Island and two phone systems. Calling from the USA to the Dutch side 011-599-local seven digit number. Calling from the USA to the French side 011-590-590-local six digit number. For cell phones 011-590-690-local six digit number.
Television
St. Maarten Cable TV operates a cable TV system on the Dutch side with 50 odd channels of mostly USA channels. Many hotels have their own satellite systems.
Time on D Island
The Island is GMT minus 4 hours.
Atlantic Time, which is one hour AHEAD of Eastern Standard Time. Or the same as during summers Daylight Saving Time East Coast USA.
And five hours behind western Europe.
Tipping
Airport porters should receive $2.00US per bag. Hotel room attendants should receive $20.00 per weeks stay. Restaurants on the French side have the tip included in the price of the meal. If you receive outstanding service do add more. Some restaurants on the Dutch side add 15 percent to your bill, check the menu when ordering! Otherwise 15 percent is appropriate for good service. TIP = To Insure Promptness!!
Water
Drinking water on both sides of the Island is desalinated sea water. Sea water is pumped through a reverse osmosis plant and is safe to drink!
Western Union
Western Union has operations on both sides of the Island. Dutch side at the DHL building in Cole Bay and at La Poste in Howell Center in Marigot.
Errors and Omissons accepted
