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.
Time:
GMT -4.
Electricity:
110/220 volts, 60Hz. Standard, flat, two and three
pronged plugs, as found in the United States, are
used.
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.
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. The
water in the Netherlands Antilles 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
five percent, and often a service charge of 15 percent. Waiters and
bar staff should be tipped 10-15 percent if a gratuity is not
included in the bill. On French St Martin hotels usually add five
percent occupancy tax per person, but a small gratuity is
appreciated for good service. Restaurants and hotels usually add a
service charge of 10-15 percent to the bill, and it is always best
to check for this before adding a tip. Taxi drivers and porters
expect to be tipped, particularly if they have handled luggage.
Safety:
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.
Care should be taken to keep rooms and cars locked, and visitors
should refrain from carrying large amounts of cash on them.
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.
Customs:
Island culture on St Maarten and St Martin is very relaxed, and
there are few dress codes aside from high-end restaurants and
clubs. Dressing provocatively will attract unwanted attention,
however, and wearing beachwear off the beach is considered
disrespectful. Though many residents speak English, visitors should
not assume this and a little effort to speak French is greatly
appreciated.
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-6pm Monday to Friday, with a break from
12pm-1:30pm.
Duty Free:
Arrivals in St Maarten/St Martin will not have to pay customs
duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, 2 litres of
alcohol and gifts to the value of ANG100..
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.