St. Martin/St. Maarten Travel Basics
Things Tourists Should Know Before Traveling to the Island
Jan 28, 2009
St. Martin is an extraordinarily accessible tourist hot spot: the island goes out of its way to accommodate visitors. Getting to and around the island is easy, especially when armed with the background information below.
How to Get To St. Martin
St. Martin is situated approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. The island is readily accessible both by air and by sea.
Many airlines provide service to St. Martin’s Princess Juliana International Airport. From the United States, tourists can take American, Delta, Continental, United, and US Airways. From Europe, Air France and KLM offer regular flights. Several other Caribbean islands offer inter-island service as well.
The Dutch side of the island recently constructed Captain Hodge’s Wharf, a $2.5 million facility that has made the island’s Dutch capital, Philipsburg, the number one cruise ship port in the Caribbean. Major cruise lines that stop at Philipsburg include Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.
Tourist Transport on St. Martin
Once on the island, it’s easiest to get around by car, whether by taxi or rental car.
Visitors can find taxis at the airport and at major hotels. Though the taxis don’t use meters, they have standard rates throughout the island. These rates increase by 25% at 10:00 p.m. and another 25% at midnight (the rates return to normal at 6:00 a.m.).
More adventurous travelers might want to try renting a car. Tourists won’t find rental cars at the airport to prevent competition with taxi services. Instead, shuttles take visitors to nearby satellite rental lots. Most hotels also offer on-site car rental services.
A word of caution: keep in mind that the roads on the Dutch side are quite narrow and winding. Even more dangerous are the local drivers, who all believe they have the right of way and that a mere honk is enough to signal their entrance onto the main road, regardless of the speed and proximity of oncoming traffic. Fortunately, the French side is somewhat less congested and easier to navigate.
Currency
Euros and US dollars are commonly accepted on both sides of the island, though as the dollar’s value continues to decline, some French businesses have become more hesitant to accept it. Most locations prefer to do business using credit cards, which offer the best conversion rates for dollars and convenience for the proprietors.
As a bonus, on both sides of the island, shopping is duty-free.
Service Charges
Both sides of the island commonly add service charges ranging from ten to fifteen percent to hotel and restaurant bills. Visitors should also expect to pay approximately five percent in government taxes for rooms.
In addition, tipping for services is customary. Many hotels include gratuities in the bill, so before leaving, check with the concierge as to the hotel’s practice. If not, a ten to fifteen percent tip is standard. Porters typically receive $1 per bag, and taxi drivers usually get at least a $1 tip, depending on the length of the trip and whether they carried any luggage.
For more information on traveling to St. Martin/St. Maarten, check out these resources to learn about things to do while visiting the island and island and about the island’s history and culture.
 |
