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St. Martin is located between Anguilla and St. Kitts, in the upper part of the arch formed by the Little Antilles. A border divides St. Martin in two. The northern part is French: while the other is Dutch. This island of 37 square km of surface, is an animated vacation and shopping center, much visited by cruisers. Almost the whole island is covered by small hills with green vegetation. Its highest point is Pic du Paradis, 420m above sea level. (map)
Arriving
Most of the visitors arrive by plane to the Juliana airport, at the Dutch zone. Those coming by sea, arrive to Philipsburg, St. Maarten’s capital, a port much visited by cruisers; or to Marigot or Grand - Casse in the French zone. You’ll find taxis in any of these arriving points.
Official Holidays
Dutch Zone
April 30th Coronation Day
May 1st Labor Day Ascension Day / Holy Pentecost
November 11th St Maarten Day
December 15th Reign Day
December 25th Christmas
French Zone
January 1st New Year
March/April Eastern Monday
May 1st Labor Day
May 8th Ascension Day / Holy Pentecost Monday
May Ending Slavery’s Abolition Day
June 14th Independence Day
July 21st Schoelcher Day
August 15th Ascension Day
November 1st All Saints Day
November 11th St Martin Day
December 25th Christmas
Events Calendar
Dutch Zone
Middle April Carnival,
French Zone
Before Lent Carnival
Holy Week Easter Parade
June 14
Independence Day Street Parties and Regattas
July 21st
School teacher Day Street parties in Grand-Case
Best Beaches
Dawn Beach, Guana Bay, Mullet Bay, Maho Beach, Little Bay
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and exchange
French francs on the French zone, and the guilder at the Dutch, are the official currencies, however the US dollars are accepted. Generally banks open from 8:30 to 17:00 hours from Monday to Friday. Many banks have ATMs.
At the airport an departure tax of $12 is to be paid. In case you’re going from St. Maarten to the Dutch Antilles, the departure tax is of $5.
Tourist Information Abroad
To obtain information about the Dutch zone, please contact:
Tourist office
Badhuisweg 173
2597 JP The Hague, Netherlands
Phone no. 31 70 351 28 11
To obtain information about the French zone, please contact:
La Maison de la France
Alcala 63, Madrid
Phone 91 541 88 08
Websites
www.st-maarten.com
www.franceguide.com
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
In Today, a weekly free publication, you’ll find useful addresses, local events, etc. You can also listen to PJD2, a local radio.
Post Services
The post office from Marigot is at the Rue de la Liberté. At Philipsburg you can make calls and send telex and telegrams from the Landsradio company’s offices, at Pondfil. The post office of Philipsburg is behind the company’s building.
Phone, telex, and fax
The area code of the French zone is 590, and that of Dutch zone is 5995. In both zones you can make international phone calls, from almost everywhere.
Tourist Information Local Offices
French zone:
Blvd. De France 97150, Marigot. Phone no. 875723
Dutch zone:
St. Martin Tourist Board, Imperial Building, 23 Walter Nisbeth Rd. Phone no. 22337
Medical assistance
There are hospitals in Marigot, phone 295757 and Philipsburg, phone 31111. You will also find pharmacies in Philipsburg, phone 22321, and in Marigot, Rue General de Gaulle, phone no. 875409.
Emergency Numbers
Police
22222 (Dutch zone) 878833 (French zone)
Firemen
54222 (Dutch zone) 875008 (French zone)
Ambulances
Shopping
Tourists arriving to St. Martin can’t resist buying at the hundreds of duty free shops. The best places are: Front Street at Philipsburg, Rue de la Republique and Marina Porte la Royale, at Marigot; Maho Beach and Mullet Bay.
Voltage:
Dutch zone: 110 volts AC
French zone: 220 volts 60 cycles.
Nightlife
On the Dutch zone, nightlife centers around the casinos. At the French zone you won’t find casinos, but excellent restaurants. Both sides of the border, there are dancing places like:
Le Privilège,
Anse Marcel
Studio 7,
Grand Casino, Mullet Bay
(the Cheri’s Café, at Maho, is a good place to start)
Some casinos are:
Casino Royale,
Maho Beach Hotel; Pelican Casino,
Pelican Resort;
Mount Fortune Casino,
Sheraton Port de Plaisance; Golden Casino,
Great Bay Beach Hotel;
Coliseum Casino,
Philipsburg
Most of resorts organize music and dancing concerts, including limbo dances. The Maho Beach Hotel and the Coconuts Comedy Club offer shows with local and international comedians.
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