SINT MAARTEN BASICS
ST. MARTIN BASICS EXPLORING ST. MARTIN SINT MAARTEN BASICS EXPLORING ST. MAARTEN
Princess Juliana Airport is located west of Philipsburg, near Simpson Bay. A valid passport and a return or ongoing ticket are required for entry. There's a departure fee for international destinations of US $30, and US $10 for domestic departures to Saba, Statia, Bonaire and Curacao. Children under the age of two are exempt. The fee is incorporated into the ticket price for many of the airlines that service the island.
Currency is the Antillean florin or guilder, but US dollars, traveler's checks and major credit cards are accepted everywhere. You'll usually get the best exchange rate at local banks or ATMs.
Dutch is the official language, but almost everyone speaks English, and many also speak Spanish.
Taxis are widely available. Instead of meters, they carry government-issued rate sheets, based on two passengers per trip. The minimum rate is US$4 for one or two people. Rates double after midnight. There are taxi stations at the airport and at Wathey Square in Philipsburg.
Car rental agencies are plentiful, but to protect the livelihood of taxi drivers cars can't be picked up at the airport. Instead, they're delivered to your hotel. Rates are from US$25 to $55 per day, most with unlimited mileage. Motorcycles and mopeds can also be rented. A valid driver's license and a major credit card or cash deposit are required. Driving is on the right side of the road.
Public transportation in the form of minibuses is an inexpensive way to get around the island. The vans run between the island's two capitals and serve the more popular island routes from 7 am to midnight. Fares range from US$0.85 to $2. They have signs that indicate where they're going and they'll stop to pick you up if you wave. No extra charge for the native zouk and soca music.
Visitors are warned about the poisonous Manchionneel trees that grow all over the island, especially along the beaches. They have dark green leaves and deceptively pretty green fruit that looks like little apples. Don't even think about touching, much less eating them. Both the sap and the fruit will severely burn the skin.
As one of the world's few duty-free ports, visitors and cruise ships from around the world head here to buy jewelry, perfume, electronics and crystal. Other great buys are couture fashions, leather goods, and the finest French cosmetics. Native arts and crafts are also well-represented. Popular items include West Indian hammocks, wood carvings and handmade jewelry. Private galleries exhibit the work of artists from all over the Dutch Antilles.
Most shopping is concentrated along Front Street in Philipsburg. Boutiques stretch along the length of the street, and stylish malls can be found in either direction. Shops are open from 8 or 9 am until noon, and then again from 2 until 6 p.m. Depending on cruise ship traffic, some stores remain open during lunch. Some store owners, catering to the whims of casino winners, stay open most of the night. This is especially common in the Maho Bay resort area. Most shops are open every day except Christmas and Good Friday.
All of the island's nine casinos are in St. Maarten. Most are open daily from noon until 2 am. Fueled by its international duty-free renown and a healthy tourist industry, things really start heating up on St. Maarten as the sun goes down. Much of the nightlife is concentrated at the big resorts, where you'll find beachside barbeques, clubs, restaurants, and those all-important late-night shopping opportunities.
