SAINT MARIN BASICS
ST. MARTIN BASICS EXPLORING ST. MARTIN SINT MAARTEN BASICS EXPLORING ST. MAARTEN
L'Esperance Airport is in Grand Case, north of the capital city of Marigot. The small runway can only accommodate planes with 20 seats or less. Most travelers use the full-sized Juliana Airport in nearby St. Maarten. A valid passport and a return or ongoing ticket are required for entry.
Officially, French is the language of St. Martin, but nearly everyone speaks English. St.Martin is a commune of Guadeloupe, which is in turn an overseas department of France, so islanders can vote in French elections. The Euro is the legal currency.
Car rental agencies are plentiful. 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.
Shopping is tax-free. Marigot is full of luxury stores, and the shopping center at the foot of nearby Fort St. Louis houses elegant shops like Chanel and Lacoste. Near the harbor at the southern end of town is the Marina Port la Royale, another collection of luxe stores with the latest in designer fashions and fine jewelry.
Then there's the outstanding cuisine. St. Martin is one of the few places in the Caribbean where you can get a "taste of France" at a very reasonable price. As in France, eating is an earnest endeavor, and multi-course meals can typically last all evening. But it's also possible to eat quickly, then hop down to St. Maarten to hit the casinos and more diversified night life. The best places to grab a quick, delicious meal are the "Lo-Lo"s that cling like barnacles along St. Martin's shores. In these unpretentious shacks you can find specialties like jerk chicken and grilled fish, a taste of authentic Caribbean cooking for less than $10.
