St Maarten and St Martin Travel Guide, What You Need to Know
Planning a trip to St. Maarten and St. Martin? This small Caribbean island offers two destinations in one: Dutch Sint Maarten in the south and French Saint-Martin in the north. You can watch airplanes soar over Maho Beach, relax on beautiful Caribbean beaches, eat your way through Grand Case, shop in Philipsburg, hike to scenic viewpoints, snorkel around offshore islands, sail at sunset, or take an easy day trip to Anguilla or St. Barts.
The Dutch and French sides have distinctly different personalities. Sint Maarten is known for Maho Beach, nightlife, casinos, duty-free shopping, Simpson Bay, and cruise tourism, while Saint-Martin has a more relaxed atmosphere with beautiful beaches, French-Caribbean cuisine, outdoor adventures, and the restaurants of Grand Case.
Despite the international border, traveling between the two sides is easy. There are no routine border checkpoints, making it possible to explore the entire island during one vacation.
This St. Maarten and St. Martin travel guide covers the essential things to know before you go, including the best places to visit, transportation, currency, weather, beaches, electrical outlets, safety, food, packing, and day trips to nearby Caribbean islands.
Visiting for the first time? Stay long enough to experience both sides. Spend time around Maho Beach, Simpson Bay, and Philipsburg on the Dutch side, then explore Grand Case, Marigot, Orient Bay, and quieter beaches on the French side.
St. Maarten and St. Martin Travel Guide at a Glance
Planning your first trip to St. Maarten and St. Martin? Here are the essential things to know before you go:
Island: One Caribbean island divided between Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint-Martin
Dutch-Side Capital: Philipsburg
French-Side Capital: Marigot
Dutch-Side Currency: Caribbean guilder (XCG), although U.S. dollars are widely used
French-Side Currency: Euro (EUR)
Languages: Dutch and English are official on Sint Maarten; French is the official language of Saint-Martin; English is widely spoken around the island
Driving: Drive on the right on both sides
Main Airport: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Best Time to Visit: December through April for generally drier weather; late spring can offer lower prices and fewer crowds
Hurricane Season: June 1 through November 30
Getting Around: Rental car, taxi, minibus, organized tour, ferry, and walking within individual towns and resort areas
Power: Electrical standards differ between the Dutch and French sides, so a universal travel adapter is useful
Best Known For: Maho Beach, beautiful Caribbean beaches, Grand Case dining, duty-free shopping, casinos, sailing, snorkeling, and easy island hopping
Don’t Miss: Maho Beach, Grand Case, a beautiful beach away from the airport crowds, and at least one day exploring each side of the island
First-time travel tip: Rent a car if you want to explore beyond your resort. The island is small, but traffic can make travel times much longer than distances suggest.
What You Need to Know When Planning a Trip to St Maarten and St Martin
Where is St Maarten and St Martin
St Maarten is a French overseas collectivity with a population of about 74,000. It is an eastern Caribbean island about 190 mi east of Puerto Rico. This is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared by two different nations. The island is 36 square miles; France (Saint Martin) owns 20 square miles of the land while the Netherlands (Sint Maarten) owns the other 16 square miles. Anguilla is nine miles north of St. Martin and can be reached by a 12-minute flight or a 25-minute ferry ride. St Barts is 19 miles southeast of St Martin and can be reached by a 15-minute flight or a 40-minute ferry ride.
What Languages Are Spoken in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
The official language of St Maarten is Dutch; the official language of St Martin is French. English is widely spoken throughout the island, you may also hear Creole and Spanish.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit St. Maarten and St. Martin?
According to Project Visa, US citizens do not need a visa to visit St Maarten and St Martin.
What Currency Is Used in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Sint Maarten: Caribbean guilder (XCG)
Saint-Martin: euro (EUR)
U.S. dollars: widely accepted, particularly on the Dutch side Both sides of the island accept US Dollars.
Can I Use Credit Cards and ATMs in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. ATMs on the Dutch side disperse Guilders and Dollars; ATMs on the French side dispense Euro and Dollars. It is always a good idea to carry some cash.
How Much Should I Budget per Day in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
According to ChampionTraveler, the average cost of traveling to Saint Martin is $1,818 for a solo traveler, $3,265 for a couple, and $6,121 for a family of 4.
When Is the Best Time to Visit St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Summer in St Martin/St Maarten is hot with little breeze, expect temperatures between 75-85. Winter temperatures range from 66-83 degrees and tropical showers are common. The best time to visit St. Martin and St. Maarten is May and June or between November and mid-December. The hurricane season normally runs from June to November. The high season is from mid-December to April, so expect high prices. Carnival is celebrated from mid-April through mid-May.
How Do I Get Around St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Car rental is the best way to get around this island. Traffic drives on the right-hand side and road conditions are good. The borders are open and you can travel freely between this island’s French and Dutch sides. Taxis are available at the airport, cruise ship pier, and ferry docks. Buses run unscheduled routes marked by their destination, simply put your hand out if you want the bus to stop.
What Kind of Power Adapter Do I Need in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Electrical standards differ between the Dutch and French sides of the island.
Sint Maarten: U.S.-style Type A and B outlets are commonly used, making the Dutch side generally convenient for travelers from the United States.
Saint-Martin: European-style outlets and higher voltage are commonly used on the French side, so U.S. travelers may need a plug adapter.
Because hotels and resorts may provide different outlet configurations or international outlets, check directly with your accommodation before traveling. Most modern electronics such as phones, laptops, cameras, and chargers are dual voltage and generally require only the correct plug adapter. Check the label on your device for a voltage range such as 100–240V before plugging it in.
Personal experience: During my stay on the French side, I did not need an adapter or voltage converter at my hotel. However, I would still pack a universal adapter because electrical setups can vary by property.
What Should I Pack for St. Maarten and St. Martin?
Casual clothing made of cotton and other light fabrics is common in St Maarten and St Martin. Pack T-shirts, shorts, sundresses, a sun hat, swimwear, swimsuit cover-up or sarong, sandals, flip flops, or water shoes. Men should bring nice shorts and a button-down shirt for a night out. Do not forget to bring sunscreen and a snorkel mask. An umbrella may be needed during the rainy winter season.
Is St. Maarten and St. Martin Safe for Solo Travelers?
Crimes against tourists in St Martin/St Maarten are relatively low but have increased in the past few years. Protect yourself against petty theft and rental car break-ins, for example, leave your valuables at home, carry small bills, do not leave belongings unattended on the beach, and don’t leave anything of value in cars (including the trunk). The risk of terrorist attacks in St Maarten/St Martin is low. However, the area is used to smuggle illegal drugs from South America to Europe and North America, and related violent crime is possible but this rarely affects tourists. Never leave bags unattended or carry a package for anyone. Some airports have installed “body scanners” and you may be required to have a scan.
Where to Stay While Visiting St. Martin and St. Maarten
I stayed in a villa at La Samanna. La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, is a luxury St. Martin resort overlooking Baie Longue (Long Beach). It is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 hotels in the Caribbean. This property is located just over the French border and a couple of miles from Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten. The resort was refurbished after Hurricane Irma in a French Mediterranean style of white-washed villas and buildings. There are 83 rooms and eight 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom villas on a cliff overlooking the mile-long beach of white sand. This 5-star beach resort offers cabana rental and provides complimentary use of non-motorized water sports equipment such as double kayaks, hobby cats, and snorkel gear. The resort has a pool, spa, tennis courts with a resident tennis pro who offers lessons, and a fitness center offering yoga and Pilates. The concierge is available to arrange activities such as a champagne sunset cruise. In addition to La Cave Wine Cellar, the largest private wine cellar in the Caribbean, there are several restaurants on the property. A breakfast buffet is available each morning on the terrace, the beach bar offers table service and delivers to the cabanas, and Trellis Restaurant serves French Cuisine. Check out the walk-through video of a 4-bedroom villa below.
What Food Should I Try in St. Maarten and St. Martin?
St Martin is referred to as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, be sure to have a meal on Grand Case Blvd to discover why. While visiting St Maarten try conch and dumplings, Johnnycakes (cornmeal pancakes), cod fritters, and Guavaberry Liqueur. The island is also known for its rum production and tastings are widely available.
Tips for Traveling in St Maarten and St Martin
- There are two airports. Be sure you fly into the correct one, likely Juliana International Airport.
- By Dutch law, you must always carry your ID, carry a copy of your passport with you.
- St Maarten/St Martin is a duty-free island.
- Phone calls between St. Maarten and St. Martin are international.
- Tipping between 10-15% is appreciated, many restaurants have already added a 15-percent service charge ‘tax’.
- It is safest to drink bottled water.
Top Things to See and Do in St Maarten
- Relax at Sunset Bar (whiteboard with all planes that will take off) and watch the planes fly right over your head at Maho Beach
- Shop for duty-free jewelry on Front Street
- Buy One Love, One Life, One Island souvenir T-shirt on Old Street
- Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up Sentry Hill and take in the view
- Fly down the world’s steepest zipline, the Flying Dutchman
- Glide down the side of a mountain on an inner tube on the Schooner Ride
- Hang out in a beachfront café at Great Bay
- Spend a day relaxing on the white sand beach of Mullet Bay
- Enjoy a sunset cruise
- Take a horseback ride through the ocean
- Tempt Lady Luch at Casino Royale
- Check out the mega-yachts of Simpson Bay Lagoon
- Sample a few of the 50+ flavors of rum at Topper’s Rhum distillery, be sure to try Guavaberry liquor
- Hike the Devil’s Cupper trail Head from Guana Bay and enjoy the view of St Barts
- Check out the world-famous nudist resort, Club Orient
- Spend a night out in Simpson Bay
- Visit the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit of holograms, replicas, and props from the artist who worked on Yoda
- Make new friends at Parrot Ville Bird Park
Top Things to See and Do in St. Martin
- Check out the view from Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island
- Explore the historic Fort Louis and take in the view
- Visit the spice market in Marigot, St. Martin’s French capital
- Have a cocktail in a tree lounge or relax in a cabana at Loterie Farm St. Martin
- Hike Sentier des froussards up and over a hill to a deserted beach
- Stop by Rotary Lookout Point and walk-in ankle-deep water to a small rocky island
- Take a perfume-making class at Tijon Perfumerie
- Have dinner on Grand Case Boulevard and see why this is called the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean
- Check out 100+ varieties of butterflies at the Butterfly Farm
Top Things to See and Do Around St Maarten and St Martin
- Rent an underwater Sea Scooter
- Kayak to Pinel Island for lunch and snorkeling
- Island hop to Anguilla
- Tour the villages on Saba Island
- Snorkel with sea turtles on Tintamarre
- Spend a day with the rich and famous on St. Barts
- Hike up the Quill, a dormant volcano, on St. Eustatius
- Scuba dive the coral gardens at Saba Island and hang out with sea turtles
Check the St Maarten and the St Martin Boards of Tourism for current events
Interesting Facts About St Maarten and St Martin
- Columbus named this island on November 11 1493 but never physically stood on it.
- St. Martin has changed nationality 18 times.
- The US Navy built Princess Juliana Airport in the 1950s.
- There are over 120 nationalities and 50+ religions.
- The island sits between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and receives the full force of the sun.
- There are more duty-free shops than beaches.
- The Flying Dutchman at Rainforest Adventures is the steepest zipline in the world.
- Dominoes is a popular game.
- The 12-minute flight from St. Martin to Anguilla is the world’s shortest flight
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