Getting There
St. Martin is served by the most modern airport in the Caribbean – Princess Juliana Airport (SXM). Completed in 2006, it is the new hub in the Caribbean with international service directly from France, Holland and the US. No Canadian airlines offer scheduled service at this time, but daily scheduled service is available out of Toronto – Pearson on American, Continental, Delta and U.S. Air (with connections to SXM in one of New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte).
The best way to find out about currently available options is to contact Expedia or Travelocity from your destination.
La
nguage and Currencies
Dutch is the official language in Sint Maarten, French in St. Martin, but English is spoken everywhere. By the same token, the official St. Martin (French side) currency is the Euro, but the U.S. Dollar is the real currency of commerce on both sides of the Island. Also, please note, many establishments accept major credit cards, but not all do, as we are used to in North America. Make sure you take sufficient U.S. currency or Traveler’s Cheques so you don’t end up washing dishes somewhere. ATM’s are available throughout the Island and are the easiest and cheapest way of obtaining cash.
Tra
vel Documents
There is no Customs check to worry about when entering S.M., since the entire Island is duty-free – a nice departure from what we are used to! However, citizenship and proof of return airline tickets to wherever you came from are required. Officially, Canadians need only carry proof of country of Birth and picture I.D. to gain entry to S.M. However, a valid Passport is needed for US Citizens, which began in January 2007. Please note that on arrival, you will fill out a customs form which requires the address: 22 Limpet Road, Oyster Pond.
Ren
tal Vehicles
All the major rental companies are represented in St. Martin, plus several locally based enterprises. Car rentals in St. Martin. are expensive – especially in High Season. We like Unity Car Rental (See their website and ask for Michael).
Dress
Dress in S.M. is informal; cool and comfortable is always important. No need to pack an evening dress or jacket but elegance is available if so desired. Bring shorts, lightweight tops and open collared shirts, lightweight summer dresses and skirts. Virtually all first-time visitors to S.M. bring much more clothing than they ever wear. No worries Mon! If you are athletic, the neighborhood hills provide great exercise as does Loterie Farm zip lines so bring walking shoes.
Elec
trical Appliances
Electrical service on the Dutch side is 110 volt – the same as in North America. Any appliance you bring from home will work in the Villa just as it does at home (unless, of course, power goes out on the entire Island, which happens from time-to-time – this is the Caribbean!) A fully functioning backup generator automatically restores service to The Stone House.
Me
dical
There are good medical services available in Sint Maarten, and a modern, well-equipped hospital (at least by Caribbean standards). However, it is always a very good idea to arrange for out-of-country medical insurance. This protection can be arranged through Blue Cross, Green Shield, RBC Insurance or any number of other insurance providers.