The Segmental Info System

Welcome to St. Martin

The St. Martin Guide is your comprehensive guide to the one Caribbean island where it's easy to double your pleasure. The island shared by French Saint Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten is home to breathtaking beaches and natural scenery, not to mention two very distinctive, welcoming cultures.

 

Planning your dream vacation is easy when you allow us to help.  Using our detailed guides to researching, budgeting, and booking your trip will help you to make fast and informed decisions...

When to Go

December marks the beginning of tourist season in St. Martin/St. Maarten, which ends in April.  Though the weather is comfortable, and rainfall is at a minimum during this time, the island can be a bit more crowded...

Clothing and Attire

Formal dress is rarely required on St. Martin/St. Maarten, unless you are planning a special night out.  Instead, pack light weight, easy to move in clothing, and a sweater to keep you warm on cool nights...

 

Find the perfect hotel using our powerful advanced search tool.


 

Vacationers who enjoy traveling at their own pace can rent a car, bike, or scooter to aid in their tour of St. Martin/St. Maarten.  Those who don't feel confident navigating through a foreign country can use public transportation or hail a cab...

Ferries and Boats

Ferries in St. Martin/St. Maarten allow visitors to take day trips to neighboring islands such as Saba, Anguilla, and St. Barths...

Buses

Jitney's are a type of small bus used by islanders in St. Martin/St. Maarten.  These buses only hold 10 to 14 people, and charge between $1.50 and $3(USD)...

Taxis

Taxis on the island are readily accessible, but fares are slightly different depending on which side of the island you are on.  There are also added fees for luggage and more than two passengers...

 

Saint Martin's turbulent history lends a hand to the many attractions available for tourists to visit. Fort Louis, occupied by both the French and the Dutch, will provide visitors with some insight into the history of colonialism. Plantation homes are open to visitors and there are a number of museums, all of which serve to educate those interested in St. Martin's cultural heritage. If you're feeling lucky, be sure to try your hand at a game of chance at any of the 13 casinos on the island...

Casinos

All of St. Martin/St. Maarten's casinos are located on the Dutch side of the island.  The largest casino on the island is the Casino Royale at the Maho Beach Resort...

Beaches

There are beaches on each side of St. Martin/St. Maarten that allow topless sunbathing.  Whether you are looking for these particular beaches to get a line-free tan, or to know where not to go, read our guide to St. Martin Beaches...

 

French and Dutch explorers settled on the island of St. Martin about the same time, and neither group was willing to give up ownership of the land without a fight. Though each side heatedly fought for control of the land, they eventually realized their battles were leading to nothing and sought to end the dispute. In 1648 the Treaty of Concordia was signed, dividing the island between the two nations. To this day, each area speaks a different language and practices different customs. Once centered around sugarcane, the mainstay of the local economy is now a booming tourist industry, with 85 percent of the workforce involved with tourism...

History

Learn how it came to be that one small island was divided by the French and the Dutch, as well as how they learned to coexist peacefully, when you read our guide to St. Martin's History...

Economy

Like many other Caribbean islands, sugarcane was the biggest revenue producer for quite a long time; also like many other Caribbean islands, tourism is the modern day top earner... 

Crime

If you become the victim of a crime during your St. Martin/St. Maarten vacation, contact local authorities immediately.  You can also contact the local embassy or consulate...

 


Travelers will experience great weather no matter what time of year they plan their vacation on Saint Martin. Summer temperatures average in the upper 80s, while winter temperatures rarely reach below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, even after the sun goes down. Late summer showers aren't a problem if you come prepared. Rainfall at this time of year, though frequent, clears up quickly so it won't disrupt you vacation. For more detailed information, study our month-by-month weather guide...

January May   September
February     June October
March July November
April August    
December
   

 

 

Before you can stake out that perfect spot on the beach, you'll need to do a little investigating to find the best way of reaching St. Martin. Choose from air travel and cruises, or, if you'd like to kick your vacation off a bit more adventurously, arrive on the island behind the helm of a private or chartered yacht...

 

Currency and Credit Cards

There are three forms of currency accepted in St. Martin/St. Maarten. The French side accepts the Euro, the Dutch side accepts the Netherland Antilles Florin or Guilder, and both often accept the U.S. dollar...

Customs

Good news for shoppers: St. Martin is the only entirely duty free shopping port in the Caribbean...

 

 

More Topics:

 

Driving Passports
Electricity Postal Services
Embassies Telephones
Health and Medical Time Zones
Hours of Operation Tipping
Languages Tourist Offices

 

Culinary Styles

If fine dining is an important part of your ideal vacation, St. Martin is the place for you; where traditional French cuisine is prominently featured. Classic French fare, including pastries and escargot, are so commonplace they're even found on the Dutch side of the island. For vacationers with more adventurous taste buds, creole seasonings add character to elegantly prepared dishes, including locally caught lobster and red snapper...

Restaurants

No matter what you're hungry for, you'll be sure to find it in the capital city of Grand Case; in fact, it houses more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the Caribbean. Dining options range from elegant restaurants with fine imported foods to local barbecue shacks, known as lolos, serving hearty but inexpensive grub... 

 

There are enough activities to participate in during your trip to St. Martin that you can be as active as you want to be.  Spend the cooler mornings getting in a game of tennis, the afternoons taking advantage of the duty free shopping, and the evenings at a local dance club.  Don't miss a chance to learn the local culture - plan to attend an event or festival if one is taking place during your trip...

Diving and Snorkeling

St. Martin offers a third option to adventurers looking to Scuba-dive or snorkel: Snuba.  Although it isn’t possible to Snuba at all of the same locations you can dive, there are still plenty to choose from...

Fishing and Chartering

Vacationers who are looking to do some big game fishing should head over to the Puerto Rican Trench, where the opportunity to hook tuna, wahoo, marlin, and dolphin is plentiful...

Golf

There is only one golf course located on the island: Mullet Bay Golf Course in St. Maarten.   The 18-hole course is open to nonmembers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If you are enjoying the bulk of your vacation on the French side of the island, you may want to make plans to visit the former Dutch side during one of these days...

 

St. Martin/St. Maarten's all-inclusive resorts offer vacationers upscale hotel accommodations and amenities while providing the convenience of a single bill; meanwhile, timeshares and rental properties provide great lodgings for travelers who want the freedom to explore the island at their leisure...