The gorgeous blue beaches of St. Maarten
Capital
Dutch side: Philipsburg
French side: Marigot
Size
Dutch side: 32 skm / 13 square miles
French side: 43 skm / 29 square miles
Topography
Pic Paradis, the highest point, rises to 424 m / 1392 feet in the center of the island. Simpson Bay lagoon is one of the largest throughout the Caribbean.
Population
Dutch side: estimated 40.000
French side: estimated 35.000
Language
English, French, Dutch and Spanish are the most commonly used languages. Local dialects are Creole and Papiemento. Over 80 different nationalities are represented on the “Friendly island!”
Currency
US Dollar, Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAF), and the Euro
Climate
Warm, sunny tropical climate all year round with average temperatures of 79 F / 28 C.
Airport
Princess Juliana Airport (Dutch side) for international and inter-island flights L’Esperance Airport, Grand Case – mostly for inter-island destinations
Beaches
37 beaches of white sand.
TV
Dutch Side: NTSC (All American Cable Stations and Networks, plus local stations)
French Side: SECAM (French Stations)
Driving
On the right
Religion
Anglican, Methodist, New Testament Baptist, Catholic and Jewish.
Time
St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round. During the fall and winter, noon in New York equals 1 p.m. on the island. During daylight savings time in the U.S., the hour is the same on the Eastern Seaboard as it is on the island.
Electricity
Most hotels in St. Maarten are wired as in the U.S.: 110 volts, 60 cycles. On the French side, all run on 220 volts, 60 cycles so a converter and adaptor plugs are needed for travel appliances.
Radio and Television
Most hotels on both sides of the island have radio and television broadcasts in English – There is cable TV with over 50 channels – all major US networks and some European channels are available. Most hotels have their own video entertainment and direct TV systems. Satellite television reception is also available for private homes. Including DirecTV, DISH Networks.
Coast of St. Maarten attract tons of tourists.
Newspapers
The Daily Herald and Today are English language newspapers published on Sint Maarten. The international edition of the Miami Herald is also printed right here on the island. In addition to these newspapers, visitors can pick up one or more of the publications directed toward them. These include Destination Magazine, St. Maarten Nature Magazine, St. Maarten Events, Discover St. Maarten, St. Maarten Nights, Ti Gourmet and Vacation St. Maarten.
Telephone
When dialing the Dutch side from the U.S., dial the international access code 011, the country code 599 and the local number. Special codes are required from one side to the other, though only a local number is required when calling the same side.
Pet Regulations
Animals are admitted temporarily to the island with the following papers: a health certificate dated no more than 10 days before visit and a record of inoculations, including a rabies shot administered no more than 30 days prior to the visit.
Marriage
A 127-year-old residency law has been changed allowing non-residents to marry on St. Maarten.
Medical Facilities
St. Maarten Medical Center in Cay Hill and L’hospital General de Gaulle St. Martin in Marigot offer medical services. Airlift is available to Puerto Rico and the continental U.S. in case of extreme medical emergency.
Make sure you check out the Baie Longue when you visit.
Spellings
The dual identity of our island causes confusion about the correct spelling of the name: the Dutch side as part of the Netherlands Antilles is correctly called “Sint Maarten”, the French side “Saint Martin”. But there are all imaginable miss spellings around; even Air France flies to Sint Marteen. Also popular (leaving out the repetitive acronym for Saint) is Maartens, Maartin, Marten, Marteens, Martins and Martens, or the very creative Martaan, Martan. Some folks like to combine the names into StMaarten/StMartin.
The Dutch side’s capital is Philipsburg, with a single ‘l’, not Phillipsburg and the popular tourist attraction Loterie Farm also uses only one ‘t’, not the spelling of Lottery or Lotterie.
Radio
Listen to the popular radio stations if you want to keep up with what’s happening on the islands. Start early in the morning by tuning in on Laser 101. The station offers a great variety of music, from old school to R&B and Techno. Listen to Oasis 96.3 for more easy tunes and for the latest local and international news adjust the radio to SBN Radio on 105.5, they air an up-to-date report every half hour.
