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CUSTOMS
International flights arrive on the Dutch side in St Maarten, which is a completely duty-free port, so there are no restrictions on items you can bring in. You can pass freely between St Maarten and St Martin.
For more information call the customs office (Douane de St-Martin) at 590/5 90 87 32 18.
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS
International flights arrive on the Dutch side in St Maarten, where you can temporarily import animals with a health certificate (dated within 10 days of your visit) and a record of inoculations, which must include a rabies shot received no more than 30 days prior to your visit.
If you plan on arriving directly into St Martin, contact your nearest France National Tourist Organization (Maison de la France) or the veterinary services department (Direction départementale des services veterinaries/DDSV) in Guadeloupe at 590/5 90 99 09 19.
GETTING THERE
BY AIR
International flights land on the Dutch side of the island at Princess Juliana International Airport (airport code SXM; tel 545-5757), which is located in Simpson Bay, about nine miles from the capital of St Maarten, Philipsburg. (You can pass freely between St Maarten and St Martin.) If you are flying in from another French department, such as Guadeloupe or St Barts, you will most likely land at L'Espérance Airport (airport code SFG; tel 05 90 59 04 47) in Grand Case, St Martin. Flying time is approximately 2.5 hours from Miami, five hours from Montreal and eight hours from Paris.
Airlines that service Princess Juliana International Airport include Air Canada (tel 545-2372), Air France (tel 545-4212), Air Caraïbes (tel 0820-835-835), American Airlines/American Eagle (tel 545-2040), Caribbean Airlines/formerly BWIA West Indies Airways (tel 545-4646), Caribbean Star/Sun (tel 1-800-744-7827), Continental Airlines (tel 545-2788 or 1-800-231-0856), Corsair (tel 545-4344), Delta Air Lines (tel 1-800-872-2881), KLM/Northwest Airlines (tel 545-4747 or 545-4344), LIAT (tel 545-2403 or 1-888-844-5428), United Airlines (tel 1-800-United-1), US Airways (tel 545-3053 or 1-800-622-1015) and Winair (tel 545-2568).
Airlines that service L'Espérance Airport include Air Antilles Express (tel 05 90 87 35 03), Air Caraïbes (tel 08 20 83 58 35) and St-Barth Commuter (tel 05 90 27 54 54).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE
Cruise ships dock on the Dutch side at the Dr A C Wathey Cruise Pier at the John Craane Cruise Terminal in Great Bay Harbour, St Maarten. (You can pass freely between St Maarten and St Martin.)
Cruise lines that call on St Maarten include Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Star Clippers and Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
The St Maarten Port Authority maintains a cruise ship schedule on its website, www.portofstmaarten.com.
BY FERRY
The Voyageur ferry (tel 590/590 87 10 68) operates from Gustavia Harbour in St Barts to two ports in St Martin (Marigot waterfront, 75-minute trip; Captain Oliver's Marina, Oyster Pond, 40-minute trip). The open-return round-trip fare for adults costs €71 and for children 2-12 years €25. A €12 port fee and fuel surcharge is added in addition to the fare. A €5 surcharge is added if you don't make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.
The Gustavia Express (tel 05 90 27 54 65) operates between St Barts and Anse Marcel, St Martin.
The Edge ferry, operated by Aqua Mania Adventures (tel 599/544-2640, St Maarten), operates between Gustavia Harbour in St Bart's and Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay, Dutch St Maarten. The round-trip fare for adults costs $80 and for children 2-12 years $40, plus a $9 port fee per person. There is a $5 charge for each piece of luggage. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
The Rapid Explorer ferry (tel 599/542-9762, St Maarten or 590/590 27 60 33, St Barts) offers daily service between Gustavia Harbour in St Barts and Chesterfield Marina at Pointe Blanche, St Maarten. The open-return round-trip fare for adults costs €89/$115 and for children €45/$59. The ferry trip takes about 40 minutes, plus 10-30 minutes to get from the airport to the marina.
You can pass freely between Dutch St Maarten and French St Martin.
GETTING AROUND
BY CAR
Car rental agencies are located at the airports and major hotels. Many car rental agencies service both the Dutch and French sides of the island. Motorcycles and scooters can also be rented. To rent a car you must have a valid international driver's license or a valid driver's license from your home country.
Roads are generally in good condition.
Driving is on the right and it is illegal to turn right on a red light. Seat belts are mandatory and motorcyclists must wear helmets. Children under 12 years must ride in the back seat.
CAR RENTALS (country code 590)
L'Esperance Airport: Avis, 05 90 87 50 60 or 05 90 27 28 47; Sanaco Car Rental, 05 90 87 14 93; Thrifty Car Rental, 06 90 33 27 77; Vacation Car Rental, 06 90 27 40 54
Baie Nettlé: Alizés Car Rental, 05 90 87 20 59 or 06 90 31 60 79; Almond Rent A Car, 05 90 51 12 40; AutoCare Garage, 05 90 87 78 03; Defis Agency, 06 90 50 41 70 or 06 90 64 74 97; Discount Car Rental, 05 90 52 85 07 or 06 90 61 70 37; Golden Road, 05 90 29 65 88; Gust Rent A Car, 05 90 29 28 26; Hertz Car Rental, 05 90 87 83 71; International Car Rental, 05 90 29 15 47; Route 66 Car Rental, 05 90 29 65 88; St Martin Location, 06 90 54 07 86
Concordia: Funtime Car Rental, 05 90 87 53 26; Kangourou Car Rental, 05 90 87 73 13; Mercury Car Rental, 05 90 21 12 27; Sens Unique Car Rental, 05 90 87 22 88; Tropical Car Rental, 05 90 87 94 18
Grand Case: Avis, 05 90 87 50 60; Econocars Sarl, 05 90 29 38 32; Flamboyant Car Rental, 05 90 87 50 99; G C L Car Rental, 06 90 32 06 36; Gilou Location, 06 90 34 22 22, Prestige Car Rental, 05 90 29 21 57; Pay-Less Car Rental, 06 90 30 72 67; S L Location Rent A Car, 06 90 54 71 76; United Rent A Car, 06 90 27 00 37; Wally Car Rental, 06 90 35 71 96 or 06 90 35 08 15
Marigot: A Barth Rental, 05 90 52 98 05 or 06 90 49 95 95; Antilles Car Rent, 05 90 29 64 26; Caraïbes Car Rent, 05 90 29 64 26; Economy Car Rental, 05 90 87 50 83; L'Espérance Car Rental, 05 90 87 51 09; Expresso Lo-Auto, 05 90 87 01 26; G's Car Rental, 06 90 62 09 72; Island Car Care Rental, 05 90 87 91 32; Jessy Rent A Car, 05 90 87 90 27; Lucky's Car Rental, 05 90 29 44 40; Signature Car rental, 05 90 87 40 04; Valley Car Rental, 05 90 29 63 91 or 06 90 62 01 03; Xtreme Car Rental, 05 90 29 86 51
Sandy Ground: Europcar, 05 90 29 28 70; Island Car Care Center, 05 90 87 01 82; Jumbo Car Rental, 05 90 87 88 25; St Louis Car Rental, 877/839-1886 (toll free from the US), 05 90 87 02 41 or 06 90 31 38 12; Sunshine Car Rental, 05 90 87 54 03
Terres Basses: Samos Location, 05 90 87 05 39; Sexy Car, 06 90 55 54 12
Elsewhere in St Martin: NewLook (Agrément), 06 90 64 28 79; Escape Location de Voitures (Anse Marcel), 06 90 64 80 75 or 06 90 73 03 33; Golfe Car Rental (Bellevue), 05 90 51 94 81 or 05 90 51 44 81; Vacation Car Rental (Colombier), 05 90 29 03 36; Hertz (Cul de Sac), 05 90 87 44 04; First Class Car Rental (Friars Bay), 06 90 65 85 09 or 06 90 71 99 41; Twin Car Rental (Morne O'Reilly), 06 90 75 41 40; Unity Car Rental (Quartier d'Orléans), 05 90 87 34 97; Island Trans Rent A Car (St James), 05 90 87 91 32; Alamo Visage Sarl, 05 90 87 62 88; Caribbean Auto Sales, 05 90 87 51 05; Creative Car Rental, 05 90 29 49 22; Europcar, 05 90 87 01 54; Fantastic Car Rental, 05 90 87 71 09; Island Car Center, 05 90 87 83 71; Jimmy Service, 05 90 51 02 01; Locacar, 05 90 77 17 12; New Century, 05 90 51 97 92; Nono Car Rental, 06 90 48 99 59 or 06 90 30 40 99; Panoramic Car Rental, 05 90 29 01 04 or 06 90 35 36 50; Prestige Value Car Rental, 05 90 29 17 33; R&J Tour, 05 90 87 56 20
Dutch St Maarten-based companies (with French phone numbers): Lucky's and Hibiscus Car Rentals, 05 90 52 24 76 or 06 90 63 05 97; Unity Car Rental, 05 90 27 33 19 or 05 90 87 34 97
Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten (country code 599): Alamo Car Rental, 545-5546; Avis, 545-2847; Best Deal Car Rental, 545-3061; Explorer Car Rental, 545-2056; G C L Car Rental, 522-8636; Panoramic Car Rental, 522-3675; Payless Car Rental, 545-3061; Sandyg Rent A Car, 545-3335; Vacation Car Rental/Oyster Pond Car Rental, 557-6415 or 553-1841; Thrifty, 545-2393 or 542-2333
SCOOTER AND MOPED RENTALS
- Caridis, 05 90 52 41 05
- Defis Agency, 06 90 50 41 70
- Eugene Moto, 05 90 87 13 97
- Gilou Location, 06 90 34 22 22
- Rent a Scoot, 05 90 87 20 59
- Wip Scoot, 05 90 87 51 91
BY TAXI
Taxis are readily available at the airports and major hotels. Hotel tour desks can arrange taxi sightseeing tours.
Taxis do not have meters. Fares are set by both the Dutch and French governments based on travel between zones. Your taxi driver should have a copy of the rate sheet in his/her vehicle. The official rate sheet is dated February 2, 2000 and includes four signatures by Dutch and French officials. Verify the rate with the driver prior to departure. Rates increase by 25% after 10pm and 50% after midnight. The fare between Princess Juliana International Airport and Marigot is US$12; Grand Case, $20; Baie Nettlé, $15; and Orient Bay, $25.
TAXI SERVICE
Grand Case: L'Esperance Airport Station, 05 90 87 75 79; Philippe Arnell, 05 90 87 51 46
Marigot: Marigot Station, 05 90 87 56 54; Elmonde Richardson, 05 90 87 71 93
Quartier d'Orléans: Wilfried Brooks, 05 90 87 32 59; James-Louis Cocks, 05 90 87 31 05; Oliver Cocks, 05 90 87 31 09; Georges Menta, 05 90 87 32 37
Rambaud: Joseph Bute, 05 90 87 70 52; Edgard Illidge, 05 90 87 80 82
Elsewhere in St Martin: Victor Benjamin (Friar's Bay), 05 90 87 71 60; Hubert-Léo Baly (St James), 05 90 87 57 65
BY BUS
Privately owned small buses or minivans, called jitneys, generally operate between 6am and 12 midnight. While there are no set schedules they have signs that indicate their destination. There are designated bus stops or you can hail them from the side of the road. Once aboard just tell them where you want to get off. Fares are approximately US$1-$2.
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