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St. Martin/Maarten villas and frequently asked questions

What type of Government does St. Martin/Maarten have?

There are two forms of govenment on St. Martin/Maarten. One half is French and the other half is Dutch, Netherland Antilles.

Which airport do we land at?

There are two airports on the island. There is an inter-island located on the north side of the island by Grand Case. This airport is strictly for flights between the French islands. The main international airport, Princess Juliana, is located on the south side of the island and is the one used for international flights from the United States, Europe and from the other islands.

What is required to go through customs on St. Martin/Maarten?

U.S. citizens require one of the following:

Canadian citizens require one of the following:

European Community citizens require:

Will someone be there to meet us?

A representative from the villa management company will meet you outside at the airport terminal Arrivals door exit, holding a sign with your name on it. Please let them know you have arrived before taking poscession of your rental car.

How do we travel to the villa?

If you have arranged a car through the local management company, they will help you find the rental company representative and introduce you. If you have arranged your own car, please let them know you have arrived 1st, and they will wait for you. Once you have your car, they will lead you to the villa. One management company actually provides a shuttle service to the villa and if you have a car rented through them, they will have it delivered to the villa on your arrival. With the other management companies, you have to provide your own transportation to the villa via your rental car or a taxi. Please ask which service is provided when you rent the villa.

How do we get into the villa?

The villa management representative will give you the keys to the villa when you arrive at the villa. They will help you get inside and then answer any immediate questions that you might have.

How many people are allowed in the villa?

The capacity of the villa is defined by the number of bedrooms the villa has. Only two people are allowed per bedroom. I.E. for a 5 bedroom villa, 10 people are allowed. Generally, one extra person can usually be accomodated with a rollaway bed or crib that is avaialble for rental but each villa is different and the question should be asked prior to committing to the rental.

Is there any maintenance support while we are in the villa?

Each villa management company has a staff of maintenance people on hand to handle any difficulties or breakdowns you might have while in the villa. It is important that you contact them while you are on the island when the problem occurs. They will make every effort to fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time. We will provide with the proper phone numbers to contact the right people should a problem arise.

What type of electricity is available on the island?

Generally, the French side of the island has 220 volts/ 50 HZ and the Dutch side of the island has 110 volts/60 HZ. The French side uses a French type plug and the Dutch side uses American style plugs. Some villas have both 110 & 220 volts. We will tell you before you leave, what type of electricity your particular villa has.

What kind of staff support do we get with the villa?

The villas on St. Martin/Maarten all come with daily maid service, 6 days per week. Generally, all the maids have Sunday off. The maid will sweep the floors, clean the bathrooms, make the beds and tidy up the kitchen. They are not there to do all of your dishes. The tennants are expected to clean up their own kitchen mess after each meal. Each villa has it's own caretaker that maintains the gardens and outside area. Sometimes, this caretaker also takes care of the pool. If he doesn't, a pool man will come in about twice per week.

Are we required to tip the staff for their efforts?

The staff do receive a small wage from the owners of the villas but the bulk of their yearly wage is generated by tips. Generally a tip of between 3 & 5% of the villa rental rate is recommended to be split amongst them. Your tips are greatly appreciated.

What is the staff's working hours?

Generally, the maid works from about 8:30 am to about 4:00 pm. The caretakers usually work early in the morning or late afternoon to escape the heat and sun of mid-day.

Do all the villas have live in caretakers?

Some do and some don't. Those that do generally have a seperate cottage of apartment below the villa, that they live in. They don't live in the villa per say.

Do we need a passport to get from the French to the Dutch side of the island or visa versa?

No! The border is generally undistinguished from the surrounding countryside. The 1st thing you will notice is the difference in the road signs.

Do the villas have kitchens?

All the villas that we represent have at least family style kitchens. Some are very elaborate and fit for gourmet chefs.

Are there retail food stores available on the island?

St. Martin/Maarten has wonderful retail grocery stores stocked with items from the USA, Europe and local traditional food. We enjoy the island for the wonderful selection of foods that are available. There are many types of coffee, chocolate, cheese, meats, wines, liquor, vegetables, fruits and other staples. The French baguettes and croissants that they serve are the same type that they serve in France. Good food abounds.

Is there other types of shopping available on St. Martin/Maarten?

St. Martin/Maarten is a duty free island. It is know for it's ample supply of duty free shops. The island has everything from shoes to fine watches. It is all there. One can either shop in Marigot or Phillipsburg depending which you prefer and which is most convenient for you.

Where do the cruise ships harbor in St. Martin/Maarten?

The large cruise ships that visit the island dock in Phillipsburg, Dutch side.

Are there mosquitoes on the island?

Please remember you are in the tropics. There are mosquitoes in the bushes. During high season between January and April, there is less rain so mosquitoes are few unless you are playing in the bushes. During the rainy season, the little pests are more plentiful. At night it is good to wear long pants and use the bug repellent on your ankles. If they are bad, use more.

Are there activities on the island?

St. Martin/Maarten has an abundance of night time activities including restaurants, shopping, dancing and Casinos on the Dutch side. In the day time, one can go shopping, go to the beach, have lunch at a fine restaurant, take a charter boat for sailing or fishing, or visit the historic spots on the island.

Where are the best beaches on the island?

There are over 30 beaches on the island of St. Martin/Maarten. My favorites are Bay Rouge, Bay Plum, Long Bay, Fryer's well bay, Orient Beach, Mullet Beach and also Dawn beach. Beaches are very plentiful.

Is it necessary to rent a car while on the island?

If you are staying in a villa, you will probably want to rent a car to get around. There is a small bus service available that goes around the island and if you can stand the wait and don't mind walking a little, it does work. There are many rental car agencies avaiable on the island including Hertz and Budget car rentals as well as many local companies. Heart of the Caribbean can also make a reservation for you through the local land management companies.

Is driving on the right hand or left hand side of the road?

Driving is on the right hand side of the road.

Is it necessary to take the car insurance while on the island?

This is always a big question. Local CDW (collission damage waiver) is available when you rent your car from the local agency. Some folks don't need it depending on the type of credit card that you use. It is always a good idea to call your credit card company to see what your coverage is. It is important to be covered because if something does go wrong, you will be expected to settle before you leave the island.

Are telephones available in the villas?

Almost all the villas have telephones for local calls. They are blocked for long distance. The phone line can be opened but a security deposit will be required. Before you go, Heart of the Caribbean will provide you with 800 numbers you can call to charge to your phone card or credit card. Please be aware that the phone calls back to the states are very expensive and the bills add up very, very fast. One of the best ways to use the phones is to have someone call you during specific times of the day when you are at the villa or use an International phone card available on the island at local merchant locations. These International phone cards can be a tremendous savings and actually work very well. Just follow the directions.

Are towels and linens provided for us at the villas?

Yes, they are.

How do we contact the tourist board for the island?

The French side Tourism Board	The Dutch Side Tourism Board
St. Martin Office Office du Tourisme Port de Marigot 97150 Marigot, St. Martin Phone: 590-875721 Fax: 590-875643	St. Maarten Office St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Vineyard Office Park WG Buncamper Rd. #33 St. Maarten N.A. Tel: 5995-22337 Fax: 5995-22734
United States Offices French West Indies Tourist Board 444 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 Phone: 914-398-3486 (travel agents only) Phone: 900-990-0040 (95 cents per minute) French Government Tourist Office 645 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 3360 Chicago, ILL 60611 Phone: 312-751-7800	United States Offices St. Maarten Tourist Office 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1806 New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 953-2084 Fax: (212) 953-2145 Toll Free:  (800) 786-2278 (1 800 STMAARTEN)
Canadian Offices French Government Tourist Office 30 St. Patrick Street, Suite 700 Toronto, Ontario M5T 3A3 Phone: 416-593-6427	Canadian Offices St. Maarten Tourist Office 703 Evans Avenue Suite 106 Toronto, Ontario M9C 5E9 Canada Phone: 416-622-4300
	European Office St. Maarten Tourist Office Via Durini 2 20122 Milano Italy Phone: 30 02 76 02 12 03 Fax: 39 02 76 00 32 17