Other Practical Information for Saint Martin

Luggage and Equipment to Bring

At any time of year, pack light clothing plus a sweater for evenings and air conditioning. Don’t forget mosquito protection, sun protection, and rain gear in season.

Communications

Telephone

International dialing code: (00 +) 590 for the French side and 1-721 for the Dutch side.

A useful detail: calling from one side of the island to the other is considered an international call.

Internet

Mail

Time Difference

Local time: Heure : 2645.

Both sides of the island share the same time, GMT-4. This means 5 hours less in winter and 6 hours less in summer compared to mainland France. In winter, there is a one-hour difference between Quebec (GMT-5) and Saint Martin.

Electricity

As with some other things, the electrical system differs between the French and Dutch sides.

On the French side, you’ll find 220 volts (60 Hz) with "French" plugs (officially type C or E), which will require an adapter for North American plugs. On the Dutch side, it’s 110 volts (60 Hz) with "American" plugs (officially type A or B), which will require an adapter for French plugs. However, adapters are easy to find everywhere on the island.

Opening Hours

Laundromats

Local Tourist Offices

French side: There is a Tourist Office located at Route de Sandy Ground, Marigot, 97150 Saint-Martin. Tel.: 0590 87 57 21.

Dutch side: Tourist Office, WG Buncamper Road 33, Philipsburg. Tel.: (1-721) 542 2337.

Weights and Measures

French Language Use

While French is the official language on the French side of Saint Martin, this is not the case in Sint Maarten, where Dutch and English are the official languages. Moreover, despite the proximity, French is spoken by barely 5% of the population on the Dutch side, making English the common language across the entire island. That said, you won’t have much trouble traveling even if you only speak French, as you’ll always be able to find someone who speaks it more or less fluently, even on the Dutch side.