St. Martin / St. Maarten is one of the most rewarding stops for a cruise-ship passenger. The island is divided between French St. Martin in the north and Dutch St. Maarten in the south. Each side manages to retain its own distinct flavor. The French side (St. Martin), is certainly more relaxed and sophisticated. There are first-class resorts and secluded white sand beaches. Its capital, Marigot, is Mediterranean resort-like, with yachts in the harbor, and open-air markets and shops lining the waterfront. It is a quaint little town, four streets wide, and has the romance and character of a small French village.
The best shopping in Marigot is at the West Indies Mall along the harbor at Marina Port la Royale. There is also a wonderful outdoor marketplace right on the water's edge by the marina that offers numerous items of interest to visitors. Orient beach is considered the best beach on the St Martin side of the island. Water sports, beach bars and people-watching are great past-times on Orient beach. Horse riding, golf and hiking are other alternatives. A visit to the Butterfly Farm provides an opportunity to see rare and exotic butterflies amidst flowers, waterfalls and music.
Things to See & Do
* Orient beach
* Outdoor markets
* Shopping at West Indies Mall
* Butterfly Farm
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Euro
Language – English and French
Land Area – 85 sq km
Population – 35,000
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time – GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 1 - 599
Port Location – Most ships dock on the Dutch side, in Great Bay, at the A.C. Wathey Pier in Point Blanche. The pier is about 2.5kms from the center of Philipsburg. Some ships anchor in Great Bay and tenders will transport passengers directly to the center of town. Taxis are readily available at the pier and it costs US$10 to travel to Marigot.
Transport Links – Princess Juliana airport is 15km west of Philipsburg (travel time – 15 minutes), receives regular scheduled flights from other Caribbean islands. Ferry services operate to Saba, St Barts and St Kitts & Nevis.
Buses run regularly between Philipsburg and Marigot. Minibuses serve the more popular destinations. There are good taxi services on the island running from the airport, main hotels and towns. Taxis do not have meters but fares are fixed. There is a taxi station at Wathey Square. There are plenty of car hire firms in the city and at the airport.