North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• There is an Honorary Consulate in Curaçao which is responsible for the delivery of Consular Services to St. Maarten. See General - Consular Assistance. The Honorary Consulate is supported by the British High Commission in Barbados.
  
  
• St. Maarten is used as a drug passageway from South America to Europe and North America. Never leave bags unattended nor agree to carry a package for anyone.
  
  
• The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. See Natural Disasters.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime

Most visits to the Dutch Caribbean are trouble-free. However, petty theft and street crime is a concern. There is violent crime amongst members of the illegal drugs world, but this rarely affects tourists. The main tourist areas are generally safe, but you are advised to take normal precautions and, for example, do not wander alone off the main roads, especially at night. Never take valuables to the beach. Make sure purses and handbags are closed and not easy to snatch.

The islands of the Dutch Caribbean continue to be used to smuggle illegal drugs from South America to Europe and North America. You should have a heightened sense of awareness of this problem and never leave bags unattended. Under no circumstances should you discuss or agree to carry a package for anyone. Some airports have installed "body scanners" and it is possible you may be required to have a scan. Dutch authorities generally screen all baggage and passengers from the Dutch Caribbean.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Small buses are available to get around the islands. When taking a taxi, always check that it is a registered one and negotiate the price before taking the ride. Most taxis do not have meters. You should avoid remote areas at night.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

Traffic drives on the right-hand side. Main road conditions are relatively good, but roads can become slippery when wet.

See our Driving Abroad page.

By Dutch law, you must always carry your ID. We recommend you have a copy of your passport with you at all times.

Local laws are essentially similar to Dutch law. See our Your Trip page.

Tourist entry is generally only for 14 days. Extensions are available at immigration.
EU passport holders may stay for up to three months, but must get an extension first from immigration.

There are no border formalities when crossing St Maarten from the Dutch side to the French side.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter St Maarten. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into St Maarten.

For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration contact the Royal Netherlands Embassy in London.

Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas.

The hurricane season in the Dutch Caribbean normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the Meteorological department of Curacao (servicing all Islands within the Dutch Kingdom) and the World Meteorological Organisation. You can also access the National Hurricane Centre. Please also see our Tropical cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.

St. Maarten and other islands in the northern and eastern Caribbean have experienced some quite severe hurricanes in the last decade.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General – St. Maarten

Since October 2010 The Netherlands Antilles as a country no longer exists and St Maarten is now an autonomous country within Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with Aruba and Curacao.  It has a separate government, and currently shares a central bank with Curacao.  The island lies about 100 miles east of Puerto Rico. St Maarten is the Dutch side of an island that is half French (St Martin).

General - Language

English is the dominant language in St. Maarten although Dutch, Papiamento, and Spanish are also spoken. The Creole language, Papiamento, is a mixture of Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, English and French.

General - Consular Registration

You should register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Consular Assistance

There is an Honorary Consulate in Curaçao where you can obtain consular services and general assistance.  This Consulate is supported by the British High Commission in Barbados.

General - Money  

The official local currency is still the Antillean guilder (ANG) for  St. Maarten and has been fixed to the US Dollar at approximately 1.80 ANG to 1USD for over 35 years. The US Dollar is accepted everywhere on the Island. Local currency and US Dollar ATM machines (Maestro/Cirrus) are situated throughout the island. Major credit cards are accepted in practically all tourist establishments.