Money - Banks - Telephone om Saint Martin : Practical

Practical Information on Saint Martin: Money- Tax- Tel

Money

The currency in use is the same as on the mainland: the Euro. U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere, however, even on the French part of the island. Cheques from outside the island are often refused so be prepared to use your credit card or cash.

Banks

Ask your bank before you leave for agencies or correspondence on the island. Pay cards and credit cards are accepted everywhere, but cheques from outside the island are often refused.

Post office and telecommunication

Post office

Letters or postcards must be stamped “Par avion”, and will take approximately three to five days to arrive. Stamps are hard to find elsewhere than at the post office, so be prepared to stand in line for quite a while. Mail is collected every day and leaves the island daily by plane. Postage dues are the same as on the mainland.

Telephone

Landline numbers are composed of 10 digits, similarly to the mainland.

• Landlines.

  All landlines begin by 05 90 in Guadeloupe as well as Saint Martin.
  

• Mobile phones.

  All mobile phone numbers begin by 06 90 in Guadeloupe as well as Saint Martin.
  

• To reach Saint Martin from abroad

  To call a landline, dial 00 590 590 + 6 digits of your correspondent. To call a mobile phone, dial 00 590 690 + 6 digits of your correspondent.
  

A duty-free destination

We cannot discuss Saint Martin without mentioning shopping, one of the island’s most important sectors of activity thanks to the exemption from VAT. The island’s Dutch part has developed a fairly good infrastructure on this point, especially in the capital, Philipsburg. You are sure to find all you may be looking for in the city’s Indian stores: hi-fi, TV, video, electronics, sunglasses, watches, jewellery, alcohol, tobacco, textiles and so on. Haggling is possible. The centre of the island’s French part, Marigot focuses mainly on luxury products, especially around the marina and its surroundings.