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St. Maarten at a Glance
Language: Dutch
is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly
used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.
Government: Part
of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of the Netherlands since 1630. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Curaçao,
Bonaire, St Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba. The capitall of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao.
Capital: Philipsburg
Area: 34 sq km (16
sq miles).
Climate: St Maarten
is hot and humid most of the time, prevailing tradewind keep it comfortableTemperatures in the first half of the
year usually hang around a balmy 28°C (83°F). It is driest between February and April, with most rain falling
between August and November. The hurricane season for the region is June to November with most activity occuring
in August and September. On average only five hurricanes a year blow through the Eastern Caribbean, and severe
ones hit even less frequently.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC
-4
Electricity: Electrical
appliances run 110 volts (60 Hz), after the American standard.
Currency: Netherlands
Antilles Guilder (Florin)
Driving: All foreign
driver's licenses are valid for driving on the island. Motorists drive on the right-hand side of the street, and
the roadways have been designed by the government to be easily accessible to physically disabled visitors.
Car Rentals: Rental
agencies are located at both airports and at the major hotels. Motorcycles and mopeds are also available for hire.
Cars are delivered to any hotel, but cannot be picked up at Princess Juliana International Airport in order to
protect the livelihood of island taxi drivers.
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