| |
|
Getting
There
Jet
plane service to St. Martin is into Princess Juliana International
Airport at Simpson Bay in Dutch St. Maarten. L'Esperance
Airport in Grand Case, French St. Martin can only accommodate
up to 20-seat planes. Flying times: Miami--2 1/2 hr.;
Caracas--1 1/2 hr.; Dallas--4 1/2 hr.; Montreal--5 hr.;
New York--3 1/2 hr.; Paris--8 hr.
International Carriers
· Air
France
· American
Airlines
· BWIA
· Continental
· Corsair
· Delta
· KLM
· US
Airways
Inter-Island Carriers
· Air
Caraibes
· American
Eagle
· Caribbean
Sun Airlines
· LIAT
· Winair
St. Martin is also serviced by a number of Charter Airlines,
please check with your travel agent.
Passports
U.S. and Canadian visitors are only required to bring
proof of citizenship (an original birth certificate) plus
a standard photo ID (such as a driver's license). See
note below for latest passport notice. Otherwise,
a valid passport or an expired passport no more than five
years old will suffice. Tourists are granted admission
(upon arrival) as tourists for 14 days (maximum 3 months,
upon request). A $20 tax is imposed upon departure from
the Juliana Airport. Those arriving on the French side
may stay up to three months, but a visa is required for
longer stays. A 3 euros departure tax is included in the
price of airfare for those leaving from Esperance Airport.
Ferry Transportation to Neighboring Islands
Documents required : Passport or valid drivers license
.
Anguilla:
Daily ferry, every 30 minutes from 8am to 17:30pm (departure
at the Marigot Water Front)
St Barths: The Voyager
Every day at 9am and 18h15pm (departure at the Marigot
Water front) Every Wednesday at 16:45pm (departure at
the Oyster pond marina)
Saba: The Voyager
Every Thursday at 8:45am (departure at the Marigot Water
front)
*Special Notice on Passports
The Department of State and Homeland Security have announced
a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" in
which they are proposing to require all U.S. Citizens,
Canadians, citizens of Bermuda and citizens of Mexico
to have a passport or other accepted secure document to
enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.
The departments said that the requirements would be rolled
out in phases. The proposed timeline is as follows:
December 31, 2005 - Passport or other accepted document
required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean,
Bermuda, Central and South America.
December 31, 2006 - Passport or other accepted document
required for all air, sea to or from Mexico and Canada.
December 31, 2007 - Passport or other accepted document
required for all air, sea and land boarder crossings.
In a joint announcement the departments said that they
are requesting comments on the proposed policy and suggestions
for alternatives. The departments said that they will
consider these suggestions and comments before they announce
a formal rule making when they will again seek comment
on the proposed rule......More Details
|
|
|
St.
Martin At A Glance
|
Language:
Officially, French is the language of St. Martin and Dutch
in St. Maarten, but almost everyone speaks English, and
many speak Spanish as well. French Creole and Papiamento,
a Creole language of the Netherlands Antilles, is spoken
here locally, especially in the southern parts of the
island.
Government:
Sub-prefecture of Guadeloupe (an overseas départment
of France)
Capital:
Marigot
Climate:
St Martin is warm and humid, but tradewinds help temper
the humidity, especially from January to April. Temperatures
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.
Time Zone:
GMT/UTC -4
Electricity:
Electrical appliances run at 220 volts (50 Hz), following
the European standard, in St. Martin, and at 110 volts
(60 Hz), after the American standard, in St. Maarten.
Visitors to the island should bring the appropriate converters,
depending on where they plan on staying.
Currency:
Official currencies are the French Franc and Euro on the
french side. Prices are commonly posted in US Dollars
which ave accepted everywhere, as are most major credit
cards Most banks are equipped with ATM machines.
Driving:
Traffic is on the right, international signs. The island's
roads are not designed for speed.
Rentals:
Rental agencies are located at both airports and at the
major hotels. Motorcycles and mopeds are also available
for hire.
|
|
