Get A Rental Car
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Rental car rates are amongst the lowest in the world! This island is dramatically different from other Caribbean vacation destinations and we feel that a rental car is a must in order to get the most out of your stay on St. Maarten – St. Martin. While other islands specialize in all-inclusive resorts and discourage guests to explore on their own, St. Maarten is perfectly suited to roam freely and safely.
Rent a Car at Arrival - Avoid Transfer by Taxi
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While rental cars are a true bargain on St. Maarten, taxis are not. Just one round trip to Philipsburg from the Maho/Airport region by taxi could easily cost you the equivalent of renting a car for several days! Same is true for the airport transfer to your hotel, if you picked accommodations on the eastern coast of the island (Oyster Pond, Orient Beach).
Gas Stations
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Refueling your rental car will never be a problem on St. Maarten/St. Martin, because there are gas stations every few miles and in all regions of the island. Some offer 24 hour service for the late-night party crowd, and the stations' well-stocked convenience stores provide snacks, beverages and even hot food.
Prices are shown per liter - not gallon! - and the currency displayed on Dutch side gas stations is the Antillean Guilder (NAF) – not the US-Dollar! On the French side, the rates displayed is for the liter, and the currency used is the Euro.
Dings, Dents and Scratches - Minor Incidents
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The roads on St. Maarten/St. Martin's are better than on most Caribbean islands, but they don't compare to the smooth highways of North America or Europe. There are pot-holes, way too many speed-bumps on roads where the pot-holes are missing, and there is the human factor: driving skills cover a wide spectrum and driving habits are very often not compatible with the traffic situation.
Driving on the Island's Roads
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The island's infrastructure is adequate by Caribbean standards, but don't expect 4-lane motorways on our 37 square miles. In recent years the roads on the Dutch side have been dramatically improved. Most of St. Maarten/St. Martin's roads are paved and very few require a 4-wheel drive vehicle. You will find the major traffic arteries rather narrow and being overused by large trucks and tourist buses, resulting in frequent traffic jams.
Avoiding Traffic
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Yes, traffic is an issue on Sint Maarten. Especially in the Simpson Bay area, cars move only with a snail's pace during some hours of the day. The frequent openings of the draw bridge, allowing yachts into the lagoon, are causing serious traffic problems during morning and afternoon hours.
Driving Style
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Drivers are courteous on the island: whenever a car has to pull out of a tight spot into traffic, someone will let them in. Whenever there is a traffic jam at an intersection, traffic will flow somehow, because drivers cooperate. The island's administration has experimented with traffic lights - and there is still one up and running in Philipsburg - but overall, lights were a mistake here: friendly driving is more efficient than over-regulating it. Since the light at the intersection on Colebay disappeared years ago, the traffic situation has improved.