Getting Around

By Rental Car

A car is the best way to experience and explore St. Maarten/St. Martin. And renting a car here couldn't be easier; car-rental agencies are a dime a dozen, with locations at the airports and throughout the island. It's also a cost-efficient way to see the island, with rates starting around $30 a day, with unlimited mileage, and short distances between towns.

Many visitors rent cars when they arrive at Princess Juliana International Airport. A good number of car-rental agency kiosks are located on the Arrivals floor of the airport and along Airport Road. To get around the law (strictly enforced by St. Maarten taxi drivers' union) that forbids anyone from picking up a car at the airport, every rental agency parks its cars at a location nearby. When you rent a car at one of the agency kiosks on the Arrivals floor of the Princess Juliana airport, you will be taken by company shuttle 5 to 10 minutes away to pick up your car. Note: Always ask how far away from the airport the rental cars are located; some of the smaller agencies are a couple of miles away -- which can turn into a long trip when traffic is heavy around the airport.

Car rental agencies at the airport include Budget (tel. 800/472-3325 in the U.S. and Canada; or 599/545-4030 on the Dutch side; www.budget.com); Avis (tel. 800/331-1212 in the U.S. and Canada, 599/545-2847 on the Dutch side, or 590/87-50-60 on the French side; www.avis.com), Hertz (tel. 800/654-3001 in the U.S. and Canada; www.hertz.com), Thrifty (tel. 800/367-2277 in the U.S. and Canada; www.thrifty.com), National (tel. 800/328-4567 in the U.S. and Canada, or 599/545-5552 on the Dutch side; www.nationalcar.com); Best Deal Car Rental (tel. 599/545-3061); Safari Car Rental (tel. 599/554-2102); or Empress Rent-a-Car (tel. 599/551-1708).

All these companies charge roughly equivalent rates. The major car-rental agencies require that renters be at least 25 years old.

Many rental agencies will also deliver cars directly to your hotel, where an employee will complete the paperwork. Some hotels, like La Samanna, actually have a fleet of cars to rent on the premises -- but try to reserve well in advance because supply is limited.

Budget (tel. 599/543-0431) also has an office at the cruise-ship terminal.

Driving is on the right side of the road on St. Maarten/St. Martin and on St. Barts; it's on the left side of the road on Anguilla. Seat belts and child car seats are mandatory. International road signs are observed, and there are no Customs formalities at the border between the French and Dutch sides -- in fact, you might not even realize you crossed the border.

Expect traffic jams near the major towns and tourist areas on St. Maarten/St. Martin -- particularly in the Simpson Bay area when the Simpson Bay bridge is raised to let bridge traffic through (six times daily in high season; three times daily in low season). Tune your car radio to Island 92 (91.9FM) for traffic updates.

By Taxi

Most visitors use taxis at some point to get around. Since they are unmetered on both sides of the island, always agree on the rate before getting into a cab.

If you find a driver you like, ask for his card and call on him during your trip -- especially if you need a nighttime drop-off and pickup from a restaurant or casino. Taxi drivers are happy to provide sightseeing tours of the island or take you to grocery stores to let you stock up on basics. One driver we recommend is Jules Gumb (tel. 0670-27-38-88).

By Bus

Traveling by minibus or minivan is a reasonable means of transport on St. Maarten/St. Martin if you don't mind some inconvenience and overcrowding. Buses run daily from 6am to midnight and serve most of the major locations on both sides of the island. The most popular run is from Philipsburg on the Dutch side to Marigot on the French side. Privately owned and operated, minibuses tend to follow specific routes; the fare is $1.50 (buses accept both dollars and euros).