Size: 37 square miles total; 16 Dutch and 21 French.
Electric Current: 220
Time: 15:09 pm (GMT/UTC -4)
Official Language: French officially but English is common.
Currency: The euro, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
Tipping and Taxes: 5% government tax added while service is included in the prices. A few extra dollars for good service is a nice gesture.
Dress Code: Casual elegance; Topless and nude sunbathing is customary.
Telephone: 590 plus the six digit number.
St. Martin
For travelers who'd like to mix a Caribbean-style beach vacation with European food and flair, the Dutch/French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is an ideal choice.
Tucked at the top of the Guadeloupe Archipelago, just 144 miles from Puerto Rico, this island's two sides share beautiful beaches, hilly terrain, a host of coves and bays and hotels in every price range, but the pace and personality of each side differs tremendously.
The French side offers a more sophisticated, laid-back milieu and some of the best dining in the Caribbean. It's cafe society is in the capital Marigot. People-watching is a thriving sport at cafes like La Vie en Rose. Also downtown is a flourishing open-air market that offers a mix of traditional Caribbean souvenirs and lovely locally made art, along with the requisite upscale tourist traps found elsewhere in the islands.
Best of all, visitors can sample the sights and sounds of both sides without much trouble. At 37 square miles, it's relatively easy to get around, but make sure to bring along a good map, as many roads are less than well marked. Many travelers opt to rent a car for a day or so to soak up the island's full flavor; others opt for public bus service, or take a taxi after negotiating a rate.
Visitors often spend a day frolicking on the beach, head to the restaurant-rich village of Grand Case on the French side for a sumptuous meal and repair to the casinos of the Dutch side before calling it a night.
In addition, St. Martin is an ideal jumping-off point for visits to tiny Saba and neighboring Anguilla, both of which can be reached by ferry. English is spoken in most of the big hotels on St. Martin, but be aware that it is very French, right down to the baguettes, the wine and the language.
Transportation
Entry Documents:
Beginning January 2007, US citizens need a passport for all travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada.
Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens need a valid passport, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, as well as proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to enter either St Maarten or St Martin; a return ticket or proof of onward travel is also required. No visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens require a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months. A return ticket or proof of onward travel is required. This applies to both Dutch and French national sectors of the island.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens need a valid passport or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, as well as proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to enter either St Maarten or St Martin, and a return ticket or proof of onward travel is required. No visa is required for a stay of up to 14 days.
Airport:
International Airport of Juliana and Esperance Airport.
Departure Tax:
US$20.
Driving:
On the right. A valid foreign or international driver's license is required for car rentals.
Marriage Info
Process:
Obtain a medical certificate on the island and present all documents to authorities for approval. Cost: No fee. Because there is a minimum of one month wait period before getting married on St. Martin, most couples choose to marry on the St. Maarten side of the island.
Caribbean 
