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What are the area codes to call SXM?
To call French St. Martin, the area code is 590 590 (not a misprint) as of July 01 2001 and 590-690 when calling a cell phone number. When calling from the USA, the international calling code prefix 011 must first be dialed, i.e. 011- 590-590 xx xx xx or 011-590-690 xx xx xx or to call Sint Maarten (the Dutch side), the area code is 599, i.e. 011-599 + 7 digit number.
When calling the French side from the Dutch side land: dial 00-590-590 + 6 digit number, cell: dial 00-590-690 + 6 digit number; when calling the Dutch side from the French side dial 00-599 + 7 digit number.
Dutch to Dutch number dial just the 7 digit number for land and cell; French to French land dial 0590 + 6 digit number, cell dial 0690 + 6 digit number.
Where are the Tourist Information Offices on SXM?
In Saint Martin by the waterfront in Marigot, open Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30-5:30 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. to noon, tel: 011 590 590 87 57 21
In Sint Maarten in the Imperial Bldg @ Walter J Nisbeth Rd #23, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to noon and from 1-5 p.m., tel: 011 599 542 2337, fax: 011 599 542 2734.
What are the Public Holidays in 2009?
Where exactly is SXM located?
The Caribbean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten lies 144 miles E of Puerto Rico and 1,460 miles S of New York City in the Lesser Antilles at 18° 02' N latitude & 63° 07' W longitude.
How long is the SXM runway?
It is 7,150 feet or 1.354 miles or 2.179km long.
When do the jumbo jets land on SXM?
An Airbus 340 (long-range 4-engine Airbus) coming from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris, France is scheduled to land all 7 days of the week @ 13h40 (1:40p).
A B747 coming from Amsterdam (AMS) is scheduled to land on SXM every Thursday 15h30 (3:30p).
A B747 is scheduled to land on SXM every Sunday around 14h45 (2:45pm).
Click PJIA Timetable for a complete airline arrival/departure schedule.
Click Flight Aware's live flight tracker for PJIA (SXM).
What type of documents do I need to enter SXM?
U.S. and Canadian citizens need either a valid passport or a birth certificate with a raised seal but U.S. citizens must have a valid passport upon return when they disembark at a U.S. airport.
Does SXM have a departure fee?
Yes, it was still US-$30 payable in cash or travellers check per person when we left from Princess Juliana International Airport on December 14, 2008. AA and US Air though had already charged us for the departure fee when we got our frequent flyer tickets months earlier, so we didn't have to stand in line to pay this fee.
How much does it cost to mail a picture postcard? What currency do they use on SXM? When are the supermarkets open? What is the SXM topography like?
Is the water safe to drink on SXM?
What is a lolo? What languages are spoken on SXM?
What is sand gravity? Where can I safely park my rental car in Grand Case?
Where and when do I catch a ferry to Anguilla?
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In December 2008 it took 0.85€ to mail a postcard from St. Martin (the French side) to the USA, Canada, other than FWI Caribbean islands or Venezuela. It was 0,55€ to France and the other FWI islands. It'll take a 0,95€ stamp to mail a regular sized picture postcard the rest of the world (e.g. Austria & Germany).
The little stationary store by Tap Five in Orient Bay Village only sells you the stamps when you buy the picture postcards from them. That can save you a trip to La Poste.
The post office in Grand Case has abbreviated opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri from 7:30-12:30, Wed from 8:30-12:30 and Sat from 7:30-11:00.
What is the gambling age in St. Maarten casinos?
As per Antillean casino regulations persons under 18 are not admitted.
What's the voltage on SXM?
In St. Maarten the outlets are like those in the USA (110V, 60 cycles), but in St. Martin everything runs on 220 volts, 60 cycles. So, a converter and adapter plugs may be needed for travel appliances.
The official currency of the Dutch side is the Netherlands Antilles florin (NAf), while the Euro (€ or EUR) reigns on the French side. However, U.S. dollars are widely accepted on both sides. Nearly all prices are listed in the local currency and U.S.-$. The Netherlands Antilles florin, though, is generally not accepted for payment on the French side. Major credit cards can be used at most hotels and restaurants, and there are a number of ATMs and currency exchanges on the island.
Dutch Side
It is located on Bush Road by the roundabout on the way to P'burg; it's open Mo-Sa 8:00am-8:00pm & Su 9:00am-2:00pm.
French Side
The shoreline of the island is dotted with bays and coves and has more than 30 white-sand beaches. In the interior, rolling hills rise from shallow ponds that were once flourishing salt mines. Paradise Peak on the French side is the highest point on the island at 1,390 feet or 423.7 meters. Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the Caribbean's largest landlocked bodies of water, dominates the west side of the island.
Yes, it is...most hotels (including timeshare places) use desalinated ocean water. Some use cistern water (collected rain water). Bottled water (with gas or w/o gas) is available in all the supermarkets and restaurants.
The origin of the name lolo for the roadside or beach bbq grills is a much discussed subject. The lolo is really the grill, not the business. A metal oil barrel, cut in half lengthwise and fitted with a grill for cooking is called a lolo. The use of the term has apparently been generalized by tourists to refer to the whole place, but it's really just the grill. Talk of the Town and Sky's the Limit in Grand-Case, Pedro's on Orient Beach and Johnny B 'Under the Tree' in Cole Bay are well known lolos.
Though Dutch and French are the official languages of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, respectively, English is spoken everywhere. A growing number of islanders in both countries also speak Spanish. You will hear Créole spoken in St. Martin, where a French phrase book also comes in handy.
Sand gravity was best defined by Gretchen (aka GSK) on the TTOL forum:
"Sand gravity refers to the natural phenomenon that affects about 80% of SXM visitors. It happens when you are lying on the beach, totally relaxed, looking out at the clear turquoise water, with a cold one in your hand. At that precise moment, all the plans you made before your trip…the shops you wanted to go to, the sights you wanted see, and all the 'other' things you wanted to do on your trip, somehow seem utterly ridiculous. You realize that nothing is as important as what you are doing at that moment. The thought of doing anything other than lying in the sand, looking at the big blue, and having a cold one is out of the question. That, my friend, is sand gravity at its best."
How far is (?) from PJIA?
if you turn left from the airport parking lot:
... if you turn right:
How far is (?) from the Cap Caraïbes realtor office or the Tap Five mini-mart in Le Village d'Orient?
Can you make a right turn on red in St. Maarten?
It is against the law to make a right turn on red in St. Maarten (if you can find a traffic light 
).
When does the drawbridge in Simpson Bay go up?
Neil Rooney, the former proprietor of the Buccaneer Beach Bar, posted these times on the TTOL forum Nov 07, 2005: "
The John Sainsborough Lejuez bridge in Simpson Bay opens daily for outbound traffic at: 9:00AM, 11:00AM and 4:30PM. Openings for inbound traffic are at: 9:30AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM. During the "low" season (May to November) the daily openings are for two way traffic at: 9:30AM, 11:30AM and 5:30PM. Outbound traffic goes first! Maximum 56.5 feet beam and a draft of 20 feet. The bridge operator monitors VHF channel 12. Should you need the bridge to open, other than at scheduled times, you need to pay a fee of US-$300 to the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority at the police station in Simpson Bay."
When does the drawbridge by Sandy Ground go up?
The bridge is scheduled to go up for two way traffic Mo-Fr at 08h15, 14h30 and 17h30 (8:15am, 2:30pm and 5:30pm). Sa & Su openings are at 08h15 and 17h30. Outbound traffic goes first! Maximum 32 feet beam and a draft of 10 feet. The bridge operator monitors VHF channel 16.
Neil
There is a free lot down by the soccer field which is just past the lolos. You may also find a spot on the street near Le Portofino restaurant (where Grand Case Blvd intersects with the main road). La California has a small lot across from it where the restaurant's patrons can park for free but the gate to the lot was always locked when we drove by in November and December 2008. There are another 2 pay lots. One is just a right turn from the main entrance by the Fish Pot restaurant before you get to the lolos. The other is across from Il Nettuno which credited the $6/5€ on our check on December 08, 2008. So hold on to your Grand Case Car Park ticket . One of the lolos, Sky's the Limit, gives you free beer (up to 5 per vehicle) when you give them the Grand Case Car Park ticket. We got free beer on Nov 28 
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A ferry usually leaves Marigot every 30 minutes for Blowing Point on Anguilla. The fare is $10 each way + $2 tax to Anguilla and $3 from Anguilla. Go to ferry for the when and where as well as lots of info/facts about Anguilla. Remember to bring your passport.
