Saint Martin: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Saint Martin feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 24 written places.
The French half of one open island - cafe mornings, long lunches and Caribbean ease in the same day.
✓ Considered polite
- Say Bonjour when entering every shop and restaurant - French rules apply here
- Take lunch seriously - long, unhurried meals are the French-side rhythm
- Book ahead for dinner in Grand Case - the village is the island's gourmet strip
- Try a few words of French - it shifts the welcome noticeably
✗ Better avoided
- Skip the greeting - walking into a boutique without Bonjour reads as rude
- Expect the French side to hurry - service runs at mainland-France pace
- Wear beachwear in shops and restaurants away from the sand
- Tip American-style - service is included, rounding up says thanks
Worth knowing
- The euro is official but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, often at one-to-one
- There is no border control with Dutch Sint Maarten - you cross without noticing
- Topless sunbathing is normal on French-side beaches and the south end of Orient Bay is clothing-optional
- Many shops close for a long midday break and on Sunday, French-style
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.