Shopping
As the only completely duty-free island of the Caribbean, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers some of the best shopping in the Caribbean. Stores are open every day except
Sundays and Christmas and Good Friday; and no duty is paid on imports arriving on either side.
On the Dutch side, shopping hours are generally from 9 a.m. untill 6 p.m. Many shops stay open longer on days when cruise ships are in port.
On the french side, the hours are from 9 a.m. until noon or 12:30 p.m., then from 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. until 6 or 6:30 p.m.
In addition, the Maho shopping and entertainment area has shops that stays open untill 10 p.m. or later.
 In Philipsburg, specialities of Front Street include everything from Swiss watches, French perfume, British cashmeres, Chinese embroidery, Japanese cameras and electronics, Indonesian batiks and Italian leather goods, plus fine jewelery, crystal, linens, porcelain, cigars and liquors and of course a generous selection of native crafts from St. Maarten itself.
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On French side, on the street "General de Gaulle" you will find luxury clothes, crafts, perfumes, cigars and jewelry,
handbags, shoes, gourmet
foods and European designers (Chanel, Hermès etc...)
The streets around are also full of different shops, from "street
stalls" (where you can buy pareos and local artcrafts) to fishing equipment shops, and even a bookstore (where you will find books about Caribbean lifestyle, cuisine, clothing etc...).
Wed. and Saturday mornings, the market takes place in Marigot, on the "front de mer". You can buy fresh fruits and vegatables, fish, clothes, hats, and lots of Caribbean Crafts .
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BEACHES
NORTH COAST
(Facing Anguilla, from "Canonnier" point to "Petites Cayes"):
1-Plum Bay
Beautifull
tranquil natural beach, far away from everything.
Good snorkeling
2-Baie Rouge
Nice white sand beach, with another small beach on the right-hand side,
behind the rocks. Beach Chairs/
Parasols for hire
3-Nettle Bay
In front of the hotels, Nettle Bay is an ensemble of several beaches.
4-Friar's Bay
A peaceful and well-protected beach with two bar-restaurants.
On every Full Moon, a reggae-ragga
party lasts all the night.
5-Happy Bay
The "postcard" beach. Palm Trees, white sand...
6-Grand Case Bay
A nice long beach, with clear turquoise water,
at the feet of the best restaurants of Grand Case.
7-Petite Plage
Peaceful beach with clear blue water.
8-Anse Marcel
A beautiful beach located in the "Lonvilliers Harbour",
near the wonderful Marina.
9-Petites Cayes
Remote, very private tropical beach accessible through a 25 mn hike from French Cul de Sac.
Great for good surfers.
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 EAST COAST
(Facing St. Barts):
1-Grandes Cayes
A wild beach with rocks, waves, wind...
2-Cul de Sac
Ferry Boat from Pinel Island leaves from
here.
3-Pinel Island
Catch a ferry from Cul de Sac to this
delightful tiny island. 2 restaurants
serving grilled lobster and more.
Beach chairs and jet skis for hire or enjoy
the peaceful, natural far side of the
island.
4-Flat Island
This almost virgin island is located in front of Orient Bay.
Accessible by boat, jetski, windsurf... The perfect
desert island.
5-Orient Bay
The Caribbean "St. Tropez".
Great selections of restaurants, beach bars;
the longest beach of the island and the
most fun.
Jetski, windsurf, skysurf. Also famous for it's parties
(Boo Boo Jam every Friday, Kontiki
every Sunday...)
6-Galion Beach
Beautiful shallow water. Protected beach with white sand and clear blue water,
ideal for children.
The other side of the beach is perfect for surfing or windsurfing.
Two Surf and Windsurf rentals, lessons available for adults and children.Paddle boat and
snorkel rental too,
and a beach bar-restaurant.
7-Coralita Beach
Very wild and windy beach for Atlantic Ocean fans. palmtrees and white sand,
cactus... Ideal for horse-back riding. Riding Club on top of the hill.
8-Dawn Beach
Deep clear water, very beautiful white sand, nice villas around...One of the most beautifull beaches on the Island. Beach-bar & restaurant.
Not far from Oyster Pond Marina.
9-Guana Bay
The same as Dawn Beach, with less people, and a little smaller.
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SOUTH COAST
(From "Pointe Blanche" to "Canonnier" point").
1-Great bay
This beach
runs the length of Philipsburg and offers
a nice view on the harbor and it's huge
cruise ships.
Lots of shops and cafés around.
2-Little Bay
Near Fort Amsterdam, a nice beach crowded on Sundays.
3-Cay Bay
Very nice and peacefull beach because hardly accessible.
4-Pelican Cay
Near Hotels and Casinos with clear blue water
5-Simpson Bay
Not far from the airport, this beach boards some old creole houses.
6-Maho Beach
At the end of the airport's runaway.
Watch the planes land and take off a few
feet above you!
7-Cupecoy
Very
beautiful beach, with red-ochre rocks at sunset.
Some places of the beach are naturist's.
8-Baie Longue
As it's name suggests, very long and
beautiful beach with white sand and clear blue water.
Home to Hotel La Samanna.
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Sports
If you are
looking for a sporty vacation, this island is the perfect
destination.
Skysurfing, windsurfing,
surfing, jetskiing, diving, snorkeling are easily available
directly on the beaches (Orient Bay, Le Galion...).
Deep-sea fishing boats are available at
the Marinas, on both Dutch and French side. 
There are also lots of outdoor activities
like hiking, horse-back riding, cycling,
skydiving...
For those who want to be pampered, many
hotels and resorts offer spa services.
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SPORTS CLUBS
KAYAK
TRISPORT
SIMPSON BAY
(599) 545-4384
BASKETBALL
(O.M.S.) : 05 90 87 25
22
BEACH
VOLLEY-BALL
05 90 87 97 25
FITNESS
CENTRE SPORTIF LE PRIVILEGE
05 90 87 46 15
FUTUR FITNESS CENTER
05 90 87 90 27
SEA BREEZE FITNESS
SANDY GROUND
05 90 87 00 86
SHIDOKAN
FUTURE FITNESS
CENTER MARIGOT
05 90 87 90 27
CYCLING
FROG LEGS
05 90 87 05 11
HORSE-BACK
RIDING
BAYSIDE RIDING CLUB
05 90 87 36 64
CAïD & ISA ANSE MARCEL
05 90 87 45 70
OK CORAL OYSTER POND
05 90 87 40 72
FOOTBALL
(O. M. S.)
05 90 87 25 22
GOLF
MULLET BAY
(599) 554-2801
JUDO
CLUB DE SAINT MARTIN
05 90 87 70 66
KARATE
05 90 87 25 22
PARASAILING,
SKYDIVING
CARIBBEN SKY DREAM
05 90 51 02 57
PARAPENTE ESPACE TOTAL
05 90 87 19 09
PING PONG
05 90 87 25 22
RUGBY
LES ARCHIBALDS
05 90 87 24 21
SHOOTING
05 90 87 25 22
SQUASH
LE PRIVILEGE
05 90 87 46 15
SWIMMING
05 90 87 25 22
TENNIS
05 90 87 25 22
LE PRIVILEGE
05 90 87 46 15
VOLLEY-BALL
05 90 87 25 22
VOILE
05 90 87 25 22
Watersports
FRENCH SIDE
ACADEMIE DE LA GLISSE
MARIGOT, 05 90 27 10 10
BIKINI WATERSPORTS
ORIENT BAY 05 90 27 07
48
CARAïBES WATERSPORTS
LA PLANTATION ORIENT BAY
05 90 27 49 94
FLAMBOYANT WATERSPORTS
HOTEL LE FLAMBOYANT BAIE NETTLE
05 90 87 60 43
FUNNY BLUE BUBBLE
HOTEL LITTLE KEY BEACH CUL DE
SAC
05 90 29 55 29
KAKAO WATERSPORTS
ORIENT BAY
05 90 27 49 94
KONTIKI WATERSPORTS
ORIENT BAY
05 90 87 46 89
MERIDIEN DIVE CENTER
ANSE MARCEL
05 90 87 67 90
MERCURE SIMPSON BEACH
BAIE NETTLE
05 90 87 54 54
SXM WAKE SENSATION
MARIGOT
05
90 87 10 10
SXM WATER BOYS SURF CLUB
BAIE DE L’EMBOUCHURE
05 90 52 58 18
THE SCUBA SHOP
MARINA OYSTER POND
05 90 87 48 01
TROPICAL WAVE
BAIE DE L’EMBOUCHURE
05 90 87 37 25
WIND ADVENTURES
PARC DE LA BAIE ORIENTALE
05 90 29 41 57
DUTCH
SIDE
GREAT BAY MARINA
PHILIPSBURG
(599) 542-5705
LEEWARD ISLAND DIVERS
SIMPSON BAY
(599) 542-2262
OCEAN EXPRES DIVE CENTER
SIMPSON BAY BEACH
(599) 544-5252
PELICAN WATERSPORTS
PELICAN MARINA
(599) 544-2640
PITA WATERSPORTS
BEACON HILL
(599) 545-2117
THE SCUBA SHOP
SIMPSON BAY
(599) 547-0823
SUBMARINE SAFARIS
AIRPORT ROAD
(599) 545-2642
DIVE
CENTERS
FRENCH
SIDE
BAIE NETTLE
05 90 87 99 02
CENTRE COMERCIAL BAIE NETTLE
05 90 87 89 73
HOTEL LITTLE KEY CUL DE SAC
05 90 29 55 29
GRAND CASE
05 90 87 20 62
MARINA ROYAL MARIGOT
05 90 87 33 40
ANSE MARCEL
05 90 87 36 13
HOTEL LE FLAMBOYANT BAIE NETTLE
05 90 87 60 72
DUTCH SIDE:
WELFAR ROAD SIMPSON BAY
(599) 544-3320
OCEAN EXPLORERS DIVE CENTER
(599) 544-2252
ST MAARTEN DIVE ADVENTURES
(599) 544-2640
THE SCUBA SHOP DIVE SAFARY
(599) 547-0823
TRADE WINDS DIVE CENTER
(599) 547-5176 |
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SELECTION OF BOAT
RENTALS
FRENCH SIDE
ALIZE TROPIQUE
MARIGOT
05 90 87
75 70
BOAT RENTAL CHARTERS REUNIS
MARINA PORT LA ROYALE
05 90 87 91 74
KONTIKI WATERSPORTS
ORIENT BAY
05 90
87 46 89
MARINE TIME
MARIGOT
05 90 87
20 28
STARDUST
ANSE MARCEL
05 90
87 85 21
SUNSAIL
MARIGOT
05 90 87
83 41
SUN YACHT CHARTERS
OYSTER POND
05 90
87 30 49
TAHUNA I
MARIGOT
05 90 27
33 43
THE MOORINGS
OYSTER POND
05 90
87 32 55
VOYAGER 1 & 2
BAIE NETTLE
05 90
87 10 68
DUTCH SIDE
DOCKSIDE
MANAGEMENT
BOBY’S MARINA
(599) 543-0068
FUN IN THE SUN
SIMPSON BAY
(599)
547-0210
GOLDEN EAGLE
POINT BLANCHE
(599) 543-0068
OUT ISLAND CHARTERS
BOBBY’S MARINA PHILIPSBURG
(599) 543-0068
SWALIGA
PHILIPSBURG
(599)
542-2167
VOYAGER 1 & 2
BOBBY’S MARINA
(599) 542-4096
DEEP SEA
FISHING
FRENCH SIDE
BIG SAILFISH TOO
ANSE MARCEL
05 90 27 40 90 / 87 36 34
DEEP SEA FISHUNG ET CHARTER
SANDY GROUND
05 90 87 86 83
LA COMPAGNIE DES VAGUES
GRAND CASE
05 90 87 77 46
MAJOR FISHING
MARIGOT
05
90 87 96 76
MARCO SEA DREAM
ANSE MARCEL
05 90 27 40 95
SAMACO
ORIENT
BAY
05 90 87 33 27 / 27 02
45
DUTCH
SIDE
BLUE WATER SPORT FISHING
SIMPSON BAY
(599) 545-3230
LEE’S DEEP SEA FISHING
WELFAR ROAD
(599) 544-4233
RUDY’S FISHING
AIRPORT ROAD SIMPSON BAY
(599) 545-2177
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Night Life
Every Tuesday, dance and party at Bliss'
Q. CLub at the Greenhouse in Philipsburg, next to Diamond Casino.
DJ
Wednesday
is Latino Night at the Merengue Bar in Simpson Bay.
Every Thursday
night:
Reggae Night at Bamboo
Bernies.
Every friday night:
The BoatHouse in Simpson Bay, Live music.
Boo Boo Jam,
at Orient Bay: zouk, merengue, etc...
Very good atmosphere, Grilled seafood and traditional menu
available. Live Music & DJ
Every Sunday Night:
Party at the Kontiki: crowded, crazy nights on the
beach. The restaurant is open too.
Every full moon
Full Moon Party
at Friar's Bay. Live Reggae, ragga all
night long. |
All types of nightclubs and Bars are
available on either The Dutch or French side. The most popular
are Club One, Amnesia, l'Alibi, La Bodeguita, Bonnardos, Le
Havana, L'inedit, and much more.
CASINOS
The island’s casinos are located on the
Dutch side. Most open from noon until 2 a.m. However Atlantis
is open 24 Hours. Port de Plaisance, also known as Princesss
Casino is the largest on the Island.
All of the island’s major hotels and many
guest houses, too, provide their own entertainment, cocktail
parties and such. |
CASINOS
COLISEUM
(599) 543-2101
TROPICANA
CASINO
(599) 544-5654
ATLANTIS CASINO
(599) 545-4601
CASINO ROYALE
(599) 545-2590
DIAMOND CASINO
(599) 543-2565
DOLPHIN CASINO
(599) 545-3707
GOLDEN CASINO
(599) 542-2446
LIGHTNING CASINO
(599) 544-3293
PARADISE PLAZA
(599) 543-2721
HOLLYWOOD CASINO
(599) 544-2503
PRINCESS CASINO
(599) 544-5222
ROUGE & ET NOIR CASINO
(599) 542-2952
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Eating Out
St. Maarten expresses its culinary soul
not by creating a single cuisine but by giving voice to
cooking styles from the far-flung corners of the globe.
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People can select from more than 300
restaurants offering French, Dutch, Caribbean, Italian,
Chinese, Indonesian, Creole and more.
You will also
find lots of BBQ's everywhere on the Island ( for grilled
lobsters and Creole specials), catering services, and
take-away restaurants. |
RESTAURANTS
FRENCH SIDE
LAYLA’S
05 90 57 00 93
L’AUBERGE GOURMANDE
05 90 87 73 37
LA BELLE EPOQUE
05 90 87 87 70
BIKINI BEACH
05 90 87 43 25
BISTROT CARAïBES
05 90 29 08 29
BOMBAY BRASSERIE
05 90 29 67 20
LE CHANTECLAIR
05 90 87 94 60
CHEZ SWAN
05 90 87 12 12
CHILI’S CAFE
05 90 29 38 08
COCO BEACH
05 90 87 34 62
LE COLIBRI
05 90 87 06 13
LE COTONNIER
05 90 87 44 56
LE COTTAGE
05 90 29 03 30
KONTIKI
05 90 87 43 27
DON CAMILLO
05 90 87 52 88
DURRECHE
05 90 87 84 21
L’ESCAPADE
05 90 87 75 04
FISH BAR
05 90 29 28 82
FISH POT
05 90 87 50 88
LA GONDOLA
05 90 87 78 27
KAKAO BEACH
05 90 87 43 24
CHEZ LOLOTTE & JOJO
05 90 87 05 65
LA MAIN A LA PATE
05 90 87 71 19
MARIO’S BISTROT
05 90 87 06 36
LA MARINE
05 90 87 02 31
CHEZ MARTINE
05 90 87 51 59
MINI-CLUB
05 90 87 50 69
PAIN DE SOLEIL
05 90 29 15 94
LE PATIO
05 90 29 16 33
LA PETITE AUBERGE DES ILES
05 90 87 56 31
LE PICOLO CAFE
05 90 87 32 47
LE PLONGEOIR
05 90 87 94 71
LE PRESSOIR
05 90 87 76 62
RAINBOW
05 90 87 55 80
LA RAVIOLINA
05 90 87 78 27
LE SAINT GERMAIN
05 90 87 92 87
LE SAINT SEVERIN
05 90 87 97 00
LA SAMANA RESTAURANT
05 90 87 64 00
LE SEBASTIANO
05 90 87 58 86
SUNSET CAFE
05 90 87 51 87
LE TASTEVIN
05 90 87 55 45
TATOO
05 90 87 78 64
THAI GARDEN
05 90 87 88 44
TROPICANA
05 90 87 79 07
LA VIE EN ROSE
05 90 87 54 42
WAIKIKI PLAGE
05 90 87 43 19
DUTCH SIDE
ANAND INDIAN
RESTAURANT
(599) 545-3622
BAMBOO BERNIES
(599) 542-2456
LE BEC FIN
(599) 542-2976
BLISS
(599) 599-3996
BOATHOUSE
(599) 544 5409
BURGER KING
(599) 542-5056 - (599) 544-2592 - (599)
544-2915
CAFE JULIANA
(599) 545-3969
CHERI’S CAFE
(599) 545-3361
CHESTERFIELDS
(599) 542-3484
GOODFELLAS CAFE
(599) 544-3176
GREENHOUSE
(599) 542-2941
KANGAROO COURT
(599) 542-4278
KRISHNA
(599) 542-3796
LYNETTE’S
(599) 545-2865
MAMA MIA
(599) 545-3934
PIZZA PASTA
(599) 545-4034
PORTOFINO
(599) 542-2155
LA ROSA TOO ITALIAN RESTAURANT
(599) 545-3470
SHIVA
(599) 543-2637
SHIVSAGAR
(599) 542-2299
SPARTAGO ITALIAN RESTAURANT
(599) 544-5379
SUNSET BEACH BAR
(599) 545-3998
TEMPTATIONS
(599) 545 52254
TOP CARROT
(599) 544-3381
CATERING
FABULOUS
FEASTS
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| Facilities
NEWSPAPERS
Some local newspapers are available daily
(like the Daily Herald on the Dutch side or the Fax info on
the French side). You can also find many international
newspapers including NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Sunday
Times and magazines.
RADIO AND TELEVISION
Most hotels on both sides of the island
have radio and television broadcasts in English.
ELECTRICITY
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