Planning your first trip to St. Martin/Maarten can feel a little like planning two vacations at once! It’s one of the most unique spots in the Caribbean—where you can cross an invisible border and go from French pastries and chic boutiques to Dutch casinos and vibrant nightlife in minutes. Because it’s a dual-owned island, there are a few quirks you’ll want to know before you touch down at Princess Juliana Airport. From navigating the local currencies to dodging those infamous island speed bumps, here is everything I wish I knew before my first visit to the “Friendly Island.”

• It is the smallest populated island in the world that is dual-owned by two countries, the French and the Dutch. While there is no barrier or gate between the two sides, they are remarkably different. Although English is widely spoken island-wide, you will still hear French spoken on St. Martin and Dutch on St. Maarten.

• US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the island, with most menus and prices also listed in the respective local currencies: Euros on the French side and Netherlands Antillean Guilders (NAF) on the Dutch side. The majority of establishments accept credit cards, with the exception of some smaller local bars and restaurants.

• Taxis are readily available but can be somewhat expensive. Your best bet is to rent a car during your stay so you can really explore the island on your own time. You can find rentals for as little as 30 Euros a day. While it is often best to reserve one ahead of time, there are plenty of representatives at the airport arrivals should you need to book one when you land.

• While many people will tell you it is fine to drink the tap water, I recommend against doing so, especially if you are not used to it. Order bottled water at restaurants and pick up a few larger bottles at the local supermarkets, which are plentiful throughout the island. Alternatively, I bring a UV sanitizing water bottle with me on every trip. It makes the tap water safe to drink, it is super useful, and you will make your money back on it after just a few uses.

• Be sure to visit both sides of the island. They are remarkably different and each offers a unique experience. I really advise you to explore both during your stay, even if it is just to try a restaurant on the other side.

• Don’t pass up the opportunity to visit neighboring islands! St. Martin has a great location in the Leeward Islands, and you can easily visit both Anguilla and St. Barts on a day trip. You can read my full reviews of “Day Sailing to Anguilla” and “St. Barts in a Day” right here on the blog.

• They drive on the right-hand side of the road on both sides of the island, just like in the US, so just remember that traffic coming from the right has the right of way. There are a lot of speed bumps on the island, so keep an eye out for them. They can creep up on you if you are going too fast, and you might scrape the bottom of your car if you aren’t careful!

• If you arrive on a Sunday, be prepared for many places to be closed. This applies to restaurants, stores, and supermarkets, so plan accordingly. Bring whatever essentials you need for that first day and research beforehand if you would like to eat out on Sunday night. Chances are you will find somewhere, but it might not be your first choice. You don’t want to waste valuable vacation time searching for food when you first arrive and are undoubtedly tired and hungry.

• If you plan on hiking Pic Paradis, the tallest peak on the island, I highly recommend starting from Loterie Farm. There are plenty of blogs out there outlining where to park and find the path for free, but from experience and talking to many locals, it is really not worth the hassle. If you park at Loterie Farm, you will pay 10 dollars per person to start from there, but they provide a very detailed map and hiking poles if you want them. The hiking path is very clearly marked while on the farm’s property. Once we left the property it got a little more challenging, but that also could have been avoided had we been paying attention to our surroundings instead of being deep in conversation!

Fancy exploring more? Read my Ultimate Travel Guide to St Martin/Maarten here!

You can find out more about my stay on my “St Martin/Maarten” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.

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