SAINT MARTIN (ST. MARTIN / ST. MAARTEN)
Car Rental / Gettting Around

CAR RENTALS
The most convenient way to see the island is by rental car. Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) car rentals can be arranged through most major companies by phoning their toll-free numbers and asking for the "international desk." A number of local rental companies are also available. Most cars have automatic transmissions and most include air-conditioning. A 4WD vehicle is not necessary, and driving is on the right side on both the French and Dutch sides.


TAXI AND BUS TRANSPORTATION
Taxis are available at Juliana Airport, at taxi stands in Philipsburg or Maho on the Dutch side, and can also be arranged by telephone. Daytime rates apply from 7:00 in the morning until 21:00 in the evening. An additional 25% is added to the base fare until midnight; 50% is added to the base fare from midnight to 7:00 in the morning. There are no meters, so inquire about the fare in advance.

Buses in Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) run from about 6:00 in the morning to midnight and can be boarded at bus stops in towns or flagged down anywhere along the roads. They leave every hour from Grand Case and travel to Marigot, Cole Bay, Simson Bay, Mullet Bay and other major towns on the island. There are also Marigot-Philipsburg, Orleans-Philipsburg, and French Quarter-Philipsburg connections.

Buses connect towns but don’t generally serve the island’s beaches.


TWO WHEEL TRANSPORTATION

Scooters and motorbikes are recommended only for experienced riders. With all of the other visitors driving around in cars who are unfamiliar with the terrain, extra caution is advised. A driver's license is required (as well as a helmet to ride on the French side).

For related Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) contact information, please visit Caribbean-Direct.com.

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