St. Martin Government 2
Another question about the island's government:
"Can you tell me what the Government is like at Sain Martin?"

The French side of the island - Saint Martin - is administered like any French town. St. Martin is part of the Department Guadeloupe. A 'department' is similar to a US state. In order to learn about details of French St. Martin's government, just research online the government of France. As this is one of the oldest democracies, you will find many resources. Remember: Saint Martin is treated as regular French and therefore European Union territory. Its citizens carry a French European Union passport.

The Dutch side - Sint Maarten - is part of the Netherlands Antilles. The capital of this country is on the island of Curacao and Sint Maarten is just a province. The Netherlands Antilles are a democracy and are monitored by Holland. The judicial system is being provided by Holland, as is much of the money for development. The citizens carry Dutch European passports. Strangely, the Dutch side is not considered European territory, and European citizens do not have all the privileges they hold on the French side.
- posted by Jan @ 8:45 AM 0 comments links to this post   

 
Island Government 1
I receive emails on a daily base, asking all kind of questions about the island. Here is my response to a student, asking:

"I am doing a report on St. Martin for my history class, I need to know
what kind of money is used there and what it looks like.
Can you please help me?"

Answer: 

The island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is divided in two countries; the Northern part belongs to France and is European territory. The Euro is the currency there. The southern part - Sint Maarten - belongs to the Netherlands Antilles, a somewhat independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the Dutch side, the official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder, also called the Florin. The US-Dollar is also widely used on the island, in fact even my own bank account is for US Dollars and I personally have never paid with a Guilder.

If you haven't done yet, go back to our www.freestmaarten.com website and sign up for a free CD. You will get it within a short time and there is much more substantial information about the island on it.
- posted by Jan @ 7:39 AM 0 comments links to this post   

 
Tipping on French St. Martin
Even though European laws states that the service charge has to be INCLUDED in the price of a meal, most restaurant owners on French St. Martin are relying on the American way of handling this issue. Legally, the price posted on the menu includes service and there is no obligation to pay more. Most European just round up and leave a few Euro, pretty much what an American guest would pay on top of the customary 15% in the US in order to show extra satisfaction.

No question: the staff of the restaurants on the French sided expects American visitors to tip well (or over-tip) and doesn't expect too much from their European countrymen.

I believe you will keep everyone happy with an amount around 10%. Don't be shy to ask about the house policy regarding tipping.
- posted by Jan @ 2:57 PM 0 comments links to this post   

 
Don't Double Tip
I'm getting worried about a trend I notice at many restaurants on the Dutch side of St. Maarten: They are too cheap to print their own check forms and use the standard US forms they can buy at several office supply stores.

These forms include a line for 'Tax". In many cases, a 15% surcharge is being added to this line. This is a service charge and NOT tax - as there is no such tax on the island! Don't be fooled by greedy restaurant owners, who try to confuse the issue!

It is sad to see that the staff is NOT getting this service charge in many restaurants. Don't be shy: ask your waiter or waitress if they are getting their tips paid out.

More on tipping on the French side tomorrow.
- posted by Jan @ 3:45 PM 0 comments links to this post   

 
New Casino
The Dunes Casino will open soon at the Caravanserei Resort. The casino took over the premises of the Dolphin Casino, which moved into the building of the Sunset Theater close to the Simpson Bay Yacht Club.

The Dunes is part of a group of casinos, the most well known one the Atlantis Casino in the Cupecoy region.
- posted by Jan @ 12:30 PM 0 comments links to this post