TelEm's prepaid data plans
TelEm's mobile page lists prepaid data plans selected by dialling *1721#. At the time of checking, the plans were 2.5 GB for one day at 2 dollars, 3 GB for one day at 3 dollars, 6 GB for 3 days at 6 dollars and 7.5 GB for 7 days at 10 dollars. Its terms say prepaid plans are pay-as-you-go with no contracts, that calls are charged per second and that all incoming calls are free, and its FAQ says prepaid credit is valid for 60 days from the last top-up.
The terms add that every prepaid data plan has a fixed activation period, that remaining data rolls over only on selected plans, and that customers get an SMS with the plan's expiry date. Postpaid and flex plans exist, but the application requirements for postpaid, a valid Dutch ID or passport and proof of address, make them unsuitable for a visitor. The prepaid pages do not say what identification a visitor needs for a SIM, so ask in a TelEm shop.
A local plan stops where Sint Maarten stops
TelEm's roaming page says a prepaid customer's local data subscription is only available while in St Maarten and is not available when roaming, so you need prepaid credit to use data abroad, and that all incoming and outgoing calls abroad are charged to your prepaid balance. It says roaming is available in 100+ countries, and its terms list roaming rates by region per minute, per text and per MB, with data at 0.10 dollars per MB in the regions listed.
The same page says that if you turn data roaming off you will not have mobile data outside TelEm's service area, including while on French Saint Martin. The UK Foreign Office says there is no border between the Dutch and French sides and that people and goods travel freely, so if you will cross the island, check with TelEm and your home operator, and watch for roaming charges.
Six months on the passport, 90 days of stay, and carrying ID
The UK Foreign Office says St Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands that sets its own entry rules, that a passport must have an expiry date at least six months after arrival, and that UK visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa. It says it is a legal requirement to carry ID with a photo, such as a passport or photocard driving licence, and that a printed copy is not usually acceptable.
Because a copy is not usually acceptable, carry the original rather than relying on a photo on your phone. Rules differ by nationality, so check Netherlands Worldwide for your own passport.
Princess Juliana Airport and the Maho Beach approach
Princess Juliana International Airport says it flies direct to 35 international destinations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and that planes on final approach pass over Maho Beach at altitudes of less than 100 feet. Its page lists Wi-Fi among its services.
The Saba and Anguilla tourism sites both describe connecting through this airport, so download your eSIM profile and boarding passes before you leave the terminal. The airport page does not mention mobile coverage.
Petty crime, drug screening and hurricane season
The UK Foreign Office says there is a risk of petty theft and street crime but the main tourist areas are generally safe, and advises avoiding isolated areas after dark, using licensed taxis, avoiding taking valuables to the beach and leaving valuables in a safe. It says St Maarten is used as a drug passageway, that the authorities use body scanners and baggage screening, and that you should never leave bags unattended or agree to carry a package.
It says the hurricane season normally runs from June to November, to monitor the US National Hurricane Center, the Curaçao meteorological department and the World Meteorological Organization, and that taxis are not metered, with fixed rates for standard routes, so agree the fare before setting off.
Emergency numbers
The UK Foreign Office lists 911 for an ambulance and for police, 919 for fire and 913 for the coastguard on St Maarten. Our Sint Maarten plan page covers data before you arrive.
Networks our Sint Maarten plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Sint Maarten, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Digicel Curacao4G
- Telcell N.V.4G
- UTS NV.4G