Sint Maarten - St Marten

[62-10]

May be headed to Sint Maarten via air...south island (Dutch) side...anything beyond the ordinary to be aware of, from those who have BTDT?
Initial intel suggests that the stereotypical caribbean region drug/crime issues aren't as obvious there, as compared with some other caribbean places.
Maybe a baton (checked). Plan to have the usual blade(checked)/light/pen combo...thoughts?

[khadga]

Just the common sense stuff. It's definitely not the safest place in the Islands; they've experienced increasing crime for a few years now. It's mostly petty theft, but you do hear of some armed robberies of tourists. Best to use the hotel safe; don't carry much valuables, be very careful with cameras, electronics, wallet, etc. Never leave anything in a trunk; they're famous for emptying car trunks, especially rentals. I've never been long enough to justify renting a car, have just used cabs. The crime appears to be oddly focused in the French half; maybe there's more money there. Stay in the busy tourist public places, and you should be fine.

The beaches are far superior of the French side. Orient Beach is beautiful. From where the cabs let you out, you can walk out to the beach and negotiate with any given restaurant for chairs, towels, meal, drinks, just make sure they've got a clean bathroom for you as well. The Dutch side is known for better night life and maybe a more relaxed vibe. The Dutch side is laissez faire low tax, minimal public services. There are no DUI laws on the Dutch side, and there appears not to be any traffic enforcement whatsoever. The French side has extensive taxes, laws, a visible police force, but I'm not sure how well the Gendarmie combats crime.

It's worth googling St. Martin + crime and reading through a few of the travelers forums. Realize that the threads will generally be a conflicting mess of traumatized tourist victims and regulars and natives who minimize everything as if there's no risk. Obviously, the truth falls somewhere in between.

We've never experienced anything negative, but we've heard stories. When far from home, situational awareness needs to be cranked up a notch. A touch of paranoia is heightened awareness. Good luck and enjoy. I'm overdue for some tropical sun myself.

[KarlinPhoenix]

Great report of useful information, khadga. Many thanks:

"It's worth googling St. Martin + crime and reading through a few of the travelers forums. Realize that the threads will generally be a conflicting mess of traumatized tourist victims and regulars and natives who minimize everything as if there's no risk. Obviously, the truth falls somewhere in between."

[dondy66]

Be aware Oriental Beach is topless . I made that mistake and took my 8 year old son and 12 year old daughter there about 12 years ago ...... No one told me:cursing:

[62-10]

I found this site for the south island PD: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Police-Force-of-Sint-Maarten-Korps-Politie-Sint-Maarten/651439758247973

[62-10]

...Never leave anything in a trunk; they're famous for emptying car trunks, especially rentals. I've never been long enough to justify renting a car, have just used cabs...

Planning on renting a car for exploration...do you suggest rethinking that?
Do you know the method of how BG's are entering rental car trunks?

[khadga]

Be aware Oriental Beach is topless . I made that mistake and took my 8 year old son and 12 year old daughter there about 12 years ago ...... No one told me:cursing:

The nude area is at one far end, to the right from where the cabs let you out, and there is quite some horror. There is a sign warning that there are no pictures allowed at that end, but you will see topless beachgoers strolling along the rest of the beach as you would in France.

Much worse than what you saw without even including some blinding nudity, the last time we were there, a foursome of German dudes wearing only cock holsters stopped directly in front of us, turned towards us, not the water, and began doing squats. We exchanged shocked glances with the French and Italian couples sitting next to us and everybody nearly broke a rib laughing. Undaunted, the muscular golden haired Teutonic speedo guys continued to stretch and flex.

[khadga]

Planning on renting a car for exploration...do you suggest rethinking that?
Do you know the method of how BG's are entering rental car trunks?

General rule is leave nothing in the trunk. Not sure how they get in, but they're known to grab everything indiscriminately, probably filling garbage bags because people say if you had trash and dirty laundry, it'll be gone too.

I would hit some of the travel forums like trip advisor and fodors and ask how to get a rental that doesn't scream rental/tourist. Exploring can be fun, but it's best to make sure you've got good maps/GPS and if not sticking to the busiest, tourist areas, you obviously want to know where the bad areas are so as to avoid them. I don't believe it's anywhere near as dangerous as Jamaica or such, but bad neighborhoods anywhere are to be avoided and for damn sure in the 3rd world (a bad neighborhood in the islands qualifies) and especially for an American. You can probably get a lot more detailed advice there from folks who have actually done what you're talking about.

[62-10]

...how to get a rental that doesn't scream rental/tourist. ...

I understand that Dutch-side registered rental vehicles have a reg that starts with "R" on the plate...how effing dumb is that...French-registered rental vehicles don't.

[62-10]

General rule is leave nothing in the trunk. Not sure how they get in...

I doubt that the BG's are forcing open every rental car trunk they see...but what do I know...the reason I asked the question is that I plan on using supplemental cable lock/s to secure what I son't want to carry about.

[Custom II]

The nude area is at one far end, to the right from where the cabs let you out, and there is quite some horror. There is a sign warning that there are no pictures allowed at that end, but you will see topless beachgoers strolling along the rest of the beach as you would in France.

Much worse than what you saw without even including some blinding nudity, the last time we were there, a foursome of German dudes wearing only cock holsters stopped directly in front of us, turned towards us, not the water, and began doing squats. We exchanged shocked glances with the French and Italian couples sitting next to us and everybody nearly broke a rib laughing. Undaunted, the muscular golden haired Teutonic speedo guys continued to stretch and flex.

So you're saying you ran into Strengverboten?


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[SnowStorm]

There is a remote beach called Happy Bay Beach that has fantastic snorkeling. The surf was a little rough to get through but well worth the effort. This beach was pretty deserted when I traveled there back in 1999.

[coastalcop]

Heading there next week. Standard blade/pen/light for kit . Gonna be staying on the Dutch side. Thought about just renting on of the ATVs they have available as most of my time will be spend snorkeling and the like. As to rentals. Florida had county listed in the plate "Dade" "Hillsbourogh" etc. For rentals the "county" was "Lease". made for some fun times when I was stationed there at Macdill and got a weekend rental. Criminals DID target the lease plates (and occasionally found a local packing heat instead ;), so they might have changed it by now.

[62-10]

Heading there next week. ...

The "Dutch" side might as well be called the "American" side, as functionally that's what it primarily is. The "French" side had a far more "Euro vibe, & in general the food is better, although the French side pegs currency to the Euro, so all other things equal the French side is more expensive. Dutch side currency is primarily USD.

I suggest taking an ASP P16 "Protector" baton...reasonably inexpensive, very light as such things go, & super easy to carry. This has largely replaced a tac pen for me.

If you want to get around the island to see things...and I suggest that you do...a rental car is really the way to go.

[ss58]

General rule is leave nothing in the trunk. Not sure how they get in

Guessing relatives work at rental counters. The only reason they probably don't steal them is there's nowhere to go with em. Just my .02

[62-10]

Guessing relatives work at rental counters. The only reason they probably don't steal them is there's nowhere to go with em. Just my .02

Funny...I asked one of the Norwegians working the rental counter about vehicle security & he gave the standard "don't leave any valuables in the car" spiel. I asked why a few different ways, & he told me in so many words that spotters target touristas in rental cars. Then I pressed him about how entry is made, & he replied "shit happens everywhere" & exhibited elevated stress...pressed a but more about specific locations & modes, it became "I don't know about such things"...pressed a bit more & asked about customer cars that are returned with damage or complaints of theft, "I think they damage the locks"...& by now he was visibly shaken & that told me what I needed to know, which is don't leave any valuables in the car :wink: