Tag: sxm

LGBTQ Information

St. Martin is considered one of the most gay-friendly travel destinations in the Caribbean. While there is not a distinctive gay scene, there are many cafes, bars, and restaurants which are popular with the gay community.

St. Martin | Sint Maarten is known for its cultural diversity with over 100 nationalities represented, gay and lesbian travelers will feel not only comfortable but welcomed everywhere they go.

The French and Dutch sides each have wonderful gay communities, however, you won’t find many exclusive gay clubs, bars, and restaurants which is a testament to how wonderful and accepting everyone is here.

Popular Beaches

Among the over 37 beaches there are three gay favorites to relax: Cupecoy Beach on the Dutch Side, Baie Rouge on the west of the French side and Orient Beach on the island’s northeast. All three beaches are clothing optional.

Full Marriage Equality

We at SXMSIR are proud of the French side which follows France’s law and recognizes full marriage equality.

See our Wedding Page for information on getting married in St Martin.

Safety and Health on Sint Maarten|St Martin

Safety

The safety of our guests is very important to us. We encourage our guests to use common sense when traveling to St Martin, as you would when traveling to any location you are unfamiliar with. While the island of St Martin/St Maarten is relatively safe, we strongly recommend travelers to be observant to reduce risks of any unfortunate events.

Personal Safety
Apply the same rules of personal safety as you would in any city in the world. Keep your valuables and your passport in one of the safes we provide in the villa/condo and carry a limited amount of cash. Keep a backup credit card in your safe and have photocopies of all your important documents such as passports, credit cards, and drivers licenses. The copies should be placed in a separate place than your safety. There are many banks and ATM around the island so there is no need to have an excessive amount of cash. At night, we advise travelers to use well-lit areas and walk in groups. Most areas are safe.

Car Safety

Never leave valuables in the car, absolutely nothing. The rental cars on St Martin are typically easy to break into. No bags, money, gifts, cameras or anything of value should remain in the car unattended. Cars parked at beaches or less populated areas are common targets. Park in well-lit areas and gated parking decks when possible. Avoid parking at deserted beaches. When driving at night, be conscious of your environment. Please do not drink and drive. The roads are thin in many locations and motorcyclists can be hard to see as the split lands often.

Health

Sunburns and Sun Poisoning
The UV rays of the sun in the Caribbean are very strong. Keep in mind that even on cloudy days, sunburns can happen. Always apply general amounts of sunscreen and reapply after swimming even if your sunscreen says “waterproof.” Keep yourself well hydrated and limit alcohol consumption when in direct sun. More importantly, care for your children and limit their exposure to the sun. If you start to feel nauseous, dizzy, unremitting headache and lethargic, get yourself out of the sun and direct yourself to the local clinic since you may be experiencing a sunstroke.

Hospitals
The Marigot Hospital | phone number: (590) 590 29 57 55 | is located in Concordia and offers the quickest medical access point for guests staying on the west side of the island (Simpson Bay, Maho, Cupecoy, Terres Basse, Nettle Bay, Marigot and Grand Case). Pharmacies on the French side are designated with green crosses. The cost of medical treatment at the Marigot Hospital is very reasonable.

The Dutch side or eastern half of the island can seek medical attention at Sint Martin Medical Center | phone number: (721) 543-1111 | on Cay Hill for those staying in Dawn Beach, Orient, Guana Bay and Phillipsburg. There are several clinics conveniently spread out through the island to render non-acute care. Pharmacies are located throughout the island and have very reasonable prices for prescriptions.

For those with high-risk medical conditions, we strongly encourage obtaining medical evacuation insurance through your trip insurance policy.