Posted April 14, 2009

We've been visiting St. Maarten for about 30 years and quite obviously love it. Only once did we have any concern for our safety there, and that was when we were sleeping in a condo at the Atrium Resort and Hurricane Bertha was howling outside with about 100 mph winds. The next day we found out that Atrium's windows were built to withstand 200 mph winds.

Is there crime in St. Maarten? Unfortunately the only place where we think there ISN'T crime these days is Antarctica. The crime rate is lower than many other islands. We have always felt quite safe there, but the island is not crime-free and savvy tourists always take precautions. (It's paradise, not utopia.)

There have been a number of incidents in SXM in recent years involving illegal aliens, which is why the island has toughened its anti-illegal policy -- slowing lines somewhat at airport Immigration. Overall, policing has been stepped up somewhat, and police cooperation between the French and Dutch sides is improving, though far from ideal. The restaurants of Grand Case have had private patrols there during high season, so visitors to the "culinary Capitol of the Caribbean" should feel quite safe.

The Dutch side government has always been more focused on the needs of tourists. They have built both the new international airport terminal and a mammoth new port facility, and most of the hotels are on their side of the island -- particularly the name hotels, two Sonestas, a Westin, a Marriott (being built at Red Pond), Wyndham, and the soon-likely-to-be-announced Hilton.

UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Loterie Farm / Pic Paradis: In one incident in 2002, two robbers (who died driving their getaway car too fast down Pic Paradis) held up tourists at knifepoint at Loterie Farm, on the side of Pic Paradis. The tourists were not hurt, and we have heard of no subsequent incidents. Nonetheless, before you go up Pic Paradis, ask your hotel activities director whether there have been any RECENT incidents in this area. The answer will likely be NO ... and you can put both Pic Paradis and Loterie Farm back on your list. But do check.

2. Marigot / Marina Royale Parking: If you are parking at the large waterfront lot in Marigot near Marina Royale, park in the busy Northern end, not at the Southern end near the French tourist office. If any Rasta-looking characters attempt to guide you to an open space, drive on and avoid them. In one incident at a parking area, one character collected a bogus $5 parking fee then robbed a tourist. The tourist was not harmed, but we suggest you be wary of any characters looking to "help" you. There are NO parking lot attendants in this lot. Caution makes sense.

3. Passport / Driver's License: Make a photocopy of your driver's license and Passport. Carry your driver's license with you but carry your color passport photocopy with you, locking up your passport in the safe in your room. Robbers sometimes take passports for "doctoring up" later. Report any thefts immediately to local authorities, credit card companies, and the US Department of State (consulate / embassy). Note: we ALWAYS recommend tourists carry passports, which are now required for US citizens to return home.

4. Rental car: Get a French-registered car (most Dutch-side car rental agencies have them) or at least a car without Dutch-side "R" rental plates. They give you away as a tourist. In the US, most good car rental companies no longer identify their fleets --- for the very same security reasons.

5. Marigot / Grand Case from Dutch side: Travel by way of Cole Bay and Simpson Bay to get from the Dutch Side to the French side late at night (and vice-versa), even if your hotel is in the Cupecoy area. The road through the lowlands is poorly lit in some areas and is under-patrolled by French police. We suggest avoiding it until the situation improves, which isn't likely until new hotel projects in Cupecoy are open.

6. Grand Case: The "Culinary Capital" is patrolled by private police, as we noted above. And some restaurants are still accepting dollars 1:1 with Euros despite the soaring value of the Euro.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

How do you avoid crime generally? Exactly the same way you do at home:

1. Never leave valuables in your car (on the seats or in the trunk) -- same advice as back home.

2. When driving, wear your seat belts, and keep your car doors locked. Locked doors make your car less inviting to would-be uninvited guests. Plus, in an accident, wearing seat belts and keeping doors locked both help you stay behind the wheel, where you can keep control of your car -- same advice as back home.

3. Never leave valuables in your hotel room; use the hotel safe (NOT the room safe) -- same advice as back home. (Kensington locks designed for laptop computers are a good idea for protecting laptops wherever you travel.) In at least one case several years ago, a room safe was lifted off a timeshare condominium's floor with crowbars and stolen with all its contents. If you do use a hotel safe, bring a notarized list of the valuables you are entrusting to hotel management and have them sign it -- then keep it in your possession (and/or fax it home). If you use just the room safe, all bets are off. When making reservations directly with SXM hotels, become familiar with their policy regarding valuables. It might not be a bad idea to leave your brightest bling at home.

4. NEVER leave your wallet or camera or camcorder or pricey watch or handbag in your car, or in your trunk, or on the beach, or on your bureau at the hotel, and then take a walk for two hours -- same advice as applies when traveling back home.

5. Avoid flashing wads of cash or lots of expensive jewelry outside at night, especially outside casinos or in any dimly lit area (same advice as back home).

6. One specific caution: avoid walking from Atlantis Casino to any nearby resorts late at night. That area is insufficiently lit, and the curvy road can make it dangerous for pedestrians walking in the dark.

7. If you're visiting Cupecoy Beach, park at the established lot near the French border at the 90-degree curve in the road, not at the lot next to Ocean Club. The walk from the "official" Cupecoy Beach lot is much shorter. Also, there has been occasional vandalism at the Ocean Club lot, in part because it's used far less. For more on this and other beaches click here.

8. When parking at *ANY* beach, park where there are plenty of other cars. Would-be thieves don't want to be seen, so they usually stay away from well-traveled areas. Mullet Bay is an exception; they have gone after cars in the public lot there. Again, never leave any valuables anywhere in your car.

9. If you're in the mood for a midnight swim, go with other people. It's never wise to swim alone -- and don't leave valuables in a pile on the beach-- same advice as back home.

10. If you're walking down a street and you're carrying a pocketbook, hold it under the arm that faces away from the street -- same advice as back home.

In short, use the same common sense in SXM as you would at home....and you'll have a great vacation.

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Updated 4/14/09