TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Formula for gas conversion

A while back someone had posted a simple way to figure out if you were paying the right amount at the gas station. Does anyone remember what it was? I'm sure we paid too much in November and we are going back in February. I've made many donations but I didn't like being taken advantage of.

For approximate result multiply the volume by 3.78541

because price is usually by liter and there are 3.78541 liters in one gallon.

On the Dutch side? The price is guilders. To get $ just divide by 2 and add 10%. Gets you to within a penny.

The way I have always figured the conversion is divide the NAF price by 2 and add approx 10%. Example:30 litres at the new price of 1.942/litre would be approx 58 NAF. 58/2=29+2.9 (10%)+$31.90 USD. Exchange rate is around 1.78 NAF to $1.USD In the example above 58 NAF would exchange to approx $32 USD.

Another easy way, remember the price on the pump is in NAF and the USD conversions would be slightly more than 1/2 that amount in USD.

I always ask for an amount in USD or if filling up, do the conversion as stated above.

It is easy to get confused. I also always get out of the car and watch the gas being put in and the amount on the pump.

You beat me to it! Easiest way I have found.

Is gas still cheapest on the French side as it was pre Irma?

If you're talking about prices in guilders, as the others have said, just take the price, divide in half and add 10%. No need to worry about the conversion to liters, etc., as everywhere in SXM is priced in liters regardless. And the price on SXM is going to be WAY more than in the US. Frankly, other than the scam some gas stations were running, with the pump showing guilders and them asking you to pay that price in DOLLARS, I don't worry about the price of gas on SXM. We generally fill up once on island. Not worth even worrying about the price of gas at one station versus another or on French versus Dutch side.

Correct. In the grand scheme of things, the price difference from one side to the other is nothing when part of the big picture.

You'll end up burning more than the savings driving from Dutch side to French side to gas up if staying in Dutch side. If you see a significant difference as your driving around island then swing in and fill up. But shopping around is just a waste of time and fuel.

However, if you happen to be on the French side when you need gas, the Cadisco station near the entrance to Orient is still the best price we've found. $ = Euro, so you don't have to worry about conversion from Guilders. We filled up twice during our two weeks, once at the Cadisco station, and once at the station on the Dutch side on the way to the airport. We experienced no problems at the Dutch side station, which has been cited in the past as a problem.

Dutch side gas stations use 1.75 to the dollar . If you tell them 10.00 dollars the pump should read 17.50 I have found that 10.00 usually will fill a quarter of a tank .20.00 half a tank and pump reads 35.00

We'll that doesn't compute, If you divide 17.50 by 2 and add 10% comes to $9.63. 35.00 comes to $19.25. Not a big difference but some. Over time the station will make a lot of extra money doing that.

That is correct, $10 is not 17.50 guilders. I look at the pump, divide by 2 and add 10%, simple and easy. So if I want $10 dollars, then that should be approx. working backwards at 21.00 guilders. So when asking for $10 dollars, what you do is double (for 20) and add 10% of the dollar amount (for 1). That will get you close enough. For just $10 maybe the 17.50 is simple and easy. I never get $10 in gas, generally $20 at the min. based on how many days we have left and what I have use to that point.

Think the last time I got $10 was the last trip, used more at the end than I thought, so was making the tank right, knowing that $10 was too much. But was not interested in asking for $8.50!

NO the above is not right. Too much. Closer is 9 plus the 10 percent to equal the original $10) meaning $9 plus 90 cents. Easier doing it the other way.

I just look at the guilder price, knowing the formula and if it is close then done. So far never have felt that we overpaid. But do always look at the price on the pump, but do that at home also.

I think the guilder is fixed at 1.875 per US dollar. That means if you ask for $20 worth of gas the pump should show that you paid 37.5 guilders (20x1.875).

The Dutch side stations I have filled up at always give you NAƒ35 for US$20. I don't know of one that doesn't. I just try to time my visits to Orient when I need gas so I can get it at Cadisco and get it at par to the €.

Does Cadisco take credit cards ?

They do, but you'll have to go inside the station to pay and you won't get the $ at par to the € as the charge to your credit card with be in €. In this situation, you are better off paying in cash.

You read my mind. Is that Cadisco near Orient open? I was wondering if it had issues with Irma

Yes, it's open. The one in Marigot is usually a few pennys cheaper, but unless you are in the area, not worth the trip.

They also have lots of groceries & alcohol choices & sometimes baguettes.handy if you are heading home from beach & need anything.