TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Great Testing Option on SXM!

I did some research before we left, and found Medwork offered a service to send technicians to the property you are staying at to administer the COVID test needed for return to the US. We just had our rapid antigen tests, and they gave us the results on the spot (about 20 minute wait). Sent us our completed lab result forms while they were still here, and I went to the BSV office where they kindly printed them out for us. The cost is a flat $100 for the visit, and $75 for the actual test, each. The $100 travel fee covers up to 10 persons, any number over 10 is an additional $10 each. They were right on time, very professional and just required a trip from our chairs on the beach, up to the room to get swabbed. Whole process took no more than 20 minutes. (721)544-8428 or infosxm@medwork.aw

Thanks for the info. If you have a group, it might well make sense. I think that Medwork is probably where we will go, but we will just go to their office, since there are just two of us.

By the way, gomer, sure would appreciate hearing about your stay at BSV!!

I guess i saved a total of $250.00 by having my tests done for free with the Red Cross. As i mentioned last week, was in line for less than ten minutes in the car. Swabbed, and was on our way to Orient Beach. Fifteen minutes later we were laying on the beach. In about an hour, we got emails with our results. FREE.

Hey Ed

where is the Red Cross located??

It isn’t free. The French government and their citizens are paying for it.

Carol, the on property couple managing BSV, the wife works at SLS labs and she scheduled our appointment for us then got the results directly to her then printed them for us so no need to go to Medwork. The place to get the test is on the side road before Mark's Place, the road to Belair and Divi, a right turn. Or if you're familiar with the right turn at the rotary after the steep hill from Simpson/Cole Bays toward P'Burg, it comes out at the hospital. You then turn left (right takes you to Divi) and the lab is on the first right across from hospital. Building is on left side.

And meant for tourists on the French side.

PS I think that road is named Hamster Drive.

If you miss the turn you'll find yourself at the end of that road to merge with Mark's place on the right

I’m staying at Divi next year and know that road. How much was it?

Apparently people are saying now that folks are being turned away at the Red Cross, who are staying on the Dutch side, rightly.

Rosemary--I thought you said that you had to wait a couple hours in line for your tests at SLS?? If you make an appointment at Medwork, you walk right in at your appointment time, get your test and leave. And it's right in Simpson Bay, by Avantika. Both of those things make it much more convenient to me to just go to Medwork.

And I’m reading on FB that hope estates is being shut down to Dutch side visitors because of abuse. Only meant for French side visitors. I will gladly make an appointment and pay the 70 or 75 for Medwork.

Good!

Kim--right, as it should be. Surprised it took them that long to shut it down, as the French authorities announced a while ago that it was only supposed to be for those living or staying on the French side.

We already scheduled at Medwork from home.

I feel better knowing we have an appointment and won't be turned away.
We leave the next day and appreciate having the day free.

Is the Red Cross testing site closing down completely or are they just no longer serving Dutch side stayers? We stay our first 5 days on the Dutch side and our last 5 days on the French side, so was planning on getting tested at Red Cross.

I believe the Red Cross will still be testing for those living or staying on the French side, so you should be ok. They are doing tests at the airport now, so technically you could go there early on the day you leave and get tested. But the cost there is more than at other places, like Medwork or SLS..

We were tested Wednesday for a flight on Friday at the Red Cross in Hope estates. We arrived at 10:55 and were back on the road at 11:10. As Ed said no cost to us. We were never asked where we were staying. The only info we provided was our passport and the related info and an email address and telephone number. We had our 6 kids and grandkids tested there the previous Thursday for a flight on Sunday. Took a little longer but not too much.

AGain....not once was i asked where we were staying. Guess others weren't asked either. Would love to see where it says people are being turned away. Speculation and Rumors.

Ed-it has been reported as of yesterday, that people were being asked to provide proof of where they are staying.

Yes, it’s all over Jeff Berger’s site. And mentioned on one of the French side pages, which of course I can’t find.

i paid 70$ at medworks in simpson bay, and when the GM at Divi (ann Marie) made the appointment the charge was processed then. not sure if the cost changed when the test was performed on site at Divi

What type of test is the Red Cross doing? PCR or rapid antigen?

Thanks!

Both, for residents and vacationers on the French side.

Returning to the US requires only an Antigen test. Your state’s requirements may vary.

The total rtPCR test capacity on the French side is only 150 per day, so if you’re eligible to be tested there, only request rtPCR if you really need it.

Yes, you are now required to show proof that you are staying on the French side, along with your passport.

My wife and I got our rapid antigen test for COVID-19 yesterday at the Red Cross in Hope Estate. We were asked to show our passports, as well as where we were staying on the French side and what our flight schedule was for today. We received our results in approximately one hour. They are very efficient, and as noted above, free. Our total waiting time was about ten minutes for the swab.

DAS--thanks for the confirmation.