TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Best option for money

What is the best option for bringing money? A: American cash? B: Euros (cash)? C: Load up a credit card with either/or? Or D: use our Canadian Credit card. Staying on the French side but will be visiting the Dutch side as well. We haven't been to the island in about 15 years so we need a refresher
thanks

US dollars accepted everywhere. I use a combination of US cash and CC's

The situation is the same as it was 15 years ago.

US dollars accepted nearly everywhere.

I'll be visiting in a few months, and I plan to do as Scubaman said: US$ and credit cards.

Mostly cash, as my card charges a 1% foreign transaction fee.

I bring USD, and use a French-side ATM to get Euros for pocket money.

I’m hoping to avoid Canadian credit cards since I don’t have one that doesn’t charge higher exchange rates and foreign exchange fees. This year I am taking some cash (USD and Euros) and a Wise prepaid Visa card. It works like a debit card and you can hold about 50 different world currencies. Use it wherever Visa is accepted, and access cash at foreign ATMs. See https://wise.com/ca/card/

I do not bring a lot of cash but can easily get either currency at zero fee and at the best exchange rate from any ATM using my Schwab card. Not an issue at all....

We pay with a credit card whenever we can on both sides. We have two cards that don't charge any fees for foreign transactions, and give good cash rebates. For purchases where cards are not accepted, or for tips, US dollars are universally accepted.

I bring plenty of $$$$ and one credit card with a $2500 limit as a reserve if needed.

I like to rack up the miles so we use a fee free card wherever accepted. Cash wherever I'm negotiating a deal or in a casino.

This year marks at least our 48th consecutive year of annual trips to SXM, Going at least once a year and many years more often than that. We have NEVER felt the need to exchange US currency for local. And in fact, I don’t think I ever saw either a franc or a euro and for sure, no Dutch currency.

As suggested we use fee free ccs wherever accepted and US $$ everywhere else. Never had a problem and one less thing to deal with in the overall scheme of travel.