TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Carrying Cash

One thing I learned from this thread is that if you ever
rob SilverFox, don't worry about his wallet, get his belt ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

And do it early in my trip. the belts empty rather quickly!

Again people please caution!! This thread is a feast for any SXM criminal. Your financial tendencies and your likenesses are displayed for ALL to see. Be aware of what you tell the world.

words of wisdom from Goderich, Ontario, Canada.

IP lookups are not always accurate. Mine comes up as New Jersey.

You got that right. I'm not really in India at the moment.

Actually, yours currently comes up as Fayetteville, North Carolina.

So you celebrating New Year in India?

SXM??? Wendell

Beam me up, Scotty.

Think it is too late for Australia?

Maybe with Dorothy and Toto.
Are they still in Kansas?

Yo, Raspy, enough already...

I got a notice from Belair Beach Hotel that as of January 30th businesses will no longer be accepting Travelers Checks.

All businesses or just Belair?

Some don't, some still do. It all depends upon where they bank as some banks have stopped accepting TCs. Your best bet is to call the businesses in question and ask them direct.

The note said all businesses. True or not l don't know!!

Teri,

We returned home from the island on 12/13 and we were able to use TCs at many locations. Perhaps the Belair was referring to all businesses at the Belair.

Our favorite island restaurant no longer accepts them and he said it's because the bank he deals with won't, but at the same time, our favorite jeweler, among other locations we shopped while there and at least two casinos and one major grocery store, had no problems with accepting them. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

do as you would at home and you will be fine...happy holidays <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Kiss.gif" alt="" />

Best advice I have heard yet... reminds me of something my Mother would have said.
Thanks and Happy New Year!

No 3% fee to use and no "conversion" fee either?

no usage fees, but are there any "conversion" or other fees?

Thanks we don't arrive until end of Jan so if all businesses then would not be good to bring them. I will try to contact a few of our favorite places to see.

Anyone on island seen anything or heard any more about the end of Jan businesses no longer accepting travelers checks? Thanks in advance!

We usually bring some cash, leave it in the safe, and if we are going to a 1:1 place, take what we need for meal, taxi etc. There's an ATM in Hope Estates (on the right if you are looking at Simply) that does both euros and usd. Few places take travelers checks. They are pretty much obsolete these days.

Don't forget you can register your travel with the U.S. State Dept. which can "supposedly" help in desperate times like lost passport, cash stolen and you're destitute and of course help should a natural disaster occur.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
A SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS
U.S. Department of State
----------------------------------------------------------
From their FAQ Page - Consular officers at Embassies and Consulates can assist U.S. citizens who encounter serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties overseas. For example, if your passport is stolen while traveling, we can assist you with obtaining a replacement so you can continue your trip. We can also provide the names of English-speaking doctors or local attorneys, provide loans to destitute U.S. citizens, and provide information about dangerous conditions affecting your overseas travel or residence. We also perform non-emergency services, helping with routine passport applications, absentee voting, selective service registration, receiving federal benefits, and filing U.S. tax forms. Consular officers can notarize documents, issue passports, and register U.S. citizen children born abroad. Most embassies and consulates have web sites with more information about their citizen services.
In a crisis situation such as a natural disaster or severe political instability, the Department of State often takes an active role in providing information and assistance to U.S. citizens in the affected area. Visit travel.state.gov for more information.
*Please note that STEP enrollment is NOT considered proof of U.S. citizenship. If you apply for any services from the Embassy or Consulate while abroad, you will be asked by the consular staff to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. (If you are seeking assistance because your passport has been lost or stolen, we will work with you to obtain alternative proof of citizenship and identification.)

Only a few places give 1 : 1 on currency and at 1.16 or so to 1 not a terrible issue. We bring only a very few hundred dollars in cash for beach bars and such and charge everything else on credit cards. The safety is worth the slight additional cost. Would not even consider using a debit card on the Island.

Bob
andJeana

using debit cards for purchases, inside or outside the US is silly...we carry some cash and use ATMs (with no foreign transaction fees or service fees) when we need additional cash or need another currency (ie. Euros), and use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees for anything over ~$50

We use our BOA atm card to draw cash (in US dollars) as needed out of Scotia Bank, which is affiliated with BOA and doesn't charge us a fee. Otherwise, we use a credit card that doesn't charge us a foreign transaction fee.

Still wondering about travelers checks any one currently on island or back in the last week or two that have heard if true all businesses no longer accepting after the end of this month? I will be there in Feb and don't want to bring them if not accepted. Thanks in advance.

They are still accepted at numerous places with no problem. We used them last month. There are a few places that have stopped taking them because of the bank they use. All the casinos have no problem cashing them in any denomination.

Thanks Islandgem but someone posted that there was a notice sent out at I believe Belair stating the end of month of Jan that businesses would no longer be excepting them so was wondering if that was island wide or just Belair. thanks though. Was wondering if anyone there now has seen anything posted at businesses stating this.

I do remember seeing this in reference to Belair. It looks like that resort is no longer cashing them, but others still seem to have no problems with them. If you are worried, just bring more cash or use the ATM machines that are available all over the island. I still prefer to bring travellers checks since they are known for their safety.

sxmsandbum,

It's not quite the same thing as "being there now and seeing signs posted" regarding the TC question, but I just got off the phone with my island jeweler and he knew nothing about an island ban and he was still accepting TCs. Sadly, as we know, all things are subject to change, and for sure when we're talking about St. Maarten, but as a very busy island jeweler I should think he would know if this was an island-wide situation.

And as I mentioned in my earlier post, back in December, one of our favorite restaurant owners told us he no longer accepts them but only because the bank he deals with won't.

Like you, I was hoping someone there now might have firsthand knowledge but I guess they're having too much fun to be posting on a travel forum right now. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

A few points from our experience. When we started visiting SXM some 10 years ago, we did use Travelers Checks. Now it has become more difficult to obtain TC's and to use them on the island. Several years ago, we stopped and went to mostly cash.
Secondly, we always used the safe in our villa/hotel/condo for the majority of our cash. Earlier this year, we discovered that our safe was opened and a portion of our cash taken. We have learned from this experience and while we will continue to use the room safe, we use additional tactics to safe guard our cash.

Thanks everyone and appreciate the imput.

We use CCs most of the time, get cash from ATMs and bring a minimum ammount of cash from home for first day. purchases, have never had a problem

If you bring cash, are there banks or other places that will break the larger American bills into smaller American bills so you don't have to carry so much cash? It gets bulky if you have to bring the smaller bills but don't like to carry big bills. Do places mind if you tip in American bills? Do the taxi's at the airport accept American bills?

By larger American bills, I'm assuming you mean $100's.

I have no problem breaking these at regular restaurants. The smaller beach bars might not be thrilled to do it.

Everybody accepts dollars and I have never in 20 years had anyone object to taking them.