TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Euros?

Just ten more sleeps until we land! We usually keep to the French side and have always paid with dollars. Does anyone bring Euros to spend? Gas, groceries, restaurants, tips?

Dollars good everywhere. Cash is King.

Been going to SXM since 1987 and have never gotten francs or Euros. Absolutely no need.

We always have Euros on us. If the establishment doesn’t take credit card we use the euros. So far only place it’s been an issue is Friars bay beach cafe. I got my euros from AAA better exchange than the banks.

Some places on French side will exchange 1 to 1 if paying in US Dollars. Much better than CC or buying Euros.

How is the exchange rate at the ATM's?
Our bank always refunds us the transaction fee.

That I have never done. Sorry. We have a bunch from a trip to Ireland that I ordered via AAA, so that’s why we have them. But AAA was an almost even exchange rate so it was perfect. This was last summer.

As I recall the rate is set by the debit card issuer--in my case VIsa--based on something like the average of the high and low market price on the transaction date. I doubt I could do any better than that in an arms-length transaction.

Why was it an issue at FBBC? As recently as late January they were accepting Euros, US dollars and Canadian dollars

Exactly....ATM with fee refunded is my way to go...but with that said, no reason to do in SXM. When we are going to France on a following trip we usually get Euro in SXM for the trip but never used in SXM

I usually get euros from an ATM. My bank refunds any service fees, as long as I keep a big balance with them.
I am not worried about carrying extra euros around. We are going to SXM in March, then in August going to Ireland and France.

No issue. Not 1 to 1. They don’t take credit cards. So better deal with euros. Still peanuts and not a big deal. But we have them so we use them.

Are there ATM's that give dollars and where are they?

I agree.

Friar's is about the only place where it might make sense to have Euros; their exchange rate is usually not the best. But in the overall scheme of things, it's insignificant, and not worth the effort and expense of getting Euros, especially here in Middle of Nowhere, NC.

I usually hit the ATM up at Hope Estate when I’m up there. Usually just get about 400 euros just to have around in case.

We always stay right in Orient village. It has been about 15 years and I still don't think there is an ATM in the village. We rarely leave the village on a typical one week stay, I am not complaining as much as I am just shocked Petite Casino or another business doesn't have one anywhere in the village.

Not to change the subject from Euros but I’m surprised that the Maho area with all that’s going on there has just the one ATM in the Casino.

I just found it better to pay in Euros when we've stayed on the french side! I would go to our local Barclays bank . The old airport before Irma, had a great ATM that I hit a few times! This remodeled one, I do know???

DRich--I thought there used to be an ATM in the Village pre Irma, but I could be wrong. Currently I think there is one either at Cadisco or somewhere around the Super U in Hope Estate.

There are a couple next to Super U in Hope Estate.

Tim--thanks.

Every time a saw a local with their wallet open they were paying in US dollars. The pump attendant at the Cadisco in Mount Vernon only has a stack of US bills. Most restaurants would bill in euros and print about 8% more in US. We paid on credit card in euros. Our CC gives a fair exchange and no transaction fee.Our local Chase Bank in Michigan tacks on a ridiculous service charge for euro cash. Super U Hope Estate and Petite Casino Orient were close to par. Hope Market was par AND they gave US change.

We pay in the currency of the side, just easier for us. ATMs are plentiful, there are at least 3 near the big Super U, near Orient, one by L'express and two a little farther down the road from the grocery. We keep a stash of Euros for travel since we come here and go to France regularly but with our Schwab account all international transaction fees and ATM fees are rebated to us at the end of the month. Between that and Chase Preferred, we have never been charged anything extra for international transactions. A nice little perk that has saved us quite a bit.

Just be careful because the bank will give two choices. One is to accept their exchange rate for a stated amount the other to not accept it. Don’t accept their rate. I took out 300 euros the other day and the bank said it would cost $353. I pressed the do not accept button and got my 300 euros. When I got home I checked and I had been charged $327 which was the going rate at the time. Kind of a scam if you ask me.

Sorry but never deal with Euros cash because the Banks will always hit you with the international exchange rate .

the same when using a CC to make a purchase in €...sometimes the POS CC reader will ask if you want the charge to go through in € or USD, and if you choose USD the exchange rate will be terrible...much better to have the transaction processed in €, and let your bank do the currency exchange when it hits your account

while there is no reason to "purchase" euros in the US before traveling to SXM, it doesn't hurt to get some from a french side ATM after arrival, assuming you gave a debit card that doesn't charge ATM fees and reimburses those charged by the ATM (ie. Fidelity, Schwab)...especially if you will be visiting SBH, where USD is not widely accepted