TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Euro vs. US dollars

Hello, we will be travelling in the next few weeks to the beautiful island once again. We are staying on the French side and will visit the Dutch side at least one day. We are wondering which is the most used Euro's or US? Anyone have any idea?
Counting down....... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Euros are not accepted on the Dutch side. On the French side, you CAN use Euros but dollars are accepted everywhere. No real need for Euros at all.

LOL...whats a Euro??? they are so rare on the island now.....

make sure you charge everything on a card and have the charge put through in euros to get the best exchange. If not the conversion is up to the establishment and they may be doing the exchange at a rate no where near the current rate which as of 10:30 this morning was close to 1.08

Exactly, we stopped at the Cadisco in SAndy Ground and we could pay at a rate of 1.20 with USD, but on CC it came out to 1.09 (few weeks ago), Anse Marcel same thing, 1.20 USD, but on the CC it came to 1.06. Just make sure you have a card that does not charge conversion or transaction fees. I NEVER use my credit card while on the island, only cash, but this was the first trip where I used it on the French side and while in St. Barths

I sent you a PM kim. Peoples debot/master doesnt charge conversion or trans fee as long as you maintain a certain $ balance over the year

We always take some Euro's, not lots but 100 to 200, if we don't use them all, we bring them home and take the the next yr. This winter bought gas on the french side and the exchange was 1.2 to 1 so used Euro's. Same in the Marigot market when we bought some souvenirs. Bought some pictures on the french side, they started at 1.2 exchange, but after realizig I would use a cc instead if the exchange stayed at 1.2, they changed and came down a bit, so I paid in US.

I think the original poster said they were mostly staying on the french side, so not sure what they are bringing

J&B

Euros are accepted on the Dutch side but not everywhere. At the Grande Marches the exchange rate is posted on the cash registers. Unless businesses on the French side are changing their exchange rates to the official one, (and I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't) then it might pay to exchange dollars to euros at one of the money change places in Marigot. This was the case with the franc and I use to do it all the time.

Spend Spend Spend those euros as fast a you can.
Last year the euro was 1.2+ to 1 dollar and currently it is 1.077 to 1 dollar.
Holding euros is wasting your good old USA dollars. The forcast (and who really knows?)is for the euro to fall more this summer so if you bring euros for your time on the French side of the Island ....spend them there, or just use green backs and be done with it.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

dont use the green backs. They are charging in the area of 1.20 per right now which is way off the mark. Buy euros or use your credit card. If you have old euros now is the time to spend them for sure!

When we stayed on the French side, we always took some Euros, most of our local banks have them, so easy for Canadians.....just seems polite to take the currency of the country....try using Canadian $$$$ in the USA....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

First, lets clarify we are Canadian (thank you Kate). Exchanging into US or Euros is pricy for us no matter which. We are trying to get the most bang for our buck. We will be spending most of time along Orient Beach area. Dose anyone know if any of the bars/restaurants are taking US at par with Euros.
Thanks everyone for your feedback....
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/band.gif" alt="" />

We live 9 miles from the Canadian Border and Canadian money is taken at the going rate most places. Keep in mind that there is a transfer fee to change money. Most of our friends from across the border change their money before coming across to get a better rate. We have taken quite a few credit and debit cards from Canadians and a few with cash. We spend the cash over there to support their economy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Last year Aloha was taking US cash at par with the euro and I heard they are still doing it.

1 to 1.1 todays exchange.

My father came from Rouses Point in upstate New York along the Canadian border. We would visit his kin there and back then you could walk across the border without any check point. The exchange rate floated but it was always right around one to one. It might fluctuate a penny either way from day to day. When that happened the side that was down a cent would gobble up as many of the other's dollars and the country with the more valuable currency would refuse the other's. I always thought that was funny, but I guess back then a penny was really worth something.

Just came from a Supermarket on the French side and it was 1 for 1. Wow, has been many years that I haven't shopped on the French side.

We checked with our bank this week. RBC mastercard charges 2.5% on top of going rate for purchases made in Euros exchanged into Canadian. We are bringing some euro's and american

I was hoping for Euro for Canadian$.lol

Wouldn't that be nice!!!

We were in a shop today and a hat was $19 and 15 Euros <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> better run out to a ATM

If you are traveling outside of the e U.S. you should have a Capital One or other credit card that does not change international transaction fees. ( I'm sure there is a Canadian equivalent.)

Even if you just use it when you travel.

In my experience the credit card will give you a better exchange rate than buying Euros.

So, if you are from the U.S. the optimum combination is dollars and a no fee credit card.

Years ago when Marigot was bustling and had great boutiques and shopping, that's exactly what I had to do when I found the Dior purse I wanted.....it was better to buy (then francs) than to pay on dollars. Fun times....ran to exchange and came back with francs. Guess it had to do with the cost of goods to the boutique.

Oh yes, those wonderful days of boutique shopping in Marigot with Francs!!!!!