TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Dollar/Euro Exchange Rate

Flying down on Saturday. Wondering what the exchange rate is in restaurants in Grand Case and Orient? Any advantage to cash these days? Thanks!

I saw 1.07 yesterday was the going rate. Best to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and charge in Euros.

Agreed!

The going rate or the OFFICIAL rate? Most places charge some variation of the 'official rate', not necessarily the official rate. I think the question was what are the restaurants actually charging right now? If many places are actually doing 1 for 1 (which I don't know who is and who is not), then obviously it's better to pay cash. I think that was the actual question.

I think so too ! It would be nice to know since we'll be arriving in two weeks ! Last year, the ones who were not 1 for 1 were charging around 1.20...

On my stock app right now it is 1.073

The rate within the last 12 months has been as high as $1.25. Do you know what the posted 'rate' was when they were charging $1.20?

We were there for the last 3 weeks of October. While many places offered parity for cash in Dollars, more did not. The market rate ranged between 1.10 and 1.14, and many places were offering 1.10 or 1.15. I did get some Euros in cash, and did use my credit card to charge in Euros.

I will say that unlike prior years, you can save some money by paying in Euros this year, whether in cash or via credit card.

Current rate is $1.05.

Here now. Pleasantly surprised at the number of places offering a 1:1 exchange rate including Simply grocery store, gas stations, small stores like Casino in Orient Village and a few restaurants. Over 10 days we never saw a restaurant with a rate over 10%. Most were around 5% so we found no need to carry Euros.

oceanbreeze--thanks for the info on what people are actually charging, versus what the official rate is, as people almost always charge a different rate than the official rate.

So far have found Papagayo/Perch charging just over the bank exchange rate even for cash. Papagayo gives the bill slip showing either euros or higher amount in dollars. Last lunch there was Nov 8 and rate was 1.10.
Ate at Rancho up on the hill last nite and cash was 1 for 1.
I recall La Piment was 1 for 1 when we ate there last Sat.
Other small establishments/grocers we have been to have been 1 to 1 for cash. Euro rate for cc charging.

As long as one knows what the actual exchange rate is, then if a vendor is using something higher than the actual exchange rate, put the charge on your credit card with no foreign exchange fees, in euros. If it is lower and they want cash, like 1 to 1, pay 'em cash.

Thanks for your helpful answer !

I don't remember what the rate was a year ago...but actually, it's a math exercice for us who have to deal with our poor canadian dollars !! It costs us about 1.36 CAD to get 1 USD and 1.48 CAD to get 1 Euro.....

Restaurants vary from $1.05 -$1.10.

Since we have to change our CADs to something, we usually carry some USD and some EURO and then go with whichever looks like it will be the best deal at the time.