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SXM Taxi and Currency #193433
04/28/2019 08:56 AM
04/28/2019 08:56 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7
jtconte Offline OP
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jtconte  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7
Hello, it’s been 10 years since our last visit and I cannot remember how we handled currency there. We are traveling from the US and I think USD’s are pretty well accepted but what about the taxis? We will be taking a taxi from the airport to GCBC in Grand Case. How much should that cost and will they accept USD’s? Are Bank ATM’s readily available in Grand Case? That’s how we have gotten Euros in Europe.

Thanks,
John

SXM Sponsors
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193438
04/28/2019 09:03 AM
04/28/2019 09:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
You don't need Euros, EVER. Dollars are fine everywhere, including for taxis. As far as the cost for the taxi to GCBC, depending on time of day, I would guess around $30-$35, plus bags, unless it's late in the evening. Confirm the cost with the driver before you get in the car. Don't know about ATMs. Never used them in SXM.


Carol Hill
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193440
04/28/2019 09:05 AM
04/28/2019 09:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
There will be a line of taxis and there should be a dispatcher as well. Ask the price but as Carol suggested, confirm it with the driver prior to departure.


J.D.
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193442
04/28/2019 09:07 AM
04/28/2019 09:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7
jtconte Offline OP
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jtconte  Offline OP
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Posts: 7
Thanks Carol! There’s a separate bag charge?

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193443
04/28/2019 09:09 AM
04/28/2019 09:09 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Rhode Island
go to taxistmaarten.com/zones-rates

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193444
04/28/2019 09:12 AM
04/28/2019 09:12 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7
jtconte Offline OP
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jtconte  Offline OP
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Posts: 7
Thanks JD! Thanks Ron!

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193449
04/28/2019 09:49 AM
04/28/2019 09:49 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Usually the bag charge is $1 per bag. Just confirm the price before you get in the cab and you're good to go!


Carol Hill
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: RonDon] #193450
04/28/2019 09:56 AM
04/28/2019 09:56 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 108
Florida
K
Kamehameha Offline
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Florida
Apparently they are working on the rate page for the website - no info on line today.


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Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193462
04/28/2019 12:34 PM
04/28/2019 12:34 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
pony600 Offline
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pony600  Offline
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There used to be an ATM in Hope Estate, but we didn't use it last year, so I can't confirm it being there still. Does anyone know?


[Linked Image]



If life hands you a lemon, just squeeze it on a lobster!
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: Carol_Hill] #193839
05/01/2019 11:04 PM
05/01/2019 11:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 721
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bran Offline
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bran  Offline
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
You don't need Euros, EVER. Dollars are fine everywhere, including for taxis. As far as the cost for the taxi to GCBC, depending on time of day, I would guess around $30-$35, plus bags, unless it's late in the evening. Confirm the cost with the driver before you get in the car. Don't know about ATMs. Never used them in SXM.


Carol...meant to bring this up before. You state "don't need Euros ever" Perhaps you were just referring to Taxis? However, wanted to ask this question, perhaps stupid, I don't know so here goes. I very rarely use credit cards and just spend cash in dollars. However, most of the restaurants I visit are usually based on the french side as have my favs and all of them charge in Euros and then convert to dollars. (never managed to get 1 for 1.) Some are fairer than others. So today's rate is around 1.12 and lets say that they mark it up to 1.20. I sometimes have wondered if its invoiced in Euros, why not pay in Euro's or by the time I have been charged the exchange rate mark up, would I technically be no better of? I do recall buying a top for my wife last year in Euros that they marked up to 1.25 when the rate was about 1.14. So I was interested to hear your comment of never needing Euros and appreciate yours and others comments, keeping in mind I am just not a CC guy.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193842
05/01/2019 11:57 PM
05/01/2019 11:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,882
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Bahston Offline
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Bran, I’m from a similar position, I like paying in cash. I always have cash € and $ with me, and a zero-foreign exchange rate card in my wallet. I do the math, and pay in the manner month advantageous to me. Sometimes, it’s not why I expect.

Sometimes that’s cash €, which at a 1.12 exchange rate, and a 3% surcharge would cost me $1.15 out of an island ATM. NEVER buy € in an airport.
Sometimes that’s cash $, when there’s a 1:1 , or if the restaurant’s exchange rate favors $.
Sometimes I just pay with no-fee plastic.

Keep in mind that businesses, other than currency exchanges, aren’t in the currency exchange business. If they accept $ then they are actually doing you a favor, so the current market exchange rate shouldn’t be expected.

Example: Current rate 1.12. Restaurant rate 1.20. ATM/Credit card 3% fee. ATM/Credit card 0% fee. €100 restaurant check (Easy number to work with.)

€ $115 € from € in your pocket from an ATM
$ $120 $ from the $ in your pocket
$ $112 $ on your credit card with a 0% international fee
$ $115 $ on your credit card with a 3% international fee

For some, the small difference doesn’t matter. For others, budgets are tight, and every $ matters,

PS - Never trust my math, 😝, double check it yourself.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: bran] #193855
05/02/2019 09:50 AM
05/02/2019 09:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
As I said, you never NEED Euros. Sometimes you pay more, yes. To me, it's not enough more to worry about.


Carol Hill
Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193859
05/02/2019 09:55 AM
05/02/2019 09:55 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
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Posts: 837
Florida
Originally Posted by jtconte
Hello, it’s been 10 years since our last visit and I cannot remember how we handled currency there. We are traveling from the US and I think USD’s are pretty well accepted but what about the taxis? We will be taking a taxi from the airport to GCBC in Grand Case. How much should that cost and will they accept USD’s? Are Bank ATM’s readily available in Grand Case? That’s how we have gotten Euros in Europe.

Thanks,
John


As for ATM's, there is a Credit Mutuel in Hope Estate which is just down from Grand Case. They also have locations in Marigot and in Sint Maaten on Union Road. Their ATMs dispense either Euro or US$ in SXM. They charge no fees, but your bank might charge you a fee. I use them all the time when visiting SXM and in France.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193882
05/02/2019 12:31 PM
05/02/2019 12:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 721
B
bran Offline
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bran  Offline
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Thx Bahston and Wilsonck....very useful info.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193883
05/02/2019 12:35 PM
05/02/2019 12:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
3
319expat Offline
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319expat  Offline
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Posts: 18
Agree with all above. My general rules for the French side:

1) If the place accepts credit cards, and doesn't do 1:1 cash, use the card and charge to the local currency (euros) to get the best exchange rate.

2) If the place does 1:1 pay cash, use dollars (Beach chairs at Orient, and Super U sometimes offers this!).

3) If the place is cash only without 1:1 exchange, pay in euros to get best deal, but I don't sweat it if I only have dollars since I don't mind paying a bit more for convenience; Friar's Bay Beach Cafe is about the only place I can think of where this might come up among the places I frequent.

Of course I use cards without foreign transaction fees. And I keep euros from trip to trip so I don't worry as much about the ATM fees.
Our group typically takes turns paying with credit cards when rule #1 applies (most restaurants) so most of our dollars end up circulating between us during the week, which keeps things pretty balanced for us between using cards and cash.

Having Credit Mutuel back online in Hope Estate with the choice of dollars or euros makes life a lot easier now, the post office on the other side of Grand Case only does Euros.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: 319expat] #193886
05/02/2019 01:02 PM
05/02/2019 01:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by 319expat
Agree with all above. My general rules for the French side:

1) If the place accepts credit cards, and doesn't do 1:1 cash, use the card and charge to the local currency (euros) to get the best exchange rate.

2) If the place does 1:1 pay cash, use dollars (Beach chairs at Orient, and Super U sometimes offers this!).

3) If the place is cash only without 1:1 exchange, pay in euros to get best deal, but I don't sweat it if I only have dollars since I don't mind paying a bit more for convenience; Friar's Bay Beach Cafe is about the only place I can think of where this might come up among the places I frequent.

Of course I use cards without foreign transaction fees. And I keep euros from trip to trip so I don't worry as much about the ATM fees.
Our group typically takes turns paying with credit cards when rule #1 applies (most restaurants) so most of our dollars end up circulating between us during the week, which keeps things pretty balanced for us between using cards and cash.

Having Credit Mutuel back online in Hope Estate with the choice of dollars or euros makes life a lot easier now, the post office on the other side of Grand Case only does Euros.

Same here. That is the way we do it too.

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193889
05/02/2019 01:51 PM
05/02/2019 01:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 721
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bran Offline
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bran  Offline
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Posts: 721
sounds good.......will try it all. debit, credit, cash.....going to look up Credit Mutuel in Marigot and see where they are, if no info...roughly where in Marigot please?

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: jtconte] #193890
05/02/2019 01:53 PM
05/02/2019 01:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 721
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bran Offline
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bran  Offline
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Posts: 721
just found it.....Saint Martin

Marigot
5 Rue de la République

Phone: 0590 295-490
Fax: 0590 294-682

Re: SXM Taxi and Currency [Re: bran] #193905
05/02/2019 04:19 PM
05/02/2019 04:19 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Posts: 18,568
Auburn, WA
Marigot is the main town of French St Martin.


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