I have a Verizon iphone with international plan for an upcoming trip, is the cell service any good on the island? If not, what are my options for still being accessible to family in the states? Thanks

Download an app like Viber or Magic Jack. You can make calls when on wifi if your cell signal isn't good.

Rent a phone from the queen of St Maarten. www.queenofsxm.com

We have tried pretty much every possible combination.

The simplest and most effective is to just rent a phone from Sharon and be done with it.

Then just lay on the beach and relax.

If phone problems do occur, call Sharon. She'll take care of it.

Then just lay on the beach and relax :-)

Verizon cell service is fairly good with a few void areas on the French side - no problems at Club O however. The bad part is the fee charged which is at least $2.00 a minute. Sharon is the best alternative I have found.

If you plan on using the phone much at all, yes Sharon is the only way to go! If you want to use it for emergencies ONLY, then probably your Verizon phone would be OK, but as you say, there are a few areas on the french side where Verizon doesn't seem to work.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />SHARON <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

We use wifi and Facetime or Skype.
Cellular is for emergencies only.

Thanks, all! We are staying on Dutch side with dinners planned on French side, so think we will be ok. Hopefully wifi signal will be strong at the Divi!

Depends on where you are in the resort and how many other people are using it at the same time. Ever since they started offering free wifi, it's been very slow - I assume because everyone and their brother is using it.

...and Skype can be a real PIA with a weak/mediocre wifi signal