Air Travel:  Flying time is approximately 2 ½ hours from Miami, 3 ½ hours from New York, 5 hours from Montreal, and 8 ½ hours from Paris.

Attire:  Sint Maarten is a tourist destination with a casual atmosphere.  Temperatures in the winter months can be cool at night with the tropical breeze (70-75 degrees), so a light cover-up might be necessary.

Currency:  The Netherlands Antilles florin or gilder (NAF) is the official currency; however, the US dollar and most major credit cards are accepted at nearly all businesses. Prices are generally listed in both US dollars and the local currency.  On the French side of the island the Euro is the official currency, although US dollars are widely accepted.

Departure Tax:  A tax is assessed for everyone leaving Sint Maarten.  Price is subject to change, and some airlines include this tax as part of the ticket charge.  Please contact your airline carrier for more information.

Drinking Water:  Sint Maarten’s water desalination plants provide safe purified tap water, but bottled water is widely available.

Driving:  There are many international and local car rental companies to choose from, and foreign and international driver’s licenses are accepted when renting a vehicle.  Traffic is on the right with international signs. Patience and good humor are required while driving on the island.  Locals often stop to greet a friend or drop off a delivery, so beware of frequent stopping.  It is common to use the horn or high beams (during the day) to greet another driver or to thank them for the right of way.  Having the islanders’ carefree “No problem” attitude is the best way to drive on the island.

Electricity:  Paradise Found uses 110 volts (same as US).

Entry Requirements:  Sint Maarten is a free port, so there are no customs.  No vaccinations are required unless travelers are arriving from an area experiencing an epidemic.  Since entrance standards do change from time to time, all travelers should check with whoever they purchased tickets from to confirm the appropriate documents necessary to enter Sint Maarten.  A valid passport is required for most visitors.

Health Services:  A broad range of medical services is available for visitors, including emergency clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies.

Languages Spoken:  Although Dutch is the official language of Sint Maarten, English is very common and spoken everywhere.  Other common languages are Spanish, French (primarily on the French side), and Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect).

Pets:  Pets are not allowed at Paradise Found.

Telephone: A “pay as you use” mobile phone for local and international calling is available for visitors at Paradise Found.  The phone is activated with calling cards that are available throughout the island.

Time Zone:  Sint Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time.  This is one hour ahead of Eastern Time, except when daylight savings time is observed (summer) and both time zones are the same.

Weather:  Consistently pleasant weather, blue skies, and clear water make Sint Maarten an irresistible year-round destination.  Trade chilly winter weather at your principle residence for temperatures in the 80’s (F); and hot, humid summer weather for 82 degrees (F) with pleasant trade winds.  Winds blow a fairly regular fifteen knots from mid-November to mid-April; and in the summer, thermal effects and tropical waves frequently bring slightly stronger drafts.  From July through November, the Caribbean is on watch for possible hurricanes.  Although these storms are very infrequent at Sint Maarten, Paradise Found is structurally built to withstand a severe hurricane.  The water temperature ranges from a comfortable 78-80 degrees (F) in the winter; and in summer, the air temperature of 82-84 degrees (F) is equally comfortable.  There are regular rain showers in the late summer and early fall, with an average annual rainfall of 45 inches.  Showers can be intense, but are typically brief.