Safety and Travel Insurance Advice for Visitors to Saint Martin / Sint Maarten
Saint Martin (the French side) and Sint Maarten (the Dutch side) offer affordable socialized medicine for their citizens. There are no particular health concerns for visitors to St. Maarten/St. Martin and St Martin offer some of the best medical facilities in the area. An emergency airlift to Puerto Rico is also available.
However, as with any location, there are some health issues to be aware of. A quality travel insurance plan is recommended for visitors to St. Martin.
Best Travel Insurance for Visitors to St. Martin
Below are a couple of travel insurance plans we recommend for visitors to St. Martin. They will cover your emergency medical costs if you get in an accident and need medical care or become sick or ill.
They also offer additional benefits, including medical evacuation, trip interruption coverage, and prescription medications as needed. Both options will cover visitors for COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
- For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
- Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
- IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
- Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
Staying Healthy as a Tourist in St. Martin
Immunizations Required for Visiting St. Martin
No vaccinations are required to enter the island. However, the CDC (CDC St. Martin Travel Advice) recommends that you are up to date on routine vaccines before traveling to St. Martin.
These vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, the polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Sun Protection
Saint Martin, situated in the heart of the Caribbean and close to the equator, receives extremely strong sunlight. As a result, visitors are at risk of sunburn or sun poisoning.
A high-SPF sunscreen is recommended, and sunblock is advised for those not used to intense sunlight. A good pair of sunglasses and a hat are strongly recommended.
Dengue Fever
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito (Aedes aegypti in the Caribbean). It manifests as a high fever accompanied by headache, muscle and joint pain, and weakness, which may last several weeks.
Symptoms appear two to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is an illness caused by a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain.
Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Chikungunya disease rarely results in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling.
Most people who get sick feel better within a week. In some individuals, joint pain may persist for months or years.
Protect yourself from mosquito bites by using mosquito nets, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and applying repellents (such as citronella) and sprays.
Ciguatera (Fish Poison)
Certain fish, particularly reef fishes, contain toxins that may, if eaten, cause serious illness (paralysis and low blood pressure) and very unpleasant symptoms (itching, numbness, dizziness). This is known as ciguatera, or gratte – “itch” in French.
Avoid eating fish until you have consulted the proper authorities, especially if you have caught the fish yourself. Large fish (over 1 kilogram) have the highest concentration of these toxins.
HIV, AIDS, and STDs
Located in the heart of the Caribbean, the island of Saint Martin is a melting pot of diverse groups and remains a high-risk zone.
On Saint Martin, like anywhere in the world, the only protection is to use a condom during sexual intercourse.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses, located at 6 rue Fichot, Marigot (tel. 0590 87 01 17), offers free, anonymous testing.
Affordable Prescription Drugs in St. Martin
Visitors and expatriates often find they can take advantage of the low-cost medical care, especially for prescription drugs that are more expensive in the US or other parts of the world.
Hospitals in St. Maarten / St. Martin
Sint Maarten Medical Center
www.smmc.sx
30 Welgelegen Road
Sint Maarten
+1 721-543-1111
Hospital Center Louis Constant Fleming
www.chsaintmartin.org
Rue du Soleil Levant
Marigot, Guadeloupe
+590 590 52-2525
St. Martin, being part of France, has a medical system similar to France’s, and all common medications can be obtained here.
- Louis Constant Fleming Hospital, Concordia, Marigot – Emergency department: 0590 52 25 52
- S.A.M.U. (medical emergencies): 15
- Police: 17
- Fire: 18
- Centre Médecins de Gardes (ADGUPS) (doctors on call): 0590 90 13 13
- Medicall / Medical assistance: 0590 29 04 04
- Erick Ambulances: 0590 29 29 34
- Ambulances des Îles du Nord: 0590 52 00 52
- Gendarmerie (police), Marigot: 0590 52 21 90
- Gendarmerie (police), La Savane: 0590 52 30 00
- Gendarmerie (police), Quartier d’Orléans: 0590 52 35 95
- Municipal police, Marigot: 0590 87 88 33
- Municipal police, Grand Case: 0590 87 19 76
- C.R.O.S.S. sea rescue between Anguilla and French Guiana: 0596 70 92 92
- Emergencies: 911
- Doctors on call: (1-721) 5111
- Hospital: 543 1111
- Ambulance: 912 or 542 2111 or 520 6262
- Fire: 120 or 542 6001
- Police: 111 or 542 2112
Crime and Safety on St. Martin / St. Maarten
Petty crime has become a growing concern on the Dutch island of St. Maarten, with thefts and break-ins becoming a significant and increasingly prevalent problem.
Travelers are advised to lock their car doors and windows, as well as the doors and windows of their lodging, at all times.
Visitors should exercise common sense and take basic precautions throughout the island, including being aware of their surroundings, avoiding walking alone after dark or in remote areas, and locking all valuables in a rental or hotel safe.
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Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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