Frequently Asked Questions. Do I need any visas to enter St Maarten/ St Martin Island? Do you have a shuttle from the airport to the hotel? What Currency should I bring? What Electricity voltage do you have in St Martin? I would like to stay in a certain room or have certain bedding requests? I would like to organize a gift to be in my room upon arrival? Could you make restaurant reservations for me before I arrive? What do you have in the rooms? Can I access the internet from my room? What are the telephone charges for calling from my room? What other charges does the hotel apply? Do you have a gym at the Hotel? What time are the local Church Services? What time are shops open? What are the duty free allowances I can bring back home with me? Do I have to pay a departure tax? Directions in PDF format. If your flight coming to has connections, be sure to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, any medication (in their original packaging), and beach clothes in your hand luggage. Occasionally you might make your connection but unfortunately your luggage doesn't, if this happens it will normally arrive within 24 hours and will be delivered directly to the hotel. Please ensure you complete a form with your airline before leaving the airport. Do I need any visas to enter St Maarten/. In todays times it is recommended to travel with a passport although this is not necessary for some nationalities to enter St Maarten. Please check with your airline for the entry requirements for your nationality. Most passengers visiting our Island will be arriving at St. Julianna Airport, SXM, this is on the Netherlands Antilles part of the Island but the hotel itself is on the French side of St Martin. There is no border patrol or immigration between the two parts so you will have no trouble accessing the whole Island once you have entered. If you plan to visit any of the surrounding Islands such as St Barths, Anguilla or Saba, even just for a day trip, please check the entry requirements before arriving here in case you need a visa for any. For the most part if you are an American with a passport or a European Community passport holder you should not have any problems entering any of the Islands. shuttle, there are plenty of taxis outside of the arrivals exit, it is approximately $25.00 for two people with two bags each, additional people are normally charged $5.00 each and additional bags are $2.00 per bag. However, after 10:00 pm you will be charged an additional 15% on the regular taxi rate and after midnight it can go as high as 25%. Some car hire companies organize collection at the airport, if this is the case you will be picked up by the company at the airport and taken to their nearby office to collect the car and complete the paperwork. If you are arriving during rush hour traffic (8am 10am and 4:30pm 7pm), we strongly suggest you do not drive through Cole Bay and instead drive along the west side of the island past Mullet Bay and Baie Nettle, this route is more scenic too. If you would like directions on how to get to our hotel, please email us at reservations@gcbc.com. You have chosen a very unique place to visit, St Maarten/ St Martin might be small but we are confusing when it comes to currency. In a nutshell, on the Dutch side they take US Dollars and Guilders, on French side we take Euros, however we are also accustomed to US Dollars and all and shops will accept US dollars. Some restaurants take US$ on a one for one basis if you pay in cash, but have Euro credit card machines. Most shops and supermarkets take dollars but at an exchange rate, most tend to work on a daily exchange rate basis or thereabouts. It is to your advantage to bring US Dollars with you and bring as much as you need because if you want more you either have to go to the Dutch side to get $ from an ATM or use one on the French side and then exchange Euros to Dollars. Travelers Cheques are accepted Island wide so they are a handy form of currency to use. We told you it was confusing, if you would like any further clarification please ask at the front desk when you are here, or give us a call on 011 590 590 87 51 87. What Electricity voltage do you have in. Our electricity is 220v here so a converter is advisable. Most electronic equipment e.g. cameras, cell phones etc. now a days have built in converters, which means you just need the American to European two pin plug adapter. Check the equipment you want to bring to see if this is the case, they should say Input: 110v 240v. With equipment that needs a converter make a note of the wattage output before you go to buy one to ensure the converter has the wattage capacity for the equipment it will need to run. For example, do not buy a 50w converter if your curling iron produces an output of 1600w. Curling irons and hair dryers tend to have very high watt age outputs, we do provide hair dryers in the rooms and we sometimes have a curling iron for loan, but please dont rely on this. The general rule of thumb is, if you are not sure your converter will handle the piece of equipment, dont bring the equipment as you risk destroying both items. Please also note the wall sockets for our plugs are recessed so try to find a converter where the plug part does not sit flush to the converter itself but protrudes. Unfortunately we can not guarantee any rooming or bedding requests, however please do let us know what your preferences are and we will endeavor to do our best to meet them. You can contact us at or call us at + 590 590 87 51 87. We can help you to surprise your loved one and can organize anything from, wine, champagne, flowers, fruit baskets, cheese plates etc. please call us at the hotel to discuss your wishes. Of course we can, please let us know which restaurants on which day and what time and we will confirm these with you upon check-in. Early booking is not really necessary except perhaps during some holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving and only for a couple of the restaurants on the Island. We do supply beach towels so no need to bring them. Also in the rooms is a fully equipped kitchenette, including a microwave, fridge, oven and coffee maker (we do not supply coffee or coffee filters). There is a CD Player in each room and all rooms are equipped with a TV and American Cable. You will also find a mini bar in the room and a hair dryer in the bathroom. In the one bedroom, two bedroom and studios with a loft the sofa pulls out into an additional twin bed. Irons and Ironing Boards are available from the Front Desk at no extra charge. You can get internet access in the rooms but it is dial up and you have to have obtained the local number to dial from your internet provider prior to arrival. This service can be very slow and unreliable (one of the prices we pay for being in the Caribbean). We suggest guests use the internet computer provided at the front desk, again this is dial up but the telephone line is more secure. This computer takes a minimum of $5 and this gives you 38 minutes online. It is always best to review your email login details before traveling so you are familiar with your login name and password and can access your email provider from any computer. Americans are very lucky, telephone calls from States are very cheap, outside of the States we all pay a small fortune for our calls. Local Calls (French Side) - Local Calls (Dutch Side) - Calls to other International Countries - Please note our telephone system does not support free phone numbers these are charged $1 per minute. We do have some fees for other services we provide, please see the list below: Cleaning of the Barbeque Grill - We do not have a gym, but to make up for it we have not installed any elevators so you can work out your legs, we have two beautiful beaches to run along in the mornings and we provide a turquoise sea to swim in. We have thoughtfully included all non motorized water sports in the room ra...

St Martin 10 Things to Do on the Islands. 1) Relax on the Beaches There are many saint martin sports too enjoy on our island. St. Martin is famous for its beaches. They are great in number and each is distinctively attractive. Those on the French side tend to be more secluded and more conducive to quiet contemplation and privacy. Some are hugged by rugged cliffs and dramatic landscapes, while others are gently shaded by palm trees. The beach at is alive with local culture and tends to be a favorite with families. Orient Bay is particularly enticing for its wide expanse of velvety white sand, its underwater marine reserve with a coral reef that is great for snorkeling, and the variety of water sports that are offered here. At one end there is a naturist resort, and the beach there is purely clothing-optional. In general, the attitudes toward topless bathing are fairly relaxed and sophisticated in St. Martin. 2) Deep-Sea Fishing The offshore waters offer a wide and challenging variety of game fish including marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, and kingfish. The. Angers Big Fishing Tournament occurs at the end of March and the. Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament takes place here every year in the month of June. Boats can be chartered at reasonable rates all year long, although some of the fish are only in season in these waters from December through March. Charters typically include bait, tackle, and some form of refreshment. 3) Diving, Snorkeling Other Water Sports Visibility in the waters around the island typically extends for about 100 feet and sometimes can even reach up to 200 feet. Instruction from beginning to advanced is readily available, and certified divers should remember to bring their licenses as well as their diving logs. 02Limits Dive Center and equipment rental. Windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, and jet-skiing are activities that are regularly offered at the more popular beaches and in the inland lagoons. Rental and instruction tend to be fairly inexpensive. 4) Sailing Small boats, like Sunfish and Sailfish, may be rented throughout the island and larger craft can also be chartered from a number of different operators around the island for longer trips to more isolated spots like the Ilet Pinel. Sailing instruction is also included if desired. For racing enthusiasts, a number of regattas are held here every year usually at the end of March. 5) Hiking For those who want to experience the natural beauty of the island on foot, there are 25 miles of clearly defined footpaths running through the mountains and along the shore, revealing some truly spectacular panoramas. 6) Tennis Squash Tennis remains one of the favorite pastimes in St. Martin, and the Grand Case has an artificial grass tennis court (lit for night play),. Squash is available at a number of sports clubs and fitness centers. It should be kept in mind that appropriate attire, although not necessarily tennis whites, is required on nearly all of the courts. 7) Golf Courses The one 18-hole golf course on the island is located on the Dutch side of St. Maarten at Mullet Bay. The course is open to all visitors; call ahead to reserve a slot. 8) Dining Dancing St. Martin is perhaps most famous for the elegance and art form of its cuisine. From the most superb of French delicacies to the tangy blends of Creole cooking to more exotic tastes like Chinese and East Indian, the island provides a wide variety of restaurants, bistros, and barbecue shacks called lolos that delight even the most sophisticated of gourmets. For dinner at most of the more fashionable spots, reservations are definitely recommended, although usually they are not necessary at lunchtime. Many places also provide music for dancing, as do the many nightclubs around the island. Bands play a variety of zouk, calypso, reggae, jazz and pop. 9) Duty-Free Shopping One of the great attractions of the island has been the duty-free shopping available. Luxury items from all over the world, French and Italian clothing fashions, Dutch and Japanese electronics, Indonesian batiks and Chinese embroidery, jewelry, leather, crystal, liquors and fine porcelain, free of all taxes and customs, are regularly offered at bargain prices. The French side provides a more leisurely shopping experience. 10) Casinos There are 13 casinos in the Dutch St. Maarten, just a short ride away. St. Maarten;s casinos offer a full array of games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and Let it Ride (a form of poker). Caribbean Stud Poker is a fairly new game played in much of the Caribbean. Unlike traditional poker, where players compete against each other, players in this game play against the house. Caribbean Stud offers some of the largest jackpots; often starting at $10,000 and more. All casinos are staffed by friendly, knowledgeable professionals who will gladly explain the house rules and odds. St. Maarten;s casino scene isn't just about gambling. Casino Royale in Maho also offers a theater, with variety shows six nights a week in peak season; everything from magic shows to circus acts. You'll also find top-notch entertainment at Coliseum Casino on Front Street and Tropical Casino in Cole Bay.

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Rent-a-car service
 Central situation
 Clothes dry cleaning
 Credit cards accepted
 Facsimile services
 Hairdryer
 Ironing facilities
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Licensed bar
 Mixed dorms
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Clock/radio
 Fridge
 Restaurant
 Safe deposit box
 Shop on premises
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Swimming pool
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms
 Tennis court
 Patio, summer terrace