St Martin/St Maarten / Telephone

One of the less attractive quirks of an island divided into two countries is that when you call from one side to the other it is deemed an international call. This is costly, and there are no phone companies that offer a flat rate for making cross-island calls.

In this island guide phone numbers are given with the full international code omitting the first 00 - travellers often have to call from one side to the other. To call Dutch from French you have to go 00 then 599 then 54 then five digits (cellphones may be different). To call French from Dutch you have to go 00 then 590 590 or 590 690 if a cellphone then six digits.

French phones generally have six digits and the country code is 590. Recently, the service has been enhanced by making it necessary to dial an area code with all French numbers. Conveniently enough, the local area code is 590 also. This improvement has been added to the international system, so that one now has to dial 011 590 590 and six digits to get the French side from the US. Cell phones are generally reached by dialing 011 590 690 and the digits.

All public phones accept only pre paid phone cards, which are available at a post office and some newsagents. GSM 900 and 1800 mobile network coverage extends across both parts of the island and internet access is available at internet cafes and in many hotels and resorts.