The island has become one of the safest places in the Caribbean, thank its low to medium level threats, more and more people are enticed to visit the island. From quality and up-to-date, medical facilities and services, clean water, to low crime rates, Saint Martin is one tough island to boot out of the highest ranks.
Is Saint Martin a Safe or Dangerous Island?
Saint Martin, both the Dutch and French sides are considered to be relatively safe for tourists to travel, so you can still enjoy everything the island has to offer without worrying too much for your own safety and security. However, the Dutch Sint Maarten has had problems with theft and other petty crimes, and it’s increasing. It is still best to be vigilant and cautious when walking out into the streets.
When it comes to health concerns, you also don’t have to worry about communicable tropical diseases. Saint Martin (both the French and Dutch sides) haven’t had problematic outbreaks over the recent years. And when you do find yourself in need of medical assistance, you can easily find English-speaking doctors on the island, and hospitals that cater to tourists and other foreigners.
Is Saint Martin a Safe Place to Live?
Overall Saint Martin is considered to be a safe place to live for expats and retirees, especially coming from the US, Canada, and anywhere in the European Union. The island is relatively safe in many areas of living, like public security and health, petty crimes are only common among unsuspecting tourists. However, it is still best to err on the side of caution.
Both the French and Dutch sides of the islands have European standards of living, especially in French Saint Martin where Euros are used as the official currency. Experienced expats on the island often say that they never had problems going out, even at night, especially during the weekends, and it has always been safe for them.
Both sides of the island are also well-equipped with the necessary, modern health facilities for everyone. With two excellent hospitals on each side of the islands, you can be sure to feel secured and well-taken cared of in Saint Martin.
However, Saint Martin can get hit directly by hurricanes, but only on rare occasions. The last known direct hit was with Hurricane Irma back in 2017, which has caused severe damage and tremendous loss to the island, which took more than two years for the island to fully recover.
Does Saint Martin Have a Hospital?
Saint Martin has two state-of-the-art hospitals that cater to everyone’s health concerns, one for each side. Sint Maarten has Sint Maarten Medical Center, and Louis Constant Fleming Hospital in Marigot, Saint Martin. Whether you’re a tourist or an expat you can take advantage of the island’s low-cost medical care, especially for prescription drugs. It is also wise to have travel insurance ready before coming to the island so that you won’t have to worry about certain services being out of your reach.
Can You Drink Tap Water in Saint Martin?
The tap water on the island is considered safe and clean to drink. However, common travelers’ practice is to not easily drink from the tap the first time you get to the island. Make sure to do enough research, most likely testimonials from previous travelers about the water quality in the region you’re staying at.
Most hotels and resorts on the island have treated waters running out of their tap through desalination, so you can be sure to drink from the tap safely. However, if you’re still hesitant, you can always buy water bottles from almost anywhere on the island, just be sure to dispose of the water bottles, especially if they’re plastic, properly.
Is the Zika Virus in Saint Martin?
Zika used to be prevalent in the tropics years back, especially in the regions of Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Saint Martin has had a history of the mosquito-borne disease, however, recently there has been no reported outbreak of the Zika Virus.
It is still best to equip yourself with the necessary protection like vaccines, and repellants. Vaccines against Zika Virus aren’t required when visiting the island, however, you can still be meticulous with any anti-mosquito bite measures, especially if you’re staying near moist or damp places.
Are There Snakes on Saint Martin?
There are no snakes of any kind of Saint Martin, in fact, the island is one of the only few islands that doesn’t have a native population of snakes on islands in the Caribbean. So, if you have ophidiophobia or are just plain scared of snakes, you will visit having an easy mind because you will find none in the area.
Is Saint Martin in the Hurricane Belt?
Saint Martin lies within the Hurricane Belt and has had a history with severe weather systems in the past. The most recent hurricane hit was Hurricane Irma in 2017, where it has caused severe damage and loss in Saint-Martin. It took more than two years of the island to fully recover.
When Was the Last Hurricane in Saint Martin?
The last hurricane that affected Saint Martin was Hurricane Irma in 2017. It was said to be the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean on record, which was unfortunately followed by Hurricane Maria after two weeks. Irma was so big and powerful that the forecast track will cover much of the Caribbean Island chain, especially the northern Leeward Islands.
With multiple landfalls in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martin, the Bahamas, and Cuba in the Caribbean, these islands faced the strongest power of the hurricane. Irma’s damage took 11 lives in the French Caribbean islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy in total, while Sint Maarten, Saint Martin’s southern Dutch side had 4 fatalities. The estimated damage on the entire island was around 7 to 8 billion USD.
How Dangerous Is Saint Martin Actually?
In general, Saint Martin is a safe place to travel or even live in. With medium to low levels of threat that encompass public and health security, you can be sure to have a pleasant experience on the island.
While it is perfectly normal to make a travel decision with a heavy emphasis on public safety, there are no perfectly safe places in the world, regardless of the economy or climate. Even your hometowns have their own shady sides, and places where you shouldn’t be in questionable hours.
Take comfort in the fact that the island of Saint Martin, both the French and the Dutch side are generally safe than many other islands in the Caribbean. To err on the side of caution is and will always be your best guard.
