🇸🇽 Simpson Bay,
Sint Maarten
#2478
Nomad Score
5.7
Coords
18.0359060, -63.0941320
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean |
| 👥 Population | Approximately 5,500 (Simpson Bay area inclusive of Pelican Key) |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average 45-100 Mbps via TelEm or Flow fiber-optic connections |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | US Dollar (USD) is primary; Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) officially 1 USD ≈ 1.79 ANG |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Safe to drink (Desalinated), but many locals prefer bottled water for taste |
| 🔌 Power | 110V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (US Standard) |
| 📶 SIM Card | TelEm (Simpson Bay Road) or Flow; $25 for 10GB data locally |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Republic Bank, Windward Islands Bank (WIB); Revolut/Wise widely accepted |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Airbnb, VRBO, and local agencies like Sunshine Properties |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, major credit cards accepted at most restaurants and supermarkets |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | The Atrium Resort, Simpson Bay Resort ($180 - $350 per night) |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | The Horny Toad Guest House ($140/night) or Commodore Suites ($130/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Pelican Key for views; Simpson Bay Beach for direct water access |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Simpson Bay Yacht Club area for walkability to cafes and services |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | The Business Point (Welfare Road), $25/day or $300/month |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Top Carrot (Yacht Club Galeria area) - Great Wi-Fi and healthy food |
| 💼 Networking Events | Sint Maarten Yacht Club social hours (Fridays); Island Rebels business mixers |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | International Women’s Club of St. Maarten; 'Expats in St. Maarten' Facebook group meetups |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | No Uber; use 'Let's Ride' app or WhatsApp taxi dispatch (+1 721 522 3433) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Tri-Sport Simpson Bay ($25/day for bikes, $50/day for scooters) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Simpson Bay Beach (quiet) or Kim Sha Beach (active with bars) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Winair (Welfare Road HQ) - Connects to St. Barts, Saba, Statia |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | American Airlines, JetBlue, and KLM via Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Welfare Road is the main artery connecting to Marigot and Philipsburg |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | No trains; Simpson Bay Bridge area serves as the central bus stop point |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | No passes; local minivans with 'Bus' signs cost $1.50 - $2.50 per ride |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | The Edge Ferry to St. Barts or Saba from Simpson Bay Police Station dock |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) in Cay Hill (10 mins away) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Joga (Welfare Road) - $20 per drop-in class |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Belair Fitness Center or Country Club at Port de Plaisance ($15 day pass) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Dolphin Laundry (Billy Folly Road), $1.50 per lb for wash and fold |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | SXM Food Delivery or Domino’s Direct App |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Johnny Cakes with saltfish or BBQ Ribs from roadside lolos |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Freedom Foods (Health focus) and Top Carrot (Welfare Road) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Carousel Gelato Bar (Welfare Road) - Famous for Italian gelato |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Market Garden Supermarket (Welfare Road) or Carrefour Market |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Tropical Shipping (for Amazon freight forwarding via Miami) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | ShopndropSXM.com (Delivery to condos and yachts) |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Kim Sha Beach strip (Roxxy Beach, Topper's, Soggy Dollar Club) |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Pelikaan Beer - Local craft brew found at Dutch Blonde Beach Bar |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor Store (Welfare Road) - Great wine selection/tasting |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Hilton's BBQ stand near the bridge (Evening hours) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Sale & Pepe (Italian/Sicilian), Avantika (Thai), Fat Tony's (American) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Simpson Bay Bridge opening (Yacht watching); Princess Juliana Airport Runway end |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit (Philipsburg - 15 mins away) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Fort Amsterdam (Little Bay - 10 mins away) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church |
| 🎉 Annual Events | St. Maarten Heineken Regatta (March); Carnival (April/May) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Old Simpson Bay Village (Fisherman's wharf area) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Cultural Center in Philipsburg |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Saturday Fisherman’s Market at the Simpson Bay fish market dock |
| 🎼 Music Scene | The Red Piano (Live music nightly in Pelican Key) |
| 🎨 Street Art | Murals along the Welfare Road corridor |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Topper's Rhum Distillery tours and tasting sessions |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Minguet Art Gallery (Starz City location) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | The Old School House in Simpson Bay Village |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The 'Unity Flag' representing the shared island identity |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Mullet Bay Pond (mangroves) and Little Bay Pond for flamingos |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | St. Maarten Nature Foundation zones (Man of War Shoal Marine Park) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The Causeway Bridge loop (popular for sunset walks/jogs) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Cole Bay Hill Lookout (The Harold Jack viewpoint) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Little Bay Pond (National Bird Site) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Simpson Bay Beach (with permit, usually near Karakter) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | DHL Express (Welfare Road) and Post SPW |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | The Mailbox (Welfare Road) or Boolchand's |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Simpson Bay Yacht Club recreation area |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Alliance Française (Marigot side, 10 mins away) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Philipsburg Jubilee Library (temporary location) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Simpson Bay Community Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | No specific digital lounges; mostly casino-based gaming |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Hollywood Casino, Paradise Casino (Welfare Road) |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $5,500 per m² ($220,000 for 40 m² in Yacht Club area) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $4,000 per m² ($160,000 for 40 m² in Cole Bay) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $5,200 per m² ($312,000 for 60 m² in Pelican Key) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $3,800 per m² ($228,000 for 60 m² in Cay Hill) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $5,000 per m² ($400,000 for 80 m² luxury waterfront) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $3,500 per m² ($280,000 for 80 m² in inland areas) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 34.5% (though many offshore/incentive structures exist) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 0% for qualifying distributions in many cases |
| 🏦 Tax System | Worldwide income basis for residents |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 47.5% |
| 🧾 VAT | No VAT/Sales Tax (Turnover Tax of 5% usually included in price) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, following Dutch Kingdom standards |
| 🏠 Property Tax | 0% Property Tax on the Dutch Side (Sint Maarten) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 4% Transfer Tax + approx. 2% Notary Fees |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | No annual property tax and duty-free status make it high-value for asset holders |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SIMPSON BAY