St. Martin Travel Tips Information that can make your trip more enjoyable. Otherwise, a valid passport or an expired passport no more than five years old will suffice. Those arriving on the French side may stay up to three months, but a visa is required for longer stays. A 15-franc departure tax is included in the price of airfare for those leaving from Esperance Airport.
Restaurants also add a service charge to the bill.
Clothing Choice of clothing should be casual and comfortable but neat. Swimming attire is not appreciated in hotel lobbies or for walking around town. At night dress remains somewhat informal, but jackets and shawls are recommended since casinos and restaurants can get a little chilly. Language Officially, French is the language of St. Martin and Dutch in St. Maarten, but almost everyone speaks English, and many speak Spanish as well. French Creole and Papiamento, a Creole language of the Netherlands Antilles, is spoken here locally, especially in the southern parts of the island.