What to Wear in St Maarten

General Style Tips

The influence of the French to the north (Saint Martin) and Dutch in the south (Sint Maarten) gives this island a more European feel.
Smart casual clothes in lightweight natural fabrics will work best – it is warm and sunny but not unbearably hot all year round.
However the nights tend to be a little cooler and a sweater or wrap is worth popping in your case.
Daytime essentials include t-shirts, camisoles, sarong and shorts, as most people spend their time on the beach.
Wear plenty of sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
Mosquitoes can be a problem, so take insect/mosquito repellent and cover up with long sleeves and pants when you can, particularly in the evenings if you are outdoors. Avoid wearing any scent or perfume.
There are a number of up-market restaurants and nightspots where the dress code is super smart – add in a nice outfit if you plan to visit these venues.

If you plan to explore the island, take some lightweight comfy shoes for walking. We love Hotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.
Pack some pretty flat sandals for the beach; we love the Lindsay Phillips Switch Flops range – using interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you can change your look from day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.

Keep your swimwear for the beach, beach bars and hotel pools and cover up with at least a kaftan or sarong when walking around public areas. If you are not covered up you may attract unwanted attention and/or risk offending the locals.
For evenings, dress is smart casual; ladies tend to wear short summer sundresses – and take a pashmina or wrap as just after a downpour it cools very quickly, but only temporarily.
Your pashmina or a scarf will dress up any outfit, and accessories or sparkly jewelry can make a great statement.

If you're looking for versatile and stylish beachwear, try the Madda Fella range of shirts, shorts, polos and swimwear.
For evenings, guys' dress is smart casual; long pants and short-sleeved shirts (no t-shirts). Tailored shorts are acceptable.
For great versatile travel jackets with multiple pockets including RFID security options, we love the SCOTTeVEST range.

June, July, August, September, October and November is more humid being the rainy season. You do still get lots of sunshine, but it is interrupted by deluges of rain which last for up to 30 minutes at a time so a light raincoat or travel umbrella will be handy. You may also experience hurricanes (these are most likely in September).
We love the Weather+ app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂 Download for iPad/iPhone or Android

A lightweight day sack or beach bag will come in handy to carry your sightseeing essentials.
The tap water is safe to drink, but if you do prefer to buy bottled water consider carrying a LifeStraw Filtration Water Bottle – fill up from any source and get clean, safe drinking water without wasting plastic bottles.
Look after your mobile phone with a phone bunjee – it protects against loss, theft and damage.
To use electrical gadgets you may need a travel adapter plug, and also a step down voltage converter if your devices are not designed for local voltage (220V).
If you're aiming to travel with just carry-on baggage, try the CabinMax soft-sided rucksack – it's light, roomy and has plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized.
Avoid paying unexpected baggage fees – use an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way home! The island is known as a great place to shop – you can pick up some premium French brands (perfume, wine) or Dutch cheese. Browse the markets too for clothing and jewellery. Just remember any liquids will need to be packed in your hold luggage.