St Maarten-St Martin
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Avis Car Rental

Wheels for the whole island, Dutch side and French

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Why Go

Two-nation island, one rental key: pick up a car at SXM and the 27 beaches, lolo strips, and hillside viewpoints of St. Maarten/St. Martin are yours to string together in a single day.

The Experience

Avis runs the biggest counter on the island out of Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in Simpson Bay, plus a smaller desk at Grand Case's Espérance airport on the French side. After you clear customs, an Avis shuttle whisks you the short hop to the lot, where the fleet skews practical-tropical: nimble Toyota Agyas and Nissan Versas for zipping around Philipsburg's tight one-ways, Kia Sonet and Haval crossovers for couples doing beach-hopping, and Ssangyong Rexton or Tank 300 SUVs when you've got luggage, kids, and a villa in Terres Basses to reach. The counter staff switch between English, French, and Dutch without missing a beat, and because Avis is one of the few majors with a Grand Case pickup, you can fly in on a regional hopper from Guadeloupe or St. Barth and drive off without ever seeing SXM. Return is same-location by default, but cross-airport drops can be arranged if you ask ahead. It's the un-glamorous piece of the trip that quietly unlocks everything else.

What to Try

For most couples, the Kia Sonet or Haval Jolion hits the sweet spot — high enough to clear the speed bumps and pothole ruts on the road to Happy Bay, small enough to squeeze into the sand-lot 'parking' at Mullet Bay. Families or villa groups should book the Rexton or Tank 300 early; SUV inventory on SXM is thin in high season. If you're just doing Philipsburg and Maho for a cruise-extension day, the Agya is cheaper and easier to park on Front Street's back lanes. Always add the collision waiver — island roads are narrow, goats are real, and the roundabouts near Bellevue confuse everyone the first time.

Insider Tip

Skip the airport queue by pre-registering online with your flight number, then walk straight past the terminal counter to the Avis shuttle stop outside Arrivals — the lot staff can process you there in about ten minutes. Also: there is no passport check crossing between the Dutch and French sides, but your rental contract must explicitly permit cross-border driving (Avis's does, some smaller local outfits' don't), so keep a copy on your phone in case gendarmes near Bellevue ask. Fill up at the Texaco in Cole Bay before returning — it's the last cheap station before the airport and Avis charges a hefty refuel fee.

The Practical Stuff

Locations: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Simpson Bay, Dutch side — main counter with shuttle service to the car lot; Grand Case-Espérance Airport, French side — smaller desk, handy for regional arrivals. Hours: roughly 7:00 AM–6:30 PM daily at both locations, staffed around scheduled flight banks. Phone: +1 (721) 545-2847 (Dutch side) or +590 590 87 50 60 (French side). Payment: USD widely accepted; EUR accepted at Grand Case; major credit card required for the deposit hold. Driving: right-hand side of the road, US-style; international license not required for stays under 90 days if your home license is in Roman characters. Fuel: unleaded, sold in liters on the French side and gallons on the Dutch side — don't be alarmed by the price gap. Book ahead for Christmas, February, and Heineken Regatta weekends when SUV inventory sells out weeks in advance.

Pair It With

  • Maho Beach Guide — Park the rental at Sunset Bar and watch 747s land 30 meters over your head — a five-minute drive from the Avis lot at SXM.
  • Grand Case — The car unlocks the French-side culinary capital; sunset drive up, dinner at the lolos on Boulevard de Grand Case, and back without paying $80 for a taxi each way.
  • Orient Bay Guide — Bring your own wheels so you can leave the beach clubs on your schedule and stop at Loterie Farm on the way back.
  • Terres Basses beaches — Baie Rouge, Plum Bay, and Long Bay have no public transport and minimal taxi coverage — a rental is basically the only way in.
  • Pic Paradis — The island's highest viewpoint is a steep, winding drive best done in one of Avis's SUVs rather than the compact class.