Island Currency

[Hawkeye75]

What currency is accepted/used on the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Our stops are in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. If they don't accept US funds is there a currency exchange onboard the ship?

 

Thanks

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

What currency is accepted/used on the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Our stops are in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. If they don't accept US funds is there a currency exchange onboard the ship?

 

Thanks

Both use the US$$$.

[MGoBlue2]

St. Thomas is part of the US, so no problem there.

 

Netherlands Antilles (St Maarten, Aruba, etc.) has its own currency, but nearly everybody takes US $. If the place is not one that caters to tourists you might get your change in guilders or florins. That happened to me once. I kind of liked it though, nice souvenir.

[Nurse Daybreak]

Take US currency in small denominations as some places will try to give you change in guilders and the closer you have to the excat price the better off you are. Only a small amount in coins that you can save for your grandchildren:D .

[BobBeaSea]

For the OP, U.S. bucks are the best to use. St. Thomas is a U.S. territory. In St Maarten, as suggested above carry lots of small denominations of U.S. money. If a retailer tries to give change in local currency you won't get stung so bad. Most reputable sellers will handle U.S. bucks only for those using American money. Don't try to use Canadian money, they will think a Monopoly game broke out :).

[jcanino]

Take US currency in small denominations as some places will try to give you change in guilders and the closer you have to the excat price the better off you are. Only a small amount in coins that you can save for your grandchildren .

 

Actually, there are no more Dutch Guilders. The Netherlands (and I believe Dutch St. Martin) uses Euros. But, no matter what their official currency is, they all love the American Dollar.

[MGoBlue2]

Actually, there are no more Dutch Guilders. The Netherlands (and I believe Dutch St. Martin) uses Euros. But, no matter what their official currency is, they all love the American Dollar.

It's not Dutch Guilders, NA has had its own currency, the Antillean Guilder, since shortly after WWII. (Although Aruba has its own version, the Aruban Guilder).

[cb at sea]

Just don't take a hundred dollar bill to pay for a $3.00 item! Make sure you have at least $20's, if not smaller! (Especially for "straw market" type places!--most of them don't accept credit cards) Reputable stores will take credit cards, so if you're looking to buy something rather expensive, that's the way to go!

[MGoBlue2]

Just don't take a hundred dollar bill to pay for a $3.00 item! Make sure you have at least $20's, if not smaller! (Especially for "straw market" type places!--most of them don't accept credit cards) Reputable stores will take credit cards, so if you're looking to buy something rather expensive, that's the way to go!

And if they do, you don't want to use it.

[SheltieLady]

Do they take US$ in Antigua?

 

Christine

[forpaws]

Take US currency in small denominations as some places will try to give you change in guilders and the closer you have to the excat price the better off you are. Only a small amount in coins that you can save for your grandchildren:D .

 

Makes a great item for "Show and Tell." :)

[Nurse Daybreak]

The french side takes euros and the Dutch side takes Netherlands Antilles florin or guilder. Just got some last winter.

 

http://www.st-maarten.com/money.htm

 

It's kinda neat to get a few.