Taxi & Transport Scams in Sint Maarten / St. Martin, Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Overcharging, meter tampering, fake taxis, and transport cons targeting tourists. Below are the taxi & transport scams reported in Sint Maarten / St. Martin — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Willemstad, San José, and Havana.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Taxi & Transport Scams
10
Total in Sint Maarten / St. Martin
How it works
Unofficial and even some nominally licensed taxi drivers outside Princess Juliana International Airport quote flat rates verbally to tourists, then take indirect routes through the island to inflate what would otherwise be a short transfer, particularly to hotels in Simpson Bay or Maho Beach. Some drivers also quote in euros to French-side visitors while billing in Eastern Caribbean dollars, creating currency confusion that results in the visitor paying far more than the agreed amount.
How it works
Water taxis running between the cruise pier and Great Bay Beach quote fares in "dollars" without specifying whether that is USD or ANG (Netherlands Antillean guilder, roughly 1.80 ANG per USD). Tourists who misunderstand the currency end up paying nearly double.
See all scams in Sint Maarten / St. Martin
10 total warnings across all categories