Air Canada Vacations

Before leaving Canada

Entry requirements

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you - and any child travelling with you - have all the travel documents necessary to enter in, or transit through, each country on your itinerary. Please ensure you verify the requirements for each country as the required documents for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required on the return.

Please refer to aircanada.com for complete information on travel requirements.

Baggage

Please refer to aircanada.com for Baggage Information.

Airport check in

It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada representatives are available to assist you, or you may contact an Air Canada Vacations representative at 1-800-296-3408.

Arrival at Destination

Airport procedures

After clearing customs & immigration, please proceed to the exit where you will be greeted by our local Air Canada Vacations Representative and directed to the bus transfer that will take you to your hotel. Should you decide not to use the bus transfer, please present yourself to the Representative in any case.

Transfer

Return transfer is included in your holiday package, however it should be confirmed with your representative 72 hours prior to departure. For passengers who have purchased a flight only, transfers are not included.

Hotel check in

You will be asked to give an imprint of your credit card with deposit. This transaction will enable you to sign bills on the premises, open a telephone line, access the safety deposit box and use beach towels among other services. Check-in in most hotels is at 3 p.m.

 
Your Departure from Destination

Departure details

Your Air Canada Vacations Destination Representative will provide you with your departure details. The day before you leave, remember to consult the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board/information binder located in your hotel for any updates on departure procedures and your return flight. At hotels without bulletin board/information binder, visit the guest relations desk to inquire about any last minute changes.

Hotel check out

Checkout times may vary depending on each hotel. Generally, rooms should be vacated between 11 a.m. and noon. Based on availability, every effort will be made to accommodate guests with late flights with a hospitality room.

Duty-free Shopping

The entire island is duty-free (French & Dutch side). Duty free shops are also located at the airport. After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents return with CAD$750 maximum of merchandise per trip without having to pay duty, or up to CAD$200 of merchandise each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is permitted one litre of liquor, one carton of cigarettes and 50 cigars duty-free. Please note, only a partial exemption applies on cigarettes, tobacco sticks and lose tobacco included in your personal exemption allowance. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are labeled “Canada - Duty paid”. Canadian made products sold at duty-free shops are marked in this way.

Airport check in

Procedures are the same as for departure from Canada.

During your holiday

Need help or assistance with your vacation?
Contact our Customer Care department: http://www.aircanadavacations.com/en/contact_us#Support_During_Travel

Hello and welcome

We urge you to take a few minutes of your time to come to our organized special briefing session, to learn more about how to make the most of your holiday. Please take this opportunity to meet with your representative to learn important information about the island: What to see, where to go, dos and don'ts, how to get around, optional tours and activities procedures and much more.

Local Air Canada Vacations office

The local office is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and is located at the Village Plantation in Welgelegen road #23 Cayhill, St. Maarten. Should you require the services of a representative, please call: (599) 543-2000. See the Air Canada Vacations bulletin board in the hotel lobby for the representative's schedule or call (599) 543-2000.

Emergency

Requests for a doctor or dentist may be made through your hotel. Should you require additional assistance please contact your Air Canada Vacations Representative. Remember to keep all your receipts.

Long distance calls

Telephone calls from the Caribbean especially are very expensive and hotels have service charges that they impose when you place a call to Canada from your room. On your ticket wallet, you will find information on CANADA DIRECT, a Bell company, which allows you to speak to a bilingual Canadian operator and charge your call to your home telephone number. (Hotel service charge will apply)

Banking

Banking hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On the French side, there is also the Exchange Bureau which is open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Automatic Tellers, Dutch Side Windward Island Bank, A.B.N. Bank, Nova Scotia Bank.

Currency

The currency is the Euro on the French side and NAF or NAG (Netherland Antillean Florin or Guilders on the Dutch side). U.S. currency as well as U.S. traveler’s cheques are widely accepted. Canadian currency is accepted in banks only.

Credit cards

American Express, Visa, MasterCard are generally honored. American Express is not accepted by certain businesses.

Shopping

Stores are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Stores may be closed during lunch time. Best buys include: Gold jewlery, precious stones, watches, perfume & beauty products, leather accessories, electronics, linens and liquor. Some may remain open until 8 p.m. or up to 10 p.m.

Duty free shopping

The entire island is duty-free. Shopping on the French side is concentrated in dowtown Marigot, Marina Royale and the Marigot Waterfront. On the Dutch Side, there is good shopping in dowtown Philipsburg, Front Street, Back Street and on the Philipsburg Waterfront. Last minute shopping is also available at the airport.

Local transportation

Taxis are readily available at all hotels and are the best means of transportation.

Car rental

Car rentals are available through your Air Canada Vacations Representative. Drivers must be age 25 years minimum and have a valid Canadian driver’s license. A credit card or a cash deposit of approximately $600 U.S. is required.

Sightseeing

Your Air Canada Vacations Representative will be pleased to provide you more information about tours and attractions. You will be informed of all optional tours available.

Tipping

Many restaurants add a service charge of 15% which covers gratuities. If not, tipping is at the client’s discretion, 15% is customary.

Water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Electricity

Air Canada Vacations hotels operate on 110 V, 60 cycles on the Dutch side and 220 Vs, 50 cycles on the French side. Some hotels have adapters for sale but it is best to bring your own.

Language

French, English and Dutch.

Religion

Most religions are represented: Baptist, Anglican, Roman Catholic. For more information, consult your hotel front desk or your Air Canada Vacations representative.

Time zone

When it is noon in St. Martin/St. Maarten, it is
12 p.m. (noon) in Halifax
11 a.m. in Montreal or Toronto
10 a.m. in Winnipeg
9 a.m. in Calgary
8 a.m. in Vancouver
Daylight savings time - add 1 hour