Saint Martin isn't a budget destination, but it's substantially less expensive than many other French islands. Costs can vary depending on whether you want to play with the rich and famous in a swish resort or hunker down in a modest bungalow. Likewise, gobbling up foie gras and French wine will set you back substantially more than much of the Creole cuisine on offer. Travelling off-season helps a bit, but because the island is a large cruise ship destination, prices don't fall too dramatically.

St Martin's official legal tender is the euro. US dollars are widely used throughout most of the Eastern Caribbean, so make sure you have some greenbacks if you're swapping between St Martin and Sint Maarten or doing some island hopping. Pack your plastic - MasterCard and Visa are widely (though not universally) accepted. ATMs are plentiful in banks and casinos.

St Martin is a tax-free locale; as well as the usual duty-free stuff you can buy air tickets sans tax. Expect to do a bit of gentle bargaining in marketplaces for souvenirs and the like. Store prices are generally fixed.

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