Frequently Asked Questions
For those seeking an exceptional retreat in Saint Martin and Sint Maarten, there is only Sotheby’s International Realty.
Planning your travels and vacation can be difficult. That’s why you’ll love working with the St. Martin Sotheby’s Realty team. We do the heavy lifting for you.
We start with finding the best villas in St. Martin and St. Maarten that fit your needs. And once you’ve booked your stay, our guest experience team takes over to book all the details like car rentals, restaurant reservations and activities.
Please reach out to our team so we can help you get started. You can also check out our most frequently asked questions below.
Guest Experience
Our team members all use WhatsApp which is a communications app that allows for voice calls and text over WiFi and data. We recommend downloading the app and creating a free account before you arrive. Your designated Guest Experience team member will input their information into your phone when you arrive.
Your assigned Guest Experience Team Member is there to fulfill any and all reasonable requests during your trip to St. Maarten / St. Martin. Most guests will book their dinner reservations and various activities throughout their stay using this service. But you can also ask simple questions like "What should we do today?" and more.
Absolutely! Your assigned Guest Experience team member will greet you at the airport or property, provide a guided tour, and answer any initial questions you may have about the amenities and items in the property.
Yes! When you book rental vehicles through our services, we can have the car(s) delivered to your rental property where the car rental paperwork will be filled out in the comfort of your accommodations. We recommend this service so the airport pickup runs smoothly and the entire group can travel together to the property. This service must be arranged and requested ahead of time through our reservations team.
For our villa rentals, one airport pickup is included in your stay. If more are required, there is an additional fee.
For our condo rentals, there is an additional charge for airport pickup.
For our villa rentals, we provide a welcome basket with various snacks and drinks. If you would like us to do some pre-arrival grocery shopping or provisioning for you, please let us know and we will assist and send more details.
For our condo rentals, there is no welcome basket provided. Please let us know and we can add it at an additional cost.
Reservation
You'll have access to our on-island team throughout the entire process. Even before you book your condominium or villa in St. Maarten / St. Martin, we'll help you find the best property that fits your needs.
Our Guest Experience Team provides assistance with coordinating additional experiences including car rentals, chef services, massages, out-door activities, restaurant reservations, provisioning, golf tee times, and more. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week - including holidays.
We also have a Maintenance Team who can respond to any villa maintenance requirements.
From the moment you start planning to the time you make your way back home, we are 100% here for you.
Each property has its own minimum night requirements starting at 4 nights during the low season, 5 nights during the high season, and 7 nights during the holiday season. If you would like to rent a condo or villa in St. Maarten / St. Martin for fewer nights than the minimum advertised nights, please contact our team to make the request.
We offer discounts and specials at various times. The best way to find out when we are running a special discount is by browsing our rentals with current promotions or by signing up for our company newsletter at the bottom of this page.
We require the minimum age of the primary renter to be at least 18 years old.
The amount of guests allowed in each condo or villa is based on the number of bedrooms rented. Each bedroom has a maximum of 2 people per room.
Only registered guests can be on the property during the rental period and no outside guests are allowed on the property without prior notice on a request basis. Some of our properties allow events like weddings or birthdays and may be subject to event rates. Please enquire with our reservation team for these details and requests.
We are pet lovers, but our pet policy varies by property. Please inquire with our reservations team prior to bringing your pets with you to our condos or villas. This must be approved by our team ahead of your arrival. Also, be sure to confirm that you have met all airline requirements as well as animal export and import requirements in your home country as well as in St. Martin / St. Maarten.
25% of the rent is due within 7 days of the Property Rental Agreement issue date to confirm the reservation. For holiday bookings (Christmas and New Years) there is a 50% deposit. Failure to make this payment subjects the reservation to automatic cancellation without notice. The balance due of rent, Government Tax, and any additional fees must be paid in full at least 60 days prior to the date of arrival. There is a 10% tax and service fee on top of the gross rate. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa / MasterCard), and by wire. Only ONE credit card will be accepted from a rental party for property payment. For credit card payments there is a 3.9% credit card fee. Wire payment fees are to be covered by the renter.
All cancellations and any request for changes to the renters reservation (such as date changes or changes in the number of persons) must be made IN WRITING and sent by email.
High and Low Season Cancellation Policy:
If the renter cancels more than 60 days prior to the arrival date, 25 percent of the total rent will be retained by St. Martin Sotheby’s International Realty as full liquidated damages.
If the renter cancels 60 to 30 days prior to the arrival date, St. Martin Sotheby’s International Realty will retain 50 percent of the total gross rent as full liquidated damages.
If the renter cancels within 30 days of the arrival date, St. Martin Sotheby’s International Realty will retain 100 percent of the total rent as full liquidated damages.
Holiday bookings have their own payment and cancellation policies (Holiday season is during the two weeks of Christmas and New Years):
Full payment is due 60 days before the arrival date.
Holiday Cancellation Policy:
If the renter cancels more than 60 days prior to the arrival date, St. Martin Sotheby’s International Realty retains 50% of the gross rental fee.
If the renter cancels less than 60 days prior to the arrival date, St. Martin Sotheby’s International Realty retains 100% of the gross rental fee.
Force Majeure Policy
The performance of this Agreement by either party is subject to acts of God, government authority, disaster, or other emergencies, any of which make it illegal or impossible to provide the facilities and/or services for the property rental. It is provided that this Agreement may be terminated for any one or more of such reasons by written notice from one party to the other without liability.
All rental properties have housekeeping included in the price of the rental. The frequency of the housekeeping services varies by property and length of stay. Contact our reservations team for more details about any particular condos or villas you are interested in.
Real Estate
Yes, both the Dutch and French sides of the island allow foreigners to buy property. However, in some cases, there are specific regulations and restrictions that may apply, so it's essential to consult with one of our real estate experts or an attorney to understand the requirements.
You can purchase a variety of properties, including apartments and condos, houses and villas, as well as development land, pre-development opportunities, and commercial properties in St. Maarten and St. Martin. Contact us today to begin your real estate search.
Yes, many buyers purchase real estate in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin for rental income or investment. The island's tourism industry makes it a popular destination for vacation rentals, and we offer property management services to assist owners with managing and renting their property. Also, there are no capital gains taxes or property taxes on the Dutch side of the island. Contact us today to discuss real estate investment on the island.