This guide is about the French side of the island called Saint Martin (St. Martin). If you plan on visiting Sint Maarten or other Caribbean Netherlands municipalities (Saba and Sint Eustatius (Statia), consider getting a SIM card in Sint Maarten itself for free roaming in Caribbean Netherlands.
Saint Martin (St Martin) – known for its beaches, unique clothing & outdoor markets.
The local tourist office refers to Saint Martin as The Friendly Island.
What is not friendly is the cost of travel in Saint Martin – it is not cheap at all.
One thing to be wary of is the international roaming rates mobile operators can charge you – international roaming can be expensive.
That is why I recommend getting local SIM cards because they are almost always cheaper than roaming and you can enjoy local rates.
Luckily, SIM cards are not too expensive in Saint Martin, but they are not cheap either.
You can get a Saint-Martinoise SIM card for 12 EUR (12.80 USD) from Digicel, 10 EUR (10.70 USD) from Flow/Chippie, 15 EUR (16 USD) from Orange & 14.90 EUR (15.90 USD) to 35.90 EUR (38.35 USD) from Dauphin Telecom in their stores. SIM cards are not sold at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG).
Those prices may seem expensive to some, but those are normal for Caribbean standards.
Except for the 35.90 EUR SIM card from Dauphin Telecom. But that one includes some perks.
Imagine if you had to spend 36 EUR/40 EUR just for a SIM card 😳.
The Falkland Islands know all about it 🥴.
In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Saint Martin. Let's do this.
Original publication: 20th of December 2021. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Saint Martin?
You can buy a Saint-Martinoise SIM card from Digicel, Dauphin Telecom, Flow/Chippie & Orange as a tourist. There is nothing preventing travelers from buying a SIM card in Saint Martin.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in Saint Martin.
Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Saint-Martinoise SIM card.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Saint Martin?
You can get a Saint-Martinoise SIM card in the official stores of Digicel, Dauphin Telecom, Flow/Chippie & Orange. They are not available at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG).
You can expect to pay the following for Saint-Martinoise SIM cards:
- Digicel Saint Martin: 12 EUR
- Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin): 14.90 EUR, 29.90 EUR & 35.90 EUR
- Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS): 10 EUR
- Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe): 15 EUR
For up-to-date EUR: your currency (let's say GBP) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Saint Martin?
Saint Martin uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Saint Martin. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Saint Martin, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Saint Martin.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Saint Martin or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Saint Martin (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Saint Martin
Saint Martin has four mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
- Digicel Saint Martin
- Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS Saint Martin)
- Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
The following frequencies are used in Saint Martin:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 850 MHz (Band 5), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Saint Martin, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Saint Martin
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFI calling) are available in Saint Martin.
However, not all mobile operators in Saint Martin offer VoLTE and VoWiFi.
The following mobile operators offer VoLTE and VoWiFi in Saint Martin:
- Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin), Digicel Saint Barthélemy & Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS) do not offer VoLTE and VoWiFi (yet).
This means that when you make a call with Dauphin Telecom, Digicel & Flow/Chippie, your phone will downgrade to 3G (or 2G when 3G is not available) instead of staying connected to 4G/LTE.
This is also why you often cannot use mobile while calling if not connected to WiFi.
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Saint Martin
5G NR is not available in Saint Martin as of 2022, and the French telecom regulator, ARCEP, has not made any andications of when it will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card in Saint Martin
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Saint Martin, I recommend going with Flow or Orange. Flow allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie). Orange is the fastest and allows for free roaming in the French West Indies on Orange networks.
Best eSIM in Saint Martin
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Saint Martin yet.
Note that the Saint-Martinoise mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Martin (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Martin (Marnet) eSIM from Airalo with 1 GB of data for 7 days.
Now, you may think this is a sad selection or that 1 GB of data is insufficient.
Both points are true… I agree – but you can make unlimited top-ups with the Marnet eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.
So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Marnet 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.
Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for Saint Martin soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.
For an in-depth analysis of the Airalo Marnet eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
With this eSIM, you can skip Saint Martin's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Saint Martin!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
TIP: check out my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin, including ones not mentioned above.
Airalo has an eSIM for the Caribbean: Island Hopper. The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in 24 Caribbean countries.
The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe & Latamlink for Latin America) because you only have one variant: 1 GB for 7 days, but top-ups are available (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).
The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 countries:
- Aruba
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- French Guiana 1
- Grenada 2
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat 2
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!
I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link so that it offers you better value.
For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).
As you can see, the Island Hopper eSIM cannot be used in Saint Martin (yet).
However, as many who visit the Saint Martin do not just stay in Saint Martin (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Saint Martin and eSIMs worldwide) and my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin.
SIM Card Registration in Saint Martin
SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Saint Martin. It will be done at the point of sale.
EU Roaming in Saint Martin
Saint Martin is part of the European Union (EU) because the territory is part of France.
Since June 2017, those with EU/EEA (European Economic Area) SIM cards can roam for free in other EU/EEA nations, including Saint Martin/France.
This means that, in the majority of cases, you do not need to purchase a Saint-Martinoise SIM card if you already have an EU/EEA SIM card because you can roam without additional costs.
However, conditions do apply. Mobile operators in some countries may impose a roaming Fair Use Policy (FUP).
In countries where local mobile data rates are extremely low (such as in the Baltics and Nordics), mobile operators may still charge you for roaming in the EU/EEA.
Be sure to head over to the international roaming page to learn whether your mobile operator offers free roaming while in Saint Martin or if restrictions apply.
Roaming in the EU with Saint-Martinoise SIM Cards
Saint Martin/France and the Saint-Martinoise/French mobile operators have largely adopted the roam like at home regulations principles early on. However, some plans have an EU/EEA roaming cap.
Moreover, the standard Fair Use Policy applies where you should not be roaming over 50% of the time over a four-month period.
If you do so, EU roaming rates will apply. You are then better off buying local prepaid SIM cards in other EU nations.
Roaming in Sint Maarten
Saint Martin, the French side up north, and Sint Maarten, the Dutch side in the south, share one island.
Saint Martin has four mobile operators (Dauphin Telecom, Digicel, Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) & Orange), while Sint Maarten has two mobile operators (Flow/Chippie & TelCell).
Because of the mountainous nature of the island, it is not always possible for the mobile operators from each side to cover both sides of the island.
As a result, those with a Saint-Martinoise SIM card can roam for free in Sint Maarten.
Flow/Chippie is active on both sides of the island and allows for free roaming through Chippieland.
Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin, Orange Saint Martin & SFR Saint Martin roam for free on the TelCell Sint Maarten Network.
TelCell Sint Maarten (+Saba & Sint Eustatius) roams on the Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin network for free.
If you get a Digicel Saint Martin (+Saint Barthélemy) SIM card, you are out of luck – Its/their SIM card(s) do not allow for free roaming in Sint Maarten.
Long story short: you do not need to get a SIM card on both sides of the island to stay connected (unless you get a Digicel SIM card).
French West Indies Zone Locale Roaming with Saint-Martinoise SIM cards
The mobile operators in the French West Indies/French Caribbean often operator as a single network on the islands of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin – in the case of Orange Caraïbe, SFR Caraïbe & La Poste Caraïbe Mobile.
Digicel operates as four different networks in the five French West Indies islands (Digicel Guyane, Digicel Guadeloupe, Digicel Martinique & Digicel St. Martin and St. Barth).
The Zone Locale regulation anyone with a Saint-Martinoise to roam for free on the other French Caribbean islands.
Meaning that you can use your local allowance on the other islands.
While roaming is free, note that you cannot use a Saint-Martinoise SIM card for more than four months in a year on the other islands.
Saint Martin Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
The Caribbean is certainly not known for being a cheap travel destination.
Many of the Caribbean nations have many high-end resorts.
They are fun, but they are off-limits for your on-a-budget backpacker – if you get me.
So what about mobile data rates? Are they low in Saint Martin?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Saint Martin is 4.17 USD, below the Caribbean average of 4.44 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Compared to 2019's figures, the average cost of 1 GB of data has decreased by 59.1%
While there is not much information about mobile data speeds in Saint Martin because not many people do speed tests there, I can mention something about speeds.
In the Caribbean, you can expect your speeds to range between 10 Mbps and 25 Mbps.
With Orange Saint Martin, however, with its expertise from France, you can expect even faster speeds compared to its competitors.
But do not get too excited – you will not get the same download speeds as in France itself, which is in the top 25 countries with the fastest mobile download speeds worldwide.
With reasonably priced SIM cards, close to island wide coverage, fast mobile download speeds, and around average mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in Saint Martin.
Currency in Saint Martin
Saint Martin uses the Euro with the symbol EUR (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as just €. For example, 25 EUR = €25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between EUR and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 EUR = 1.05 USD
- 10 EUR = 10.70 USD
- 100 EUR = 107 USD
For up-to-date EUR:USD exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
Saint-Martinoise Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin), Digicel Saint Martin, Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS) & Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe), and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Saint Martin has to offer to us.
Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin, just Dauphin Telecom, is one of the mobile operators in Saint Martin.
It operates as just one network in both Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, allowing for free roaming in both territories.
Dauphin Telecom uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
This is what you will learn about Dauphin Telecom:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Dauphin Telecom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
Dauphin Telecom has extensive coverage throughout Saint Martin.
Its 4G/LTE coverage is not the best, but it could be worse (looking at you, Flow/Chippie Saint Martin 👀).
Below is Dauphin Telecom's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see Dauphin Telecom's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
You can get a Dauphin Telecom SIM card, called Easy Card, for 14.90 EUR, 29.90 EUR, or 35.90 EUR in Dauphin Telecom stores. They are not sold at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG).
The following Dauphin Telecom SIM cards are available:
| SIM Card Price | Credit | Data | Local SMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.90 EUR | N/A | 750 MB | N/A |
| 29.90 EUR | N/A | 1.5 GB | N/A |
| 35.90 EUR | 10 EUR | 1 GB | Unlimited |
Dial #555# to access the Dauphin Telecom menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Dauphin Telecom has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint-Martinoise mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Martin (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Martin (Marnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
Airalo has an eSIM for the Caribbean: Island Hopper. The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in 24 Caribbean countries.
The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe & Latamlink for Latin America) because you only have one variant: 1 GB for 7 days, but top-ups are available (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).
The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 countries:
- Aruba
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- French Guiana 1
- Grenada 2
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat 2
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!
I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link so that it offers you better value.
For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).
As you can see, the Island Hopper eSIM cannot be used in Saint Martin (yet).
However, as many who visit the Saint Martin do not just stay in Saint Martin (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
Dauphin Telecom top-up vouchers are sold in Dauphin Telecom stores and from Top Up Vendors, including kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
When you recharge online or on the TopUp Dauphin Telecom app, you can get a credit bonus of up to 20% for recharges of 12 EUR, 15 EUR, or 20 EUR.
Below are the bonuses:
| Online Top-Up | Credit |
|---|---|
| 12 EUR | 13.20 EUR (10% bonus) |
| 15 EUR | 17.25 EUR (15% bonus) |
| 20 EUR | 24 EUR (20% bonus) |
Dial #555# to see your Dauphin Telecom balance.
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
Dauphin Telecom has only one data-featured prepaid top-up that acts as a plan: Rechargement Top Up. It is a data top-up/plan (without 5G NR access).
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The following Rechargement Top Up are available, which can be activated online on Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin website:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EUR | 500 MB | 1 month |
| 10 EUR | 1 GB | 1 month |
| 15 EUR | 2 GB | 1 month |
| 20 EUR | 4 GB | 1 month |
| 35 EUR | 10 GB | 1 month |
APN/Internet Settings – Dauphin Telecom (Saint Martin)
- Name: dauphin
- APN: internet
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Digicel Saint Martin
Digicel Saint Martin, just Digicel but officially Digicel Saint Martin & Saint Barthélemy, is one of the mobile operators in Saint Martin.
It operates as just one network in both Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, allowing for free roaming in both territories.
Digicel, as a company, is active in many other Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.
Digicel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20)
This is what you will learn about Digicel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Digicel Saint Martin
Digicel has one of the best coverage in Saint Martin.
4G/LTE is available amost anywhere.
Below is Digicel Saint Martin's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see Digicel Saint Martin's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – Digicel Saint Martin
You can get a Digicel SIM card, called Pack Carte Premium, for 12 EUR in Digicel stores and from VP Intercom in Marigot. They are not sold at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG), but Digicel Hope Estate is the closest store to the airport to get a Digicel SIM card.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Digicel has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint-Martinoise mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Martin (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Martin (Marnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
Airalo has an eSIM for the Caribbean: Island Hopper. The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in 24 Caribbean countries.
The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe & Latamlink for Latin America) because you only have one variant: 1 GB for 7 days, but top-ups are available (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).
The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 countries:
- Aruba
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- French Guiana 1
- Grenada 2
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat 2
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!
I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link so that it offers you better value.
For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).
As you can see, the Island Hopper eSIM cannot be used in Saint Martin (yet).
However, as many who visit the Saint Martin do not just stay in Saint Martin (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Saint Martin
Digicel top-up vouchers are sold in Digicel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digicel SIM card, dial *133#VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *133#123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
That link does indeed refer you to the online top-up page of Guadeloupe – it is shared with Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin.
Dial *133# to check your Digicel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Digicel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Saint Martin
Digicel has two data-featured plans: Offres Carte/Card Offers (combo) & Pass Extra Data (data add-on).
All Digicel plans are activated through the MyDigicel app.
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
The Offres Carte (Card Offers), also referred to Recharge Premium, are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Offres Carte/Recharge Premium are available, which can be activated through the MyDigicel app:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 EUR | Recharge Premium €2 | 500 MB | 30 minutes | Unlimited | 1 day |
| 5 EUR | Recharge Premium €5 | 1 GB | 60 minutes | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 10 EUR | Recharge Premium €10 | 3 GB | 120 minutes | Unlimited | 10 days |
| 25 EUR | Recharge Premium €25 | 10 GB | 180 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days |
Pass Extra Data – Digicel Saint Martin
The Pass Extra Data is a data add-on (without 5G NR access). It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.
For 5 EUR, you get 2 GB until your Offres Carte/Recharge Premium plan expires.
The following Pass Extra Data plan are available, which can be activated through the MyDigicel app:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EUR | 2 GB | Until plan expires |
APN/Internet Settings – Digicel Saint Martin
- Name: Digicel
- APN: webdigicelfr.com
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
Flow Saint Martin, just Flow and formerly UTS Saint Martin – going by Chippie, is one of the mobile operators in Saint Martin.
Flow/Chippie is a brand by Cable & Wireless used throughout the Caribbean.
Flow/Chippie uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: shut down in 2017 after a hurricane
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
This is what you will learn about Flow/Chippie:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Flow/Chippie SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* Chippieland Explained
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie has the worst 4G/LTE coverage in Saint Martin.
Somehow, you will mostly be on 3G.
Which is odd, as all its competitors have extensive 4G/LTE coverage.
Below is Flow/Chippie's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
You can get a Flow/Chippie SIM card for 10 EUR in the Flow/Chippie store in Marigot (Rue de la République). They are not sold at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG).
Dial *91 or #191# to access the Flow/Chippie menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Flow has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint-Martinoise mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Martin (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Martin (Marnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
Airalo has an eSIM for the Caribbean: Island Hopper. The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in 24 Caribbean countries.
The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe & Latamlink for Latin America) because you only have one variant: 1 GB for 7 days, but top-ups are available (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).
The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 countries:
- Aruba
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- French Guiana 1
- Grenada 2
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat 2
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!
I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link so that it offers you better value.
For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).
As you can see, the Island Hopper eSIM cannot be used in Saint Martin (yet).
However, as many who visit the Saint Martin do not just stay in Saint Martin (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie top-up vouchers are sold in the Flow/Chippie store in Marigot (Rue de la République), grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Saint Martin.
You can tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial #191# or dial *91 and select option 1 to check your Flow/Chippie balance.
You can also top up on the Topup Chippie app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie has three data-featured prepaid plans:
- Forfaits 3-en-1 Packages (combo)
- Forfaits Data-only Packages
- Offres Additionnelles Donnees Mobiles Prepaye/Additional Offers Prepaid Mobile Data (data add-ons)
All Flow/Chippie plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 3636.
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Forfaits 3-en-1 (3-in-1 Packages) – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
The Forfaits 3-en-1 (3-in-1 Packages) are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Activate Forfaits 3-en-1 by texting the Activation Code to 3434:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.70 EUR | combo 1 jour | 1.5 GB | 1000 minutes | 100 SMS | 1 day | combo1d |
| 6.30 EUR | combo 3 jours | 2.5 GB | 1000 minutes | 200 SMS | 3 days | combo3d |
| 12.60 EUR | combo 7 jours | 7.5 GB | “Unlimited”, 3000 minutes | Unlimited | 7 days | combo7d |
| 48.50 EUR | combo 30 jours | 10 GB | “Unlimited”, 3000 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | combo30d |
Forfaits 3-en-1 (3-in-1 Packages) has data rollover.
Forfaits 3-en-1 (3-in-1 Packages) auto-renews.
Forfaits Data-Only – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
The Forfaits Data-Only are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Activate Forfaits Data-Only by texting the Activation Code to 3434:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.50 EUR | Data Bundle 1 Day | 2 GB | 1 day | data1d |
| 6 EUR | Data Bundle 3 Days | 3 GB | 3 days | data3d |
| 12 EUR | Data Bundle 7 Days | 4 GB | 7 days | data7d |
| 18 EUR | Data Bundle 30 Days Small | 2 GB | 30 days | data30ds |
| 24 EUR | Data Bundle 30 Day Large | 8 GB | 30 days | data30dl |
Forfaits Data-Only has data rollover.
Forfaits Data-Only auto-renews. To stop auto-renewal, text data stop to 3434.
Offres Additionnelles Donnees Mobiles Prepaye (Additional Offers Prepaid Mobile Data) – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
The Offres Additionnelles Donnees Mobiles Prepaye (Additional Offers Prepaid Mobile Data) is a data add-on plan for Forfaits 3-en-1 (3-in-1 Packages) 30-day combo plan only.
It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.
The validity of your current Offres Additionnelles Donnees Mobiles Prepaye stays in place.
Text the Activation Code to 3434 to activate Offres Additionnelles Donnees Mobiles Prepaye.
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.40 USD | 1 GB | Until plan expires | extra data |
Chippieland Countries & Benefits – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
Those with a Chippie SIM card and an active plan can take advantage of Chippieland features, which include:
- Make and receive calls at the local rate of the Chippieland destination you are visiting
- You can be reached on your own mobile number
- No roaming costs will be charged
- Use the data in your active bundle at no additional costs when traveling within Chippieland
The following countries are part of Chippieland:
- Bonaire
- Curaçao
- Saba
- Saint Martin (French side)
- Sint Eustatius
- Sint Maarten (Dutch side)
Note: Saint Barthélemy (St Bart(h)s) is not part of Chippieland anymore since Flow left that market.
APN/Internet Settings – Flow/Chippie Saint Martin (formerly UTS)
- Name: Chippie
- APN: premium
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange Saint Martin, just Orange but officially Orange Caraïbe, is one of the mobile operators in Saint Martin.
It is run by the same Orange from France.
Orange, as a company, is active in other countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe & the Middle East.
Orange uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
This is what you will learn about Orange:
* Coverage
* How to Get an Orange SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange has one of the best coverage in Saint Martin.
4G/LTE is available almost everywhere.
Below is Orange's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
However, click here to see Orange's official coverage map.
SIM Card Price – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
You can get an Orange SIM card for 15 EUR in the Orange store (Boutique) in Marigot (Rue du général De Gaulle). They are not sold at Saint Martin-L'Espérance/Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG).
You can also get the Welcome Pack for 25 EUR.
In addition to paying 15 EUR for the Orange SIM card, you need to recharge 10 EUR.
Then you get 15 EUR credit and 100 MB for 30 days.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Orange has no eSIMs.
Note that the Saint-Martinoise mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Saint Martin (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Saint Martin (Marnet) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
Airalo has an eSIM for the Caribbean: Island Hopper. The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in 24 Caribbean countries.
The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe & Latamlink for Latin America) because you only have one variant: 1 GB for 7 days, but top-ups are available (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).
The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 countries:
- Aruba
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- French Guiana 1
- Grenada 2
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat 2
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in Latin America!
I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link so that it offers you better value.
For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).
As you can see, the Island Hopper eSIM cannot be used in Saint Martin (yet).
However, as many who visit the Saint Martin do not just stay in Saint Martin (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Saint Martin eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Saint Martin, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Note that Orange offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.
Oh, you can also use VoWiFI (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange top-up vouchers are sold in the Orange store (Boutique) in Marigot, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Saint Martin.
The following top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Bonus Data | Credit Validity | SIM Card Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 EUR – 9 EUR | 50 MB | 6 days | 3 months |
| 10 EUR – 19 EUR | 200 MB | 15 days | 9 months |
| 20 EUR – 29 EUR | 500 MB | 45 days | 9 months |
| 30 EUR – 49 EUR | 1 GB | 60 days | 9 months |
| 50 EUR – 100 EUR | 2 GB | 90 days | 9 months |
To top up your Orange SIM card, dial #124# and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial #123# to check your Orange balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Orange et moi Caraïbe (Orange and me Caribbean) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
Orange has three data-featured prepaid plans that act as top-ups:
- Les Recharges Max/Max Refills (combo)
- Les Recharges Classiques/Classic Refills (credit and data)
- Les Recharges Internet/Internet Refills
I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).
To convert EUR to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Les Recharges Max – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Max (Max Refills) are combo plans/top-ups with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Les Recharges Max are available, which can be activated online:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 EUR | 1 GB | Unlimited | 30 minutes | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 15 EUR | 3 GB | Unlimited | 45 minutes | Unlimited | 10 days |
| 20 EUR | 5 GB | Unlimited | 30 minutes | Unlimited | 15 days |
1 to Brazil, Orange Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bemuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands & the US Virgin Islands) & Suriname
Les Recharges Classiques – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Classiques (Classic Refills) are data-only plans/top-ups (without 5G NR access).
The following Les Recharges Classiques are available, which can be activated online:
| Price | Credit | (Bonus) Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 EUR | 5 EUR | 50 MB | 6 days |
| 10 EUR | 10 EUR | 200 MB | 15 days |
| 20 EUR | 20 EUR | 1 GB | 45 days |
| 30 EUR | 30 EUR | 5 GB | 60 days |
| 50 EUR | 50 EUR | 10 GB | 90 days |
Les Recharges Internet – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
The Les Recharges Internet (Internet Refills) are top-ups with bonus data allowances (without 5G NR access), meaning you keep the money you spent as credit.
The following Les Recharges Internet are available, which can be activated online::
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 3 EUR | 1 GB | 10 days |
| 5 EUR | 2 GB | 10 days |
| 15 EUR | 10 GB | 30 days |
| 50 EUR | 40 GB | 60 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Orange Saint Martin (Orange Caraïbe)
- Name: Orange Caraïbe
- APN: orangeweb
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Saint Martin
Getting a SIM card from Flow/Chippie or Orange would do you well when considering a Saint-Martinoise SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other American Countries
Visiting other countries in the Americas? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other American nations, such as:
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy (Barts)
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Sint Eustatius (Statia)
- Sint Maarten
- Suriname
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- Uruguay
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Venezuela
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.