This guide is about the Dutch side of the island called Saint Martin (St. Martin). If you plan on visiting Saint Martin or other French Caribbean departments (French Guiana (Guyane), Guadeloupe, Martinique or Saint Barthélemy (St Bart(h)s), consider getting a SIM card in Saint Martin itself for free roaming in the French West Indies and the European Union.
Sint Maarten – a special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, also referred to as a constituent country of the Kingdom.
It is often confused with Saint Martin, mostly because the island is called Saint Martin.
To make it even more confusing, the northern half of Saint Martin is simply called Saint Martin and is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic.
So you have a Dutch side, Sint Maarten, and the French side, Saint Martin.
What makes things even more interesting is that there are no formal border checks between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin.
So you may accidentally pass the border and end up at the other side.
But before you do so, you will most likely land at the Dutch side because the main international airport, Princess Juliana International Airport, is located there.
L'Espérance Airport/Grand Case Airport has only four airlines servicing it – Princess Juliana International Airport has 25 airlines servicing it.
Sint Maarten is known for its lovely weather, incredible beaches & thrilling nightlife.
Besides being a relaxing travel destination for mainly the Dutch, Americans & Canadians.
Moreover, many cruise ships stop at the island with passengers from countries worldwide.
The thing is – it is a given that you want to share your Sint Maarten experiences online.
I think it is an unwritten law somewhere.
But before you get too excited, you should know that international roaming can be expensive.
It could be so expensive that it could pay for a second holiday in Sint Maarten.
Why waste that money on a phone bill instead? And how to prevent such a bill shock? Get a local SIM card in Sint Maarten.
Not only are they relatively affordable, but they allow you to enjoy local rates when in Sint Maarten, which are significantly lower than standard roaming rates.
But how expensive are SIM cards in Sint Maarten?
You can get a Sint Maarten SIM card for 18 USD from Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) or 20 USD from TelCell in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Sint Maarten-Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM – Flow/Chippie only).
And they say the Caribbean is criminally expensive. It actually is… but those prices are reasonable… it could be worse!
But before you go out and get yourself a Sint Maarten SIM card, there are still some things you should know about SIM cards in this place.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Sint Maarten. Let's go.
Original publication: 6th of June 2021. Last updated: 17th of February 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Sint Maarten?
You can buy a Sint Maarten SIM card from Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) and TelCell (TelEm) as a tourist. There is nothing preventing travelers from buying a SIM card in Sint Maarten.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in Sint Maarten.
Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Sint Maarten SIM card.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Sint Maarten?
You can get a Sint Maarten SIM card in the official stores of Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) and TelCell. They are also available at Sint Maarten-Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
You can expect to pay the following for SIM cards in Sint Maarten:
- Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS Sint Maarten): 18 USD
- TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm): 20 USD
Can You Use Your Phone in Sint Maarten?
Sint Maarten uses GSM for their cellular communications, meaning that you need a GSM-capable phone to use your phone in the country. Fortunately, there is about a 99% chance your phone supports GSM.
Besides that, you need to be aware of the ITU Regions to determine whether your phone will work in other parts of the world.
Although there are 3 ITU Regions, you only need to know these two terms: American frequencies and European frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European frequencies without issues.
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American frequencies, which are different from the European frequencies.
Sint Maarten uses a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 3G and 4G.
There is no 2G in Sint Maarten anymore.
If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you can go with any mobile operator.
They support traditional American frequencies on 3G (850 MHz) and 4G/LTE (850 MHz on Band 5).
You will experience better 4G/LTE coverage, but your speeds will be slower than if your phone would also support American frequencies.
If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you can go with any mobile operator.
They support traditional European frequencies on 3G (2100 MHz) and 4G/LTE (1800 MHz on Band 3 & 2100 MHz on Band 1).
You will experience much faster speeds, but your reception may be weaker than if your phone would also support European frequencies.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any mobile operator, as your phone will support both American frequencies and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten has two mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS Sint Maarten)
- TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
The following frequencies are used in Sint Maarten:
- 2G: N/A – shut down
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 850 MHz (Band 5), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Sint Maarten, 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 Sint Maarten
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) are not offered by the mobile operators in Sint Maarten (yet).
This means that when you make a call, 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 Sint Maarten
5G NR is not available in Sint Maarten as of 2022, and the Sint Maarten government has not made any indications of when they will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card in Sint Maarten
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Sint Maarten, I recommend going with Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS). It has the best (4G/LTE) coverage, is the fastest, and allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie).
Best eSIM in Sint Maarten
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Sint Maarten yet.
Note that the Sint Maarten 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 Sint Maarten (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Sint Maarten (Lantana) 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 Lantana eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.
So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Lantana 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 Sint Maarten soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.
The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
For an in-depth analysis of the Sint Maarten Lantana eSIMs (covering pros and cons as well), check out my Sint Marteen eSIMs Compared guide.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
With this eSIM, you can skip Sint Maarten's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Sint Maarten!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
TIP: check out my Best Sint Maarten eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Sint Maarten.
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 Sint Maarten (yet).
However, as many who visit the Sint Maarten do not just stay in Sint Maarten (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 Sint Maarten and eSIMs worldwide) and my Best Sint Maarten eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Sint Maarten.
SIM Card Registration in Sint Maarten
SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Sint Maarten. This will be done at the point of purchase.
EU Roaming in Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten is a special municipality (bijzondere gemeente) in Caribbean Netherlands.
Caribbean Netherlands is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Netherlands itself is part of the European Union (EU).
However, Caribbean Netherlands is not part of the EU nor the European Economic Area (EEA).
As a result, the EU/EEA Roam Like At Home roaming regulation does not apply to Sint Maarten.
Therefore, you should not expect to roam for free if you have an EU/EEA SIM card while traveling in Sint Maarten.
This also means that you can not roam for free in the EU/EEA with a Sint Maarten SIM card.
Roaming in Saint Martin
Sint Maarten, the Dutch side in the south, and Saint Martin, the French side in the north, share one island.
Sint Maarten has two mobile operators (Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) & TelCell), while Saint Martin has four mobile operators (Dauphin Telecom, Digicel, Flow/Chippie & Orange).
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 Sint Maarten SIM card can roam for free in Saint Martin.
Flow/Chippie is active on both sides of the island and allows for free roaming through Chippieland.
TelCell Sint Maarten (+Saba & Sint Eustatius) roams on the Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin network for free.
Dauphin Telecom Saint Martin, Orange Saint Martin & SFR Saint Martin roam for free on the TelCell Sint Maarten Network.
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).
Roaming in Saba & Sint Eustatius
Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS) and TelCell Sint Maarten allow for free roaming in Saba and Sint Eustatius.
Flow/Chippie has Chippieland, allowing for free roaming in Saba, Sint Eustatius & Sint Maarten (+Bonaire, Curaçao & Saint Martin).
TelCell operates as a single network in Saba, Sint Eustatius & Sint Maarten, meaning you are technically not roaming when you are on any of those islands.
Note: Flow/Chippie SIM cards are slightly cheaper in Saba (17 USD) and Sint Eustatius (16.75 USD).
Do what you want with these insights 😏.
Sint Maarten 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 Sint Maarten?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Sint Maarten is 4.17 USD, around the Caribbean average of 4.44 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Just look at how expensive mobile data used to be in Sint Maarten – 21.64 USD/1 GB!
The average cost of 1 GB of data has decreased by 80.7%.
While there is not much information about mobile data speeds in Sint Maarten 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 quite expensively priced SIM cards, good nationwide coverage (in populated areas), decent mobile download speeds, and average mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in Sint Maarten.
Currency in Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten uses the US Dollar with the symbol USD (which will be used throughout this guide).
Prices in Sint Maarten are listed in just $.
The Netherlands Antillean Guilder with the symbol ANG (NAƒ/NAf/ƒ/f) is also used in Sint Maarten but not as much.
For up-to-date USD:your currency (let's say Euro) 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.
Sint Maarten Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS) & TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm), 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 Sint Maarten has to offer to us.
Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
Flow Sint Maarten, just Flow and formerly UTS Sint Maarten – going by Chippie, is one of the two mobile operators in Sint Maarten.
Flow/Chippie is a brand by Cable & Wireless used throughout the Caribbean.
Flow/Chippie uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: N/A – shut down
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 850 MHz (Band 5), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
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
* Plans & Packages
* Chippieland Explained
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie has great coverage throughout Sint Maarten.
However, you will often be dealing with 3G.
Below is Flow/Chippie's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
You can get a Flow/Chippie SIM card for 18 USD with 11 USD credit in Flow stores. They are also sold at Sint Maarten-Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
Dial *91 or #191# to access the Flow/Chippie menu.
Dial *555# to see your Flow/Chippie phone number.
- 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/Chippie has no eSIMs.
Note that the Sint Maarten mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Sint Maarten (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Sint Maarten (Lantana) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
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 Sint Maarten (yet).
However, as many who visit the Sint Maarten do not just stay in Sint Maarten (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Sint Maarten eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Sint Maarten.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Topping Up & Recharging – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie top-up vouchers, called Chippiecards, are sold in Flow stores, grocery stores, gas stations & bars.
The following top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| 5 USD | 30 days |
| 10 USD | 30 days |
| 20 USD | 30 days |
To top up your Flow/Chippie SIM card, dial *191*VoucherCode#; dial *91, select option 2, and enter the VoucherCode; or dial *444#, select option 1, select option 1 again, and enter the VoucherCode.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *191*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.
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).
Plans, Packages, Bundles & Offers – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
Flow/Chippie has three data-featured plans:
- Combo Bundles (as the name implies)
- Data Bundles (as the name suggests)
- Extra Data (data add-on)
All Flow/Chippie plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 3434.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in:
Combo Bundles – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
The Combo Bundles are, as the name implies, combo plans with data, minutes & SMS.
Activate Combo Bundles by texting the Activation Code to 3434:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 USD | 1 Day Combo | 1.5 GB | 1000 minutes | 100 SMS | 1 day | combo1d |
| 7 USD | 3 Day Combo | 2.5 GB | 1000 minutes | 200 SMS | 3 days | combo3d |
| 14 USD | 7 Day Combo | 7.5 GB | “Unlimited”, 3000 minutes | Unlimited | 7 days | combo7d |
| 51 USD | 30 Day Combo | 10 GB | “Unlimited”, 3000 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | combo30d |
Data Bundles – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
The Data Bundles are, as the name suggests, data-only plans.
Activate Data Bundles by texting the Activation Code to 3434:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.50 USD | 1 Day | 2 GB | 1 day | data1d |
| 6 USD | 3 Days | 3 GB | 3 days | data3d |
| 12 USD | 7 Days | 4 GB | 7 days | data7d |
| 18 USD | 30 Days Small | 2 GB | 30 days | data30ds |
| 24 USD | 30 Days Large | 8 GB | 30 days | data30ds |
Extra Data Add-On – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
The Extra Data is a data-only add-on exclusively for Combo Bundles. It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.
For 6 USD, you get 1 GB on top of your existing data allowance.
The validity of your current Combo Bundle stays in place.
Text extra data to 3434 to activate Extra Data.
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 USD | 1 GB | Until plan expires | extra data |
Chippieland Countries & Benefits – Flow/Chippie Sint Maarten (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 Sint Maarten (formerly UTS)
- Name: Flow Sint Maarten
- APN: premium
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
TelCell Sint Maarten, just TelCell but also known as TelEm, is one of the mobile operators in Sint Maarten.
It operates as one mobile operator network in Saba, Sint Eustatius & Sint Maarten.
This allows you to use your TelCell SIM card in the aforementioned territories without paying roaming fees.
TelCell uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: N/A – shut down
- 3G: 850 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 850 MHz (Band 5) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
This is what you will learn about TelCell:
* Coverage
* How to Get a TelCell SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
TelCell has great coverage throughout Sint Maarten.
However, you will often be dealing with 3G.
Below is TelCell's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
You can get a TelCell SIM card for 20 USD with 10 USD credit in TelCell stores. They are not sold at Sint Maarten-Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).
Text number to 121 to see your TelCell phone number.
- 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)
TellCell has no eSIMs.
Note that the Sint Maarten mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Sint Maarten (without personal detail capturing), you can get the Sint Maarten (Lantana) eSIM from Airalo with (1 GB of data for 7 days – top-ups are available).
The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
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 Sint Maarten (yet).
However, as many who visit the Sint Maarten do not just stay in Sint Maarten (often go to Saint Barthélemy), you can consider it.
TIP: check out my Best Sint Maarten eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Sint Maarten.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
TelCell top-up vouchers are sold in TelCell stores and from Top Up Vendors, including grocery stores, gas stations & bars.
The following top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| 1 USD – 2.99 USD | 2 days |
| 2 USD – 4.99 USD | 5 days |
| 5 USD – 9.99 USD | 10 days |
| 10 USD – 19.99 USD | 30 days |
| 20 USD – 59.99 USD | 60 days |
| 60 USD – 99.99 USD | 80 days |
| 100 USD – 200 USD | 100 days |
To top up your TelCell SIM card, dial *123*VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *123*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.
Dial *124# to check your TelCell balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Telcell Customer Selfcare app (Android/iOS).
Plans, Packages, Bundles & Offers – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
TelCell has two data-featured plans: Mobile Prepaid Data Plans (as the name implies) & Smart Data (add-on).
Mobile Prepaid Data Plans – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
The Mobile Prepaid Data Plans are, as the name suggests, data-only bundles.
The following Mobile Prepaid Data Plans are available, which you can activate by texting DATA ON to the corresponding number:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 USD | 750 MB | 1 day | DATA ON to 1001 |
| 3 USD | 1.5 GB | 1 day | DATA ON to 2001 |
| 7.50 USD | 4 GB | 1 day | DATA ON to 2004 |
| 10 USD | 1 GB | 30 days | DATA ON to 1007 |
| 10 USD | 5.25 GB | 7 days | DATA ON to 3001 |
| 20 USD | 3 GB | 30 days | DATA ON to 2030 |
| 30 USD | 5 GB | 30 days | DATA ON to 1030 |
| 35 USD | 7.5 GB | 30 days | DATA ON to 1035 |
| 40 USD | 10 GB | 30 days | DATA ON to 1040 |
Smart Data Add-On – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
The Smart Data plan is a data-only add-on. It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.
For 10 USD, you get 1 GB on top of your existing data allowance.
The validity of your current Mobile Prepaid Data Plan stays in place.
Text DATA ON to 3230 to activate Smart Data.
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 USD | 1 GB | Until plan expires | DATA ON to 3230 |
APN/Internet Settings – TelCell (Sint Maarten – TelEm)
- Name: TelCell
- APN: internet.telcell.an
- Authentication Type: PAP or CHAP
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Sint Maarten
Getting a SIM card from Flow/Chippie (formerly UTS) or TelCell would do you well when considering a Sint Maarten 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:
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
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Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
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In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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