Decroc Taxi Service
A phone call, a regulated fare, and a driver who knows both sides of the island.
Why Go
On an island split between Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin, having a local dispatcher's number in your phone is the difference between guessing at rideshare surge prices and just… going. Decroc runs the old-school way: you dial 556-7517 or 523-1110, and a driver rolls up.
The Experience
There is no app, no live map, no surge pricing — just the kind of taxi service that has kept this two-nation island moving for years. Decroc is part of the government-regulated taxi network, which means the price to Maho, to Grand Case, to Marigot Market, or back to the cruise terminal in Philipsburg is set by zone, not by traffic or time of day. You'll get a driver who can navigate the causeway around Simpson Bay Lagoon at rush hour, knows which border crossing is quickest at any given moment, and has almost certainly given the airport runway drop-off directions a hundred times this month. It's transport with a human on the other end of the phone — useful when your flight lands late, when you're leaving a lolo in Grand Case after dinner, or when a party of six needs to move together.
What to Try
Book a one-way to Maho Beach if you're chasing the plane-watching bucket-list moment, then have Decroc pick you up again — trying to flag a cab from the sand is a losing game. For a proper island day, ask about a cross-border run: Philipsburg's Front Street in the morning for duty-free shopping, then over to Marigot's open-air market for a French-side lunch. Longer group charters to Orient Bay or Terres Basses are the sweet spot for a taxi service like this — you skip the rental car, the parking, and the wrong-side-of-the-road adjustment.
Insider Tip
Taxi fares in St. Maarten are fixed by zone and published by the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association — before you get in, ask the driver to point out your pickup and drop-off zones on the official rate card (they carry one). Rates are quoted for up to two passengers; each additional passenger and each piece of luggage beyond one carry-on adds a small set fee. After 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m. there's a 25% night surcharge, and Sundays and holidays add roughly 50%. Confirm the number upfront and you'll never have a surprise at the curb.
The Practical Stuff
Dispatch: 556-7517 or 523-1110 (President: Miro Augusty). Payment: USD widely accepted on both sides; EUR works on the French side; ask before assuming card is an option — many independent drivers prefer cash. Vehicles range from sedans to vans, so mention your party size and luggage when you call. Airport pickups: give the flight number and terminal exit; taxi ranks are just outside Princess Juliana arrivals. Cruise pickups: rideshare is not permitted at the Philipsburg cruise terminal, so a called-in taxi like Decroc is the correct move for shore excursions. Cross-border rides between the Dutch and French sides are routine — no border formalities, but travel time can double if the causeway bridge is up for boat traffic.
Pair It With
- 100% Villas (Baie Nettlé) — Villa guests on the French side are far from taxi ranks — a dispatched pickup beats trying to flag one on Baie Nettlé's quiet streets.
- 978 Beach Lounge (Friars Bay) — Friars Bay is tucked between hills with limited parking; get dropped at the sand and called back for pickup after sunset drinks.
- 721 Brews & Bites (Philipsburg) — After Front Street shopping and a cold beer, skip the walk back through the cruise crowds and take a zone-fare ride straight to your hotel.
- 3 Amigos (Sint Maarten) — Dinner and drinks pair best with a called cab home — no rental-car worry, no parking hunt.
