Shopping
Shopping on the island is different from shopping in the states. There is nothing that compares to a Wal-Mart or Target here. You will need to get used to going to multiple stores to get everything you need, but, you can find everything you NEED here. The prices are significantly higher than in the states, especially for dairy products and produce.
We recommend for purchasing household products, to wait for the ’5th Semester Sale, that is held each semester. This is where the students who are leaving the island sell all of their household items to the students who arrive to the island. This is a GREAT opportunity to get household items for very cheap, saving you literally hundreds of dollars!
Le Grand Marche is the major grocery store chain on the Dutch side of the island. There are four of them, two large stores located in Philipsburg and Cole Bay, and two smaller ones known as Le Gourmet Marche, one in Simpson Bay, and one within walking distance of AUC in Porto Cupecoy. The grocery stores also carry essential toiletry items as well. These grocery stores offer a 5% discount with a student/spouse AUC ID on all purchases.
ACE is a store that would be comparable to a Bed, Bath & Beyond, or furnishing store with appliances, nice kitchen items, bedding, etc. The prices can be very expensive. Ace has two locations, one in Cole Bay and one in Philipsburg. A cheaper alternative for household items would be Shop4Less, located in Philipsburg as well.
Ace Mega Center NV
#13 Brouwers Rd
Cole Bay
St. Maarten
v: 599-543-7024
f: 599-543-7033
Cost-U-Less is the island’s equivalent of a Sam’s Club or Costco located in Philipsburg. They carry mostly bulk items which is great if you want to go shopping once a month and stock up on meal items, frozen foods, bulk instant dinners, etc. The cost is cheaper if purchased in bulk than buying items at the grocery stores. Another bulk item store is Prime, located in Cole Bay, they carry mainly bulk items for restaurants, but also have a lot of dried foods and beverages as well as toiletries in bulk.
Shopping for clothes can be expensive on the island, but, there are many shops in Philipsburg by the cruise ship port that have reasonable prices for clothing. There are also two sport’s stores by the cruise ship port, Sport’s Gallery and … which carry tennis shoes, workout clothing and other sport’s equipment.
Electronics can be purchased at BluePoint, located in Simpson Bay. They carry a reasonable selection of apple products, accessories, printers, speakers, etc.
Philipsburg and Simpson Bay Locations
93 W.J.A. Nisbeth Road
Phone: 599 542-1200
Fax: 599 542-1300
Island stores and restaurants that offer an AUC discount with I.D. card-
1. Grande Marche
2. Sugar Canes
3. Sopranos
4. Deep Blue
5. Pineapple Pete’s
6. The Cappuccino Bar
7. Sonnesta Maho/ Spa
8. Summit hotel
9. Skip Jacks (10%)
10. Thai Savannah
11. Ric’s Place
12. Rare (Free dessert)
13. Sapphire
