I have heard a few people mention a VIP service when you arrive in St.Maarten. What do they do that makes it worth it? How much is it? We were just planning on grabbing a cab and going to the ferry....

I've read the same recommendations of this company from others who have used them so I decided to write to the company to get more information. Here is what they wrote back to me:

"Our service start after you deplane just before immigration. An agent will have your name on a sign. He then will take you to immigration thereafter hand you over to the agent that will take you to the ferry while he looks for your bags. When the bags are found the second agent will drive you to the ferry dock on the French side which take approximately 20min. He then will sign you up for the following ferry. On your return we will pick you up at the ferry dock and take you to the airport and help you with your check in then take you to the depature area. the ferry's run every half an hour to and from Anguilla.
For your departure you will let us know which ferry u will be on.
If your kids are 5 and under there are no charges.
2 adults would be $60.00 one way
and $10.00 each additional per person over 5 years.
Th is can be paid by credit card or by cash upon arrival. if you wish to pay by cc I then will email you a cc authorisation form.
If you have any other inquires please feel free to ask.

Best regards,

Ricardo Arnell
Gen. Manager"

It seems to me that Caribbean VIP Executive Service (the name of the company) essentially holds your hand (and your bags) from the time you arrive at SXM until you board the ferry in Marigot. I think that this service might be very welcome indeed especially if you're not familiar with the whole process of going from the plane to the ferry. And it's not that expensive compared to the cost of chartering your own ferry or private air shuttle which many experienced travelers to Anguilla do. But if you're a veteran of the SXM-Marigot-Anguilla experience, you probably don't need to use this company.

Unless they can help you jump the line at Immigration, I don't think that's worth it. When you get off the plane, just follow the crowd in to the building and get in line. In Nov. 2004 and 2005, we waited maybe 10-12 minutes. Then you get your luggage and go right outside where all the taxis are. The rate is fixed at $15.00 ( plus we tip $5 ) and then you sign up at the dock. It is very easy to do and not worth $120.00 in my opinion when the taxi roundtrip would be only $40.00. Friends of ours have hired a boat that took them straight from the airport to Anguilla but that is much more expensive and went so fast that the wife got a little seasick! Enjoy Anguilla!! I can't wait to go back!

Actually, they do whisk you through the short line at Immigrations which is designed for St. Martin/St. Maarten residents.

I wonder if they also help you to not pay the SXM departure tax if you are just connecting through.

You dont pay a departure tax at the window anymore in SXM. It has changed.

We get there every year on the ferry by ourselves. Once we clear immigration (10 minutes MAX), we go to baggage & they're usually just unloading them when we get there. The cabs are right outside the door. I don't get the extra expense for something that's so simple.

Just some further info on departure tax at SXM.

You do still have to pay departure tax at SXM if you have been on the island more than 24 hours. However, the fee is now included in "most" airline taxes. Airlines such as AF, CO, AA and a few others include the departure tax in their fares, but most smaller and/or local airlines do not and therefore you still have to pay at the window for those.

Also, you only pay deprature tax at SXM if you have been on the island for 24 hours. Otherwise you are considered "in transit" and do not have to pay, but will still have to get a "stub" for such if you are traveling on an airline that doesn't typically include the tax in their fares.