A French Caribbean trip might start on Guadeloupe's beaches, continue by boat to Martinique, then head north to Saint-Martin and across to St Barth. The French islands share a language and emergency numbers, but not roaming rules: EU roaming applies on all of them except Saint-Barthélemy, and it stops on Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of Saint Martin.
This guide covers choosing an eSIM for the French Caribbean: roaming island by island, the two sides of Saint Martin, the ferries, one plan for all five French territories and who to call.
Key facts for the French Caribbean
- EU roaming: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin (French side) and French Guiana; not Saint-Barthélemy or Sint Maarten (Dutch side)
- One plan for all five: the Best Caribbean zone covers exactly Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy and French Guiana
- Local networks: Digicel on the French territories (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112, ambulance 15, police 17, fire 18 on the French territories; police and ambulance 911, fire 919 on Sint Maarten
EU roaming in the French Caribbean, island by island
Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Saint-Martin and French Guiana, on the South American mainland, are part of the EU, so an EU SIM works there as at home. Saint-Barthélemy is the exception: an EU SIM pays its operator's roaming rates there, as it does on Sint Maarten, Dutch SIMs included.
With a SIM from outside the Roam Like at Home area, such as a British or American one, all of these places follow your operator's roaming terms.
Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten: one island, two sides
Saint Martin is shared between French Saint-Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten, and a phone can switch between the two sides' networks without warning. Many visitors arrive on the Dutch side, at Princess Juliana, the island's main international airport.
The Best Caribbean plan covers French Saint-Martin but not Sint Maarten. On the French side, with an EU SIM or this plan, choose a French-side network manually in your mobile settings. If you will spend time in Philipsburg or around the airport, a Caribbean plan covers both sides.
Ferries between the islands
Ferries link Guadeloupe and Martinique, and Saint-Martin with Saint-Barthélemy. Between Guadeloupe and Martinique, a phone may pick up the networks of neighbouring islands, which can be outside both Roam Like at Home and the Best Caribbean plan. If you use an EU SIM for data, turn its data roaming off before you sail and back on ashore.
The boat to St Barth leaves Roam Like at Home behind, so before you board, switch your data line to an eSIM that covers the island, or turn your home line's data roaming off.
Which plan fits your trip
With an EU SIM, you need an eSIM only for St Barth, the Dutch side or a tariff with little data abroad.
With a SIM from outside the Roam Like at Home area, Best Caribbean plans cover all five French territories on one eSIM. If your route adds Sint Maarten or other islands, Caribbean plans cover 29 destinations, including the French islands and Sint Maarten. For one island, a country plan, such as Martinique, may fit better.
Telcomia's standard plans are data only, with calls through apps such as WhatsApp. The plan details show the Activation line, the duration, the data and whether you can share the connection.
Before you leave
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, and keep it until the trip is over: some eSIMs can be installed only once.
- Make it your mobile data line, with data roaming on for it and off for your home line.
- Check the plan's destination list against your route, Sint Maarten included if you land at Princess Juliana.
- Find manual network selection in your phone's mobile settings.
- Save 112 and 15, plus 911 for the Dutch side.
Consular protection: who to call on the islands
- 112 reaches the emergency services on all five French territories, as do 15 for an ambulance, 17 for the police and 18 for the fire service; in Guadeloupe, 196 is for distress at sea.
- On Sint Maarten, call 911 for the police or an ambulance, 919 for the fire service and 913 for the coastguard.
- The French territories have no embassies: the UK, for example, covers them from Paris. The Telcomia app shows which mission is responsible for you, with address and phone.
- The app keeps key emergency phrases ready to show on screen, including French.
Questions travellers ask about the French Caribbean
Does EU roaming work in Guadeloupe and Martinique?
Yes. Both are part of the EU, so an EU SIM works there as at home, as it does on French Saint-Martin and in French Guiana.
Is Saint-Barth in EU roaming?
No. An EU SIM pays its operator's roaming rates on Saint-Barthélemy, and that can include French SIMs, depending on the operator. The Best Caribbean plan covers the island.
What happens on the Dutch side of Saint Martin?
Sint Maarten is outside Roam Like at Home and the Best Caribbean plan, and a phone can switch to its networks even on the French side. Choose a French-side network manually, or use a Caribbean plan, which covers both sides.
Which emergency numbers work on the French islands?
112 works on all of them, plus 15 for an ambulance, 17 for the police and 18 for the fire service. On Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, dial 911 for the police or an ambulance.
The short version
EU roaming covers Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Saint-Martin and French Guiana, not St Barth or Dutch Sint Maarten. One Best Caribbean eSIM covers all five French territories; on Saint Martin, choose a French-side network manually, and on ferries keep your home line's data roaming off.
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When should I activate my Martinique eSIM?
Each plan shows before you pay when it starts counting. Plans that start on connection start counting the first time they connect to a network in one of the countries they cover: install the eSIM before you leave, keep the line off until you arrive in Martinique, and you'll have data as soon as you land. Some also work in other countries (each plan lists which): if the line connects earlier, at home or on a layover, it starts counting there.
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