Sint Maarten / Saint Martin, Caribbean
Overview
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is the smallest territory in the world divided between two sovereign nations — 37 square miles split between the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the southern Dutch Sint Maarten, 16 sq mi) and the French Republic (the northern Collectivity of Saint-Martin, 21 sq mi). The island sits in the northeastern Caribbean approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Puerto Rico, has 37 named beaches, and is home to over 100 different nationalities — making it the most culturally diverse island per square mile in the world. Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side is the regional hub, serving as the transit point for visitors to neighboring Anguilla, Saint-Barthélemy, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
The island welcomed 256,923 arriving passengers in Q1 2025 — a 10.8% increase over the same period in 2024, one of the biggest jumps in the Caribbean. Q2 2025 saw a 16.9% surge in airport arrivals and a 14% jump in cruise arrivals. The new terminal at Princess Juliana International Airport opened in 2024, providing a significantly upgraded arrival experience. The JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa opened in 2025 as the island's most significant new luxury property. Multiple hotels completed major renovations post-Hurricane Irma (2017) and post-pandemic, including Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Holland House Beach Hotel, and La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel. US visitors account for 54% of arrivals, Canada 13%.
The two sides of the island offer completely different characters. The Dutch Sint Maarten (capital: Philipsburg) is the more commercial and lively side — casinos, duty-free shopping, Maho Beach's famous plane-spotting, and the most active nightlife in the northeastern Caribbean. The French Saint Martin (capital: Marigot) is calmer and more refined — gourmet restaurants in Grand Case (the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean), topless beaches at Orient Bay and Baie Longue, boutique hotels, and a distinctly European flavor. Start planning at palapavibez.com.
Fast Facts
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin has a tropical Caribbean climate — warm year-round (26 to 30 degrees Celsius) with a dry season from December through April (peak tourism, highest hotel rates) and a wetter summer season from June through November (hurricane risk, significant discounts). The island was devastated by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and has been comprehensively rebuilt — many properties are newer and better than pre-Irma. The rebuilding has been remarkably complete, with the island's tourism infrastructure now largely surpassing pre-storm quality. Peak season runs December through April with the highest rates.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side is the regional hub for the northeastern Caribbean — served by American Airlines from Miami, New York JFK, and Charlotte; Delta from Atlanta; United from Newark; Air Canada from Toronto; and numerous charter and regional carriers. The airport's proximity to the beach creates its most famous feature (Maho Beach, directly under the approach path). Grands-Case Airport (SFG) on the French side handles regional propeller aircraft to neighboring islands. No passport control exists between the Dutch and French sides — visitors can cross freely.
Currency note: the Dutch side uses the US dollar (and Netherlands Antillean guilder); the French side uses the euro but US dollars are widely accepted everywhere. Duty-free shopping on the Dutch side (particularly in Philipsburg's Front Street) offers significant savings on jewelry, electronics, alcohol, and luxury goods — typically 15 to 20% below US prices.
Top Attractions
Maho Beach is the most famous beach in the Caribbean for reasons having nothing to do with sand or water — Princess Juliana International Airport's runway extends to within approximately 50 meters of the beach, meaning every arriving aircraft passes directly over sunbathers at low altitude (some as low as 20 feet). The blast from departing large jets literally blows people off their feet and covers the beach in sand and engine exhaust. People grip the chain-link fence at the runway threshold during takeoffs as a specific experience. Flight schedules are posted at the adjacent beach bar (Sunset Beach Bar) so visitors can time their visit for large aircraft arrivals. It is simultaneously absurd and completely compelling.
Orient Bay (Baie Orientale) on the French side is the most beautiful beach on the island — a 2-kilometer crescent of white sand with turquoise water, surrounded by beach clubs, restaurants, and watersports operators. The northern end of Orient Bay is a clothing-optional area. Pinel Island (a 5-minute water taxi from Orient Bay) is a small uninhabited island with spectacular snorkeling, two beach clubs, and no vehicles. Baie Longue on the French side's northwestern tip is the longest beach on the island — quieter, no beach clubs, consistent turquoise water, and the most photographically beautiful of all SXM beaches.
Recommendations
Maho Beach (Plane Spotting)
Aircraft land 50 meters overhead — Sunset Beach Bar posts flight schedule, best for A340/777 arrivals
Orient Bay (French Side)
2km white sand, beach clubs, snorkeling — northern end clothing-optional, Pinel Island 5 min by water taxi
Pinel Island (Water Taxi from Orient Bay)
Uninhabited island, 5-min water taxi — two beach clubs, excellent snorkeling, no cars
Grand Case (French Side)
Single beach road of the finest restaurants in the region — lolos for $15, fine dining for $150
Philipsburg Front Street (Dutch Side)
Jewelry, electronics, spirits 15–20% below US prices — Great Bay beach behind
Baie Longue (French Side)
Longest beach on island, no beach clubs — pristine turquoise water, most photographed landscape
Simpson Bay Lagoon
One of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean — marina district, watersports, sunset sailing charters
Marigot Market (French Capital)
Wednesday and Saturday mornings — local produce, spices, crafts, most authentic French Caribbean market
Philipsburg's Front Street on the Dutch side is the primary duty-free shopping corridor — a single street behind the Great Bay beach filled with jewelry stores, electronics shops, liquor outlets, and souvenir vendors offering significant savings over US retail prices. The Boardwalk behind Front Street runs along Great Bay beach. The Sint Maarten Museum (in Philipsburg, small but excellent) covers the island's history from Arawak habitation through the French-Dutch Treaty of Concordia (1648) to Hurricane Irma recovery.
Where to Stay
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin accommodation splits clearly between the two sides. Dutch side hotels are generally larger, more resort-style, and better for nightlife and activity access. French side properties tend to be smaller, more boutique-oriented, and better for dining and tranquility. Many repeat visitors split their stay.
The JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa (opened 2025, Dutch side — the island's most significant new luxury opening, wellness-focused, on a stretch of beach with spa facilities) and La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel (French side — the most storied luxury property on the island, overlooking Baie Longue, the most romantic option) are the two most acclaimed properties. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort (Dutch side, recently renovated, excellent beachfront value) and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort (Dutch side, largest resort, adjacent to Maho Beach) are the most popular full-service options.
Recommendations
JW Marriott St. Maarten (Opened 2025)
Most significant 2025 opening — wellness spa, beachfront, island's new luxury flagship
La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel (French Side)
Overlooking Baie Longue — most romantic property on the island, European atmosphere
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort (Dutch Side)
Largest resort, adjacent to Maho Beach — most convenient for plane-spotting and nightlife
Le Temps des Cerises / L'Esplanade (Grand Case)
Walking distance to all Grand Case restaurants — most authentic French Caribbean experience
For the French experience, Le Temps des Cerises (Grand Case — the most intimate boutique hotel on the island, a small converted villa directly in the restaurant strip) and Hôtel L'Esplanade (Grand Case — hillside with sweeping views, walking distance to all Grand Case restaurants) provide the most authentic French-side character.
Food & Drink
Grand Case on the French side is one of the finest restaurant streets in the entire Caribbean — a single coastal road of perhaps 20 restaurants ranging from roadside lolos (BBQ shacks serving ribs, chicken, and conch for $10 to $15) to sophisticated French-Creole tasting menu restaurants. Le Pressoir (fine dining Creole-French fusion, the most acclaimed), Talk of the Town (beloved local institution, excellent seafood), and Spiga (Italian, consistently outstanding) are among the most praised. The Grand Case Beach Club hosts outdoor dining with water views. Wednesday evenings in Grand Case are the most social — many locals and visitors gather for the weekly Harmony Nights street festival.
The Dutch side has a more casual, international food scene centered on Simpson Bay's restaurant strip and the Maho area. The Temptation Restaurant (the most awarded Dutch-side restaurant), Karakter Beach Lounge (best beach bar), and the Topper's Beach Bar at Cupecoy Beach provide the most varied Dutch-side dining.
Recommendations
Grand Case Restaurant Strip (French Side)
20+ restaurants, lolos ($15) to fine dining — Wednesday Harmony Nights street festival
Lolos (Grand Case Roadside BBQ)
Ribs, chicken, conch grilled on the street — under $15, the most local food on the island
Guavaberry Rum (Sint Maarten Only)
Made since 1700 from wild mountain berries — only available on the island, Guavaberry Company in Philipsburg
Simpson Bay Restaurant Strip (Dutch Side)
International restaurants, bars, nightlife — most concentrated Dutch-side food scene
The island's signature drink is Guavaberry Rum — a Sint Maarten-specific liqueur made from wild Antillean mountain berries, available only on the island, produced by the Guavaberry Company in Philipsburg. It has been made on the island since 1700 and is the most distinctly local product to bring home.
Getting There
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side is the northeastern Caribbean's hub — direct flights from Miami (American, ~3 hrs), New York JFK (American, ~4 hrs), Atlanta (Delta, ~3.5 hrs), Newark (United, ~4 hrs), Charlotte (American, ~3.5 hrs), and Toronto (Air Canada). The new terminal opened in 2024 significantly improved the arrival and departure experience. Many visitors also use SXM as a gateway to fly or ferry to neighboring islands: Anguilla (15-min ferry from Marigot), St. Barths (25-min propeller flight or 45-min catamaran from Marigot), Saba (12-min propeller flight from SXM), and Sint Eustatius.
Within the island, taxis are the standard transportation — no rideshare app operates on SXM. Rental cars are available from all major agencies at SXM and can be driven on both sides of the island without restriction. The island takes about 1 hour to drive around completely. Buses run on the Dutch side between Philipsburg and Simpson Bay but are unreliable for tourist purposes.
The Simpson Bay Bridge on the Dutch side opens for marine traffic twice daily (typically 9am-9:30am and 5pm-5:30pm) and stops road traffic during those periods — a minor scheduling consideration for anyone needing to cross.
Practical Info
Classic 5-day SXM itinerary: Day 1 arrive Dutch side (Maho Beach for sunset arrival spotting, Philipsburg Front Street duty-free). Day 2 Orient Bay (full beach day French side, water taxi to Pinel Island afternoon). Day 3 Grand Case evening (walk the restaurant strip, dinner at lolos then a proper restaurant). Day 4 Marigot French capital morning (market on Wednesday/Saturday, waterfront cafés), Baie Longue afternoon (quietest beach). Day 5 Simpson Bay area (lagoon sailing charter morning, sunset at Karakter Beach Lounge).
Maho Beach timing: check the SXM flight schedule at the Sunset Beach Bar or on FlightAware for the arrival of large aircraft (KLM 747, American 767, Delta 767 — typically afternoon arrivals). The most dramatic experience is standing at the fence during a 747 or A340 departure, when the jet blast is strong enough to knock people over. The experience is free — just show up. The beach bar charges normal Caribbean prices.
Recommendations
Classic 5-Day SXM Itinerary
Maho + Philipsburg → Orient Bay/Pinel → Grand Case dining → Marigot/Baie Longue → lagoon sailing
Check Flight Schedule for Maho Beach
FlightAware or Sunset Beach Bar board — time visit for large aircraft arrivals/departures
Split Your Stay Dutch and French Sides
The two sides are genuinely different experiences — dedicate at least 2 nights to each
Duty-Free Shopping — Philipsburg Front Street
15–20% below US prices — bring your wish list for jewelry, spirits, and electronics
Hurricane Irma note: the island was essentially destroyed in September 2017. The rebuilding has been comprehensive — most visitors arriving in 2025/2026 will find facilities better than pre-Irma. However, some smaller properties and undeveloped areas still show remnants of the storm damage. The island's resilience and the quality of the rebuild is one of the most impressive tourism recovery stories in Caribbean history.
