Destination
St. Maarten / St. Martin, Sint Maarten
Two countries share one 37-square-mile island, so a stay in St. Maarten pairs Dutch-side casinos and duty-free shopping with French-side beach clubs and some of the Caribbean's finest restaurants.
Trips to St. Maarten / St. Martin from every city
No live trip to St. Maarten / St. Martin right now. Ask for one and we price it for your city.
When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | best |
| February | best |
| March | best |
| April | best |
| May | best |
| June | fine |
| July | fine |
| August | fine |
| September | avoid |
| October | avoid |
| November | fine |
| December | best |
- March: Heineken Regatta in early March fills Simpson Bay.
- April, May: Dutch-side Carnival runs through April.
September, October: Peak hurricane season; the island took a direct hit from Irma in September 2017.
Where to stay in St. Maarten / St. Martin
- Maho and Simpson Bay: The Dutch side's resort, casino and nightlife strip next to the airport beach.
- Philipsburg: Cruise port and duty-free Front Street on Great Bay.
- Orient Bay: French-side beach-club bay with watersports and a clothing-optional end.
- Grand Case: A single seafront street of French restaurants and Creole lolos.
- Marigot: The French capital, with a morning market and ferries to Anguilla and St. Barts.
What to do in St. Maarten / St. Martin
- Watch jets land over your head on Maho Beach
- Grilled lobster at the lolos of Grand Case
- Ferry to Anguilla or St. Barts for the day
- Zipline the Flying Dutchman at Rainforest Adventures
- Beach-club day at Orient Bay
- Water-taxi to tiny Pinel Island
Good to know
| Airports | Princess Juliana International (SXM) |
|---|---|
| Passport for US citizens | yes |
| Price level | upscale |
| Time zone | America/Lower_Princes |
| Kind of trip | island, beach, food, nightlife, shopping |
Questions about St. Maarten / St. Martin
When is the best time to visit St. Maarten / St. Martin?
December, January, February, March, April and May. September, October: Peak hurricane season; the island took a direct hit from Irma in September 2017.
Do US citizens need a passport for St. Maarten / St. Martin?
Yes. St. Maarten / St. Martin is in Sint Maarten; bring a valid passport.
How expensive is St. Maarten / St. Martin on the ground?
St. Maarten / St. Martin is upscale by US standards: plan about $130 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.