A few years ago, Dan surprised me with a trip. "Guess where I'm taking you for your birthday weekend?"
He smiled at my clueless look. "Here's a hint: It's in the Caribbean."
"Cuba?"
"No, but that's a good guess. We have been wanting to visit."
"Aruba?"
"Nope, further north. Here's another hint: They speak two languages there and you've been to both of their mother countries."
"Oh, we're going to spend a weekend in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin! That'll be fun, thank you!"
"You're welcome. Maybe you'll get to use your French while we're there."
"I'd like that, and maybe I can even use the three Dutch words I know."
Including a section on how to get to St. Maarten in your article is a practical addition, especially since many visitors arrive via cruise ships rather than flying. This will help set the context for your multi-day itinerary and provide essential information for readers. Here's a suggested outline for that section:
How to Get to St. Maarten
Most St. Maarten visitors arrive by cruise ship. However, there are other ways to reach the island.
- By Air: We flew into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). The airport serves numerous international flights, primarily from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. From the airport, you can easily reach your accommodations by taxi or rental car.
- Ferry Services: If you're visiting nearby islands such as Anguilla or St. Barthélemy, ferries operate regularly from St. Maarten. This can be an excellent way to extend your Caribbean adventure.
Renting a car is best for exploring both the Dutch and French sides of the island. This allows you to go anywhere and stop anytime.
Taxis can take you to popular destinations if you do not plan to travel much.
St. Maarten does not currently support ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft.
💡 PRO TIP: All passengers arriving to St. Maarten are now required to fill out an entry form. Find the form here.
St. Maarten Itinerary: Day 1
Before I share how we spent 3 days in St. Maarten, I want to point out that there are a lot of reasons to visit Saint Martin. Which means that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to exploring this beautiful island.
Some people don't want a complete plan. They would rather take a quick overview tour that covers both the Dutch and French highlights in a few hours and then spend the rest of their time indulging in water sports or lounging by the beach. Nothing wrong with that!
You can use Viator to find and book tours of St. Maarten and St. Martin. It has reviews from other travelers to help you decide, which is why we rely on it so often.
Now, let me share our unforgettable St. Maarten getaway.
Morning: Fly to St. Maarten
We left on Friday morning, arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport before it was time for lunch. The sun teased us as we rode to the hotel, making the ocean sparkle and creating assorted luminous green and blue hues that Crayola will never be able to duplicate.
Never.
Lunchtime: Check In
Dan booked a very nice room at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, with a balcony that overlooked a beautiful white-sand beach and offered a panoramic view of the water. Cliffs rose to the left and right, and a few steps away, a row of lounge chairs and umbrellas lined the beach, awaiting guests.
Whenever we check into a hotel, the first thing we do is walk around the property. It's always fun to see what a hotel has to offer. As soon as I saw they had an assortment of restaurants, three pools, a swim-up bar, and free wi-fi, I was one happy birthday girl.
First on the itinerary: lunch at the beachside bar. The better to admire the view with, my dear.
As we ate, Dan noticed a nearby hill. "I want to hike up there before we leave," he said, "just to see what's on the other side." I laughed and told him that he'd probably just see more ocean.
Afternoon: Explore Philipsburg
My thoughtful husband had planned an afternoon surprise: a Segway tour of Philipsburg. I was thrilled! Little did he know that I had wanted to ride a Segway for a long time.
I figured it couldn't be too hard to learn, because the security guards ride them around our local malls effortlessly. I was right: After only a few minutes of instruction, we were both riding like pros.
Our segway route was limited to the expansive, paved boardwalk, which is chock full of hotels, restaurants, pubs, and quirky souvenir shops. We rode all the way to the end, where there's a wide, sandy beach, then headed back the way we came. The other end of the boardwalk terminates at a beautiful marina and shopping area. It's conveniently close to the cruise port.
The tour was super fun, but learning to ride a Segway was even better. Now I want one!
Exploring Philipsburg on foot was next on the agenda, but I was a bit taken aback by how small St. Maarten's capital really is.
It's just three parallel roads, linked by a few side streets that tourists love to explore. You have the Boardwalk, Front Street, and Back Street. Okay, so they may not be the most creative names, but they certainly make sense!
- Front Street is closer to the beach and tourist area. With restaurants, boutiques, and jewelry stores, this is the "higher rent" district.
- Back Street is set "back" from the beach. This is where most of the local needs can be found (think household goods and food markets. Stuff like that.).
We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the shops and side streets. But people-watching was especially entertaining!
Evening: Simpson Bay
Philipsburg seemed to wind down as soon as the sun started to set. Don't get me wrong, it has some very nice places for a drink, but we were craving something a little more adventurous.
Locals know all the good places, so we hopped in a cab and asked the driver to take us to a spot with a killer sunset view. The driver, bless his heart, suggested Simpson Bay.
Good call. The sandy beach was lined with bars and eateries, all packed with people enjoying the view.
We claimed a spot on a breezy terrace for a pre-dinner drink and watched a group of teens, who were having a blast practicing flips with a bosu ball. Their energy was contagious.
A couple of little boys, lost in their own world, were pretending to be pirates, complete with sword fights and treasure hunts.
And all the while, a persistent hawker kept promising a "free giveaway" that never seemed to materialize, leaving us and others wondering what all the fuss was all about.
I watched the sailboats bobbing on the calm waves, while Dan captured the moment with a few birthday photos of me.
As the sun sank toward the horizon, igniting the sky and water in a palette of colors, we couldn't help but feel a million miles away from our ordinary lives.
Drinks are all well and good, but few things can get us as excited as the opportunity to try local food. The thought of fresh seafood at a waterside restaurant really got our mouths watering.
Rather than settle for bar food, we headed out in search of a real dinner spot and soon found the Gingerbread Cafe. The menu did not disappoint, with lots of fresh seafood to showcase the ocean's bounty.
Fair warning: Scotch Bonnet peppers (aka habaneros) are part of the island's cuisine. Dan took advantage of it by ordering a West Indian chicken curry. Not having an asbestos tongue, I chose to steer clear of the spicy creole. Although, his dish smelled heavenly.
Day 2: Outdoors on the Island
Morning: Snorkeling in St. Maarten
There's nothing like seeing a beautiful Caribbean island from the water, right? Saturday morning was all about snorkeling and sightseeing around Sint Maarten.
Based on the TripAdvisor reviews, Dan had booked this snorkeling tour with Captain Alan. Everything was arranged: transportation to and from the dock, snorkeling equipment, food, drinks, everything. All we needed to bring were:
Captain Alan chooses the sites that you visit according to water and weather conditions. So even though we only got to snorkel in St. Maarten that day, all the locations were excellent.
The boat took us to some wonderful spots, with reefs, a sand bar to wade on, and lonely beaches to explore.
As we went from place to place, we enjoyed sandwiches on fresh baguettes, chips and salsa, fruit salad, and a delicious homemade rum punch. I seriously regret not having asked for the recipe.
Our skipper was an expert at maximizing our time in each location; he gladly gave us his recommendations for where to go and what to see. The best part for me was when we ventured to a deeper spot where sea turtles are known to swim. He couldn't guarantee it, but we went anyway. I'd been wanting to see turtles in the open water for years.
We did it! We saw turtles! We also saw an octopus, conch, a stingray, and many of the fish and corals that we had in our saltwater aquarium at home.
ⓘTIP: You'll run less chance of a sunburn if you book a morning tour. The afternoon sun can be especially strong.
Afternoon: Hiking and exploring
When we got back to the hotel, Dan finally got his chance to climb that nearby hill. I'd had enough sun with my super-fair skin, so I slathered on more sunscreen and waved goodbye to him from a shady spot.
Dan came back happy a few hours later, with a camera full of photos of local wildlife, incredible views, and stories of a cannon that he discovered on the hilltop.
Turns out that Fort William is located at the south end of Divi Little Bay. It only takes10-15 minutes to hike up the hill, and you'll be rewarded with 360° views of Great and Little Bay.
By the way, if you're not near Divi Little Bay, you can find a list of the best trails in Saint Martin on the All Trails website.
Late afternoon/evening: Sunset cruise
Late in the afternoon, we hopped aboard a spacious catamaran for a sunset cruise. The salty breeze whipped through our hair as we settled in with drinks and snacks. I mean, gliding along the stunning coastline of Simpson Bay-seriously, can you say "paradise"?
Just after sunset, we dropped anchor to find a delicious buffet of local delights waiting for us. As we dug in, the sky transformed into a colorful masterpiece-nature really knows how to throw a party!
With music playing and a few brave souls showing off their best dance moves, the vibe was all about fun and laughter. It was a wonderfully romantic evening filled with great company-definitely one for the memory books!
Day 3: Visiting French St. Martin
Morning: A Taste of Marigot
On our last day in St. Martin, we kicked things off with a leisurely breakfast in Marigot. The sun was shining, and the air was filled with the aroma of fresh pastries wafting from nearby cafés. We found a charming little spot where I ordered a flaky croissant and café au lait-who could resist a little French flair?
As I savored each bite, I couldn't help but grin at the waiter's playful attempts to teach me some local phrases. My French may not have been perfect, but who cares? The smiles and laughter made it all worthwhile.
After breakfast, we wandered over to Marigot's bustling markdet. Let me tell you, the scent of spices and vibrant colors was a feast for the senses! One vendor even offered me a taste of ripe mango-pure bliss!
I tried to chat with the local vendors in my high school French, and they happily shared tidbits about their produce. Times like these make a trip memorable. I felt like I was truly soaking in the heart of St. Martin, surrounded by laughter and chatter.
Afternoon: Grand Case
When our stomachs began rumbling again, we headed to Grand Case for lunch at one of the famous lolos. These open-air barbecue spots are legendary for their delicious local fare, and we were eager to see what they were about.
We found a busy lolo (best way to ensure it'll be good food!) on a side street. I ordered grilled chicken with rice and beans while Dan went for another curry dish. As we dug into our plates, we chatted with the friendly owner about local traditions and food. It seems to me that some of the best parts of a trip come from interacting with the locals.
With our bellies full, we wandered through Grand Case's charming streets, admiring colorful wooden houses adorned with flowers. My French came in handy as I chatted with shop owners about their crafts and art, while Dan stood by, nodding sagely and throwing in an occasional "Oui!" for good measure. I couldn't help but laugh as one vendor tried to explain the intricacies of his paintings, gesturing wildly while Dan looked on, utterly lost but clearly enjoying the show.
Late Afternoon: Time to go
Finally, it was time to make our way back to the hotel to collect our bags. We took one last stroll down to the beach, watching the waves gently lap at the shore while reminiscing about our adventures.
With a final glance at the stunning landscape and a promise to return someday, we hopped into a taxi for the airport, already planning our next trip back to this beautiful island where two cultures blend seamlessly.
Other things to do in St. Martin
Sint Maarten and Saint Martin have countless things to do and enjoy. I regret not having enough time to enjoy the French side like I'd hoped. Other things I want to include on my next St. Maarten itinerary are:
- Visit the St. Martin museum to learn about the culture and history of the island
- Stay on the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) and eat on the French side (Saint Martin)
- Take the high-speed ferry to St. Barth's for a day trip.
- Go to Maho Beach to watch the planes-they fly only a few feet overhead! Some people have been blown into the water by the intense jet blasts!
Top Travel Tips for Visiting St. Maarten
Excited about your upcoming visit to St. Maarten? Here are some friendly tips to help you navigate the island and enjoy all it has to offer!
- Currency and Payments: The official currency is the Netherlands Antillean Florin, but the US Dollar is widely accepted on both the Dutch and French sides. Carry some cash for smaller establishments that may not accept credit cards.
- Best Time to Visit: Ideal seasons are from May to June and from November to mid-December for pleasant weather and fewer crowds, avoiding the peak tourist season and hurricane season.
- Getting Around: Renting a car is recommended for exploring the island, as driving is straightforward. You can easily travel between the Dutch and French sides without passport checks.
- Electricity: St. Maarten uses US electricity standards (110/120 volts), while St. Martin uses European standards (220 volts). Bring an adapter if necessary.
- Safety: St. Maarten is generally safe, but take the normal precautions, such as not displaying flashy belongings in public areas.
- Activities and Attractions: Must-see spots include Maho Beach for plane watching, Mullet Bay for a more secluded beach experience, and Pinel Island for fresh seafood. Consider a sailboat tour to enjoy the island from the water.
- Food Tours: Participating in a food tour is a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine, allowing you to sample a variety of traditional dishes and learn about their significance.
- Dining Reservations: Make reservations at popular restaurants in advance to secure a table, especially during peak tourist seasons.
- Try Local Specialties: Don't miss out on trying Johnny Cakes, Callaloo Soup, and salted cod. They reflect the island's rich culinary heritage.
- Transportation Tips: If you'll be enjoying a food tour with alcohol, arrange transportation in advance. Many tours offer this service, or you can use taxis or rideshare apps.
- Cultural Events: Check for local food festivals or culinary events during your visit to taste a variety of dishes and experience the best of St. Maarten's food scene.
- Hydration: Keep hydrated, especially while indulging in rich foods and drinks, as the tropical climate can be intense.