Getting to St Martin
Being a fairly small island there aren’t too many different ways of getting to St Martin; it’s basically boat or plane. The most popular mode of transport is plane as there are dozens of airlines who use both Princess Juliana International Airport and Grand Case Regional Airport. Whether you are travelling to St Martin from the other side of the world or simply another nearby island, you’ll have plenty of options available to you if preferring to fly. You may wish to join thousands others on a cruise of the Caribbean, in which case you’ll arrive into Philipsburg on one of the ‘monsters of the sea’ and have the opportunity to explore this beautiful island before departing again a few days later. Of course if you have your own yacht, or have opted to charter one yourself, then getting to St Martin by boat is an option too.
Flights
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) sits on the Dutch side of the island. It’s here where the majority of flights arrive in to. This is also the world famous airport where planes fly in ridiculously low to the ground, leaving in their wake hundreds of speechless tourists stood on the beach wondering how that just happened.
It’s possible to fly into Princess Juliana International Airport direct from various destinations across the US, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. The following airlines operate regular services into Princess Juliana International Airport both during high and low seasons: Air France, Air Caraibes, KLM, TUI Netherlands, American Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue, Spirit Airlines, Air Canada, Air Transat, Copa Airlines, Liat, Caribbean Airlines.
On the French side, Grand Case Regional Airport (SFG) accommodates a number of smaller regional airlines such as Corsairfly, Air Antilles Express, Air Caraibes as well as St Barths Commuter. Getting to St Martin by plane is one of the easiest options available. Search, compare and book flights to Saint Martin from many worldwide destinations.
Cruise Ships
It’s at Dr. A. C. Wathey Cruise Cargo Facility, on the Dutch side, where some of the largest and most renowned cruise ships dock during a tour of the Caribbean. It’s not uncommon to see several of these large liners, such as Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, docked at the port at the same time. Being a tax free shopping haven, Saint Martin is the perfect destination for passengers to flock to the malls to grab a tax free bargain before heading off to their next destination.
St Maarten Port is a highly successful cruise destination because Port St Maarten listened to the cruise lines over the years and they understand the cruise business exceptionally well. It’s important that cruise passengers have a top quality land experience when they dock on the island; Port St Maarten achieve this with ease. Their port facilities have also been the catalyst for many improvements and development across different areas of the island. The transportation network was much improved by the completion of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Causeway in December 2013, which resulted in significantly decreased traffic congestion for everyone, including beach-bound cruise passengers.
Whether on land or water, when you dock at Port St Maarten the choices are endless for cruise passengers. Enjoy Jeep Safaris, bus tours, hikes, quad bike excursions, casinos, zip-lining, clubs, bars, nature reserves, musical concerts, health and beauty spas, snorkelling, eating out, plantation visits, jet skiing, sunbathing, yacht charters, boat tours and so much more. It’s simply the perfect destination for cruising.
Ferries
Getting to St Martin by ferry is the most popular method. There are regular ferry services that run between St Martin, St Barths and Anguilla. Several ferry companies operate from various ports across both the Dutch and French side. On average there are between 2-4 return trips daily, provided by Voyager Ferries, Rapid Explorer, Great Bay Express and West Indies Ferry. This is a convenient and easy way to visit surrounding islands.
Always make sure you have quality travel insurance before taking your vacation.