St. Martin / Sint Maarten
Covers 25 islands from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cozumel and Roatán, with prices, flights and entry rules checked at the source.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
St. Martin is one island and two countries. The north is Saint-Martin, part of France. The south is Sint Maarten, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There are no border controls between them. You land on the Dutch side, sleep where you like and eat on the French side, where Grand Case is the island's food town.
It is busy. IEDOM, the French overseas central bank, counted 2,570,212 visitors in 2025, up 15.7%. That splits into 1,607,053 cruise passengers, almost all on the Dutch side, and 963,159 air arrivals at the two airports. The upside of all that traffic is choice. Princess Juliana has nonstops from 13 US airports, and the cheapest 3-star room we found in Simpson Bay was $134 in January.
At a glance
- Best for
- Teens, couples and value hunters who want variety: beaches, food, day trips and nightlife
- Skip it if
- You want quiet, or you hate crowds on cruise-ship days
- Getting there
- Princess Juliana International (SXM), nonstop from 13 US airports, some seasonal
- Hotel, mid-January
- $134 (Travel Inn Hotel, Simpson Bay, 3-star, taxes in)
- Hotel, mid-July
- $111 (same hotel)
- Island size
- 34 sq mi (87 sq km), split between France and the Netherlands
In this guide
How St. Martin / Sint Maarten scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%9.4
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%8.0
- Things to doEditors · 25%8.0
- Getting there from the USData · 10%8.7
- ValueData · 10%7.2
- Room to breatheData · 10%1.3
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: January, May, December. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at Princess Juliana International Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive). Months marked in the storm row fall in the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30); the score takes that risk into account.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 79 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 |
| Sea °F | 81 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 84 | 82 |
| Rain (in) | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 1.7 |
| Weather score | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
| Storm season | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
- US nonstops
- ATL, BOS, BWI, CLT, EWR, FLL, IAD, JFK and 5 more
- Distance
- 3,561 mi from Los Angeles, 1,685 mi from New York
- Passport
- Needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $134 on Jan 13, 2027 · $111 on Jul 14, 2027 (Simpson Bay (Dutch side))
- Visitors a year
- 963,159 overnight visitors (2025), plus 1,607,053 cruise passengers
- Bringing a dog
- Possible: Sint Maarten import permit (valid 30 days from issue), dog at least 15 weeks old, USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate
Hotel prices: Cheapest 3-star-or-better double located in Simpson Bay, 1 night, 2 adults, nightly total with taxes and fees, Kayak (Simpson Bay search), checked 2026-10-20. Both dates: Travel Inn Hotel. The same search showed cheaper rooms elsewhere on the Dutch side ($96 January, $90 July, inland at Dutch Cul de Sac). French-side areas were not priced.. Visitor figures: IEDOM, Rapport annuel économique de Saint-Martin 2025 (citing Princess Juliana airport / Sint Maarten Department of Statistics and Grand-Case airport).
Where St. Martin / Sint Maarten ranks
Who St. Martin is for, and who should skip it
St. Martin suits teens, couples and anyone who wants a lot of options at a fair price.
- Go if you want variety: beaches on both sides, French restaurants, casinos and bars on the Dutch side.
- Go if you want day trips. Ferries reach Anguilla and St. Barts, two of the region's best beach islands, without the cost of sleeping there.
- Skip if you want calm. Philipsburg's Front Street and Great Bay fill up on ship days.
- Skip if you want lush rainforest. The island is dry and built-up in places.
Our Caribbean-with-teens ranking and cheap islands list both weigh it.
Where to stay, with the prices we found
We priced one night for two adults, taxes and fees in, on Kayak, on October 20, 2026. Kayak's Simpson Bay search covered the Dutch side; it did not price French-side areas such as Grand Case or Orient Bay.
| Area and cheapest 3-star+ | January 13, 2027 | July 14, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Simpson Bay: Travel Inn Hotel | $134 | $111 |
| Philipsburg: Seaview Beach Hotel | $121 | $92 |
| Dutch Cul de Sac (inland, cheapest on the Dutch side) | $96 | $90 |
| Cupecoy and Lowlands: Adonis Cupecoy | $108 | $124 |
| Philipsburg: The Crown House Hotel (4-star) | $176 | $113 |
Simpson Bay is the practical base: near the airport, restaurants on the lagoon, a beach of its own. Philipsburg is cheapest but loud by day when ships are in. On the French side, Grand Case is for food lovers and Orient Bay for a long beach with water sports. Check French-side rates separately; we did not get them in this search.
Beaches: calm, rough and loud
- Orient Bay (French): long and sandy, with beach clubs and water sports. Breezy, on the Atlantic side.
- Mullet Bay (Dutch): sheltered, sandy and usually calm. Good for kids.
- Maho Beach (Dutch): famous for jets landing just overhead. Signs warn about jet blast behind departing planes; stay off the fence and keep kids clear.
- Baie Rouge and Friar's Bay (French): quieter, with snorkeling off the rocks at Baie Rouge.
- Pinel Island: a small islet off the French side reached by a short boat ride. Shallow, calm, good for families.
- Great Bay (Philipsburg): convenient, but crowded with cruise passengers.
We score St. Martin 8 of 10 for beaches: very good and varied, but busy near the cruise port, and the best calm ones are spread across both sides.
Things to do
This is where St. Martin beats its neighbors:
- Eat in Grand Case, from beach barbecue stands to French dining rooms.
- Marigot: the French-side market and the climb to Fort Louis for the harbor view.
- Philipsburg: duty-free shopping on Front Street and the boardwalk.
- Ferry day trips to Anguilla ($30 public ferry from Marigot) and to St. Barts.
- Plane spotting at Maho, and sunset bars along Simpson Bay.
- Boat trips to Pinel Island and Tintamarre, and snorkel and sail charters from Simpson Bay.
That is a week of varied days, which earns 8 of 10 for things to do.
After Hurricane Irma: what is back and what is not
Irma struck on September 6, 2017. Recovery is largely done. Princess Juliana's rebuilt departure hall reopened in January 2024 and the arrival hall in October 2024; the airport was officially recommissioned on November 14, 2024. IEDOM's 2025 report says Fort Louis marina in Marigot is fully back.
Not everything is. IEDOM says Captain Oliver's marina at Oyster Pond is still not rebuilt, Port La Royale marina in Marigot is still being relaunched, and the old Beach Hotel in Marigot is being converted into a 165-room hotel. On the French side, regional flights at Grand-Case fell in early 2026 after Air Antilles stopped flying.
When to go
December to April is the dry, breezy peak, with the most flights and ships. May, June and early July are warm and cheaper; our July room was $23 less than in January. Air traffic is busiest early in the year: IEDOM says the first quarter carried nearly 30% of Princess Juliana's 2025 passengers, and first-quarter 2026 traffic was up 22.5%. The NOAA National Hurricane Center gives the Atlantic season as June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. Read our hurricane season guide before booking August to October.
Getting there from the US, and entry rules
The airport's airline table lists US nonstops on American (Charlotte, Miami, Philadelphia; Chicago O'Hare and New York JFK seasonal), Delta (Atlanta, JFK), JetBlue (Boston, Fort Lauderdale, JFK), United (Newark; Chicago and Washington Dulles seasonal), Southwest (Baltimore, Orlando), Frontier (Atlanta) and Sun Country (Minneapolis/St. Paul, seasonal).
US citizens need a passport. Sint Maarten asks every arriving traveler to complete its online ED card, an electronic entry and exit form, at entry.sx; the tourism bureau suggests doing it at least 7 days ahead, though check-in is possible without it. The State Department says your passport must be valid for your stay on the Dutch side; its French West Indies page asks for 6 months of validity. See our passport rules guide.
For a dog, USDA APHIS says you need a Sint Maarten import permit, valid 30 days from issue, a dog at least 15 weeks old and a USDA-endorsed health certificate.
Tickets and tours you can book
The Best Catamaran Day Sail in St Maarten (public, not private)
Lunch, drinks, paddleboards and gratuities are included, with hotel pickup. The meeting point is emailed before the trip.
Rating as shown on Viator
St. Maarten: Full-Day Catamaran Sail to Prickly Pear Cays
Lunch, drinks and port fees are included; hotel transfers and gratuities are not.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
St. Martin: Anguilla South Full-Day Catamaran Cruise
Lunch, an open bar and Anguilla marine reserve and immigration fees are included; transfers to the marina are not. A practical way to see Anguilla's beaches from St. Martin.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a passport to go to St. Martin?
Yes. US citizens need a passport. Sint Maarten also asks you to fill in its online ED card at entry.sx before arrival. Once on the island you can cross between the Dutch and French sides freely.
Which side of St. Martin is better, French or Dutch?
Stay on the Dutch side for cheaper hotels, the airport, casinos and nightlife; Simpson Bay rooms started at $134 in January. Eat and beach on the French side: Grand Case for dinner, Orient Bay and Baie Rouge for sand. Most visitors do both.
Is St. Martin fully recovered from Hurricane Irma?
Mostly. The airport terminal was fully rebuilt and recommissioned on November 14, 2024, and visitor numbers rose 15.7% in 2025. Some marinas on the French side, including Captain Oliver's at Oyster Pond, are still not rebuilt.
Can you take a day trip from St. Martin to Anguilla or St. Barts?
Yes. The public ferry from Marigot to Anguilla costs $30 per adult, plus Anguilla's $28 departure tax on the way back. Several ferry companies run to Gustavia on St. Barts, and short flights go to both islands.
How crowded does St. Martin get with cruise ships?
Very, on the Dutch side. Philipsburg handled almost all of the island's 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025, so check the port schedule and plan beach days at Mullet Bay or on the French side when big ships are in.
Further reading
Official sources
- IEDOM - Rapport annuel économique de Saint-Martin 2025 – 2,570,212 visitors in 2025 (+15.7%), 1,607,053 cruise passengers (99.4% Dutch side), 963,159 air arrivals (SXM 855,994, Grand-Case 107,165); Captain Oliver's marina not rebuilt, Port La Royale relaunch, Beach Hotel conversion, Air Antilles stoppage; checked October 20, 2026
- St. Maarten Tourist Bureau - Travel entry requirement – Everyone completes the ED form at entry.sx; suggested 7 days ahead; check-in possible without it; checked October 20, 2026
- US Department of State - Sint Maarten travel information – Passport valid for stay, ED-card, no visa, up to 6 months; no border controls between sides; checked October 20, 2026
- US Department of State - French West Indies travel information – 6 months passport validity, no visa up to 90 days; checked October 20, 2026
- USDA APHIS - Pet travel from the United States to St. Maarten / St. Martin – Import permit valid 30 days, minimum age 15 weeks, endorsed health certificate; modified January 16, 2026; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia - Princess Juliana International Airport – Airlines and destinations (13 US airports, ORD, IAD, MSP seasonal); terminal reopenings January and October 2024, recommissioned November 14, 2024; checked October 20, 2026
- Anguilla Tourist Board - Getting to Anguilla – Public ferry Marigot to Blowing Point $30 adult; checked October 20, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center - Tropical cyclone climatology – Atlantic season June 1 to November 30, peak around September 10; checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak hotel search, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten – Cheapest 3-star-or-better in Simpson Bay: $134 January 13, 2027 and $111 July 14, 2027, 2 adults, taxes and fees in; checked October 20, 2026
