Saint Maarten - A Dutch of Paradise
- Work To Wonders
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
Saint Maarten is a thoroughly unique, and visually stunning, place. It's not an island, it's half an island. The southern half is Dutch (Sint Maarten) ; the northern is French (Saint Martin). Both halves feature astonishing white sand beaches, brightly coloured historical architecture and very welcoming locals.
This delightful island anomaly was named by accident. It was shared by the Dutch and the French to avoid a war. Like much of the Caribbean, its past is rooted in slavery, but its present very much in tourism.
Cruise ships dock pretty close to the capital, Philipsburg. Flights arrive at Princess Juliana Airport, with a fabled approach just metres over Maho Beach.
This is a quite remarkable place to visit in the Caribbean. Welcoming to a fault, fun, boisterous and safe, we definitely recommend it as part of your travel in this region.
How To Get Here
Airlines don't fly directly to Saint Maarten from the UK. Most flights arrive from the US and Canada; some from other Caribbean nations.
Most tourists arrive in Saint Maarten on cruises to the southern and western Caribbean. Cruises tend to leave from Miami or Fort Lauderdale in California.
How we did it
We visited in 2018, as part of a two-week cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse from Miami. It was an incredible voyage, among the very best cruises we have done so far. Click this link to see any Celebrity Cruises that visit Saint Maarten.
Our top tips
Travel to Saint Maarten outside of hurricane season. Its position in the Caribbean makes it very vulnerable to storms. Avoid 1st June to 30th November.
While the locals are very friendly, there are those who are keen to exploit the naivety of visiting tourists. Be wary of scams.
Don't just stay on the beach. Philipsburg is also well worth a visit. It's a picturesque, historical town.
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