Planning a Sint Maarten Trip: What to Know
This is one island split between two countries: Sint Maarten on the Dutch side, Saint-Martin on the French side, with no border checkpoint between them. Our planner treats it as one destination because that's how people actually experience it, crossing back and forth in the same day without really noticing.
Five days is enough to cover both sides properly. The Dutch side has the airport, duty-free shopping, cruise ship crowds, and Maho Beach, where planes land low enough to feel within reach (check flight schedules if watching them is the point of your visit). The French side is quieter, with better beaches and, generally, better food.
Renting a car makes sense since the island is small enough to circle in under two hours but spread out enough that taxis add up fast. If you want to add a day trip, ferries run to Anguilla and St. Barths, both close enough for an easy half-day excursion. High season runs December through April.