Sint Maarten is unique and amazing! It may not be your first thought of the Caribean, but it’s a great destination with so much to offer!
How we got there!
Cruise ships are an excellent way to see the Caribbean. We took a cruise ship out of Miami to Sint. Maarten, Coco Cay Bahamas, and the U.S Virgin Islands. We were lucky and won this vacation in a contest, but just like flights, credit cards can also be used for cruise ships!
What we did!
If you’ve ever seen the low-flying plane pics, then you’re looking at Maho Beach in Sint Maarten. It’s a huge tourist hotspot, but if you’re on the island you’ve got to see it!
How to get from cruise terminal to Maho Beach
As one of the top Caribbean hotspots, it’s important to be able to get here cheap and efficiently.
Skip all the google searches and recommendations and take a local taxi. It takes a few extra minutes of walking, but it’s well worth it.
From the cruise terminal search for the “Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit.” This will get you to a fun building, and also get you to the main street with the taxis. Walk past all the hustlers and salesman and walk to down town. you could probably hitch some ride to down town but the walk isn’t that bad.
What you’re really looking for is a taxi with a “Maho” sign in the front window. Any of these will get you right where you need to go.
Wave down one these taxis and away you go. They cost about $4 one way per person. It’s way cheaper than the tourist traps and it gives you a better chance to interact with the locals.
We were a little confused at first but it was by far the best option. They’ll drop you off right next to the beach. They’re all over the island and you can always find them anywhere along the route between “Maho” and “Phillisburg”. Just look for the signs!
They take U.S. cash so just make sure to have a couple bucks on hand.
When you get to Maho beach it’s going to crowded so get there early to try and save a spot.
We found a nice spot and did some swimming while waiting for the airplens. The water is beautiful and warm and well worth it!
If you’re just looking for a nice beach though, go somewhere else. This beach is packed!
If you want food, water, and bathrooms, there’s a restaurant to the south of the beach. They also have a sign with updated times of arriving airplanes. Another option to check for airplanes is to download the “FlightAware” app. It’s super helpful and you can track the planes down the the minute.
Where we stayed!
On the boat 🙂
What we ate!
We were really tempted because we were hungry, but we didn’t eat anything on any of the islands. It’s hard for us to spend money on food when we had an unlimited amount of food on the boat that we’ve already paid for. Plus we really only stayed near hot spots so it wasn’t worth buying trash food at an increased price.
Gluten-Free in Sint Maarten
Gluten-free food can be found anywhere. Caribbean islands have a pretty heavy Spanish presence so there are always meals and menu items available.
Cruise ships are also great with gluten-free so if you have allergies or intolerances, don’t ever think you can’t travel and sail!
What we learned!
All cruise ports are the same. If you can get away from the tourist traps the world will open up. During the day, the main cities can be pretty busy but there’s plenty to see and do if you just take a taxi to the outskirts.
Sint Maarten is a super unique island as it’s actually split in two. The south end is owned by the dutch and the north, Saint-Martin, is owned by the French. If you have time to really explore the island, there is a ton to see. You get to experience a the dutch culture in the south and the french in the north.
Be aware if you head north, the beaches are French, so all experiences are allowed.
Sint Maarten boasts the steepest zipline in the world.
The island is well known for it’s salt ponds! It may seem odd for an island, but these ponds have been used for over 400 years to help preserve food on transatlantic journeys.
Want to fly there for free? As always, check it out!