Travel Guide from London to St. Maarten

Embark on an incredible journey from London to St. Maarten, where every mile unfolds a tapestry of adventure, turquoise waters, and sun-kissed beaches. Explore the vibrant fusion of Caribbean and Dutch cultures, savoring the unique flavors of local cuisine. Whether it’s the thrill of water sports, the serenity of secluded coves, or the lively atmosphere of Philipsburg, St. Maarten promises an unforgettable experience. In this guide, we will walk you through the best places to stay, and visit. Not forgetting plane tickets and important travel info.

Top 3 places to stay in St. Maarten

St. Maarten resorts and hotels encompass both beauty and elegance. While others will offer you that rustic island charm.

Here are our top three picks of the best places to spend the night in St. Maarten, including their price tags

1. Sonesta Ocean Point Resort

Picture of the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort in St. Maarten

Tucked in the breath taking views of Maho Bay, this 130 all-suite resort is our favorites hideout on the Dutch island.

Sonesta is an all-inclusive resort with three spectacular pools, a fitness centre, 24-hour room service, and of course an open-air wellness area.
When it comes to dining, this adult-only resort has three fine dining restaurants including the celebrated Azul restaurant, and four bars.

 

2. Grand Case Beach Club

A view of the Grand Case Beach Club Resort

That’s right, this island resort is located on the Food hub of St. Martin; Grand Case. And that means this beach resort is surrounded by classic French restaurants with influencers from as far as the Netherlands visible.

The beach club is located on two beaches providing you with that much-needed private family vacation.

3. Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm, St.Maarten

The Apartment like room at the Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm in St Maarten
The Apartment like room at the Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm in St Maarten

This is hotel is not called home away from home for nothing. On this resort, you will find rooms that resemble apartments, each having its own kitchenette decked with a refrigerator and a living room with a flat-screen television.

Hilton is located in Cole bay and is surrounded by gratifying restaurants like the Melage international grill for a stack of tender marinated ribs.

Things to do in St. Maarten

St.Maarten is filled with countless things to do. If you have not yet planned your itinerary, we have a few activities you can enjoy:

Full Day Snorkling, Beach and Island Hopping Excursion

This six-hour excursion will have you discovering St.Maarten in a day. Every excursion is punctuated with a snorkelling and exciting gourmet break.

Fort Louis

Fort Louis combines history with adventure. The climb reveals a 1789 Fort build to protect the Marigot settlement including its warehouses from pirates. The original cannons no longer line the grounds but on your trip to the fort, you can see replicas of what used to be.

Fort Louis

Once at the top, you can enjoy picturesque views of Marigot, Baie Nettle and as far as Anguilla.

Petites Cayes

Well, we know that St. Maarten is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But not many will require you to follow a 2,5km trail surrounded by trees just to enjoy a tan.

The hidden beach of St Maarten

And this is what makes Petites Cayes a wonder to see. Not only will you find sun and sand but if you are looking for privacy and don’t mind the walk, then this hidden beach is a new hideout.

What to Pack

Now that you have your itinerary planned, let’s talk luggage. Here are a few must-packs for your Dutch vacation.

Toiletries

1. Sunscreen

This is a Caribbean must. Suntanned doesn’t have to mean sunburned. When you go sunscreen shopping, make sure you pick a reef-safe sunscreen.

2. Bug Spray

St. Maarten is notorious for its bugs, and worst of all, its relentless mosquitoes. So if you are not looking to become bug food, pack a good can of bug repellent spray.

3. Soothing Cream

Whether you pick Aloe Vera or some other soothing lotion, after a day in the sun, you will need a cream that will help heal your body after your day in the sun.

Clothing

1. Breezy Fabrics

Fill your luggage with lightweight fabrics. Not only will they be light to carry but will keep you cool in the heat.

2. Beach Accessories

If you are planning to spend your days busking on the beach, then you will need to pack some beach accessories. We are talking beach cover-ups, totes, and hats. You can also visit our shop to find some amazing beach accessories.

3. Swimwear

You cannot visit an island without swimwear, it would be a disservice to your vacation and the beautiful beaches that encompass St. Maarten.
We have a swimsuit option for you.

Sint. Maarten Travel Requirements

Although travel restrictions to St. Maarten have changed, non-vaccinated travellers are still required to produce a negative Covid-19 test 48 hours before departure if it is a PCR test. But if you have taken an antigen test, then it needs to not be older than 24 hours.

One other important requirement for travellers, is filling out the health pre-authorization form through the EHAS. The form is mandatory for all travellers, with the exception of day trip passengers. Filling out the form and receiving your authorization can be a lengthy process. So we advice filling it out at least 12 hours before travel.

You will also need to carry a valid national passport to visit St. Maarten from London.

Flying from London to Sint. Maarten

The best way to get to Sint. Maarten is by plane. And there are several platforms you can visit to book your flight to this island escape.

Here are our favorite booking websites:

Booking.com

Booking.com offers access to an array of booking services. This Dutch booking marketplace makes finding deals from both early and established airlines a breeze.

Cheapoair.com

CheapOair is a wide marketplace for all things vacation. They are known for their impressively low round-trip tickets. To book the flight on the website, simply input your nearest airport and your destination airport.

Enjoying Your St. Maarten Vacation

St. Maarten is the perfect place to visit this winter. With so many things to do on the island, your vacation is sure to be one for the books.

For more on Caribbean travel, visit our blog.