Getting there & away
Contents
Sea
Cruise ship
No less than 12 major companies land in Philipsburg and Marigot. Day-trippers head to duty-free shopping in the main towns or to beach excursions. Sometimes up to four ships a day are in port.
Water
Ferry
Ferries depart from Marigot, Oyster Pond, Philipsburg and Simpson Bay for Anguilla, St-Barthélemy and Saba. Schedules and departure points are prone to change so call the main ferry line (87-53-03) in St-Martin for the most up-to-date information.
St-martin to anguilla
Ferries make the 25-minute journey from Marigot Bay in St-Martin to Blowing Point in Anguilla an average of once every 30 minutes from 8am to 6:15pm (from 7:30am to 7pm from Anguilla to St-Martin).
The one-way fare is US$12 (US$15 on the last boat of the day). The fare for the passage is paid onboard the boat.
Entering the destination
Entering the island
Citizens of the EU need an official identity card or valid passport. Citizens of most other foreign countries need both a valid passport and a visa for France if entering the island on the French side.
A round-trip or onward ticket is officially required of Americans, Canadians and all non-EU citizens, regardless of whether one enters on the French or Dutch side.
People arriving by yacht can clear immigration at the office (542-2222) based in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The city-sized cruise ships all pull into Philipsburg as well.
Air
There are two airports on the island: Juliana Airport (SXM; 545-2060; www.pjiae.com; Sint Maarten) and L’Espérance Airport (87-53-03; Grand Case, St-Martin). All international flights arrive at Juliana Airport and it is a major hub for carriers such as Winair, which flies on to Anguilla, St-Barthélemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Montserrat and other nearby islands. Prop planes head from L’Espérance to St-Barthélemy, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Note that Juliana is either a crowded tedious experience, or a lovely, no-lines hop through – it’s pretty much luck of the draw. Your best bet is to come early and hungry, check in and, if you end up with plenty of time, take a US$6 taxi to the Sunset Beach Bar for some memorable airport food.
The following airlines fly to/from the island:
Air Canada (888-247-2262; www.aircanada.com) Toronto
Air France (546-7602; www.airfrance.com) Paris
American/American Eagle (800-433-7300; www.aa.com) Miami, New York, San Juan, Santo Domingo
Caribbean Airlines (800-538-2942; www.bwee.com) Antigua, Barbados, Georgetown, Fort Lauderdale, Kingston, London, Manchester, Paramaribo, Port-of-Spain, Tobago
Continental Airlines (546-7671; www.continental.com) New York
Delta (546-7615; www.delta.com) Atlanta
Insel (546-7690; www.caribbeanjet.com) Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao
JetBlue (546-7663; www.jetblue.com) New York
KLM (546-7695; www.klm.com) Amsterdam
LIAT (in Sint Maarten 545-2403; www.liatairline.com) Anguilla, Antigua, Nevis, St Kitts, Tortola
St Barths Commuter (546-7698) St-Barthélemy
Spirit (546-7621; www.spiritair.com) Fort Lauderdale
United (800-538-2929; www.united.com) Chicago
US Airways (546-7683; www.usair.com) Charlotte, Philadelphia
Winair (in Sint Maarten 545-2568; www.fly-winair.com) Anguilla, Nevis, Saba, St Kitts, St-Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Tortola, Santo Domingo
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