St-Martin/Sint Maarten

Getting there & away

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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