Flights to St. Maarten/St. Martin Princess Juliana International Airport arrive on the Dutch side of the island, at one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. It is a large, full-service facility that provides passengers with access to banks, foreign exchange, shops, and restaurants. There are also rental car agencies and tourist information desks. Travellers on St. Maarten/St. Martin flights can access the Internet via Wi-Fi, but it is only free in the VIP lounge. You must purchase ‘air-time cards' through vending machines if you want to use Wi-Fi in the rest of the terminal. If you are searching for cheap flights to St. Maarten/St. Martin you can check with a number of budget rate airlines that fly to this airport.
If you prefer rental cars for vicinity travel you should consider reserving one when you buy your airfare to St. Maarten/St. Martin. You can pick it up at one of the agencies in the airport and be on your way. Otherwise you can hire taxi vans to take you to your lodgings, and you may want to hire a driver to be your personal tour guide. The public transit system is conducted in minivans as well, and the fares are very cheap. The license plate for these vehicles will read “bus”. If you are a little more adventurous you can rent a motorcycle or scooter to get around. The streets of St. Martin are very crowded with these vehicles, so look out for motorbike drivers who will speed around you on either side.
The beaches are the main draw for tourists in St. Maarten/St. Martin, and you can find clothing optional beaches on both the French and Dutch sides of the island. There are casinos and the Kid Connect on the Dutch side, and you can tour this end on a Harley Davidson motorcycle if you feel so inclined. On the French side you can take zip-line tours and hikes though Loterie Farm. You can also tour the Butterfly Farm as well as Pic du Paradis, which is the highest point on the island. You can book an excursion with four-wheel drive vehicles to fully appreciate this wild and isolated area on the French side.
Both the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten/St. Martin have their own primary shopping areas. The Dutch end maintains Front Street as its shopping centre where there are outdoor bazaars as well as brick and mortar stores. Jewellery, electronics, cosmetics, and tobacco are among the popular wares here. Marigot on the French side offers markets with reasonably priced souvenirs, wine, and fine foods. Hardly any of the French markets are open on Sundays, however. The entire island offers more than 300 restaurant choices and there are more being added constantly. You can find any type of ethnic cuisine or fast food you can possibly want on this island, regardless of which side you visit. There are also a lot of bars, casinos, and nightclubs on St. Martin. The drinking age is 16, and security is pretty lax about ID checks, so watch your kids if you do not approve of them drinking.