How Do You Get to Saint Martin From the US (and What Are the Passport and Visa Rules)?

With its enduring tourism, and classic beauty, getting to Saint Martin is never a question of “how hard” but rather “when” and “where”. If you’re flying in from the US, chances are you’ll have the most chances to go to Saint Martin, as a lot of Americans have done before. And if you’re from France or anywhere in the EU, well, you’ll probably have the least odds.
How Do You Get to Saint Martin From the US
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Saint Martin, due to its shared airport with the Dutch side’s Princess Juliana International Airport has given plenty of people, plenty of opportunities to fly to this little slice of paradise in the Lesser Antilles. You just have to look up the right information regarding the entry conditions in relation to where you’re from.

Can You Fly to Saint Martin?

Flying to Saint Martin from any point worldwide, especially if you’re from the Americas or Europe, is the most common and cheapest way to travel to Saint Martin. Now with a slew of international, and regional airlines flying a fleet of ships, getting to Saint Martin is never a problem.

Saint Martin, along with its twin, Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of the same island are like siblings joined at the hip, are among the most famous destination in the Caribbean. Often ranking up in regions must-visit, and with plenty of good reasons.

Due to this enduring reputation in the tourism industry, Saint Martin currently has amassed a huge following all over the world to its gorgeous beaches and interestingly mixed culture, often a hybrid of Dutch, across its land border on the other side. This in turn has resulted in a tourism boom that attracted waves of tourists seeking to bask under its beauty. And with a high demand for travel, airline flights come opening up and flying in.

Today, getting to Saint Martin is not a matter of how anymore, but a matter of when. The island has so much to offer, from its curiosities, especially the history of how a single island came to be Dutch AND French, its beaches, and people.

How Many Airports Are There in Saint Martin?

One curious thing about Saint Martin is its metaphorical dual personality with Sint Maarten, the island’s Dutch side, both influenced and currently controlled. With this, the island has two major airports, the L’Esperance Airport in Saint Martin, the smaller airport that only caters to inter-island or regional airlines and flights.

Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport is the bigger one, where it caters to international airlines and flights coming from across the Atlantic and the Caribbean. The airport was originally a military airfield built by the US that eventually transformed into a public commercial airport that became the busiest in the eastern Caribbean – all thanks to tourism.

What Airport Do You Fly Into for Saint Martin?

If you’re flying in from the US, Canada, Australia, UK, or Europe, you’ll most likely be landing at the Princess Juliana International Airport in the Dutch side of Sint Maarten. Seems confusing, right? The Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten is the island’s main airport, which mainly caters to international flights coming from different countries outside of the Caribbean region.

What happens is that you enter the Netherlands, as Sint Maarten is Dutch territory, and then take a land trip going into France, as Saint Martin is a territory of France, with all of it happening outside of Europe.

Other than the Princess Juliana International Airport, the L’Esperance Airport in Grand Case in the French side of Saint Martin is the second largest airport on the island. However, L’Esperance Airport is mainly used for regional air carriers flying around the islands of Guadeloupe, and Saint Barth.

Where Is Saint Martin Airport?

L’Esperance Airport, also called the Grand Case Airport is located north of the island of Saint Martin, on the French side, in the town of Grande Case. However, this is not the island’s main transport hub, as it is only mainly for regional flights coming from Guadeloupe and Saint Barth with regional airlines such as Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, St. Barth Commuter, and Trans Anguilla Airways.

The island’s main airport, on the other hand, is the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten, on the southwestern side of the island. This is the largest airport by size and use, as Princess Juliana Airport caters to a fleet of international airlines from the US, UK, Canada, and Europe.

What Airlines Fly to Saint Martin?

With Saint Martin’s tourist-famous reputation, you can expect accessibility by flying into the island with numerous airlines that are sure to have flights, whether direct or connecting from where you are. Some of these airlines are major air carriers like Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines.

Many of the other airlines offer flights from notable countries known to frequent Saint Martin. These airlines include Air Caraibes, Air Century, Air Sunshine, Coastal Air, Divi Divi Air, InterCaribbean, Trans Anguilla Airways, St. Barth Commuter, and Winair offer flights from several Caribbean destinations.

Bigger airlines like Air Canada, Air Transat, and WestJet offer flights from Toronto and Montreal, Canada. If you’re flying from the US, you can fly with American Airlines, Delta Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines from cities like New York, Charlotte, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Chicago.

If you’re from Europe, you can fly with Air France, from Paris, France, and KLM, or the Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam, Netherlands. However, there are various connecting flights from various points in Europe via these cities and airlines.

Does Jetblue Fly to Saint Martin?

JetBlue, one of the many American airlines that have an extensive roster of flights in various destinations south of the USA. You can fly with JetBlue to Princess Juliana Airport in Saint Martin from cities like Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Boston, and Newark, directly.

Does Southwest Airlines Fly to Saint Martin?

Southwest Airlines, currently don’t fly to Saint Martin. However, few other major American airlines servicing travel to the famous French-Dutch island, like American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, and Spirit. Despite the demands, no finalizations regarding opening a travel route to Sint Maarten have been made so far.

Does United Fly to Saint Martin?

United is a major air carrier from the US, servicing thousands of travelers eager to cross the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Caribbean Sea, including Saint Martin. United Air offers flights from key cities like Newark, Chicago, and Washington.

Does Delta Airlines Fly to Saint Martin?

Delta Airlines is yet another major American airline catering to US travelers, offer routes in various hot destinations across the Caribbean. You can fly direct to Saint Martin from Atlanta and New York City.

Does American Airlines Fly to Saint Martin?

American Airlines, probably the largest air carrier in the US, with an expansive roster of travel routes taking American travelers to the best, and hottest destinations across the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. With American Airlines access to different destinations, you can fly from New York City, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Miami to Saint Martin, via direct flights.

Who Flies Direct to Saint Martin?

With Saint Martin’s enduring tourist reputation, a fleet of international airlines regularly flies to the island via the Princess Juliana International Airport in the Dutch part of Saint Martin. You can fly with Air Caraibes, Air Century, Air Sunshine, Coastal Air, Divi Divi Air, InterCaribbean, Trans Anguilla Airways, St. Barth Commuter, and Winair with regional flights coming from across the Caribbean.

If you’re flying from Canada, you can fly with Air Canada, Air Transat, and WestJet from Toronto and Montreal, Canada. If you’re flying from the US, you can fly with American Airlines, Delta Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines from cities like New York, Charlotte, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Chicago.

If you’re from Europe, you can fly with Air France, from Paris, France, and KLM, or the Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam, Netherlands. However, there are various connecting flights from various points in Europe via these cities and airlines.

How Long Does It Take to Fly to Saint Martin?

It depends where you’re flying from, as the flight duration varies by distance to or from the Princess Juliana International Airport. If you’re flying from either Toronto or Montreal in Canada, it can take about 7 to 8 hours to fly in between depending on certain factors like logistics and transfers.

Flying from the USA depends on the city as the country itself is a continent, thus, flight duration varies from city to city, usually around 6 to 7 hours. If you’re flying from Europe, like France or The Netherlands, flight duration can usually take around 11 to 12 hours, again, depending on certain factors, and flying from Europe is crossing an ocean, so expect to have long hours.

How Much Does It Cost to Fly to Saint Martin?

It depends on the airlines you’re flying with, what season you’re flying in, and where you’re flying from. However, there are always ways to find and book cheaper tickets across the internet, you just have to know few hacks to avail of cheaper prices.

If you’re from the US, prices can vary depending on what city. But on off-season tickets are usually as cheap as 145 to 648 USD for both one-way and roundtrip tickets. The trick is to book at least two weeks up to months for greater deals.

Flying from different parts of the Caribbean, especially from other French Caribbean islands is comparably cheaper, as one-way tickets cost around 86 to 169 USD. Roundtrip tickets are usually around 181 to 277 USD.

If you’re flying from Europe, mainly from France or the Netherlands, flying with Air France, KLM can have cheaper deals despite them being some of the major airlines in Europe.

Do You Need a Passport to Go to Saint Martin?

Every country in the world will always require passports from foreign travelers wherever they’re from, visa-exempt or not. The only difference is that a visa to enter the country, in this case, Saint Martin. Visa policies differ from the country, depending on many factors like tourism or foreign affair agreements, and sometimes because of good diplomatic relationships between countries.

The Passports serve as your identification in a foreign country, your country of origin, and other important details. To have this document is considered an international law for visitors. If you’re visiting Saint Martin, no matter where you’re from, your passport must be valid for at least six months during the duration of your stay on the archipelago.

Do Americans Need a Passport for Saint Martin?

Americans and any other non-French citizens will always need a passport to enter Saint Martin. A passport serves as an identification for your country of origin, along with other vital information about you, and is an international policy, with no exceptions.

Can You Go to Saint Martin Without a Passport?

You can’t go to Saint Martin without a passport if you’re not French. Every foreign traveler, whatever their purpose of the visit is, will need a passport to travel to Saint Martin, even if they aren’t required a visa to visit.

Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Saint Martin?

Saint Martin and many others have different requirements for entry, it varies from country to country, apart from the European Union member-states, and the EEA or the European Economic Area, where foreign policies are the same. It is best to check before booking your vacation in Saint Martin if you’re country is on the visa-required list.

Most of the French Caribbean has a relatively more relaxed visa policy, especially for certain nationalities. If you’re from Europe, like the EU, and the EEA, the USA, and Canada, you don’t need one. Citizens of the European Union along with nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland can travel to Saint Martin and stay indefinitely without a visa. They just need to present a national ID card upon entry.

Also, many other nationalities are exempted from a visa for periods of 3 to 6 months, depending on the country of origin, this may apply to citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, and post-Brexit UK. The rest of the world must apply for a visa at the nearest French embassy in person.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for St Maarten?

US citizens do not need to obtain a tourist or travel visa to enter St. Maarten, however, they do need to have their passport with them upon traveling – such as the policy for foreign travel. The US citizen must have a valid passport, at least 6 months during their stay on the island. The passport must also have adequate unused or blank visa pages to allow for entry and exit stamps upon arrival and departure from St. Maarten.

Can a Felon Travel to Saint Martin?

A convicted Felon can still travel to Saint Martin with no problem, the only restriction would if they have a current felony warrant issued against them, in this case, the airline or both the departing or receiving airport can stop them. Another situation is if their name is on the “no-fly” list issued by the Transportation Security Administration or the TSA – for suspected of terrorism.

If a convicted Felon wants to go on a cruise to Saint Martin, they can also do so freely. However, open-loop cruises may be more restrictive. There are two types of cruises, there are closed-loops where it starts and ends in the same port, while an open-loop cruise is where the ship starts and ends in a different port city location. Closed-loop cruises offer more freedom and for convicted felons as they can still end up on the same port.

What Else Do I Need to Travel to Saint Martin?

Apart from the needed documents like your passport, and visas, if you’re required to have one, other things you might need to travel to Saint Martin is your driver’s license, and it’s much better if it’s an international one, as long as there is an English translation. However, if you’re from the US, your state-issued license is valid.

Also, make sure to bring essentials like mosquito repellants, sunscreen, and climate-appropriate clothes as things might be different in Saint Martin than where you are. You also need to have enough cash to go to the island and your accommodation, transportations like taxis, or private transfers will only be paid in cash, you can pay in Euros or US dollars in Saint-Martin.

How Long Can I Stay in Saint Martin?

Approved tourist visas, just like visa-exempt nationalities can stay in Saint Martin for a period of up to 90 days per 180 days. It is best to have your passport be valid for at least within the period of your stay. This is called a short-stay visa. Other types of visas like business visas and long-stay visas have varying lengths of stay and apply to any country.

How Long Can a US Citizen Stay in Saint Martin?

A US Citizen can stay for a maximum of 90 days per 180 days in Saint Martin, without the need for a visa. This applies to Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia as well.

How Far Is Saint Martin From the US?

Florida is the nearest state to Saint Martin in the US, and it is approximately 2,167 km or 1,347 miles from Saint Martin, and can only be traveled in between by plane, and cruise ship. Most flights to Saint Martin also come from Florida via Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, and Tallahassee.

Is Saint Martin Close to Florida?

Geographically, Florida has a great distance between them, that flights take around 4 hours or so. However, statistically, Florida is the nearest US state to Saint Martin, so for US Americans looking to travel to Saint Martin, flying from Florida might be the shortest travel time.

How Far Is Saint Martin From Miami?

Miami, in the state of Florida, is approximately 1,961 km or 1,219 miles from Saint Martin. Miami is one of the most common jump-off destinations to Saint Martin with its distance. The Miami International Airport hosts some airlines offering flights to different locations in the Caribbean, like Air France, Air Canada, American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Delta Air, and KLM to name a few.

How Long Does It Take to Fly From Miami to Saint Martin?

With its distance, it can take around 3 or so to fly from Miami to Saint Martin, given that you’ll take a direct flight.

How Far Is Saint Martin From Fort Lauderdale?

Saint Martin is approximately 1,973 km or 1,226 miles from Fort Lauderdale, directly, in the state of Florida in the southeastern US. Just like Miami, Fort Lauderdale also hosts several airlines that cater to flights around the Caribbean.

How Long Is the Flight From Fort Lauderdale to Saint Martin?

With a slight difference of distance with Miami, traveling to Saint Martin from Fort Lauderdale also takes around 3 hours or so, via direct flight.

How Long Does It Take to Sail From Miami to Saint Martin?

Sailing from Miami to Saint Martin would be an adventurous and more scenic way to get to the famous French island, however, it can be risky, and takes the longest time. If you travel in decent weather, and average wind speeds, it can take about three weeks, one way.

A powerboat, however, could only take half that time. A cruise ship could take way less than that, maybe a full day, but then again, with cruise packages in the Caribbean, it can take days before you get to Saint Martin, because of all the many stops in between.

Are There Direct Flights From Boston to Saint Martin?

You can fly to the Princess Juliana International Airport from Boston, directly via JetBlue Airlines. Roundtrip tickets start from 193 USD. Most of the other airlines that fly via Boston are often connecting flights from other cities or outside the US.

How Long Is the Flight From Boston to Saint Martin?

With an approximate distance from each other of 2,797 km or 1,738 miles, the average flight time is around 4 hours or so.

How Long Does It Take to Fly to Saint Martin From New York?

With a sheer distance of 2,719 km or 1,690 miles, flying from New York City to Saint Martin can take around 4 hours, if you’re flying directly.

How Long Is the Flight From DC to Saint Martin?

Saint Martin is approximately 2,676 km or 1,663 miles from Washington, DC, directly. With this great distance, it can take around 4 hours to fly to Saint Martin if you’re flying from Washington DC, directly.

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