Your journey
Private jet to St. Maarten
St Maarten and Saint Martin share one island but offer two distinct planning systems, languages and dining cultures. Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side is the main international and private-aviation gateway; the French-side Grand Case airport serves regional connections. Choose a base around Simpson Bay, Maho, Philipsburg, Grand Case or Orient Bay, then plan the border crossings and road time honestly. A four-night stay can combine the famous airport beach, a French-side food day and a boat or island-hopping excursion without turning every evening into a cross-island drive.
St. Maarten at a glance
- Country / location
- Sint Maarten / Saint Martin
- Time zone
- Atlantic Time: UTC−4; no seasonal clock change
- Currency
- Caribbean guilder (XCG) on the Dutch side; euros and US dollars commonly accepted
- Languages
- Dutch, English and French
- Suggested stay
- Four nights for beaches, food and an island-hopping base
- Best suited to
- Beach resorts, aviation enthusiasts, dining and short Caribbean connections
- Airport options
- Princess Juliana International Airport; Grand Case Airport
Where to land for St. Maarten
Princess Juliana International is on the Dutch side of Saint Martin. Confirm whether your accommodation is in Sint Maarten or French Saint-Martin and organise the onward road or boat journey accordingly.
| Airport | Location and access | Private aviation planning |
|---|---|---|
| Princess Juliana International AirportSXM / TNCM | Simpson Bay on the Dutch side. | SXM’s official private-aviation page lists FBO facilities operated by ExecuJet by Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation, with premium lounges, aircraft handling and on-site immigration. Private aircraft require prior landing clearance and customs and immigration on arrival. |
| Grand Case AirportSFG / TFFG | Grand Case on the French side. | The French-side airport is primarily a regional gateway for French Caribbean routes. Use it for a planned local connection rather than assuming it replaces SXM for an international private arrival. |
Private terminals and arrival experience
A fixed-base operator (FBO) provides ground services for private aircraft and their passengers. The handling team coordinates your arrival; airport opening hours alone do not establish terminal or border-service availability.
Airport Road, Simpson Bay
SXM private-aviation FBO
The airport lists premium lounges, passenger and crew services, ground handling and on-site immigration through its private-aviation operators. The flight department should arrange landing clearance, parking and customs before departure.
General Aviation Building, Airport Road
ExecuJet / Atlantic Aviation and Signature
The St Maarten tourism directory says ExecuJet can coordinate parking permits, immigration and customs, car rentals, hotel arrangements and private air or boat charters. Confirm which operator will handle the actual flight.
Airport transfers and getting around
Dutch-side airport corridor
SXM to Simpson Bay or Maho
The airport is close to Simpson Bay and Maho, but the road can slow around the bridge and airport traffic. Use the hotel’s meeting point and leave buffer for private-arrival formalities.
French-side dining and beach base
SXM to Grand Case
Grand Case is a separate road journey across the island and border. Arrange a driver who understands the route and allow extra time around peak traffic before a fixed dinner reservation.
Simpson Bay Lagoon
SXM to the marina
Use the marina as the departure point for private boat or island-hopping plans. Confirm passenger meeting time and weather before booking a same-day return flight.
Ask the operating carrier to confirm aircraft suitability, handling and permissions for the actual itinerary. For budgeting, see our private jet charter cost guide.
Where to stay in St. Maarten
Terres-Basses, French side
La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel
A high-end beach resort with a secluded setting and a more private French-side feel. It suits travellers who want a resort-led stay and are comfortable arranging a longer transfer from SXM.
Maho
The Morgan Resort Spa & Village
A modern resort near the airport and Maho Beach, useful for aviation interest, nightlife and a short arrival or departure transfer. Expect more activity around the airport corridor than at a remote beach resort.
Grand Case
Hotel L’Esplanade
A boutique hillside hotel overlooking Grand Case, with a village setting that makes French-side dining and beaches easy to reach. It fits travellers who value character and local restaurants over a large all-inclusive campus.
Where to eat
Grand Case
Le Pressoir
A long-established French-side dining room for a special evening. Reserve early, confirm current opening days and arrange a return driver because Grand Case dinner reservations can end later than the road feels convenient.
Pic Paradis
Loterie Farm
A nature and dining destination in the hills, useful for a daytime escape from the beach. Build in road time and check activity or restaurant availability before promising a full afternoon.
Simpson Bay
Bamboo House
A Dutch-side Asian dining option that suits a casual evening near the airport and marina corridor. Check current menu, opening times and the traffic route from the selected hotel.
What to do in St. Maarten
Maho, beside SXM runway
Maho Beach and plane watching
Plan a short daytime visit and follow local safety instructions; the tourism office describes Maho as the famous airport beach where arriving and departing aircraft pass close to the shore. Never treat the runway edge as a viewing platform.
Grand Case and Orient Bay
French-side beaches and Grand Case
Allow a half day for a beach and food circuit, with time for the border crossing and a planned lunch. Orient Bay and Grand Case offer different atmospheres, so choose one primary beach rather than overloading the route.
Simpson Bay marina
Private boat or island hop
Reserve a half-day or full-day charter to Anguilla, St Barths or nearby cays, checking customs, weather and return timing. ExecuJet’s local directory notes that boat-charter coordination is available through the private-aviation network.
Dutch-side historic centre
Fort Amsterdam and Philipsburg
Allow two to three hours for a history and waterfront walk, then schedule a cooler indoor or dining stop.
Best time to visit St. Maarten
December–April is generally the drier travel period. Summer and autumn are warmer and wetter, with tropical storms a seasonal consideration.
| When | Conditions and activities | Planning considerations |
|---|---|---|
| December–April | Popular dry-season months for beaches, sailing and winter travel. | Reserve resort rooms, French-side dinners and boats early, and allow road time between sides of the island. |
| May–August | Warm shoulder-season conditions with quieter periods and occasional rain. | Use flexible marine bookings and keep a resort or dining alternative for a wet afternoon. |
| September–November | Hurricane-season planning matters even when the forecast is clear. | Monitor official weather information and avoid tight same-day connections after a marine excursion. |
Major events and advance planning
Islandwide, dates vary
St Maarten Heineken Regatta
Regatta dates change and can fill rooms, boats and restaurants. Check the official event calendar before fixing the island base.
Plan your stay
Before you travel
Dutch and French sides
Two jurisdictions, one island
Carry the correct travel documents and remember that road time is shaped by the border and the single main road. Confirm whether a boat or French-side transfer changes the customs plan.
SXM private aviation
Landing clearance and customs
All private aircraft require prior landing clearance and must clear customs and immigration on arrival. Give the operator passenger details early.
Maho
Airport beach safety
Stay in designated public areas and follow local warnings. Aircraft operations create powerful jet blast and the beach is a viewing location, not an aircraft-access area.
Suggested itinerary
An editorial starting point. Suggested visit lengths and transfer allowances are planning estimates, not service guarantees.
Simpson Bay or chosen resort
Arrival
Complete private-arrival formalities, settle into the hotel and keep dinner close to the selected base.
Maho and Philipsburg
First full day
Visit Maho safely at a suitable time, then combine a short Dutch-side history or waterfront stop with a relaxed dinner.
Grand Case and French-side beaches
Second full day
Cross the island early, choose one beach and make the evening meal the main event.
Boat or resort day
Third full day
Take a private charter if weather allows; otherwise use the resort, spa and a nearby lunch without forcing another cross-island transfer.
Nearby destinations and onward journeys
Anguilla
Add a quieter beach island, with a separate arrival and boat-transfer plan.
St. Barts
Combine St Maarten’s aviation gateway with a more compact French-Caribbean stay.
Cayman Islands
Switch from bilingual island-hopping to Grand Cayman’s diving and Seven Mile Beach base.
Questions about visiting St. Maarten
Where do private jets arrive in St Maarten?
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) has a dedicated private-aviation facility with multiple operators, lounges, handling and on-site immigration.
Do private aircraft need prior clearance at SXM?
Yes. The airport says private aircraft require prior landing clearance and must clear customs and immigration on arrival.
Should I stay on the Dutch or French side?
The Dutch side is practical for SXM, marinas and nightlife; the French side favours Grand Case dining, quieter beaches and a different cultural setting.
How much time should I allow for Grand Case from SXM?
Use a generous road estimate and let the driver account for the island’s traffic and border crossing rather than promising a fixed transfer time.
Is Maho Beach safe?
Visit the public beach as a viewing location, follow local warnings and stay clear of aircraft operating areas and jet blast.