The Caribbean - HELP - St. Marteen: getting from St. Thomas & Stay

I am headed to STT from ORD late February. Taking advantge of the UA cheepie fares from MSP. Would LOVE to hit SXM and enjoy the plane spotting paradise.

I would appreciate suggestions on how to get to SXM from STT. Point to point is pricey, I am hoping that someone may have ideas such as ferry to XXXX and fly to SXM or fly to XXX and ferry to SXM, etc.

Also, I understnad Maho Beach is the spot. What hotels (2-3*) that I could grab on a budget that would be walking distance to ther beach.


Thanks in advance

These are your best options:

Option 1
Fly Liat from St. Thomas to St. Maarteen. The total cost should be approximately USD227.50

Option 2
Ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola. Cost USD45 round trip with a 50 minute trip time

Then fly Liat from Tortola to St. Maarteen. Total cost should be approximately USD160.00

The cost should be approximately the same once you add departure taxes to option 2 so my advice would be to fly STT - SXM. You could check the flight availabilty and fares at www.liatairline.com

To answer your other question with regards to SXM check out this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=642329

In there you will find one of my posts with a list of hotels, my thoughts on them and links a review type site for each.

I do love the Maho Beach Hotel ^ but Divi Little Bay is also great.

Hope this helps a bit

Awesome post and thank you.

I ran into a small problem though. I am going 2-25 to 2-27 and there is no return service to St. Thomas for the return. I am taking a look at STT-SXM-EIS then ferry as you suggested. Due to the flight schedule this means only one night and day in SXM :(

A whole lotta flying and hopefully there will be some awesome plane spotting opportunities!

In the SXM airliner pictures it looks liek there are two or thre hotels in the background with excellent balcony viewing, what are there hotels???

Can you post the link of the picture you are make reference to. Plane spotting in SXM is awesome and you are heading at a good time but IMHO late Dec and all month Jan are the best times.

I would highly recommend Maho. You can walk down to this little beach between the hotel and Sunset Bar and the jets land right over your head. Take off is also right before your eyes... if you can keep them open (the jet blast raise lots of sand and I have even seen persons knocked off their feet... looks like fun, never tried personally). This was an after-thought but I am just figured you would love this link http://www.sunsetbeachbar.com/photoalbums you should check out the live cams also.

There is also another little guesthouse at the lift off end of the airport... Airport Inn Hotel. A small guesthouse that I would recommend for a one nighter, two at most. Stayed there one night after my flight came in late and I missed my ferry to Anguillla. Would stay there again if I had too.

The plus for you is that the owner Mr. Halley is a pilot and he may share your passion for plane spotting... should be an interesting conversation.

I am taking a look at STT-SXM-EIS then ferry as you suggested.

Make sure that you leave yourself enough time to get from EIS to the ferry (in either Roadtown or West End).

Definitely stay at Maho. It is right by the airport. You will be closer to the landing than at the airport motel. At Maho you are able to enjoy numerous restaurants, clubs, casino. :)