Trip readiness checklist for Sint Maarten
One island, two countries, zero border posts. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Sint Maarten: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
Visa-free up to 6 months
Up to 6 months visa-free, at the officer's discretion, with extensions possible.
- US passport valid for your whole stay (six months' validity is the safe habit; some airlines enforce it at check-in even where the country doesn't)
- Proof of onward or return travel — a booking on your phone is enough
- Where you're staying; the online entry form at entry.sx speeds up the desk
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Sint Maarten is two countries on one 37-square-mile island, Dutch on one side and French on the other, with no border between them. Pack for beaches, planes overhead and two sets of prices.
Reef-safe sunscreen and a cover-up
Thirty-seven beaches, little shade on the famous ones, and a sun that works harder than the breeze suggests.
Water shoes
Most beaches are sandy, but the snorkelling at Little Bay, Mullet Bay's rocks and Pinel Island's edges reward covered feet.
A copy of your return ticket
Immigration at the airport asks for proof of onward travel more often than most islands. A booking on your phone is enough.
An outfit for the French side
Grand Case's restaurant row is the island's best dinner and dresses a notch above beach casual.
When to go
December to April is peak, when Philipsburg also takes several cruise ships a day; the Dutch-side Carnival in April and the French-side Carnival in February are the island's big weeks. Hurricane season runs June to November, with September and October the quiet, cheap and slightly risky months. May, June and November are the sweet spot.
Money & getting around
The Dutch side prices in US dollars (the local guilder exists, but dollars rule); the French side is officially euros but takes dollars almost everywhere, often at one to one, which can be a good deal or a bad one depending on the rate that week. Cards work on both sides. Tipping is 15 percent on the Dutch side and often already added; on the French side service is included and rounding up is enough. A rental car is the sane way around; drive on the right on both sides.
Local quirks worth knowing
One island, two countries, zero border posts. The Dutch side is louder and the French side is slower, and most visitors end up loving whichever one they did not book.
Crossing sides changes your phone network
The French side is on French carriers, so a US phone may roam onto a European network and bill accordingly. Check your plan or stay on Wi-Fi over there.
Maho Beach planes are real and loud
Jets land metres above the sand and take off with a blast that knocks people over. Watch from the Sunset Bar side; never stand behind an engine on the fence.
Orient Bay has a clothing-optional end
The south end of the French side's most famous beach is naturist. The rest of the island is not, and swimwear stays on the beach.
Prices come in two currencies
Dollars on the Dutch side, euros on the French. Ask which one the menu means before you order, and check the change.
Cruise days clog Philipsburg
Front Street and the beach fill from mid-morning on ship days. Spend those days on the French side or at the eastern beaches.
A week in Sint Maarten, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Sint Maarten with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Sint Maarten — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Sint Maarten — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Sint Maarten checklist
Add your dates and passport and we build the complete, checkable list: weather-aware packing, crowd forecasts, entry rules for your passport, and free advisory alerts if anything changes before you fly. Free, no sign-up needed.
Start my trip