MAHO BEACH: CATCHING A PLANE IN THE CARIBBEAN

 Maho Beach, Caribbean Island of Saint Maarten

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The map of the island of Saint-Martin in the Caribbean. (Wikimedia). Disclaimer: We do not own this image. Copyright infringement not intended. Credit to Mr. Eric Gaba of Wikimedia Commons user: sting

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Introduction 

This is a feature blog about the world-famous Maho Beach in the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin.

Our feature travelers and photographers are Jingers and Ann of the United States. 

The island of Saint Martin is divided into two, the Saint-Martin which is administered by the French Repubic and Sint Maarten which is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch). The latter is where the famous Maho Beach and the Princess Juliana International Airport are located. 

 History of Saint Martin Island

According to Wikipedia, it is commonly believed that Christopher Columbus named the island in honor of St. Martin when he anchored there on November 11, 1493, the feast day of St. Martin. 

At one time in the island's history, both France and The Netherlands claimed it. So, on March 23, 1648, both France and Netherlands divided the island between them by virtue of the Treaty of Concordia. The French side had 21 square miles and the Dutch side had 16 square miles.

Location

The island is northeast of the Caribbean and 300 kilometers east of Puerto Rico. 

How to get there?  

There are flights available from Liberty Newark International Airport in New Jersey, and JFK International Airport in New York. You can choose whatever available flights from these two points of departure. 

If you are going to Sint Maarten by cruise ships, you can choose one that is docked here in New York or the one in Miami, Florida. Cruise ships are also traveling from other points or country of origin other than New York and Florida.

Please check the website of the cruise ship you want to board for their schedules of departure. 

Cruise ships docked in Sint Maarten's AC Wathey Pier & Port Facility about 1.6 km. south of Philipsburg center.

 

Photo shows the port of St. Maarten where cruise ships dock. 

Photo by Port St. Maaarten Group of Companies through this link: 

 https://portstmaarten.com/fileadmin/storage/_processed_/csm_home1_7468728679.jpgportstmaarten.com

Disclaimer: We do not own this photo, it belongs to the rightful owner in this instance the Port of St. Maarten Group of Companies. No Copyright Infringement Intended. Thank you. 

 

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Also, there are available flights from your point of departure or origin wherever you are in Europe, America, and elsewhere. Please visit the website of the airline you wish to fly with, or you may contact your travel agent for more details. 

By plane, your point of destination is Sint Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport. 

 

Princess Juliana International Airport

Image from The Wikipedia.

 This photo shows the airplane that is about to land at the Princess Juliana International Airport here on Sint Maarten, Caribbean. Look at that plane. It is so scary. 

Our feature travelers shown here on Maho Beach where tourists enjoy the sights, the sun, the sea as well as the noise of incoming airplanes...haha...

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      OMG, a passenger falls from the plane. Joke lang...haha... 

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Where to stay?

There are numerous hotels on Sint Maarten because it is one of the most visited travel destinations in the Caribbean. For example:

1. Hilton Hotel Vacation Club. If you are a Filipino traveler, the price ranges from P15K to P19K Philippines Pesos. Roughly, it is more or less $300.00 per night. This might be even lower if you can avail of discounts or promo. Most of these hotel accommodations are what we call "all in" or all inclusive. Meaning, the rate includes the room and food. 

2. Holland House Beach Hotel

3. Commodore Suites

4. Sonesta Maho Beach All Inclusive Hotel Casino and Spa 

5. Atrium Beach Hotel and Spa 

6. Travel Inn Hotel Simpson Bay 

7. J.W. Marriott St. Maarten

......and many others including those in the French side of the island. We only focused on the Dutch side of the island. You can, however, do an island tour of both Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin on the duration of your stay on the island. I think so. Possible? Why not.

Where to eat? 

There are so many restaurants and bars on the beachfront as well as in the areas of Philipsburg, Prince's Quarters, Koolbaai and Simsonbaai districts, among others.  

You can savor the local food in the following "places to eat" - 

1. Tortuga Maho

2. Lazy Lizard Sint Maarten

3. The Palms Restaurant

4. Vesna Taverna

For budget-friendly bites, you may visit the following:

1. Coffee Lounge Bar & Restaurant

2. Jai's Contemporary Fusion Cuisine

3. Reveil Matin Sxm Breakfast & Lunch

4. Little Jerusalem

5. Dirty Sanchez Crew Bar 

6. Cafe Atlantico

7. OMG Delicious

....and many more. You can check these suggested places to eat by visiting their websites. 

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Sint Maarten is truly a paradise on this part of the Caribbean. Let's have a look at these photos: 

What to do? 

There are so many things to do while on the island. The following are suggested by various sources like Viator, Booking Dot Com, Trip-advisor, and some travel bloggers, among others. 

The Beaches

1. Maho Beach - featured here with our travelers. Tourists always wait for the incoming aircrafts to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. The "closeness" of the airplanes to the beach is not only a terrifying experience but an awesome moment that any tourist will cherish for the rest of his or her life. Agree? Hu-o na, haha...

2. Cupecoy Bay Beach - the huge rocks are nice spots where you can sit and chill. You can also watch the sunset here.

3. Sea Trek St. Maarten

4. Fort Louis 

5. Seaside Nature Park 

6. Tiki Hut Snorkel Park

7. Snuba St. Maarten

8. Red Baron Charters 

9. Motorcycle ride around town such as the Prince's Quarters, and others. 

10. For kids and young adults, you can visit the Yuda Guy Movie Exhibit. 

----and many more. 

 

Grabe, ga tuparay gid ang yacht ta....haha, joke lang. 

This yacht is so sexy. Who owns this? Pihu ko indi na akon, haha.

Imo ni Migs Jingers? Dyok lang. 

Please take note of the cruise ship docked on the other side of the pier. 

 Conclusion:

The economy of the island depends mostly on tourism. According to Wikipedia, in 2000, the island had about one million visitors. Majority of its workforce is in the tourism industry. 

This Constituent Country of the Netherlands has a nominal GDP or Gross Domestic Product estimated at $1.436 Billion, 2018 estimate. GDP is an economic formula that measures the market value of all the goods and services produced by a country in a year. This one is 2018.  (www.bing.com). For a small country, Sint Maarten is, indeed, growing. 

(Na hudlakon ko mag siling nga "rich".... kay damo variables okon indicators ang word nga "rich"...haha...) 

But look at this figure - Per Capita for 2018 is estimated at $35,342.00. This means that "per head" or per capita (Latin for each person), or average per person has an economic value of $35,342.00 that is 2018 estimate. 

So, good earnings? Beautiful beaches, rich in history, world-class tourism facilities, hardworking locals...do these mean or imply economic success and hence quality of  life? (Kon sa Pinas ka with this per capita, millionaire ka na, pramis, haha.)

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Endowed with the best beaches, crystal clear waters, the beautiful island vibe, and destination of Cruise Ships from all over, the island of Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten will continue to attract millions of tourists as the years go by. 

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And now that our feature travelers and photographers, Jingers and Ann, have shared with you the beauty of Saint Martin, the island in the Caribbean, are you now including the island in you bucket list? Why not? o' di ba? Try mo.

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Now, do you find this feature blog informative and entertaining? If so, please LIKE our Facebook Page, and SHARE this with your friends. Thank you. 

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Touristang Pobre, May 4, 2024.

xxx