Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
reopened to commercial service today
following damage the destination sustained during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Previously, the airport had only been operating military and relief flights.
Is St Maarten rebuilt after hurricane?
Shelter repairs: Repairs to Sint Maarten's four priority shelters were completed by the NRPB in August 2020 and now feature more hurricane-resilient exteriors, water systems, backup power, sanitation supplies, and meet all-access standards.
Repairs to the remaining shelters are expected to be completed by January 2021
.
How is St Maarten recovered from Irma?
Houses were rebuilt and businesses reopened
. Tourists, being such an important source of income for St Maarten, eventually returned and helped the island move forward. It took a long time though, and even when I visited St Maarten in 2021 I could still see damage from Hurricane Irma.
Is St Maarten safe for tourists?
The main tourist areas are generally safe
, but you should take sensible precautions. Avoid remote areas at night. Do not take valuables to the beach.
Which side is better St Maarten?
Beaches: With much more unspoiled shoreline than Sint Maarten,
the French side
definitely has the advantage for beaches, with popular Orient Bay Beach drawing crowds, and the peaceful Friar's Bay and appropriately named Happy Bay providing all the white sands and blue waters you'd expect on a Caribbean visit.
When did Irma hit St Maarten?
This wasteland was on St. Martin, an island that took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma on
Sept. 6, 2017
, and where, two years later, recovery is still far from complete.
Has St Martin been rebuilt?
After Hurricane Irma,
St. Maarten resorts have rebuilt to become bigger and better
. The comeback kids in St. Maarten, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, are open for business after monster Hurricane Irma pummeled the dual-nation island nearly two years ago.
Is Orient Beach Open now?
The remaining stretch of Orient Beach is wide open
and both residents and return visitors can't escape the beauty of the bay to be back in its natural state.
Has Maho Beach been rebuilt?
The family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in St. Maarten, the Dutch-side of the dual-island nation,
have rebuilt and renovated after Hurricane Irma pummeled the dual-nation island nearly two years ago
.
What is the best time of year to go to St Maarten?
The best time to visit St. Martin and St. Maarten is
May and June or between November and mid-December
.
How many hurricanes have hit St. Martin?
Of the 16 cyclones whose center passed over or near Saint-Martin and / or Saint-Barthelemy, there were 5 tropical storms (or downgraded),
5 category 1 hurricanes, 1 major category 3 hurricane, 2 major hurricanes of category 4 and 1 major hurricane of category 5
, the infamous Irma in 2017.
How many airports are in St Maarten?
St. Maarten has
two airports
. Its main airport Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) (flight code SXM) in between of Simpson Bay and Maho on the Dutch side connects St. Maarten to all intercontinental flights and most regional ones.
Can I travel to St Maarten without a passport?
Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements
Upon arrival in Sint Maarten, you must have:
a U.S. passport valid for the duration of your stay
; an Embarkation and Disembarkation Card (ED-Card);
Is there a curfew in St Maarten?
In addition,
a night-time curfew is in force on Sint Maarten between 08:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m.
.
Is St Maarten and St Martin the same?
Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the Dutch half, and St. Martin is French
.
Can I move to St. Martin?
Sint Maarten is a duty-free port. Sint Maarten operated under the European system for title. According to the American-Dutch Friendship treaty of 1956,
US citizens do not need a work permit while living on the island
. If they want to stay longer than 6 months, they should apply for a Declaration of Admission by Law.
Can I drink tap water in St. Martin?
Tap water may not be safe to drink in St. Martin
. Local residents are warned to boil tap water before drinking, using it to cook, or brushing their teeth because of a public notice that indicates some residents have been diagnosed with cholera. Proper disinfection is advised.
How many days do you need in St Maarten?
St. Maarten (and its French counterpart, St. Martin) is considered the melting pot of the Caribbean.
Three days
are enough time to experience the island's rich diversity of cultures and activities, and even venture farther afield in the Lesser Antilles.
What Caribbean islands are still recovering from hurricane?
2 years later, U.S. island territories still hurting from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Although 2020 is only days away, Americans in the territories of
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
are still recovering from devastating storms that hit back in the fall of 2017.
What happened to St Maarten?
Tragedy struck in September 2017, however, when
the Category 5 Hurricane Irma raged over the island for a full eight hours
. This was one of the worst-hit islands, and it's estimated that more than 90 percent of the buildings were damaged; one-third were completely destroyed.
What happened to St. Martin?
Deeply grieved, Martin refused to communicate with Ithacius, until pressured by the Emperor.
Martin died in Candes-Saint-Martin, Gaul (central France) in 397
. After he died, local citizens of the Poitou region and residents of Tours quarreled over where Martin would be buried.
Where is St Maarten?
Sint Maarten, also spelled Saint Martin, country
within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Lesser Antilles, northeastern Caribbean Sea
. It occupies the southern third of the island of Saint Martin. The northern two-thirds of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin.
Are there hurricanes in St Maarten?
St Maarten is within the hurricane belt and can experience a storm throughout the hurricane season which starts June 1 and ends November 30
. This beautiful island is however, typically blessed with searing hot sunshine all through the year.
How often do planes fly over Maho Beach?
There are planes landing
every 15 minutes
.
Is Club Orient open?
Is Club Orient ever going to re-open?
Yes, Club Orient will reopen once the required approvals are obtained and reconstruction is completed
. There is an active group of owners who have been working toward rebuilding and reopening the resort since shortly after Hurricane Irma.
How do I get to Happy Bay St Martin?
There is no road access, and the only way to reach the beach is by
taking a 15-minute scenic hike through the hills (you can park at Friars Bay) or by boat
. It's a quiet and pristine place, void of facilities, restaurants and bars, although there is a small shack selling BBQ meats.
How do you get to Pinel island?
Pinel key is a little uninhabited island
about a 5-10 minute boat ride off the shores of French Saint Martin
. To get there is easy, there's a huge sandy parking lot where you board the ferry, which departs every 30 minutes. Be sure not to leave anything valuable in your vehicle though, as the parking isn't supervised.
