It might seem strange if you’ve never seen it before. People are starting to line up on the beach, but not facing the water. They are facing the fence, making calls and waiting. Then there’s a sound and the jet drops low over the sand, close enough to feel it with your chest, and lands just beyond the beach.
This is Maho. And starting July 9, planning a trip around the area just got a lot easier.
JetBlue has added three weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten, increasing its schedule to daily service. Now with non-stop options available seven days a week, it will change the way you plan your trip, whether you’re traveling for a few days or longer.
It is also part of a larger lift in St Maarten flights, which also includes Southwest Airlines flights just launched from Orlando and Baltimore.
Things that change when making a reservation
This update is immediately noticeable when you open Flight Search.
Previously, you may have had to adjust your travel itinerary based on a couple of days before departure. Now you can choose a date that actually suits you. Weekday departures tend to have cheaper fares and less crowded airports, which are now fully active.
It also solves a common problem travelers have here: leaving earlier than they’d like due to limited return options. With daily flights, you can stay one more day, go for one more swim, book one more dinner, and book a flight home.
Short trips just got a lot easier.
This is a big change for anyone thinking of a quick Caribbean break.
You could fly down on a Thursday, land in time for a late lunch, spend a few days on the island, and then fly back on Sunday or Monday without forcing your time. That kind of travel tends to turn into a repetitive habit. It’s easy, straightforward, and doesn’t require you to spend a whole week on vacation.
At the same time, longer stays feel less rigid. You are no longer stuck in a seven-beat pattern. It’s easier to plan a 5-night, 6-night or even longer stay without affecting your flights.
Where to actually spend time
Most people end up splitting their time between the Dutch and French sides, and this is where St. Maarten starts to stand out.
Here are the times to start your day: Maho BeachAfter observing a few landings, Sunset Bar & Grill Sample cold Caribbean cuisine and simple bites from the grill. It’s busy, it’s loud, and you’ll hear people chatting about what exactly they’re coming for, which plane just came and which plane is next.
It’s a short drive from there. simpsons baySpend the afternoon beach hopping or Karakter Beach LoungeThe table extends towards the sand and the pace slows down quickly. Later, the following places pirate beach bar and Roxy Beach It starts to fill up especially around sunset.
As we move towards France, the tone changes.
in grand caseThe island’s dining hub is lined with restaurants along the water. press This is one of the better places for a longer dinner (in our opinion the best in the whole area) featuring seafood and French cuisine right on the edge of the beach. rainbow cafe It leans more casual during the day, then transitions into a more sophisticated dinner scene with a DJ and a steady flow of rosé and cocktails.
You can also hear people talking about Rollo. There are no limits and village storyAt , you can order ribs, grilled lobster, or snapper straight from the barbecue and sit at a picnic table. It’s simple, direct, and one of the foods people remember the most.
Stretching beach days
Beach time here tends to take up more of your day than you might expect.
Orient Bay It is a place where many people stay for several hours. The water is calm, the sand is wide, and the beach club is good. Cocoa Beach Club, Contiki Beachand bikini beach The beach is lined with chairs, umbrellas and a full menu. You can start with a coffee, move on for lunch, and stay right into the afternoon.
If you want something a little quieter, Friars Bay and happy bay It’s easy to access and feels more remote. At Friars, Friar’s Bay Beach Cafe and legendary Calis Beach Bar Keep things simple. Grilled fish, cold drinks, no rush.
Flying every day means you don’t have to rush through all of this. If you find a beach you like, you can come back the next day instead of trying to check everything out at once.
Dinner becomes part of the trip
St Maarten is one of those places where your dinner plans really shape your day.
You can reserve a table at: The Villa Restaurant Choose from Grand Case for a French classic in a courtyard setting, or something more modern. Emilio’s Phillipsburg takes a more modern approach and features a menu featuring Caribbean ingredients.
On the Dutch side, JAX Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar Maho presents a more energetic dinner scene; Sale & Pepe Simpson Bay has a consistent selection of Italian accommodations with waterfront views.
People tend to plan at least one longer dinner here. It’s the kind of dinner where you sit for hours, order multiple courses, and don’t think about time.
Flying every day makes it easier without disrupting your schedule.
Easy add-ons: Anguilla and St Barths
One of the great things about St. Maarten is how close it is to other islands.
You can get there by fast ferry or charter. Anguilla spend time during the day Shoal Bay East Or have lunch Blanchard Beach ShackAnd go back in the afternoon. St Barths can also be reached by ferry or short flight.
In the past, tight flight schedules made day trips feel rushed. Now you have more time to plan without having to check the time.
place to stay
Where you stay determines your entire trip here, and the islands offer very different experiences depending on the region.
In Maho Sonesta Ocean Point Resort It will be located right next to the runway. Maho Beach. I can walk there Sunset Bar & GrillWatch the landing from your room and stay fully in the high-energy pocket. Adults only and all-inclusive, making it ideal for short stays.
next door, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa It offers larger, more active all-inclusives with direct beach access and one of the busiest areas on the island.
If you want a more private and sophisticated feel, La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel It remains one of the island’s best accommodations, with wide stretches of white sandy beach, villa-style accommodations, and a quiet environment away from the hustle and bustle of the area.
If you want a newer luxury option, JW Marriott St. Martin Beach Resort & Spa on Dawn Beach offers updated rooms, a powerful pool and beachfront setting, and a more sophisticated full-service feel.
better summer windows
July falls squarely into the middle of the summer travel season.
That’s when Saint-Martin feels more open. Reservations become easier. There is more space on the beach. You can walk to places like Rainbow Café or JAX without having to plan a few days in advance.
You can take advantage of this by flying daily.
takeout
You can still see people queuing up at Maho’s fence, looking at the sky instead of the water, waiting for the next plane to approach low over the beach.
Now there are more ways to be there when that happens.
With JetBlue adding three more weekly flights and moving to daily service starting July 9, St. Maarten becomes one of the easiest Caribbean vacations to plan, whether you’re taking a quick trip for a few days or staying long enough to acclimate to the island’s beaches, restaurants, and rhythms.
JetBlue St Maarten prices
On Google Flights, I was able to find nonstop fares on JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten for around $411. This is the only daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten.
