you spend a few days st martinHop between French cafes in Grand Case, beaches like Mullet Bay and Orient Bay, and sunset cocktails overlooking Simpson Bay. You then take a short regional flight and land at your next destination, rather than traveling through another hub and back again. st thomasWhere the ferry awaits saint john, water island and British Virgin Islands.
Starting this fall, itineraries to the Caribbean are getting a lot easier.
Contour Aviation New product launching Direct flights between St Thomas and St Maarten start October 5thA new aerial bridge will be built between two of the largest gateways in the northeastern Caribbean.
A new service is operating twice a weekTaking a flight Monday and Friday between Cyril E. King Airport st thomas and Princess Juliana International Airport In St. Martin.
Although it is a relatively short route, it is a very important route for travelers planning a Caribbean vacation.
Instead of treating the two destinations as separate trips, visitors can much more easily combine them, opening the door to some of the region’s most attractive multi-island itineraries.
Why this flight matters
The biggest advantage is not simply moving between st thomas and st martin.
Each airport has something to unlock.
Princess Juliana International Airport We have one of the Caribbean’s most extensive non-stop international flights departing from North America and Europe. st thomasAt the same time, it acts as one of the main gateways. US Virgin Islands And offers fast ferry connections British Virgin Islands.
Many travelers can fly directly from their home country’s airport to one island but not another.
For example, visitors from one city in Canada can receive direct service to their next destination. st martin But there is no direct option st thomas. Those departing from other U.S. gateways may find the opposite.
The new Contour flight effectively connects the two networks.
Instead of returning home from the same island where your vacation began, you can arrive through one gateway and depart from another, dramatically expanding your travel itinerary options while reducing setbacks.
The route also provides another regional connection for residents, business travelers and visitors already traveling to the northeastern Caribbean region.
The best two island vacations in the Caribbean just got easier.
The new routes create multiple travel itineraries that previously required additional connections or careful flight planning.
One of the most powerful pairings is: St. Martin and St. John.
Start by spending a few nights in St. Maarten to explore both the Dutch and French sides of the island, then fly to St. Thomas and continue by ferry. saint johnBeach is my favorite place trunk bay, Maho Bay and Hawks Nest It offers a completely different atmosphere centered around the national park scenery and quiet bay.
Another great option is: Virgin Gorda and Saint Martin.
After enjoying St. Maarten’s restaurants, beach clubs and shopping, fly to St. Thomas and continue by ferry to St. Maarten. British Virgin Islandswhere bassThe best sailing in the North Sound and Caribbean awaits.
Travelers can also pair. Saint Martin with TortolaCombining two of the region’s best sailing destinations into one vacation.
You can also create a three-country itinerary. france saint martinExperience a side of the Netherlands Sint Maartenfly to , st thomasThen continue British Virgin Islands.
Few Caribbean vacations allow you to experience the island cultures of France, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom in just one trip.
This route also makes island hopping for yacht charters easier. Many travelers begin their sailing holidays in one destination but end them in another, and the new flights create another practical way to return to the international gateway.
Strengthening regional connections
Contour says the service is designed to enhance regional travel while supporting tourism and business connections.
“Contour is proud to continue to expand our air services across the Caribbean with meaningful routes that connect communities, support tourism and improve inter-island access,” he said. ben munsonChairman of Contour Airlines.
Director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Board Jennifer Matarangas-King The new service was called another important step in strengthening regional travel.
“We are excited to add new Contour Airlines flights between St. Thomas and St. Maarten, further expanding connectivity between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean,” she said.
official Princess Juliana International Airport It also pointed to the value of another regional connection to one of the busiest aviation hubs in the Caribbean.
Airport officials said all the additional routes enhance travel options for residents while giving visitors more opportunities to explore multiple islands during a single vacation.
flight schedule
Contour operates the route twice a week.
to mondayFlight departure St. Thomas Time: 11:35 AMarrive St. Maarten Time: 12:30 PM Your return flight is departing St. Martin Time: 1:15 PMarrived again St. Thomas Time: 2:10 p.m.
to fridayDeparture Departure St. Thomas Time: 12:35 p.m.arrival St. Martin Time: 1:35 PM Return service begins St. Martin, 2:30 p.m. and lands St. Thomas Time: 3:25 p.m.
Flights are operating 30-seat regional jetComplimentary snacks and extra legroom are provided.
Why your trip to the Caribbean could change
Many of the most memorable vacations in the Caribbean involve more than one island.
Until now, organizing these travel arrangements often meant retracing your route through regional hubs or buying separate tickets that didn’t always connect conveniently.
By connecting two of the most important gateways to the northeastern Caribbean, Contour Aviation It’s made it easier to create different types of vacations.
Instead of choosing one of the beaches st martin and the islands US Virgin IslandsTravelers can experience both. Even better, each airport opens doors to destinations that other airports don’t naturally serve, giving visitors a much larger area of the Caribbean to explore in one trip.
