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Beacon Hill sits beside Princess Juliana International Airport on St. Maarten’s western edge, placing Maho, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, and Simpson Bay within short drives. Philipsburg and the island’s historic sights require more planning, particularly when cruise traffic builds on the eastern side.
Distances look small, but airport traffic, bridge openings, cruise-day crowds, and midday heat can stretch simple trips. This guide uses Beacon Hill as the western anchor while covering the Dutch-side beaches, historic sights, restaurants, transportation, and districts most useful for a five-day stay.
Useful things to know
Main language(s): English, Dutch
Currency: Caribbean guilder (XCG). US dollars are widely accepted, and many hotels, restaurants, taxis, and tourism businesses quote prices in USD.
Cash and cards: Cards are widely accepted at hotels and larger restaurants. Carry XCG 72 to XCG 144 ($40 to $80) for minibuses, taxis, beach purchases, and smaller businesses.
Tipping: Leave 10% at restaurants when service is good, and a service charge has not already been added.
Traditional food: Johnny cake, conch fritters, goat stew, saltfish
Water and coffee costs: Bottled water can cost XCG 2.70 to XCG 5.40 ($1.50 to $3), while an espresso can cost XCG 3.60 to XCG 7.20 ($2 to $4).
Taxis and ride apps: Uber and Lyft do not operate on St. Maarten. Use licensed taxis, private transportation, or hotel transfers.
Plug and voltage: The Dutch side uses Type A and B sockets and 110/120V. The French side uses 220V, so check your accommodation if you plan to stay or work across the border.
Dining and shop opening hours: Breakfast commonly starts at 7:00 am, lunch at noon, and dinner at 6:00 pm. Sunday hours can be shorter, and individual businesses set their own schedules.
Emergency number: Call 911 or 108 for police, 912 for ambulance services, 919 for fire, and 910 for the hospital.
Where to stay in Beacon Hill
Maho sits immediately east of Beacon Hill and beside Princess Juliana International Airport, with resorts, restaurants, casinos, bars, and Maho Beach concentrated within a compact area. It suits short stays and travelers who prioritize airport access and evening activity.
Best for: Short stays, airport access, restaurants, nightlife, and plane spotting
What to expect: Resorts, bars, casinos, restaurants, aircraft noise, and active streets from daytime into the evening
Hotel prices: XCG 324 to XCG 756 ($180 to $420) per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: 5 to 10 minutes on foot to Maho Beach and 5 minutes by taxi to Princess Juliana International Airport
Quietness: Streets stay lively into the evening, while aircraft noise is most noticeable near the beach and runway.
Main trade-off: Quick airport access and nightlife come with more noise than quieter western neighborhoods.
Good to know: Request a room away from the airport-facing side if plane spotting is not part of the appeal.
Simpson Bay stretches along the lagoon east of the airport, with marinas, beaches, restaurants, bars, hotels, and boat operators along the waterfront and main road. It suits travelers who want dining and water activities nearby while remaining within a short drive of Beacon Hill.
Best for: Restaurants, boat trips, marina access, beach time, and a central western location
What to expect: Marinas, restaurants, nightlife, lagoon views, beach access, and regular traffic along the main road
Hotel prices: XCG 270 to XCG 684 ($150 to $380) per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: 10 minutes by taxi to the airport and 15 to 20 minutes to Philipsburg outside heavier traffic
Quietness: Lagoon-side properties can be calmer, while hotels beside the main strip pick up more traffic and nightlife noise.
Main trade-off: Dining and marina access are convenient, but traffic can slow trips toward Philipsburg and the eastern side.
Good to know: Stay near the part of Simpson Bay you expect to use most because the district stretches farther than it first appears.
Cupecoy lies west of Maho beside Mullet Bay, with condo developments, restaurants, cliffside scenery, and apartment-style accommodations near the western end of the Dutch side. It suits longer stays and travelers who prefer quieter evenings without giving up quick beach access.
Best for: Longer stays, apartments, quieter evenings, and access to Mullet Bay
What to expect: Condominiums, residential streets, restaurants, university activity, and a calmer evening atmosphere than Maho
Hotel prices: XCG 405 to XCG 1,260 ($225 to $700) per night, depending on season and unit size
Distance to major sights: 5 to 10 minutes to Mullet Bay and 10 to 15 minutes by taxi to the airport
Quietness: Evenings are generally calmer than in Maho, with most activity concentrated near restaurants and main roads.
Main trade-off: Philipsburg and the eastern side require longer taxi trips.
Good to know: Beach access varies by property, so confirm whether your accommodation has direct access or requires a road route.
Philipsburg offers a very different stay from Beacon Hill, with Great Bay Beach, Front Street, the Boardwalk, museums, historic buildings, shopping, and the cruise port close together. It suits travelers who prioritize sightseeing over immediate access to the airport and western beaches.
Best for: Historic sights, shopping, Great Bay Beach, museums, and travelers who prefer a more urban stay
What to expect: Cruise passengers, shops, waterfront restaurants, heritage buildings, and heavy daytime pedestrian activity
Hotel prices: XCG 252 to XCG 576 ($140 to $320) per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: Immediate access to Great Bay and Front Street, with the airport 20 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic
Quietness: The center is busiest when cruise ships are in port and becomes much calmer after shops close.
Main trade-off: Airport access and west-end beach trips require longer taxi rides.
Good to know: Check the cruise schedule if you want quieter shopping, museum visits, and waterfront walks.
Oyster Pond and Dawn Beach are less convenient for a Beacon Hill-focused trip because they are on the opposite side of the island. They add substantial driving to Maho, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, Simpson Bay, or the airport.
Hotel deals
How to get around Beacon Hill efficiently
St. Maarten has no metro or rail network, so visitors use minibuses, licensed taxis, and rental cars for trips beyond the immediate west-end neighborhoods.
Metro
for longer distances
Privately operated minibuses connect areas like Philipsburg, Simpson Bay, Maho, Mullet Bay, and Marigot. Daytime fares range from XCG 1.80 to XCG 3.60 ($1 to $2), depending on distance. Services do not follow a strict timetable, so confirm the destination before boarding and carry small cash.
Bus and tram
for convenience
A rental car is useful if you plan to visit western beaches, Philipsburg, and the French side, especially in one day. Maho, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, and Simpson Bay are within 15 minutes of one another. From the airport, you can reach Philipsburg in 20–30 minutes. Rental prices vary by vehicle and season.
Taxi
for convenience or late hours
Licensed taxis use fixed fares instead of taximeters. For one or two passengers, the fare from the airport is XCG 14.40 ($8) to Maho, XCG 21.60 ($12) to Mullet Bay, XCG 27 ($15) to Simpson Bay, and XCG 36 ($20) to Philipsburg. Confirm the fare and payment method before departure.
*Prices are based on rates updated as of June 2026 and may change at the time of travel.
Use minibuses for low-cost daytime travel along established routes, taxis for airport transfers and scheduled outings, and a rental car when you want to combine several parts of the island in one day.
Iconic landmarks
Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam occupies a peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay and dates to the early Dutch colonial period. The surviving walls, cannon, and harbor views make it one of the island’s principal historic sites.
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Entry: Free
Tip: Visit in the morning, then continue into Philipsburg instead of making a second trip to the eastern side.
Philipsburg boardwalk
The Boardwalk follows Great Bay Beach through central Philipsburg, linking restaurants, shops, Front Street, beach access, and harbor views. It gives you an easy way to combine the capital’s waterfront with time by the sea.
Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
Entry: Free. Beach chairs, food, drinks, and water activities cost extra.
Tip: Visit earlier on cruise days if you want more space along the waterfront and Front Street.
Mullet Bay Beach
Mullet Bay is one of the best-known beaches on the Dutch side, with a broad curve of pale sand and clear water beside the western golf course. Its proximity to Cupecoy and Maho makes it particularly easy to include during a Beacon Hill stay.
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
Entry: Free
Tip: Arrive before midday for easier parking and more space along the beach.
Overlooked sites worth visiting
Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum
This compact Philipsburg museum traces the island’s natural, social, and cultural history through artifacts, photographs, maps, archaeological material, and displays covering different periods of St. Maarten’s development.
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Entry: Admission information is not published online. Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Check the official website for more details.
Tip: Pair it with Front Street and the Boardwalk because all three fit naturally into the same Philipsburg visit.
Philipsburg Courthouse
The wooden courthouse on Front Street is one of Philipsburg’s most recognizable historic buildings, with a white facade, green trim, and pineapple finial above the roof. It remains an important civic landmark in the center of town.
Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes
Entry: Tourists don’t have interior access. The courthouse is free to view from the exterior.
Tip: See it while walking Front Street instead of making a separate taxi trip.
Traditional food
St. Maarten’s local cooking reflects Caribbean traditions built around seafood, saltfish, goat, fried breads, rice and peas, and Creole seasonings.
Johnny cake
Johnny cake is a fried bread served on its own or alongside saltfish, meat, and other Caribbean dishes. Zee Best serves Johnny cakes with fillings including cheese, ham, tuna, and saltfish.
Conch fritters
Conch fritters combine chopped conch with seasoned batter before frying, usually with a dipping sauce. D’s Beach Bar & Grill lists house-made conch fritters with spicy remoulade.
Goat stew
Goat stew is slow-cooked until tender and commonly served with rice, peas, plantain, or other Caribbean sides. Mark’s Place lists goat stew among its local Caribbean dishes.
Saltfish
Saltfish is commonly sautéed with onions and peppers and served at breakfast with Johnny cake. D’Novo Coffee Lounge serves saltfish with warm Johnny cakes as one of its Caribbean breakfast plates.
Best time to visit Beacon Hill
St. Maarten stays warm throughout the year, with a relatively dry season from December through May and a wetter season from June through November.
Best for: Beach days, Philipsburg sightseeing, boat trips, and lower rainfall
What you get: 77°F–84°F (25°C–29°C), with drier weather, steady trade winds, and the highest visitor demand
Trade-offs: Hotels, beaches, restaurants, and taxis are busiest during the winter high season.
Best for: Beaches, sightseeing, boat outings, and slightly lower visitor demand
What you get: 78°F–86°F (26°C–30°C), with generally dry conditions and warmer afternoons as May approaches
Trade-offs: Humidity rises as the rainy season begins.
Best for: Lower hotel demand, beach time, and travelers comfortable with warmer, wetter conditions
What you get: 81°F–88°F (27°C–31°C), with higher humidity and more frequent rainfall than winter and spring
Trade-offs: Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, so weather monitoring becomes increasingly important as summer progresses.
Best for: Lower visitor numbers and travelers with flexible plans
What you get: 79°F–87°F (26°C–31°C), with high humidity and some of the wettest conditions of the year
Trade-offs: September falls within the wetter, more active part of hurricane season, so tropical systems can affect flights, ferries, and outdoor plans.
A realistic 5-day plan in Beacon Hill
Five days gives you enough time to keep the airport-area beaches together, dedicate one day to Philipsburg, and use separate days for Simpson Bay and the western coastline without repeating the same attractions.
Land at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) and take a licensed taxi to Maho or nearby Beacon Hill. The official fare from the airport to Maho is XCG 14.40 ($8) for one or two passengers. After check-in, keep the evening close to Maho Beach and the nearby restaurant district instead of crossing the island.
Take a taxi to Philipsburg in the morning and start at the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation & Museum for an introduction to the island’s history and culture. Walk Front Street past the Courthouse, then continue to the Boardwalk for Great Bay views, shops, and waterfront restaurants. Later, visit Fort Amsterdam for its colonial ruins and elevated views across Great Bay and Little Bay before returning west.
Spend the morning at Mullet Bay Beach, where clear water and a broad stretch of sand make it one of the island’s most popular swimming stops. Continue to Cupecoy for lunch and a look at its limestone cliffs, small coves, and rugged western coastline. The two areas are close enough to combine easily, leaving the late afternoon free for your hotel or a return to Maho.
Spend the day in Simpson Bay, where the lagoon and marina bring together yachts, waterfront restaurants, and much of the island’s boating activity. Take a boat outing if you want to see the coastline from the water, or stay near the marina and watch vessels move through the lagoon. Remain in Simpson Bay for dinner at one of its many waterfront restaurants.
Keep the final morning near Beacon Hill and Maho Beach, where you can have breakfast, watch aircraft arrivals, or take a short shoreline walk without risking a long return journey. Collect your bags and leave enough time for the short taxi trip to Princess Juliana International Airport.
Business-class flights from the US to Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill does not have its own airport. Travelers fly into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten, which sits immediately beside Beacon Hill and is only a few minutes away by taxi. The routes below therefore use SXM as the arrival airport.
New York (JFK) to St. Maarten (SXM)
American Airlines is one option from New York, routing through Miami International Airport (MIA) before the final leg to St. Maarten. This itinerary typically takes 7 to 10 hours, with round-trip business-class fares from $1,000 to $3,300. Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, Copa Airlines, and Caribbean Airlines also serve the JFK–SXM route, with schedules and connection points varying by carrier.
Los Angeles (LAX) to St. Maarten (SXM)
From Los Angeles, the trip is built around a connection before reaching SXM. One United Airlines itinerary runs through Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and typically takes 12 to 16 hours, with round-trip business-class fares from $4,200 to $13,300. American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, and Copa Airlines provide additional connecting options from LAX through their own hubs.
Beacon Hill feels different when you slow down
Beacon Hill puts St. Maarten’s western character close at hand, from aircraft sweeping over Maho to quieter water at Mullet Bay and evenings beside the Simpson Bay lagoon. Philipsburg adds the island’s historic and commercial side without taking over the trip. AranGrant experts can help you compare business-class flights and hotels that fit your dates and preferred part of the island.
