Arrival brief · St. Maarten SXM
SXM Arrival Guide: St. Maarten Airport to the Resorts, Without the Traps
St. Maarten's famous Princess Juliana airport (right by Maho Beach) is easy — the taxis have no meters but set government rates, so confirm the fare, or use a transfer. If you rent, note the island drives on the right.
2026-08-26
What to expect after landing
St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International (SXM) — famous for the jets over Maho Beach — is an easy airport central to the small, safe, lively dual-nation island. The taxis have no meters but set government rates — so confirm the fare — or use a resort transfer. If you rent, note the island drives on the RIGHT (unusual for the Caribbean).
USD is widely accepted (guilder Dutch side, euro French side); cards work in most places.
Option 1 — Set-rate taxi or resort transfer
Official taxis have set government rates by zone — confirm the fare — and a pre-booked resort transfer is easy; the island is small, so transfers to either side are short. Confirm the price or match your transfer, and head to your resort.
Option 2 — Rental car (drives on the RIGHT)
A rental car lets you explore both sides — drive on the RIGHT (unusual for the region), and keep it empty (car break-ins are a known island issue).
What it looks like
At SXM arrival is easy and the island is safe and lively — the tells are minor: the no-meter taxi’s fare (confirm the set government rate), the ‘free gift’ timeshare pitch at the port/resorts, and two quirks — the island drives on the RIGHT, and car break-ins are the most-reported issue (keep a rental empty). A resort transfer avoids the fare negotiation, and both sides’ beaches do the rest.
Do this instead
Confirm the fare with the no-meter taxis (set government rates) or use a resort transfer; if you rent, drive on the RIGHT and keep the car empty (break-ins are common); decline ‘free gift’ timeshare pitches; and pay in USD (widely accepted). That’s the whole SXM arrival, on a safe, lively dual-nation island.
Late-night arrivals
Official taxis and resort transfers operate for arrivals, so a late landing is easy — use the set-rate taxi (confirm the fare) or a pre-booked resort transfer. The island is small, so transfers to either side are short. Go directly to your accommodation, keep valuables secured, and don’t accept a vague fare. St. Maarten is safe at night in the tourist areas; if you’ve rented, remember it drives on the RIGHT.
Quick answers
What's the best way from St. Maarten airport to my resort?
Use an official taxi or a pre-booked resort transfer. Princess Juliana International (SXM), famous for the low-flying planes over Maho Beach, is on the Dutch side and central to the small island, so transfers to either the Dutch or French side are short. Taxis don't use meters but have set government rates by zone, so confirm the fare before setting off. A resort transfer (often bookable with your hotel) avoids the negotiation. Many visitors rent a car to explore both sides freely — and note the island drives on the RIGHT (unusual for the Caribbean). Confirm your taxi's set rate or match your transfer, keep valuables secured, and head to your resort; it's a safe, lively island.
Do I drive on the left or right in St. Maarten?
The RIGHT — this is an important and surprising note, because unlike most Caribbean islands (which drive on the left), St. Maarten / St. Martin drives on the right-hand side of the road, like the US and continental Europe. So if you're island-hopping from left-hand-drive islands, adjust. Rental cars are a popular way to explore both the Dutch (Sint Maarten) and French (Saint-Martin) sides freely, but the roads can be busy and congested (especially around Philipsburg and on cruise days), and car break-ins are a known island issue — so keep the rental empty with nothing visible. Drive on the right, keep it empty, and take normal care in the traffic.
How does money work in St. Maarten — which currency?
It's a two-currency island — the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) technically uses the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG) and the French side (Saint-Martin) the euro — but in practice US dollars are widely accepted across both sides, and cards work in most places, so you rarely need to change money. Use bank ATMs (which may dispense guilders, euros, or USD depending on the side), shield your PIN, and choose your currency sensibly on card terminals. Carry some USD for taxis and small vendors. It's easy for money; just confirm the no-meter taxi's set government fare, and decline any 'free gift' timeshare pitch you meet at the port or resorts.
What if I land at St. Maarten airport late at night?
Official taxis and resort transfers operate for flight arrivals, so a late landing is easy — use the set-rate taxi (confirm the fare) or a pre-booked resort transfer. The island is small, so transfers to either side are short. Go directly to your accommodation, keep valuables secured, and don't accept a vague fare. St. Maarten is a safe, lively island at night in the tourist areas with normal sense; just confirm the taxi's set fare or use a booked transfer, and if you've rented a car, remember it drives on the RIGHT and keep it empty.