CARRIBEAN
ST MAARTEN-PRINCE JULIANA (TNCM/SXM)
Airport info
Movements usually start around 08:30, with the busiest period 1pm-5pm. Weekends tend to be busier and you will need approx 4-5 days here to get all the based stuff.
Spotting
You can spot from Maho beach, free sun loungers and they fly
over your head on very short finals, just a few feet up – Google St Maarten for
some photos! The Sunset Beach Bar http://www.sunsetbeachbar.com/ is
located on Maho beach and also has great views. You can spot, drink and take photos from here with no
problems. It has live ATC and
entertainment all day long and is only a 5 minute walk from the Sonesta hotel
below.
Hotels
The best hotels over looking the airport are the Sonesta Maho Beach & Casino http://www.sonesta.com/mahobeach/ and also located to the side of the runway situated on the Simpson Bay beach is the Mary's Boon Planitation http://www.marysboon.com/. Both hotels offer it all with great views. If staying at the Sonesta, outside the terminal on arrival you have to get a taxi and this costs $7 and takes 5 minutes. You can pre book this hotel on an All Inclusive rate in an Ocean View room. The view from room 501 can only be described as perfect, with a big balcony that looks out across two of the hotels main pools, and right across the Ocean, the famous Maho beach and the runway. Aircraft landing at night can be read off from the balcony too.
Updated 29 January 2008