🇳🇱 Dutch Side — Sint Maarten

Check out of Hevea Hotel by 11am. Store bags if needed. The Pinel Island ferry dock (Cul de Sac) is just 10 min away — if you want an early morning snorkel before moving, it's feasible. Otherwise head directly toward the Simpson Bay Marina or Philipsburg for the catamaran.

This is the quintessential Sint Maarten day. Book a shared speedboat or catamaran tour departing from Simpson Bay Marina or Bobby's Marina. A typical 6-hour route covers: Creole Rock snorkel (marine reserve — parrotfish, coral, reef fish), sea turtle habitat at Tintamarre Island (uninhabited island, pristine beach), beach lunch at Pinel Island, and a Maho Beach flyby from the water. Gear, drinks, and lunch usually included. Book via Viator 2–4 weeks ahead — the best boats sell out in high season. ~$65–$99/person shared.

Tour typically returns 3–4pm. Taxi to Flamingo Beach Resort (5–10 min). Check in, unpack, and take your first walk down to Kim Sha Beach — it's right there. Low-key evening: pick up groceries with the kitchen (Carrefour is close), or head straight to Buccaneer Beach Bar (5 min walk) for pizza and a cold drink.

Easy first night on the Dutch side. Buccaneer Beach Bar for wood-fired pizza and the famous BBC cocktail (Baileys, Banana, Coconut) on Kim Sha Beach, or walk the Simpson Bay strip and pick what looks good. Pineapple Pete on Airport Road has live music and Caribbean food — great energy, no reservations needed.

Head to Maho Beach mid-morning (10–11am) to catch the first heavy aircraft arrivals. The Sunset Bar & Grill posts an arrivals chalkboard — grab a coffee and watch 737s and Airbuses graze the beach at 40 feet. Genuinely one of the world's most extraordinary experiences. 🚗 5 min taxi from Flamingo Beach (~$10)

Walk 10 minutes west to Mullet Bay Beach — the calmer, more beautiful neighbour. Wide white sand, clear turquoise water, far fewer crowds than Maho. The best swimming beach on the Dutch side.

Back at Maho: Sunset Bar & Grill for runway-view food and cold drinks (~$25–40 for two), or walk back to the Simpson Bay strip for more choice. Saturday is buzzy — the island is at full energy.

Return to Flamingo Beach / Kim Sha for the afternoon. Lounge chairs on the sand, afternoon swim, cold drink from the room. Karakter Beach Lounge on Simpson Bay Beach is a 10-min walk — the island's best sunset spot, lounge chairs on the sand, skilled cocktails. Arrive by 5:30pm for a chair.

IZI Ristorante Italiano — handmade pasta, fresh lobster, the island's best Italian by a margin. Opposite Pineapple Pete on Airport Road. Reserve ahead for Saturday — it fills up. ~$80–130 for two with wine.

Head to Philipsburg (20 min east, ~$20 taxi). Start on Great Bay Beach — the broad, calm stretch in front of the Boardwalk. Walk the Boardwalk along the bay and then explore Front Street's duty-free shops: jewelry (negotiation expected), designer watches, spirits, Guavaberry liqueur at excellent prices. Sundays are quieter for crowds — good for shopping.

Enoch's Place in the Philipsburg market area for a local lunch — garlic shrimp, stew chicken, rice and peas. Very affordable, very good. ~$25 for two.

Back to Kim Sha Beach for a long, easy afternoon. This is the do-nothing slot — read, swim, nap. The full Caribbean relaxation experience.

Hideaway Restaurant at La Vista Resort — Indo-Caribbean fusion with lagoon views, quiet and candlelit, excellent for a Sunday evening. ~$70–100 for two. Or try Beirut Restaurant on Airport Road for outstanding Lebanese mezze (~$55–80).

No agenda. Options depending on your mood:

Taxi back to Marigot for the Wednesday market (closes Tuesday — skip this on Monday) or back to Grand Case for a lolo lunch and a final walk along the boulevard. (~$30 taxi each way)

Cupecoy Beach — dramatic limestone cliffs, calm turquoise water, quieter than Kim Sha. Just 10 min west of Flamingo Beach (~$15 taxi). The most scenic and least-crowded Dutch-side beach.

Honestly the best option after 5 days of exploring. Beach chairs, a book, a cold drink, feet in the sand. This is the day to do absolutely nothing.

Make it count. Return to wherever you loved most — or try Karakter Beach Lounge for a proper dinner by the water with candles and a view. Toast the trip well. Budget ~$80–120 for two.

Checkout at 11am. Store bags with the hotel if needed. The morning is yours — one final swim on Kim Sha Beach, a coffee on the terrace, a last walk down Billy Folly Road. There is no better airport than SXM for a final morning: you can be on the beach until 3pm and still make your flight comfortably.

If you have energy: pop back to Maho Beach one last time to watch the afternoon arrivals. The airport is 5 minutes from Maho. Otherwise settle into the Simpson Bay strip for a final lunch.

AA2842 departs SXM at 5:29pm. International check-in closes 90 minutes before departure — aim to be at the airport by 3:30–3:45pm. Taxi from Flamingo Beach is 5–8 minutes. Pick up duty-free spirits inside security — excellent prices on rum and Guavaberry.

SXM → MIA 5:29pm → 8:05pm ET (AA2842, 737MAX). MIA → TPA 10:05pm → 11:21pm (AA1970, 738, seats 21F & 15F).