Low-flying jets and duty-free shopping
Sint Maarten is the Dutch side of the island shared with French Saint-Martin, and its busier, more commercial half. Philipsburg, the capital, is a cruise port with a boardwalk along Great Bay and a Front Street of duty-free shops. At Maho Beach, jets approaching Princess Juliana International Airport pass just metres overhead, making it one of the most famous plane-spotting sites in the world. Simpson Bay has marinas and restaurants, and the nightlife includes casinos and bars. The French side is only minutes away.