St Maarten Is Getting a New Nonstop American Airlines Flight From Chicago
If you’ve ever been to St Maarten, you know it’s one of the most memorable landings anywhere in the Caribbean: your plane feels like it only just misses grazing the chain-link fence on sand at Maho Beach. It’s exhilarating – and when you arrive, you’re even more grateful to reach one of the most exciting destinations, well, anywhere.
Now, there’s another flight coming to the runway on Maho Beach: a new route from Chicago O’Hare to St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, which kicks off Nov. 8.
The brand-new nonstop flight will be operating once weekly on Saturdays, Caribbean Journal has confirmed.
It’s another great way to reach the beach bars, the eateries, the resorts, the shopping, the never-ending sense of fun that pervades the island — a place that’s actually home to two destinations: one Dutch, one French, together an unrivaled place to vacation.
Right now, the flight is priced at $753 according to Google Flights, covering American’s more restricted basic economy fare. It’s more, obviously, if you want a more flexible main cabin fare or a business class option.
But if you’re flying from Chicago cold in November, it’s always worth it.
Even better? The island’s primary airport (there is the smaller one, after all, in Grand Case on the French side) has never been better, finally completing the transformation of both its departure and arrival terminals. I experienced both on my recent trip to the island and it was a solid experience. The departure terminal, in particular, is modern, sleek and well-appointed (including a very good airport bar, if I might add).
It’s another feather in the cap for St Maarten, which has been more popular than ever in the last few years, with travelers drawn to its unique blend of fun, authentic experiences and unique ease of getting around. The latter is something I always recommend to travelers — if you’re coming to St Maarten, rent a car, get out, explore and check out the whole island, French and Dutch. You’ll be rewarded.
Alexander Britell is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal and one of the top experts on Caribbean travel worldwide, with decades of on-the-ground travel to the region and comprehensive knowledge of the entire Caribbean Basin.
