Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten packs beach glamour and a bit of spectacle into a small footprint. Its most famous stretch of sand, Maho Beach, sits right at the end of the airport runway, where jets roar in low enough for plane-spotters to feel the wind off their engines. Beyond that novelty, the Dutch side offers a lively strip of casinos, waterfront dining in Simpson Bay, and calm beaches for a more ordinary Caribbean holiday. It shares its small island with French Saint-Martin, giving visitors two distinct atmospheres within a short drive.