While visiting St. Martin, you can also join a big community of airplane lovers called the ” Airplane Spotters”. Definition of spotting ” Aircraft spotting or plane spotting is the observation and logging registration numbers of aircraft: gliders, powered aircraft, balloons, airships, helicopters, and microlights.” Source Wikipedia . St Maarten has already the reputation of being one of the best spotting location in the world. It has the perfect blend of sun, sand, beach, fun and of course planes.

Here are some tips of how to take photos of planes in SXM

Arrivals

• Maho Beach
• The Terrace (depending on the hour)
• Rent a Boat at Aqua Mania www.stmaarten-activities.com
• Sonesta Maho Hotel if staying there
• Mary´s Boon Hotel (there´s a small terrace at the top with great view to the runway. If mid size Jet planes perform a 180 on the active you should get great Nose Shots) Ask for Raul

Departures Runway 10

• Maho Beach great Nose Shots next to fence
• The Terrace (depending on the hour)
• Mary´s Boon Hotel (great to see the big planes turning to the right)
• Bada Bing (just on the street in front of this club you´ll take great photos of the big planes turning right)
• Simpson Bay (great Rotating Shots Robbie´s Style)

Departures Runway 28

• Maho Beach (head to head shots)
• Mary´s Boon Hotel

Fence Shots

• The Royal Turtle Inn (across the street great for Bizz Jets shots)
• Passing the Bliss park your car next to the street

Ramp Shots

• Theres a empty lot next to the ATC. You should be able to get great shots of the TNMC Ramp from there

I found this great video of CZ TV News and they mentioned St Maarten as a spotter destination:

St Maarten Nightlife
These are some tips of places you should visit at night

Dutch Interns prefer

• Soggy Dollar Bar
• The Alley

Discos

• Mansion
• Tantra
• Maho Bliss
• Club Secret (at Princess Port de Plaisance)

Bars

• Toppers
• Capucino Cafe
• Buccaneers at Pelican
• Tijuana (Mexican Style Bar)

Restaurants

• Saratoga is my favorite (ask for John Jackson)
• Sheer in Philipsburg (just opened 1 week ago… good food)
• Temptation
• Escargot in Philipsburg
• Busby´s at Dawn Beach