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After over two and a half years of restrictions, St. Maarten is one of the final countries in the Caribbean to drop all COVID-related travel requirements and return to normal tourism.
Effective on November 1, 2022, St. Maarten has announced that all travel restrictions will be removed.
Travelers will no longer need to complete the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) application prior to arriving in the country, and they will not be required to show a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination.
This means that St. Maarten has reopened to all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, with no testing requirements or any other restrictions.
There are also no mask mandates remaining in St. Maarten, so travelers will be able to resume travel as normal beginning November 1.
St. Maarten was one of the final holdouts in the Caribbean for removing travel restrictions, and only Turks & Caicos is left now.
What Does This Mean For Travelers?
Many travelers use St. Maarten as a jumping-off point for visiting other islands in the Caribbean, including St. Barts (a French Overseas Collectivity) and Anguilla (a British Overseas Territory.)
This is because St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is larger and better connected.
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Although St. Barts and Anguilla had dropped COVID-related travel restrictions, it was still difficult to access these destinations because anyone transiting through St. Maarten had to adhere to the country’s restrictions.
Now, it’s easier for travelers to reach St. Barts and Anguilla again.
St. Maarten is also an excellent Caribbean destination in its own right, known for its beaches, casinos, and nightlife.
This Caribbean island consists of Sint Maarten, a consituent country of the Netherlands in the south, and Saint-Martin, a French Overseas Collectivity in the north. Saint-Martin is known more for its stunning views and beautiful beaches.
With the island’s only international airport located on the Dutch side, travelers will have to pass through St. Maarten first if they want to access the French side Saint-Martin.
Now the whole island is open to travelers looking for a sunny Caribbean getaway this winter.
Flights To St. Maarten From The U.S.
Since the country has reopened to everyone for tourism again, it’s a great time to visit this Caribbean island.
There are several airlines offering nonstop flights to St. Maarten from cities across the U.S. this winter.
For example, both JetBlue and United offer direct flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Some flight deals that can be found this winter include:
- $409 round-trip from New York (JFK) to St. Maarten (SXM) on JetBlue from December 12 to December 20, 2022
- $399 round-trip from New York (JFK) to St. Maarten (SXM) on United from January 24 to January 31, 2023
Winter is the best time of year to visit St. Maarten and neighboring islands in the Caribbean due to the incredible weather and lots of sunshine.
St. Maarten is also a popular port of call on many Caribbean cruise itineraries. With the dropping of all entry requirements, it will be easier than ever to visit this Caribbean island once again.
Other Caribbean Countries With Entry Requirements
St. Maarten was one of the last countries in the Caribbean to remove all entry restrictions, including testing and vaccine requirements.
Now, tourism has returned to normal, along with most other countries in the Caribbean.
However, Turks & Caicos is the final holdout. This British Overseas Territory is the last place in the Caribbean that is still requiring proof of vaccination from travelers to enter the country.
Although it’s been long-awaited, Turks & Caicos has still yet to provide a timeline for removing restrictions on travel and tourism.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
