st. maarten

No not at all 🙂 Nowhere else in the world can you drink an ice cold Carib on a beach surrounded by warm turquoise water with aircraft flying just a matter of feet overhead 😎

Obviously yeah but I was just trying to make it clear that as beautiful as St. Maarten is, it isn’t perfect because of things such as this.

That’s fine, but it should by no means taint its image.

You get asked to buy cannabis at a lot places.

Obviously yeah but I was just trying to make it clear that as beautiful as St. Maarten is, it isn’t perfect because of things such as this.

I can understand what you mean Ken. I remember walking back to the hotel (Maho Beach Sonesta Hotel) alone one night from the Sunset Beach Bar and on the way I was stopped by some guys asking me if I wanted to buy Cannabis or if I had a light on me. The distance from the SSBB to the hotel isn’t very far as you all know so it just goes to show that as beautiful as the island is, it isn’t at all safe.

You get asked to buy cannabis at a lot places. At Jamaica, I stayed at the Holliday Inn resort and right across the street at the boutique shops, there were multiple people selling cannabis and you were sure to get asked if you strolled across. In Amsterdam, everybody and their mom asks if you want ecstacy or cocaine. I got the same treatment in Frankfurt. No biggie. Just ignore them. I had no problems with that during my week in St. Maarten, however. I never felt unsafe there, even at night walking with just my wife.

Just about every major us airline flies here now, Delta, USAir, United, Continental and American.

It’s interesting that you mention that because about 3 or so years ago, not this many U.S. carriers flew down there reguarly aside from US and AA. Sure, you had the weekly DL flight and CO came in once or twice a week, but that was it. Now, UA has twice weeklies from IAD and a weekly from ORD. Unless I’m mistaken, both CO and DL have increased services, and you even get an AC service now. Glad to see more carriers from the states (and Canada) serving SXM.

SXM is not as safe as it used to be, for sure, but it comes down to common sense as in any other part of the world. After dark strolls down the dark golf course in Mullet Bay might be a tad dangerous, and some people have been robbed close to the airport, including one of my neighbours..but that was around 2300 and he was walking home after dark..alone.

I can understand what you mean Ken. I remember walking back to the hotel (Maho Beach Sonesta Hotel) alone one night from the Sunset Beach Bar and on the way I was stopped by some guys asking me if I wanted to buy Cannabis or if I had a light on me. The distance from the SSBB to the hotel isn’t very far as you all know so it just goes to show that as beautiful as the island is, it isn’t at all safe.

Hey Greekdude

I have been here all along, but not been posting much. I have no reason why..just never got around to doing it. Going to put some up today.
And I did forget about that Corsair 744….and that about 5min after is scared the **** out of my dog as it took off. I have also seen quite a few Air Canada 767s here lately as well as some Air Transat machines. And USAir just spiced it up by changing one of their 757 flights to a A320 flight…nothing like a little bit of change to make it all interesting.
Just about every major us airline flies here now, Delta, USAir, United, Continental and American.
I have a picture somewhere of a lineup of 757s from all of them, apart from Continental as they mostly use 737.

Oh…and the daily 727 flights in here, Amerijet Cargo. and Shorts 360 cargo..and some lucky days even a DC-3.

As to standing next to the fence here in sxm, that is no problem at all…people do it all the time, and there are cars parked along the fence every day. Most of them are from car rentals or cars that are for sale, but as late as yesterday I saw a guy standing on the roof of his car (rental??) taking photos.
The only thing I am aware of that has changed is the fact that they have “security” guards down at Maho now, to stop people from hanging on to the fence in the jetblast. This after some english woman sued the airport for burns and being sandblasted.
SXM is not as safe as it used to be, for sure, but it comes down to common sense as in any other part of the world. After dark strolls down the dark golf course in Mullet Bay might be a tad dangerous, and some people have been robbed close to the airport, including one of my neighbours..but that was around 2300 and he was walking home after dark..alone.

hope this is some help

Ken

Ken, where have you been? I miss your photos from SXM.

Apart from the KLM 744 and the AF 340 we mostly have medium and smaller.

…. and the Corsair 744, formerly 743.

Not sure if you want spotting advice for quito or not. The runway is situated next to a main road, and whilst i am not 100% sure if you are allowed to stand next to the fence, people often do. However there are many protests out here at the moment, and I know that some of the riots in quito have taken place right next to the airport, so be careful!

Never knew they flew into st. maarten
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5700310

James

St. Maarten is pretty good.

Apart from the KLM 744 and the AF 340 we mostly have medium and smaller. Lots and lots of 757, some 737 and A320. Dash-8s, Twin Otters and Islanders are in and out all day long. Add to this the huge numbers of private planes from 172s to BBJs and you should have enough for a couple of days.

Maho beach is the best place to get them on landing, but there is a new place for the hardcore spotter as well. There you will find NO women, NO drinks, NO food and you might get chased off…but thats just fun..right?? On the departure end of the runway (09) they are building a run off area as part of the expansion of the airport. At the moment the sand is settling. and is higher than the fence..so if you go up there you will have a great view straight down the runway, almost as close as on the beach. Standing there on take offs should give some great photos.

You can also try to find a spot on the north side of maho beach. From some of the hotels there, or even from a rock along the coast, you can get a good view of them landing.

Give me a shout when you come down here.

Ken

Its the best for the ultimate plane spotting.

James

Who cares about the variety when you get that close, at such a wonderful beach with such wonderful weather with such lovely ladies to look at with a bar to sit at!

Hear Hear!

I have been to St. Maarten, so I’m rather partial to it. The best place to spot is Maho beach, which if you turn left exiting the airport, you can’t miss it. The sunset beach bar is a must. You can relax there, have a few drinks, order a burger or some ribs (that are excellent by the way), and check out the ladies and the birds. Something that they’ve added since I went there is a list of key arrivals of the day on a surfboard by the bar.

Who cares about the variety when you get that close, at such a wonderful beach with such wonderful weather with such lovely ladies to look at with a bar to sit at!

LOL summed up just perfectly. 😉

Who cares about the variety when you get that close, at such a wonderful beach with such wonderful weather with such lovely ladies to look at with a bar to sit at!

Definitely not the ultimate spotting spot. The variety isn’t all that!

I’ve heard you get lots and lots off BBJ’s.

Definitely not the ultimate spotting spot. The variety isn’t all that!

*envious* It’s meant to be fantastic!

Maho beach?…