TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin The villages Florida to Saint Martin

The villages Florida to Saint Martin. Trying to figure out the best way to get to Saint Martin from the villages Florida. Thinking about taking a bus to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Appreciate any suggestions.

I don't know about the bus part of it, but Miami and FLL are the only nonstops from Florida, certainly. AA from Miami and Jet Blue and Spirit from FLL, although with the prices on the other two right now, no reason to ME to take Spirit. We generally drive 3.5 hours one way to Miami or 3 hours to FLL from Central Florida. If you're willing to do a connection, you can get to Tampa or Orlando quicker than getting to Miami and do a connection through Atlanta on Delta. It's been my experience that the connections on AA from Central Florida are timed really stupidly, to connect to SXM, so not much reason to connect on AA from Central Florida. Someone here once suggested doing a one way car rental, but it seems like a lot of trouble. There is a train, I believe, but I have no idea how long it would take on the train, and I think the train makes several stops?

If it were me, I would either fly Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale as cheaply as I could, and then Jet Blue from FLL to SXM. Or, Orlando to Atlanta, and then Delta directly to St. Maarten. Atlanta is roughly 125 miles or so further from The Villages, so it might take a bit longer but not by that much. Jet Blue (FLL) and Delta (ATL) are both airlines I have used in the past and both have served me well when flying to the Caribbean. Why don't you try Kayak or Skyscanner online and see what pops up?

Okay ... I have an even better idea! Gainesville (with Delta) has a 6:00 a.m. flight to Atlanta every morning that sets up perfectly for the follow-up flight to St. Maarten. About a 2-1/2 hour layover each way. Plus, you won't have to deal with Orlando traffic. Gainesville Regional Airport would be roughly an hour and 15 minutes from The Villages right up 75. Just checked this out on Kayak and if you fly mid-week it will run $600 per person. Better than taking a bus all the way to Miami!

Since the Villages is only about an hour outside of Orlando....i would look into Orlando to SXM flights. To take a bus or train for 3 hours doesn't seem to be worth the time. my two cents.

Ed--by the time you factor in the time for a connection, driving further for a nonstop often either saves time and/or at a minimum, reduces the chances for a screw up by the airline. Thus it's normally worth it for US to just drive to Miami or FLL. If the original poster cannot drive, for whatever reason, the answer might be different, but maybe not.

I know the Villages has some type of shuttle service as my wife's mother uses it when flying or friends flying in. Not sure to what airports or how far they go.

OK, makes sense.

I recently moved from Atlanta to the villages Florida and I am planning to come to Saint Martin on January 10. Trying to figure the best airlport to fly out of Orlando Tampa Gainesville or Sanford Orlando. Or take a bus to Miami and stay overnight. Need help from my Florida friends. Thanks

Why post twice? Several suggestions in your other thread

Agreed. Check the other thread you posted.

I guess I forgot that I post that yesterday. Figures I retire in my brain goes to mush. Thanks for all the suggestions. I know about the shuttle bus. I know about the shuttle but I don’t think they start till 9 o’clock. Sorry about Posting twice.

It's the " I know about the shuttle bus" twice that's funny. LOL

It appears the shuttle starts much earlier than 9:00am.

VILLAGES SHUTTLE

OPTIONS/VILLAGES

You need to check out the resources you have there.

Based upon your community shuttle service to Orlando International Airport my recommendation would be American Airlines. Orlando to Miami to St. Maarten. There are two workable flights in the morning to Miami with connection to SXM flight.
The return from SXM will have a long enough layover in Miami to have dinner before you board the flight to Orlando.
A helpful note, book the return flight segment from Miami to Orlando with early boarding. That flight is always full.
You should make it to Orlando with just enough time to catch the last shuttle home.

I take this route with car service from Melbourne Florida 95% of the time in 30 years of trips to SXM.
Safe travels.