TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Trip report 8/28 travel to SXM

Hello all, as promised here’s a quick debrief of my travels to SXM. Long story short, everything was easy peasy.

Flight was on American, BWI to SXM via MIA. First leg was completely full which caused me such anxiety. I haven’t been around that many people - or inside ANYWHERE - since March. All airports were pretty empty. The MIA - SXM flight had maybe 40 people? If that? Suuuuuuper empty. Before you board in Miami they check that you have pre-authorization and if you don’t they’ll make you apply there I guess. They also checked this in Baltimore.

So arrivals in SXM was easy because there were no other planes ahead of us and no one on our flight. They do a first check to make sure you have your authorization and covid test, then you go thru immigration. They stopped me here when they saw my final destination was the french side but I explained I had permission from the prefete and showed it to them and I was on my merry way to get my bags.

Airport completely empty. Walked out to see Michael’s familiar face (from Unity) and off we went to get my rental. My parents have a car but I wanted to give Michael my business.

Drove to the border check point, explained why I was here, showed the letter from the prefete, made some small talk about my “beautiful passport” (random) and off I went to my parentals.

So all in all, it was fine. Getting all the paperwork and testing ahead of time is the most stressful part. It’s sad to see the island so empty but I was happy to see a few families on my flight taking vacation.

Thank you for sharing your arrival information and so glad to learn it all went well. I’m sure your parents are so happy to see you in real time and likewise you, them.

Enjoy the rest of your time and I hope the departure goes as well as your arrival did.

Glad you made it. Enjoy.

Thanks for the update, glad you made it.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Question about the authorization: did you just have that via email on your phone, or had you printed it out?

Thanks for the report. How did you get permission from the prefete to enter the French side?

Pretty sure she has family on the French side.

Thanks for your report. Hope you are now able to relax and enjoy!

Thanks for update. Great to hear!!!

That is correct! My parents are from here and my mom had a medical emergency. She’s ok but they needed someone to take care of them, so that’s how I got approval to cross (had to get notes from her doctors, etc etc and then submit to the prefete).

I printed out all my paperwork in color. I never trust my phone to work when I need it lol.

Also got the email from the Dutch side health department to submit my daily temperature. Takes 2 seconds. Tho not sure how they would actually enforce this.

Angelface--hope your mom is ok.

Thank you so much for sharing, and I know your anxiety has been greatly reduced by finally being there and seeing your family.