plane spotters – Airports and Hotels

Flights to Princess Juliana airport in Sint Maarten

If you are planning to fly to Saint Martin island in the Caribbean, know that you can book regularly scheduled flights to visit Maho Reef all year round with major international airlines from the following destinations.

Paris (Orly and Charles de Gaulle) with Air Caraïbes and Air France, Santo Domingo with Air Century, Barbados with Caribbean Airlines; North Carolina, Miami and Philadelphia with American Airlines; Panama with Copa Airlines, Atlanta and New York with Delta, Curaçao with Jetair, Fort Lauderdale with JetBlue, Amsterdam with KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, San juan de Puerto Rico with Silver Airways, Montreal and Toronto with Sunwing and New York from Newark with United Airlines.

However, the list goes on with many more domestic flights to and from destinations in the Caribbean as well as international routes to airports across the world that are operated seasonally, so always check with your airline of choice whether they fly to Princess Juliana airport or not.

Hotels close to Maho Beach and Sint Maarten airport for plane spotting

The recommended below are the best hotels near Maho Beach and Princess Juliana airport for plane spotters to stay during their trip to Saint Martin island in the Caribbean. While some of them are located in the adjacent Simpson Bay Beach, within short walking distance of Maho Beach and Beacon Hill Road, others feature their own aircraft spotting area, but all without exception offer easy access to the airport and to the worldwide popular seashore where you can take outstanding pictures of the airplanes approaching.

This 3-star hotel not only lies 500 meters away from the airport and a short walk away from Maho Reef, but also boasts an exceptional beachfront location in Simpson Bay Beach, to which guests enjoy direct access. The air-conditioned rooms are fully equipped and feature a terrace affording stunning sea views, and there is a restaurant on site serving meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The SXM Spotters Paradise is an apartment complex by the airport runways, which makes it the perfect place to stay near Princess Juliana International in St. Maarten if you love plane spotting. Each apartment is equipped with everything you may need, a kitchen with appliances, a living area and a bathroom with shower. Maho beach is just 400 meters away from the property.

This hotel lies 2 kilometers from Sint Maarten airport, but guests positively value how quiet and tranquil this location is while also close to the main points of interests. Maho beach is a short drive away, and the aiport can be reached by taxi in a few minutes. The Travel Inn Simpson Bay offers guest rooms with cable TV, living area, microwave, refrigerator, private bathroom and balcony with ocean views, and the facilities feature complimentary Wi-Fi and an onsite restaurant.

Staying near St. Maarten airport in style and being pampered at their luxury rooms and spa becomes a dream come true at the Sonesta Maho Beach resort. Affording beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea and only a short walk to the favorite location of plane spotters from all around the world, it provides guests with a unique chance to enjoy tropical seafood and all-day buffets inside the premises, two swimming pools, nightly outdoor cinema and snorkeling at Maho Bay.

Many would say that transit hotels inside or near the facilities of airports have their own essence. They are often that last-minute accommodation for those suffering the consequences of flight delays and cancellations, the choice of jet-setters having a stopover on a long-haul journey to an exotic faraway destination, and the best option for frequent flyers and busy business travelers on a short layover, who cannot afford a single minute of leisure and must stay as close to the passenger terminals as possible. However, when any of these three traveler types are also aviation geeks, airplane enthusiasts or aircraft spotters, it’s a whole different story. In their eyes, an airport hotel is a whimsical place, especially when it offers some kind of themed space or memorabilia, and most importantly, when all or some of its guest rooms overlook the runways or feature at least tarmac or apron views. Are you one of these guests? If you are, we strongly advise you to take a look at our recommended transit hotels below.

Hotels near Maho Beach and Princess Juliana International airport in St. Maarten island (Saint Martin, Caribbean)

Hotels for plane spotting: book a room with airport runway views

Excel Hotel Tokyu (Haneda airport, Japan)

Conveniently located within short walking distance of the facilities of Haneda International airport in Tokyo, Japan, the Excel Tokyu Hotel can be accessed directly on foot from passenger terminal 2 of HND in just 3 minutes, or else by monorail from the terminal station. Alternatively, travelers arriving via terminal 1 may ride the Keihin Kyuko line and get to the hotel in 5 minutes. Room categories are exceptionally varied, ranging from standard to suites including premier, superior, excel, accessible and deluxe, one of them even featuring a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator (the cockpit room). To ensure you can enjoy the runway views during your stay, make sure you book a high-category room instead of a standard one.

Fairmont In-Terminal Hotel (Vancouver airport, Canada)

The Fairmont In-Terminal Hotel in Vancouver airport, Canada, is found near the United States Departures Hall. In order to reach it, follow the signs to “International Terminal Departures” and get through the hall until you see “US Baggage Claim”. Then take the stairs, the escalators or an elevator that will take you right to the hotel reception. Nicely built within the passenger building, this transit accommodation offers 386 well-appointed rooms, all of which are spacious and soundproofed, affording beautiful runway views against a mountain background.

Crowne Plaza (Changi airport, Singapore)

This Crowne Plaza transit hotel boasts a superb location in Terminal 3 of Singapore’s Changi airport. Guests may arrive walking from the arrivals hall of T3 or else by going across the link bridges from The Jewel. If you want to wake up to stunning views of the busy runway, you will need to book a premier room; you will even be able to watch planes taking off and landing from the bathtub. This room category also features ergonomic chairs, personal safe, pillow menu, premier toiletries, a 40-inch smart TV and working space.

Regal Hotel (Hong Kong airport)

Will you be having a layover at Hong Kong International airport? Travelers staying here can enjoy good views of the runways, particularly those who book a room on the upper floors: the higher, the better. To find out more about this 5-star hotel connected to Terminal 1 of HKIA, read our post about the Regal Airport Hotel.

Embassy Suites LAX South (Los Angeles airport, USA)

The Embassy Suites Hotel in Los Angeles International Airport / South lies 3,2 kilometers from the facilities of LAX in El Segundo, California. You may request a free airport pick-up regardless of the terminal you arrive through. All suites in this hotel feature two bedrooms, fridge and microwave, but if you are particularly interested in plane spotting from your bed, ask to stay on the 5th floor facing the terminal buildings: rooms 581, 584, 501, 502, 503 and 550 through 566 have all been indicated as ideal for aviation geeks.

Sofitel airport hotel (Athens, Greece)

If you take a trip to Athens and you are an airplane lover, we suggest that you spend the night at the Sofitel Airport Hotel in Eleftherios Venizelos International. Aviation experts guarantee that as long as you stay in a room on the sixth, seventh or eighth floor, you will get unforgettable views of the aircraft operations on the tarmac, aside from enjoying front-row landings and take-offs. In case there are no guest rooms available on the upper floors of the Sofitel Athens airport hotel, you can always have a drink at the rooftop bar, which also affords breathtaking views of the runway activity taking place.

Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre (Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France)

At this transit hotel inside terminal 2 of Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris (also known as Roissy), you can stay in beautifully-appointed suites or rooms featuring soundproofed windows, flat-screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Its exceptional location makes it not only highly convenient for passengers having a layover in CDG, but also strongly recommended for aviation geeks. Visit the following link to find out more about this and other hotels in Paris International airport.

ParkRoyal Hotel (Melbourne airport, Australia)

The ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport Hotel in Australia is another accommodation frequented by plane spotters and aircraft photographers and enthusiasts. To discover more about this one and other hotels in MEL, visit this post.

La Quinta Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport South (McCarran airport, USA)

This airport hotel in Las Vegas lies close both to McCarran International airport and The Strip, and is one of the most popular places to stay in the area among airplane spotters. Should you need further information regarding accommodation options for plane spotting in Vegas, check out our post about where to sleep near Las Vegas airport.

Tag: plane spotters

Hotels near Maho Beach and Princess Juliana International airport in St. Maarten island (Saint Martin, Caribbean)

Flights to Princess Juliana airport in Sint Maarten

Hotels close to Maho Beach and Sint Maarten airport for plane spotting

Airport hotels for plane spotters: rooms with the best runway views around the world

Hotels for plane spotting: book a room with airport runway views

Excel Hotel Tokyu (Haneda airport, Japan)