SXMUpdated October 26, 2026

Hotels and overnight stay at Sint Maarten airport

Philipsburg · Sint Maarten

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SXM · Long layover

Overnight stay at the airport

Can you spend the night at Sint Maarten airport (SXM)? Opening hours, rest areas and services for long layovers. See also the airport guide for general information.

Overnight Terminal Closure

Princess Juliana International Airport does not operate 24 hours a day. The terminal closes each night following the departure or arrival of the day's final scheduled commercial flight and reopens at 7:00 am the following morning. For security and operational reasons, sleeping overnight inside the terminal building is strictly not permitted, and security personnel clear the premises after daily operations finish.

Overnight Layover Alternatives

Because there are no overnight waiting rooms, dining outlets, or retail stores open during the night, travelers with long overnight connections or early morning departures must arrange accommodations at nearby resorts and hotels located just minutes away in Maho Bay or Simpson Bay.

Services and opening hours can change. If you plan to sleep in the public area, have a plan B: some airports only let passengers with a flight stay overnight.

Hotels at and near SXM

There are no sleeping cabins or hotels located directly inside the terminal building. However, numerous lodging options are situated minutes away around Maho Beach and Simpson Bay:

Nearby Hotels

  • CocoVaa Beach Resort: 0.6 km (0.4 miles).
  • El Zafiro Boutique Hotel: 0.5 km (0.3 miles).
  • SXM Spotters Paradise: 0.7 km (0.4 miles).
  • Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa: 0.8 km (0.5 miles).
  • Sonesta Ocean Point Resort: 0.8 km (0.5 miles).
  • Mary's Boon Beach Resort & Spa: 1.0 km (0.6 miles).
  • The Morgan Resort Spa & Village: approximately 5 minutes away in Simpson Bay.

Book a hotel near SXM

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Tips for a long layover

  1. Check whether you can leave the airport: it depends on your nationality, the visa rules of Sint Maarten and whether your bags are checked through.
  2. If you sleep airside, you will usually need a boarding pass for a flight that day. Ask your airline before you go through security.
  3. A lounge with day access can be cheaper than a hotel for a few hours: see VIP lounges at SXM.
  4. Keep your valuables with you, set an alarm and carry a light layer: terminals are often cold at night.
  5. Going to a hotel in town? See transportation from SXM (15 km to Philipsburg), and check which services run at night.
German Giudici

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