PHILIPSBURG [WELCOME TO THE CAPITAL OF DUTY FREE SHOPPING]

side are Philipsburg’s Front Street and Old Street, Simpson Bay, Maho Reef, and Cupecoy.

New additions to duty free shopping have been added such as the “Puerta Del Sol Plaza,” a new extension to the Simpson Bay Yacht Club Shopping open mall area and “Porto Cupecoy.” Wherever you go, you’ll find the best products the island’s expanding duty-free sector has to offer.

Travelers in the know are taking a close look at the goods being produced by local artisans. Caribbean crafts people bring to their work a rich and colorful blend of African and European influences that make up their culture.

Philipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten is built on a sand ridge. From the sleepy village to the bustling town with over a mile of duty free stores mainly jewelry, electronics, local Caribbean arts and crafts, watches, alcohol and tobacco, fine cigars, camera’s, perfumes, art galleries, and much more. The town has a lot to offer the visitor. Shopping is one of the best reasons to take a break from the beach and water sports to explore what Philipsburg has to offer.

There are approximately 500 duty free shops on the island. Duty-free stores are mainly located on Front Street. The Front Street location offers various stores, great access to the cruise ship passengers that arrive via three cruise ship tender jetty’s, namely the Capt. Hodge Jetty centrally located in Philipsburg, Bobby’s Marina Jetty, and Walter Williams Tender Jetty in front of Sea Palace hotel.

Competition between merchant’s guarantees that the customer gets what they bargained for with great prices on emeralds, set diamonds, rubies, sapphires, cultured pearls, gold, silver and much more.

Philipsburg stores also offer a wide selection of fine jewelry and watches from such well-known designers as C2K, Caribbean Hook, Honora, House of Tanzanite, John Atencio, John Hardy, Kabana, Roberto Coin, Starnight, White Diamonds, Alfex, Concord, Faconnable, Gucci, Maurice Lacroix, Michele, Movado, Wenger, La Nouvelle Bague and more.

Sint Maarten has some of the most famous duty free shopping in the region. Many of the stores have branches at the airport, cruise terminal, Maho Shopping Center, and Cupecoy.

Whether arriving by plane, cruise ship or mega-yacht, the visitor will find an endless selection of gift items to carry back home as reminders of their vacation on the “Friendly Island.”

Getting To Philipsburg

It is easy to get to the capital town of Sint Maarten. Whether you are driving your own rental car, taking a taxi cab, or using private public transportation, getting there is not a problem. There is one main road with some secondary roads, the latter giving you quicker access into Philipsburg.

Night Life

There are a number of casinos throughout the town. For those who are into gambling, Philipsburg has much to offer. Due to the town’s proximity to the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities, thousands of cruise ship passengers and crew visit the casinos on an annual basis to try their luck and many become winners.