Aruba vs St. Maarten: Here's How to Actually Choose
Which destination is right for your next trip? Here's a side-by-side breakdown.
Aruba wins on beach quality and weather certainty; St. Maarten wins on variety, its dual French-Dutch personality delivers two cuisines, two vibes, and the famous Maho Beach plane-spotting in one small island.
Overview
Ratings
Daily Costs
Who should choose which
Choose Aruba for the best beaches, guaranteed dry weather, and a settled all-inclusive resort scene.
Choose St. Maarten for French-side dining, duty-free shopping, island-hopping day trips, and more personality per square mile.
Aruba is the safer bet for a pure beach vacation: it sits below the hurricane belt, so a September wedding or a fall trip carries far less weather risk, and Eagle Beach rarely disappoints. It is calm, consistent, and resort-forward.
St. Maarten is the more adventurous pick. Half French, half Dutch, it packs gourmet Grand Case dinners, casino nightlife, and easy ferries to Anguilla and St. Barths into a tiny footprint, plus Maho Beach, where jets land directly overhead. The trade-off: it sits in the hurricane belt and the beaches, while good, do not match Aruba's.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aruba or St. Maarten better for a first Caribbean trip?
Which island is safer from hurricanes?
Still can't decide?
Courtney has planned trips to both and can match the right one to your dates, budget, and who's traveling. Free, no obligation.
Ask Courtney