Side by side
Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk or US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay?
US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay is roughly 55% cheaper per day on the ground, while Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk is at its best February to April. Which one wins depends on your dates, budget and party — the rows below show exactly where they differ.
Cost figures are modelled on-the-ground estimates per person per day, excluding international airfare. They are not live prices.
Which one to choose
- Choose Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk if what matters most is: Travel friction.
- Choose US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay if what matters most is: Daily cost.
Neither is the better trip overall. These are the points our records separate them on; the rest depends on your dates, budget and party.
Which one fits your trip?
Answer a few quick things and we'll re-run this comparison on your own dates, budget and travel style. The estimates come from the same engine as the trip cost calculator.
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Dimension by dimension
Daily cost
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- USD 315–390 per person per day
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- USD 145–170 per person per day
US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay runs about 55% cheaper per day on the ground than Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk at the same mid-range style.
Leans US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
Best months
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- February to April
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- January to April
On its own record, Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk is at its best in February to April, and US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay in January to April. Comparing the two month by month, US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay scores higher in January — a relative edge over the other destination in those months, not a claim that they are US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay's own best season.
Ideal trip length
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- 3–5 days
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- 4–6 days
Both suit a similar trip length.
Travel friction
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- Easy to travel
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- Moderate effort
Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk is the lower-effort trip to organise.
Leans Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
Strongest for
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- beach, relaxation
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- beach, relaxation
The real split is shopping — that is where the two records diverge most.
Suits
- Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- couples, solo, friends
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- couples
Both records list the same groups — couples — so this row does not separate them. Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk additionally suits solo, friends.
What they have in common
Both are strong at beach, relaxation.
Is there a winner?
No. Neither destination wins in the abstract: the answer changes with your origin, your dates, your party and your budget. Run both through the tools below and the comparison becomes a real answer instead of a generalisation.
Common questions
- Is Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk cheaper than US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay?
- US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay runs about 55% cheaper per day on the ground than Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk at the same mid-range style.
- When is the best time for Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk vs US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay?
- On its own record, Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk is at its best in February to April, and US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay in January to April. Comparing the two month by month, US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay scores higher in January — a relative edge over the other destination in those months, not a claim that they are US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay's own best season.
- How many days do you need for Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk or US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay?
- Both suit a similar trip length.
Take it further
- This page compares whole destinations. The calculator link below prices the same destination scope — a country or route record, not one city. To choose between two specific cities, use the city comparisons.
- Compare them with your own budget and dates
- Full destination guide: Sint Maarten — Philipsburg and Great Bay boardwalk
- Full destination guide: US Virgin Islands — St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay
- Check which option fits your whole-trip budget
- Answer a few questions and get a ranked match
- All destination comparisons
- City-versus-city comparisons