Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Our Flight From Paris, France to Sint Maarten

Caribbean Islands

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli 

Leaving from Paris, France, we got up at 5AM in order to get to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 8:30. Our flight wasn't until 10:30, but the website said to come two hours early in order to get stamped out.

We learned from our taxi experience on arrival to Paris -which cost us $182USD - that we needed to take Bolt, a ride share service. This cost us less than half of that amount. 

Traffic was very heavy and signs were not clearly marked at the airport. It seemed that time was ticking away and we needed to have our passports legally stamped out.

The lines at the airport were longer than we had ever experienced, and the "line managers" kept switching us (and others) from line to line, supposedly to get the people moving more quickly. I must honestly tell you that they failed in this endeavor.

This is an international airport, with people coming from around the globe, going to everyplace around the globe. All sorts of languages were spoken and the general feeling was one of chaos.

EVERYONE had been waiting so long in one line or another that their patience had run out. Some were ditching ahead going under ropes, and those behind us were screaming ALLEZ! ALLEZ! ALLEZ! (Go! Go! Go!)

Many passport kiosks were closed so this inefficiency made the wait even longer.

Just as we neared our passport kiosk, the flight crew of about 10 came in ahead of us (each painstakingly getting stamped), then a group of 20 people followed them, and then every pregnant woman, or a person with a "condition" followed them.

Normally this would not be a problem, but what was distressing was - no one, anywhere in the airport, at any time - had the customer in mind. This was a master class in useless bureaucracy, inefficiency and with clueless people running the show.

It would seem to me that the airport knows when planes are leaving and arriving, and the number of open kiosks, security lines, and personnel  to handle this demand would be simple to figure out.

Am I wrong?

Even though we barely made our flight, we were going to the Caribbean and looking forward to being warm once again.

I was also looking forward to having my blood pressure return to normal.

Sheesh.

Map showing our flight

This is our flight route from Paris to Sint Maarten.

We booked our flight on AirFrance one-way for $1,682USD for 2 people, or $841USD each.

We left at 10:30 am Paris time, and arrived at 2:50pm Sint Maarten time.

Since there is a 5 hour differential between the two locations, our body time was 8pm.

Not too bad. Then we needed to get to our hotel on Sint Maarten.

Primary Flight Display

This Primary Flight Display (PFD) specifically shows the Attitude Indicator (the half-circle at the top with the yellow horizon line) and the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) or Navigation Display (the round dial at the bottom showing the heading and course).

This instrument also shows the aircraft pitch (nose up or down).

These navigation tools help pilots maintain situational awareness and therefore, control the aircraft efficiently.

PFDs generally help pilots "see" where they are in in low-visibility conditions, by showing the pilot a virtual picture of the outside world.

In this case weather is clear and it's easy to see how we are flying in to the island.

Landing at the airport

Here you see us coming in to Princess Juliana International Airport, otherwise known as SXM.

Now it's time for "warm Summer breezes and French wines and cheeses"

We're ready!

Billy and Akaisha

Finally, we only have ONE layer of clothing on, instead of everything in our suitcases!

We are such temperature wimps!

Plane coming in at Maho Beach Video

Maho Beach, just a 3-4 minute drive or a short walk from the airport, is located on the Dutch side of this Caribbean island.

It is one of the most famous beaches in the world.

Why?

Because low-flying aircraft pass just meters above the beach as they land at Princess Juliana International Airport. It's a global hotspot for plane spotting and a bucket-list destination for thrill-seekers, aviation enthusiasts, and photographers.

 The airport’s runway is separated only by a narrow road and a flimsy fence.

The runway was originally built by the U.S. Army during World War II.

Maho Beach is one of the few places in the world where you can stand directly under the flight path of arriving and departing aircraft.

This creates an adrenaline-pumping experience as the roar of engines and the sheer size of the aircraft overhead captivate onlookers.

Actually, the beach has become a cultural phenomenon, featured in countless viral videos, travel blogs, and even Microsoft Flight Simulator. It attracts over 1 million visitors annually and garners millions of views through live webcams, such as the Maho Beach Cam.

For more stories, photos and videos of Sint Maarten, click here. 

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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