GoBe is always looking for new ways to help travelers get more out of travel. In this case, we turn the usual guided walk on its head.

Picture a 90-minute self-guided romp through the city, solving clues, snapping photos like a paparazzo, seeking help from friendly bystanders, and laughing hysterically half the time. Kind of like Amazing Race, but without the commercials.  

We'll set you up with clues, maps, and water bottles, then turn you loose on unsuspecting Philipsburg. The quaint capital of Dutch St. Maarten is steeped in old-world character, with a wonderful beachfront boardwalk, a shopping district known for its duty-free shopping, and for the diverse cultural heritage of its good-natured inhabitants.

As you wander about, decoding clues and riddles, finding locations, and capturing answers on your camera or smartphone, you'll also be building a memorable travelogue of your St. Maarten visit. When time's up, we'll tally the points from your photos and award a special keepsake to the winner – good for some robust boasting and toasting with a complimentary cocktail. It's the perfect last snapshot of your tour. Click!

Plane-spotter heaven

Runway 10 at St. Maarten's Princess Juliana Airport is short, so pilots need to fly their final approach at unusually low altitude. To the great delight of aviation buffs, this puts giant airliners under full power just 30 to 60 feet overhead on nearby Maho Beach. Flight timetables are displayed in beach bars and restaurants, and one place actually broadcasts the radio transmissions between pilots and the control tower. If you can hear 'em over all the jet noise.