Forums39
Topics38,720
Posts313,144
Members26,578
|
Most Online2,218 Jan 21st, 2020
|
|
35 registered members (ChiTownHarry, Whale Tail, JohnW, dfmsml, RatmansWife, Sandsailsun, magpie, WLE, GeorgeC1, RickinAtlanta, Sqdeese, ndfaninnc, Kennys, Todd_Melinda_K, MamaB, SXMScubaman, cbinparadise, Matt W, Rema, MrEZgoin, bkigar, eightzerobits, barryvabeach, NoelHall, MKGrey, MrTim-BTV, ColoBoater, PrairieGirl, 7 invisible),
1,234
guests, and 87
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Club Orient - Resort Update
#146938
10/23/2017 10:20 AM
10/23/2017 10:20 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296 Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
|
I received an email this morning from ClubO. Not good news but at least they are communicating, even if they don't know anything... "Dear , I'm sure you have been following our updates following hurricane Irma and the tremendous damage which it did to Club Orient and all of St. Martin. We know you are waiting for definitive information about a projected re-opening date for the resort. At this point we have nothing concrete or even an estimate on a date for the resort to once again welcome you back. Of the units which remain standing, we must have them inspected by a structural engineer to make sure they are safe. In addition, Club Orient made all of our own electricity, water and serviced our wastewater. Some of this was destroyed and some of it appears to be intact. But, until we get an outside expert to certify these things, we cannot give a date. How quickly will this happen? We are hesitant to even give an estimate at this point. But, we are working diligently to move as quickly as we can and awaiting even a preliminary insurance payment and the promised disaster aid from the French government. Nothing ever moves as quickly as we would like, but it is moving in a positive direction. Right now there a very few hotels on the island that can accept guests and most of those a filled with local residents whose homes were destroyed. Please do not plan on visiting until you have checked with us. When the time comes, we will be post it immediately on Facebook, as well as send out emails to everyone on our mailing list. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue on our path to recovery. We'll get there as quickly as we can thanks to all of you help and support. Thank you. Florence BERNARD Rooms Division Director Directrice de l'H?bergement CLUB ORIENT RESORT 1 Baie Orientale, 97150 St. Martin, French West Indies www.cluborient.com"
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Maria_and_Steve]
#146939
10/23/2017 10:26 AM
10/23/2017 10:26 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,116 missouri
Cathyg
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,116
missouri
|
I got the same e mail and sent it privately to Carol.
The news certainly clarifies many things. The island is not ready for visitors to stay in resorts. If the resorts that are livable are being occupied by residents of the island who are now homeless...and they are asking us to stay away until they tell us it is ready...then i think many of us made the right decisions to cancel our upcoming trips.
We certainly don't need to be a burden.
The ships coming in don't require resort rooms....and they drop much needed dollars...although i believe many will stay on the ships.
Last edited by Cathyg; 10/23/2017 10:31 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146940
10/23/2017 10:41 AM
10/23/2017 10:41 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
As I said to you privately, I don't think that it is UP to Club Orient to tell anyone to come or not, unless they are talking about the owners of the individual units there at Club O, which that does make sense to me.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#146942
10/23/2017 11:46 AM
10/23/2017 11:46 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 186
JulieandKarl
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 186
|
Carol_Hill said: As I said to you privately, I don't think that it is UP to Club Orient to tell anyone to come or not, unless they are talking about the owners of the individual units there at Club O, which that does make sense to me. It sounds as if they are telling people not to expect to come to Club Orient and painting a realistic picture of the situation on the island. Doesn't sound like they think it is UP to them to tell people what to do if they want to take their chances and go elsewhere
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: crazycajun]
#146946
10/23/2017 02:45 PM
10/23/2017 02:45 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
I'm not exactly sure who that comment was aimed at, but if it implies that board members are dense, it is not appropriate. People are perfectly free to disagree with each other but insults are not welcome.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: crazycajun]
#146948
10/23/2017 03:18 PM
10/23/2017 03:18 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
OK, regarding your statement.
Regarding returning to the island right now, reasonable people I think can disagree on the wisdom of that. I do not think that visitors are a drain on the island at all. There is plenty of food and water and gasoline. The CONDITIONS are such that very few people are interested in going right now, but those that are, have good reasons for being there.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146949
10/23/2017 09:23 PM
10/23/2017 09:23 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11 FL
SXMLovers
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
FL
|
We've been going to SXM for over 30 years after honeymooning there at a house on Plum Bay. We love the island, bought a townhouse on the French side after 9/11/2001, sold eight years later, and have now bought again and are thrilled that we had minimal damage from Irma. We were on the island the Sunday before Irma hit on Wednesday. We are keeping our reservations to return, have friends on the island, and are eager to go to the stores, restaurants, beaches and on a boating outing or two. We're looking forward to seeing friends living on the island and other friends we meet there each year. We'll be supporting those on the island in spirit, with our prayers, with our dollars, and we're open to helping in other ways when there. Our friends as well as future friends living there are inviting people to return, and are looking forward to folks returning when possible. For those who choose to wait or make other arrangements to other destinations, that is the right decision for them. With the desires of those on the island, matching my desire to return, returning soon is the clear correct decision for me, and others who also wish to return. I've seen much change in over 30 years, understand there is more change after Irma, but home is still home, and I'm eager to get back!
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146953
10/31/2017 08:17 PM
10/31/2017 08:17 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,116 missouri
Cathyg
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,116
missouri
|
This was posted on the club orient Facebook page tonight
Dear Friends We’ve been busy since we last updated you. We’ll try to cover some of the most important events which have occurred in the last few weeks, The good news is that on Monday afternoon the employees were finally able to receive your generous donations. You have no idea how much it was needed and how grateful the people were receiving it. It took much longer than expected to get it into their hands, due to a huge amount of red tape and the difficulty in giving out cash, which because of tax liabilities could not be seen to have had any involvement by Club Orient. In addition, security concerns needed to be addressed to do our best to insure everyone’s safety. Most of the staff is back on the island even if staying with friends, family or in houses with only temporary roof fixes. In addition, much of the French side is still with sporadic utilities. Phone and internet service remains spotty. But, as a group we remain positive and have even leased a space for temporary offices in Orient Village starting (we hope) on November 15 and will then have access to land line phones, our servers and the files we were able to salvage. Most importantly, Anne the Finance Director, Florence the Rooms Division Director, Gaelle the Human Resources Manager and Stephen the Resort Director will be in one place for the first time. A special thank you to all of you who donated your advance deposit. This was a huge help and once we are re-opened we have made a note of everyone who did this and will do our best to reward you for your help when we needed it. For those of you who could not do this we understand and as soon as the insurance money is in our hands we will begin crediting your cards. Progress on the island with clean-up has been slow, but steady. The roads are open and even with so many of our cars being severely damaged, the traffic is heavy during the day. Part of this is because with so many of our businesses still closed, especially hotels and restaurants there are many who remain without a job. But, some of the hotels, particularly on the Dutch side which were not destroyed, have begun to re-open, even though some amenities are limited. There are a handful of restaurants on both sides open with limited menus. Near Club Orient, Rancho del Sol is open for lunch on a limited basis where you order when you walk-in on the steps and they bring your food to you outside. The Italian restaurant, Al Dente suffered almost no damage and is offering a mostly complete menu. With the supermarkets which were not destroyed, they’re open but with limited choices and availability for the most part. Most of the beaches have been approved for swimming, by the health department. So, it’s a process we are having to go through and it will be some time before the island is what it was pre-Irma. So much of the French side, especially Grand Case is almost totally destroyed. Please do not plan a visit to the island without checking with us first. Services of any kind are extremely limited, especially on the French side. While we appreciate the offers to help clean up, it is not realistic. It would be like offering to clean up after the World War 2 bombing of Dresden. In addition, with so many out of work, it is important to hire locally. Club Orient has had representatives of the Copropriété (similar to an HOA) and the OBC (the resort management company) visit over the last 10 days and both are committed to bringing Club Orient back as quickly as possible. We have submitted all our insurance claims and are awaiting payment from them, which will allow us to move more quickly. We are also awaiting French Prime Minister’s visit and his plans to assist us. We along with other French side hoteliers have been in meetings with his representative and we have also met with him one on one. At the moment, they have not committed to anything, so we shall see. Finally, we await the decisions from Paris on the new building requirements and how they may affect us rebuilding. There have been many suggestions put forward by them at various meetings, but nothing definitive has yet to emerge. Thank you again for your kind emails and concerns about our Club Orient family. Many of you have commented in your notes, how special all of the staff are at the resort. We would say that we have the most special and caring guests in the world!
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146956
11/01/2017 11:21 AM
11/01/2017 11:21 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,506 Vermont
sxmmartini
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,506
Vermont
|
Cathyg said: This was posted on the club orient Facebook page tonight
There are a handful of restaurants on both sides open with limited menus. Near Club Orient, Rancho del Sol is open for lunch on a limited basis where you order when you walk-in on the steps and they bring your food to you outside. The Italian restaurant, Al Dente suffered almost no damage and is offering a mostly complete menu.
My husband had a wonderful dinner at AlDente last week with a neighbor. I am in NY having decided not to go to SXM right now. Here is AlDente website. The restaurant was full and reservations are appreciated for large crowds. http://www.aldentesxm.com/Also my hubby said Perch would be open starting November? I will see if I can confirm that rumor.
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Snorkeller]
#146958
11/01/2017 11:42 AM
11/01/2017 11:42 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
OK, thanks for the info. I thought that info on that one website could not be correct, that they were already open. If they had been open, it would have been in this update.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: sxmmartini]
#146959
11/01/2017 07:14 PM
11/01/2017 07:14 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
|
We love Al Dente and go there several times a trip.
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#146963
11/03/2017 08:09 PM
11/03/2017 08:09 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507 Florida
RobT
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
Florida
|
That is good news about the Perch. We have a cruise stop in St Martin in January and plan to spend some time at the Beach at CO. I hope the beach chair rentals will be available with the opening of the Perch.
Beach Hunter
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146967
11/04/2017 09:54 PM
11/04/2017 09:54 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
For those not staying at Club O and just coming for the day, it won't be that different. A yellow umbrella and a couple of chairs, and our own cooler, looking out at Green Key, that would be fine with me! The only thing I wonder about is whether there are working bathrooms at the Perch now. My guess would be no.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146970
11/04/2017 10:28 PM
11/04/2017 10:28 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
Sorry, you need to stand down. We have been going to the beach at Club Orient longer than you. We were there 5 months after Luis.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: jenniboston]
#146972
11/05/2017 09:10 AM
11/05/2017 09:10 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
|
Where did your parents stay after Luis? We stayed at L'Hoste. It I guess was pretty much undamaged, as the complex seemed pretty normal -- other than vegetation -- in February 2006. There was nothing left of Papagayo and they were serving drinks out of a cooler from a building behind there, and had some kind of a kettle grill they were cooking on.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: pony600]
#146973
11/05/2017 01:10 PM
11/05/2017 01:10 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658 Maine
SXMbeacher
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 658
Maine
|
I hope you get a chance to try it. Not that we have been to a vast many restaurants there, but it is also some of the best service we've received also!
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: Cathyg]
#146974
11/05/2017 03:02 PM
11/05/2017 03:02 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
|
[b]Cathyg said: .................
........but for folks who know what was...and what has changed and what has been lost....they will certainly notice the difference. .....................
I would Hope and pray you are more sensitive and compassionate toward this island than a damn bar and an chair and umbrella. You almost had me there for a bit. But sadly, I guess I got lost in the discussion....... You see, I am one of those extremely fortunate people here who knew Orient Beach long before it’s Coney Island-like atmosphere of the last few years......and long before Club O became what so many know it as today! or at least, what it was before Irma wreaked her havoc on it. My heart aches for the people who lost their businesses and their livelihoods but having known this particular beach when there was nothing along the beach but seagrape and the occasional sun worshipper until you actually were able to find what there was of the original Club Orient at that time, and the one lonely entrepreneur who grilled the only food stuffs along the beach in an original island lolo, there are still some of us out here who won't miss all that some need to make them happy on that beach. Count me among that number. But time passes and things change and I’m glad there are still some undeveloped spaces for that special kind of Island enjoyment. Like you, we cancelled our next two island trips and we are eagerly awaiting our return to ALL THAT IS ST. MARTIN - the people, the beaches, the wonderful dining ops.......SXM is so much more than just an opportunity for people to strut their stuff along a crowded beach where it is totally accepted and many of us would be just as happy to be able to go there without the hype and the gawkers and just enjoy its natural state. I guess my age is showing here but I’d happily go right back to the seagrape and sun bather days and let the few Club O members enjoy their undiscovered heaven without all the extraneous development that so many seem to need today. Now! Can we get back to appreciating the Orient Beach true updates as they become available?!.............. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by pat; 11/05/2017 03:23 PM.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
|
|
|
Re: Club Orient - Resort Update
[Re: pat]
#146976
11/05/2017 04:24 PM
11/05/2017 04:24 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
|
As always pat, well stated. A lot more to SXM, and while I go back a long way it is not as long you but I too remember Orient before it was developed like recently. While the devastation is sad and has impacted people in many different ways, it is in no way the end of the world as we know it.
J.D.
|
|
|
|