Maybe you're right - maybe you're not but trust me, many of the shop-keepers there feel there is a direct correlation and I am inclined to agree with them. After an evening of dinner and drinks all free (or at least, prepaid which gives the feeling of 'free') - who wants to walk out for an ice-cream cone? And does Maho still have their own little in-house casino there? If yes, again - one more reason not to walk out.

Pretty much everywhere we went the tourists seemed to be fewer than past years but this area in particular was a little scary. We walked into some great restaurants to be one of very few and in some cases, the only diners and trust me, reservations were needed nowhere we went this trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />