We couldn't get over how much nicer the properties were that we saw online vs the Royal Islander's dated rooms. These places had brand new bathrooms and kitchens, with state of the art appliances, and many were even two bedrooms, which we wouldn't even need, for a price comparable to what an annual maintenance fee for a one-bedroom would cost at our timeshare. RIDICULOUS !!!! What a difference !!! We're thinking that the best thing to do now, with climate change and the intense strengthening of storm systems going forward, is to rent in early spring, regardless of which island we go to, if the particular island has had a "quiet" hurricane season. This way, the price is low and there's less chance of bad weather or worse, a powerful hurricane. And you'd know in advance whether the island is functional, because the hurricane season would be in the rearview mirror. We'd get the ball rolling in December for an April vacation.


The only way to do so would be to NOT be locked into a timeshare. Even if the timeshare is during high season, when hurricanes aren't an issue, there still remains the problem of having had such a terrible storm that an island will not be a reasonable destination for months and months.
We definitely want to return to SXM, but on our own terms, and when the island is functional, and NOT during hurricane season EVER AGAIN.