TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Compare Divi to GCBC

Both has plusses & minuses.

Divi has 3 pools GCBC only one. But chairs at GCBC better and plush. Always an available place to plop. At Divi we could never find a chair at any pool. Beach chairs scattered GCBC arranged seating in line.

Divi has 3 restaurants GCBC only one but far better than any at Divi.

Divi large resort, GCBC intimate 70 units. Both have studio, 1BR and 2BR. Both have tennis court.

Divi maid service only on Wednesday unless you pay for daily. GCBC has daily no extra charge. Daily flowers and a bottle of wine.

Divi has a store on site GCBC does not.

Divi has messy beach. GCBC has 2 beaches, Petite Plague & GC Beach, a wooden walkway around resort with extended platforms here & there with 2 loungers over water in each one, a covered platform overlooking Anguilla, and some hammocks, stone benches scattered around the property.

Appears Divi puts MF into grounds and occasionally replaces furniture. Furniture better at GCBC. Grounds at GCBC intimate, almost jungle-like but well trimmed. You could lose yourself at GCBC. At Divi you're one of the crowd.

If you want to eat other than at resort: at Divi you have a steep hill to contend with to get into P'Burg. GCBC you can walk to many fine restaurants. But the food at GCBC is just as good as any fine restaurant. We didn't like the food at Divi

Divi has music in evening making it not very quiet. GCBC has no music so evenings are quiet,but you can walk to Blue Martini, Calmos Cafe, Rainbow for music.

Divi has 2 tv's in units but in ours only 1 worked. Reception was bad. GCBC has only 1 large screen tv in unit with great reception: HBO, SHO, MAX other cable channels CNN FOX etc and 2 French channels.

People at Divi don't smile much. If you don't greet them 1st they pass quietly. At GCBC everyone smiles and greets you by name. Security at both altho' I never saw it at Divi I did see security pass unit several times daily and at night. GCBC is gated. You enter using room key. Divi has a guard shack.

There's more but when people say GCBC is expensive I think you get more bang for the buck. Daily breakfast is included and all water sports. Not to mention that daily maid service!

Sadly, that's the comparison between GCBC and most island timeshares. I don't think I've seen one yet that could compare to GCBC and your assessments are spot on from our experiences there, though we haven't been since the new pool was opened. We rather enjoyed the quiet and hidden intimacy of the old pool but I'm sure, judging by what I've seen, the new one is gorgeous and equally enjoyable.

We have stayed at both, GCBC long ago, small pool atop restaurant with limited shade my only negative.
Divi is as you said except full maid service is twice -on arrival day and one additional day- remaining days trash removal and towel replaement.

Bobcat,

GCBC has completely redone the pool - bigger and better and brand new. Regarding maid service, I don't consider the pre-arrival cleaning of the room in the same light as daily maid service at GCBC or at any timeshare since we expect a clean room arrival regardless of where we stay. At GCBC it is treated as a hotel and they actually clean the room each day along with the typical towel and trash part. I know you can have daily maid service at the Towers, and I'm guessing most places, but you have to be prepared to pay additionally for it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

When staying at Divi or most timeshares as a hotel guest daily maid service is included in the rate.

Good to know GCBC renovated the pool.

That's right but if staying as a timeshare guest you CAN opt for the same services as long as you are willing to pay additionally for them. I think we're sort of saying the same thing but differently?!

Yes, agree - we always pass on the additional service for a fee - seems a bit expensive to us.

Me, too, since we tend to be very neat guests. I think the Towers charges $25.00 or $30.00 a day depending on the number of bedrooms, although that may be old history, but We can easily make our own bed there just as we do at home. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

New pool very large more shade.

Also at GCBC you get 4 beach towels in your room, 2 atop bed and 2 in closet and we were told just leave on floor for maid and they will be replaced meanwhile you already have another 2 to use. We had used one set for 2 days and maid came out to lanai and asked for our towels to replace them. I told her we try to conserve.

At Divi you must go to window at dive shop to get towels and they don't always have clean ones available.

Good comparison.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I am not sure I get this comparison, two different price points. GCBC is about 50% more than Divi or most other TS type places, so if you were to add 50% to GCBC would you compare to La Samanna?

I like and have stayed at both, really like GCBC for a few extra nights and we have enjoyed staying at Divi for weeks.

As for friendly staff, of all the places we have stayed the most friendly staff would have to go to Sea Palace. Don't really want to stay there again but from front desk to maids they were the best. Best maids overall I would have to give to The Towers, and best front desk would probably have to go to Les Balcons many years ago but most have been pleasant. Best beach service at a resort was certainly GCBC, but we rarely stay at the resort for the day but if at GCBC we would more often.

My two bits. GO ZAGS!!!!!

RonDon--your post is confusing, as you quoted Todd and then replied all in one post, so you can't really figure out who said what. And what is BVS? Beachside Villas? I didn't think you had stayed there?

sorry I guess I wrote inside the quote I'll be more careful. Yes Beachside Villas.

This post strikes me as unnecessarily negative toward Divi. If someone had never stayed there, they would think it's an inferior resort, which it definitely is not. I do understand the attraction of La Plage, but I've been at Little Bay when it was as calm as La Plage.

Divi is not without its warts (what resort is?), but I can't wait to get back there in 65 days!

No problem, it was just confusing, the way it was written.

We agree 100%. We have stayed at The Divi since 1988 and love it. It is very enjoyable to see so many of the same employees every year. We rent a car for two or three weeks and visit the beaches and restaurants on the Island. We do visit their local pubs and restaurants. Cannot say enough about the Divi.

We've stayed at Divi every year since Divi bought Little Bay Beach & Racket Club. We either spend 2 or 3 weeks there or split it up with GCBC.

I think Divi IS the best of the time shares but, as jazzgal says it's not without its warts. It's just that, IMO, GCBC has no warts.