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Just got back
#149958
12/14/2017 12:24 PM
12/14/2017 12:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
storolaf
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
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Well, I can give you my advice about traveling to SXM, but you probably would be better off reading. Ours was not a vacation, there to survey birds and our property damage...being said some things are open, in our gated community, we generally felt safe, the limiting step will be airplane flights and the airport cannot handle much more...but Tuesday at 2pm there were 21 people on the entire Orient Beach to give you the flavor. Olaf https://olafsbigyear.blogspot.com/2017/12/la-vie-pas-facile.html
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Re: Just got back
[Re: storolaf]
#149959
12/14/2017 01:03 PM
12/14/2017 01:03 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657
Brookfield, CT.
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Olaf,
So sorry for your losses, both tangible and emotional but thank you for your (brutally) honest portrayal of your island experience post-Irma. It is truly appreciated and has served to somewhat assure me we made the right decision in cancelling our November trip and perhaps our March trip as well.
We've loved this island for well over half our lives but I will admit, in honesty, this storm has made us realize as much as we have rued NOT making an island home part of our lives years ago, in reality it was probably the wisest of moves for us.
I hope you are able to get beyond the destruction and remember the many joys the island has afforded you over all your island years. <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; 12/14/2017 01:28 PM.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Just got back
[Re: JoeC047]
#149965
12/14/2017 05:32 PM
12/14/2017 05:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
storolaf
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
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I posted this on my blog but....
...and I have respect for that...BUT...they need people there as there is NO commerce basically there now, or dang little. the rate limiting step is going to be airlines, they cannot handle more than one big plane in at a time, no room, maybe they could get it up to two large bodies, but I hear when KLM comes in twice a week, those days are disasters. Thinking St Baths traffic will dominate the seats for a while...look at Xmas rates to island.. If you are there, it isn't that bad, they have food, wine, etc. More concentrated as stores destroyed, but no shortages. Restaurants are opening slowly BUT who is going to go there?...Some tourists need to get real..as if you are looking for a social, clubbing, debauchery laden vacation, you are in for a disappointment. I also think there is something burning beneath the social fabric of the population and I am only feeling a hint of that. The insurance caps, the government abandonment, the general inertia via Euro rules and regulations, the bad government locally for decades, the well-meaning but demeaning tourists...but at some point, the population will erupt and I do NOT want to be there then as the frustrations will boil over and the tourists will be targeted and hurt.
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Re: Just got back
[Re: storolaf]
#149966
12/14/2017 06:04 PM
12/14/2017 06:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,657
Brookfield, CT.
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Sad to read this last post, Olaf, but I understand and I get it. Many who have spoken about wanting to return will say in one sentence they’re prepared for the worst and expect little or nothing’s done, and often in the next sentence they want to know if their favorite boat trip, dining experience or other activity is available yet. Perhaps they’re prepared and the questions are just meant as idle curiosity, or perhaps as well wishes for their Island friends and business concerns. Or not?! So my question is often, are they really ready for the Island as it is right now?
I fully accept that it gets better every day but I remember what it was six months after Luis and personally speaking, I just couldn’t enjoy that again.
And your comments regarding the airport and high season volume has been one of my concerns since it reopened in its present state. And really, your first and last impressions are all too often the ones you never forget, so a bad experience at the airport on either end will not do the Island a lot of long-term good.
As so many others are doing, We’re supporting several charity organizations on the island as best we can, as well as the food voucher program (when it was up and running) but we still to wait until next Fall before we return and spend our tourist dollars.
I sincerely hope things work out for you and some of your losses can be recouped down the road. Good luck. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Just got back
[Re: storolaf]
#149969
12/14/2017 08:39 PM
12/14/2017 08:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
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storolaf said:. I also think there is something burning beneath the social fabric of the population and I am only feeling a hint of that. The insurance caps, the government abandonment, the general inertia via Euro rules and regulations, the bad government locally for decades, the well-meaning but demeaning tourists...but at some point, the population will erupt and I do NOT want to be there then as the frustrations will boil over and the tourists will be targeted and hurt. That is the most succinct expression of what I have been feeling. There is (was?) a social economics professor who used to post here. He would interview SXM rappers, locals, etc. and then post regarding the very fragile thread you mention.....and that was BEFORE Irma! I cannot imagine what is happening now.
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Just got back
[Re: storolaf]
#149971
12/15/2017 03:54 PM
12/15/2017 03:54 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 360
rastaman
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 360
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I too just returned from one month in Orient Bay. I disagree about your comment about commerce. While there is precious little on the beach, people are reopening. To give you a few examples in our neighborhood, Cafe Plantation, Rancho Del Sol, Little Italy, Le Petite Bistro, Cote Plages, Al Dente, Villa Rouge, Level 1, etc are open. Bacchus, Gymfit, Hope Market, Samavier, Fanelite L'Express, Love shop and many many others are open for business. Grapewine will open next week. We need toruism. No, it is not the Orient of old. But it is slowly coming back, and it will be better than before.
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Re: Just got back
[Re: rastaman]
#149972
12/15/2017 05:40 PM
12/15/2017 05:40 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588
St Maarten
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Totally agree Rastaman. It's coming back, if slowly. Lots of enterprising folks around. Perch Lite and Alamanda Kitchen to be added to your list
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Just got back
[Re: rastaman]
#149978
12/16/2017 06:25 AM
12/16/2017 06:25 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588
St Maarten
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Absolutely. Shopping for anything is a nightmare. If you can find parking you will wait in long lines. We have driven by GM several times and not gone in due to no parking, after dealing with "high season" traffic to get there. As the OP posted mainly about French side, he is right that it is much quieter and slower to recover (surprisingly to me). But it's coming along. Both governments need to get their act together to move forward. You can't expect folks to wait 3 months for you to decide what the building code will be!!!!!!
I do agree however with the OP's concern about civil unrest in the future. If the governments can't get their act together and provide retraining and support for all these poor folks who are or will be idle, I shudder to think what may happen. Having been thru the days of looting, I know that will been doomsday for this island.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Just got back
[Re: BillandElaine]
#149979
12/16/2017 08:30 AM
12/16/2017 08:30 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588
St Maarten
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And to be clear, I'm not trying to belittle Olaf's experience. Just that mine is different. It surely must have been horrible for him to come back to a very different St Martin.
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Just got back
[Re: BillandElaine]
#149980
12/16/2017 09:41 AM
12/16/2017 09:41 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103
Central Florida!
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For whatever reason, the experience on the French side is very different, I think. Comparing Simpson Bay pre and post Irma, versus Orient Bay, seems to be a microcosm..
Carol Hill
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Re: Just got back
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#149981
12/16/2017 09:50 AM
12/16/2017 09:50 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,588
St Maarten
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True surely. But the area surrounding Orient is coming along. Lots of shops in Hope Estate open, ones I never even knew were there. A few restaurants too!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Just got back
[Re: BillandElaine]
#149982
12/16/2017 09:53 AM
12/16/2017 09:53 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103
Central Florida!
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Hope Estate certainly is a booming area within St. Martin, for whatever reason. I guess to some extent, because there is parking for the businesses there?
Carol Hill
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Re: Just got back
[Re: Kennys]
#149984
12/16/2017 10:07 AM
12/16/2017 10:07 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103
Central Florida!
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Lesley - Everyone's opinion has to be respected, but I do understand how you feel.
Carol Hill
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Re: Just got back
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#149987
12/16/2017 12:32 PM
12/16/2017 12:32 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
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Re: Just got back
[Re: blackmercedes]
#149988
12/16/2017 12:54 PM
12/16/2017 12:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,103
Central Florida!
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Hi. Would appreciate your report in a separate thread, where you ate, what you did, your travel experience, etc. Thanks!
Carol Hill
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Re: Just got back
[Re: deputydog1157]
#149993
12/16/2017 07:00 PM
12/16/2017 07:00 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
Kennys
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,345
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Re: Just got back
[Re: sxmmartini]
#151412
01/05/2018 07:47 PM
01/05/2018 07:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
PelicanPirate
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
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It would be quite interesting to know what is being deliberated. As ive mentioned before, when we inquired in the last few years on a unit, the individual owners were required to pay for insurance and did not appear to be an individual choice to do so and to decide what level to insure at.
Assuming the entity that was to handle the procurement of insurance did things well and the insurance company fulfills their side, it would seem to me a decent percentage of money should be forthcoming to rebuild structures that existed.
Obviously, the controlling deciders would have to decide what they are allowed to rebuild and if the moneies are sufficient enough to so.
Codes are neat and all especially for structural soundness and electricity. As for Hurricanes, it would be hard to make Club O Hurricane proof and maybe prohibitively expensive. No one lost their lives at Club O and few on the island as a whole.
Hurricanes are frequent but big ones are not an annual thing, Normally. Therefore, I have no problem with Club O rebuilding exactly as was if the math works out that way and the owners/customers pay the insurance freight via room rates. Folks can always evacuate when storms come as they always have.
Having just surveyed other Caribbean CO resorts, Club O was a bargain compared to HBR, CSS, and other places, some of which want 700/night.
I think as soon as they get some rule clarifications, water/power solutions, and the insurance money, they can get that place largely rebuilt and in operation within a year.
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Re: Just got back
[Re: PelicanPirate]
#151417
01/05/2018 09:08 PM
01/05/2018 09:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 232
DarkDiggler
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 232
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Having just surveyed other Caribbean CO resorts, Club O was a bargain compared to HBR, CSS, and other places, some of which want 700/night.
Kind of an apples and oranges comparison. The two resorts you mentioned are all inclusive with drinks and food. They have multiple beaches, restaurants, watersports, etc. included. Club O was unique in what it was and we are struggling to decide when we shall return.
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