TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin BAD NEWS--Labamba has reopened

Just got here and I see La Bamba has reopened!!! That is a big disappointment.

If you want to trade places, that can be arranged.

kccouple. Bad news for you but good news for many others. I'll trade too.

We were just there and it is really different. I think they were told to cool it as goes wild loud evenings. No live music anytime we were around which was often.

BAD NEWS is a death or someone has cancer - the fact that a very popular bar is actually open is "BAD NEWS", well that's just selfish as they to would like to make a living. Your a visitor. If the local people haven't complained about the noise or the resort - well stay elsewhere or if it bothers you so don't go. Really tired of this attitude among guests of the island <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

It was reported here that they had reopened. Have they in fact had loud music since you have been there?

I agree. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I have to agree with Kim. La Bamba is a great bar, Caribbean style, with your toes in the sand, reasonably priced drinks, and friendly crew running the place. Travel with earplugs, or stay away from Simpson Bay, if ti is too loud!

They reopened a couple of weeks ago when we were there. Every night had taped music which was not in anyway loud...I did see a sign for live music on Tuesdays (Latin night) but we left before that happened

i agree with kim also even if the reponse was a bit harsh sounding. I immediately thought a death also

I changed the title of the post. But let's lighten up some, folks..

No I'm not going to lighten up, here is a hardworking guy, owns his business and has a long lease to the land, been there forever, whatever the issues are he has reopened. Always a fun island type place to go - which are slowly vanishing on the island. And people act like he should stay closed. Sorry - I'm done.

nobody is saying you are wrong kim, just the tone was a bit harsh. i think we actually all agree and he probably didnt mean it the way it came out.

It was the accusation of corruption that got under my skin a bit. No call for that. This is supposed to be a friendly forum.

Sorry but I did mean to be harsh! When someone implies that a business owner who runs a nice business with his son "paid someone off" much more than harshness is deserved. Now I'm done!

Then there are those of us who remember Simpson Bay with no restaurants or bars just little shacks and no traffic jams. Almost all of the island has changed. Some for the good of the locals.

And kim probably remembers that.

What is often bad news for some is sometimes good news for others.

I've made over 60 trips since 1983 - remember well. Just hate to see business's bashed when there is no proof. Don't know if you remember there was a water sports place on KimSha, run by the Dad of the Son that owns/runs Labamba. Dads business dates back to the 80's.

And there was a little beach bar shack where Heidi worked.
There was an outdoor shower. Right by Indiana's.
This is before BBB of course.
All that was just land.
We used to cut across the lot.
There was a volleyball net and bleachers.
Can't remember the name of the bar.
Had a Michael Strahan Giants poster in it.
Old days.
i

This is true, Kim. But what is also true, is that the music from La Bamba now goes on until 2-3:00 am, and disturbs the sleep of residents and tourists who live/stay in the area.
The government was supposedly going to enforce noise violations, but that doesn't seem to be happening.
Fortunately for me, I live in Cupecoy, and am not disturbed by this; however, I have a girlfriend who lives at SBYC and has to close her hurricane shutters, and sleep with earphones in order to mute the noise. Another friend at Simpson Bay Villas has been complaining, as well.

I do know that was a definite issue before and I sympathize with those who had noise complaints late at night. I personally can't imagine dealing with that, especially for those who live on island. Again, can anyone state that there is loud noise late at night now? If not, the OP's complaint is perhaps unjustified..

I think here is the answer to the question. No loud noise. Yes, that issue should be handled and handled properly. But as I have stated over and over to insinuate a bribe is just wrong.

When we had an apt at SBYC the old Lagoonies would blow us out of bed.
I guess the tourists partying there didn't care.
And your sainted Neil of the charter in the lagoon used to sail right next to us playing music really loud. All tourist again. We called it the "drunky boat."
I emailed him and he never responded. I merely asked that he go further out in the lagoon and not by our docks.
So?
You go to a beach island, you party all night and drink and hear loud music and it's ok?
But you don't want to hear it at your hotel? And infer people are on the take?
Weird.
I'm with Kimm on this.
irina

Sorry Kim but having to listen to the boom, boom, boom every night is not fun. They have gotten loud again & they are playing to around 2:00am or so. I am a night person & I had a disco but it was indoors & I soundproofed the club so as not to disturb the neighbors. I am all for having fun but in this area because of the half circle shape everything becomes very loud. Not to mention that Buccaneer has gotten really loud & both places leave ashes all over my balcony from their fires which I am constantly cleaning up. Believe me they are not good neighbors popular or not. Once can make a living & still be a good neighbor.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

As I have stated over and over. The noise should be dealt with. But since the OP's original comment about paying off or bribery has mysteriously disappeared and I look like a total nut non of what I was attempting to get across even makes sense.

Sharon--anyone you can complain to, that it would do any good?

And Kim--anyone can see that I edited their post. Would you prefer I left that part of the post there?

I kept looking for a bribe accusation and couldn't find one. Now I understand why. Was wondering what I missed.

I am against depriving someone of making a legal living, but there needs to be consideration to the residents and other businesses in the area. And no one should be forced to listen to the boom boom boom until 3am. JMHO

I wondered what I was missing. I read the thread about 4 times before I realized something must have been edited.

Not that it will make you feel any better Irina but it happens everywhere. We used to live on Harbour Island and tour boats would come very close with loud speaker and music. Got to the point I preferred the loud music to the speil "This is Harbour island 26 permanent residence...fishing 7 lobstering are the main source of income....etc.

Kim, I got it and you are correct on every point in my opinion. People like to convict in a public forum based on opinions, great that the place can still operate, and they need to do something about how loud the place is and how late they can be loud.

We stayed at the Atrium in November with our bedroom window looking out over La Bamba and were there the final night when it was to close in November. It was fun to stop by and we enjoyed it. We did have a night where the music was loud when we went to sleep and that was not really an issue to us but when we awoke at about 6am and the music was still loud that did not thrill us. All in all we had very little issue with the place while there but.......too loud too late in my opinion.

Cheers,
Todd

Have been coming to St Maarten for 23 years. I am a drummer that has played with most of the big country music stars in Nashville and a lot of local bands around Tennessee. Still play for a rock and roll band that has been together for over 50 years. When we come down I always set in with Bob and the guys at Labamba because I love the rush of playing on the beach.
Every city I have played in and every venue I have played has been loud.
Even in Nashville when you come to lower Broadway the music spills over into the streets. They have built condos in downtown that people have started to talk about the loud music that has been there for over 50 years.
The locals and the tourist enjoy this.
Don't think everyone thinks about just being loud but just enjoying the moment.
I along with other people enjoy getting together just to live the moment.
I think that is why we go on vacation is to just enjoy.
I can handle the music being loud.

Loud music is nothing new in that general area. I can remember when people at the Pelican would complain about the noise/music coming from the News. And that was before the villas building was constructed, so it traveled quite a distance.

Sorry. Where is Labamba? Is it the little "shack" on the beach between The Royal Palm and BBB? TY

You are correct.

how is it I've always missed the music there? That area always seems quiet after 10 or 11 when I'm around.. rats

Tuesday night the music lasted till 3AM. If you don't stay downwind you have no idea what we are talking about. The buildings vibrate from the bass. This is not an exaggeration.

Tuesday past, the latin music lasted until 3AM. Loud music is fine early in the evening, at 3AM when your bedroom seriously vibrates its ridiculous. Anyone who sees no problem with music so loud you can not block it out at 3AM is most likely deaf. If you like it that late I hope they can preform near your condo before you leave.

Sharon had previously posted in this thread that the music has resumed late at night. I do sympathize with you, as to me, there is no excuse for music until 3 AM..