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New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi #95372
04/21/2016 09:46 PM
04/21/2016 09:46 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4
CT
B
bryangle_ATT Offline OP
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bryangle_ATT  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4
CT
Hello all, my wife and I have planned a 7 day trip to SXM in May staying at Divi Little Bay. The more I read the more I'm concerned with our safety and getting things stolen from us. Hope some of you can shed some light on this issue. How secure are the hotel safes? I will be bringing my laptop but to only use out of sight in the hotel room. Can I leave items in the hotel room safe without fear of it getting broken into? We also plan on doing snorkeling. Do we need to be worried about our belongings being taken from the beach when we're in the water? Are some beaches safer to go than others? Is the Divi beach safe? My wife also likes to run outside in the morning. Is it safe to run anywhere in the Divi area? We're not late night partiers but will be going to evening dinners of course. Anything we should know in regards to safety.

I assume it's best to rent a car if we're staying there for 7 days. Do you recommend a GPS to get around as to not make any wrong turns that will take us into harms way?

We are planning on doing a private fishing charter and a day trip to Anguilla. Thanks for your help and insight!

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Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95373
04/21/2016 10:13 PM
04/21/2016 10:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38
Pennsylvania
J
jamaicamecrazy Offline
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jamaicamecrazy  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38
Pennsylvania
Quote
bryangle_ATT said:
Hello all, my wife and I have planned a 7 day trip to SXM in May staying at Divi Little Bay. The more I read the more I'm concerned with our safety and getting things stolen from us. Hope some of you can shed some light on this issue. How secure are the hotel safes? I will be bringing my laptop but to only use out of sight in the hotel room. Can I leave items in the hotel room safe without fear of it getting broken into? We also plan on doing snorkeling. Do we need to be worried about our belongings being taken from the beach when we're in the water? Are some beaches safer to go than others? Is the Divi beach safe? My wife also likes to run outside in the morning. Is it safe to run anywhere in the Divi area? We're not late night partiers but will be going to evening dinners of course. Anything we should know in regards to safety.

I assume it's best to rent a car if we're staying there for 7 days. Do you recommend a GPS to get around as to not make any wrong turns that will take us into harms way?

We are planning on doing a private fishing charter and a day trip to Anguilla. Thanks for your help and insight!


We stayed at the Belair Beach Hotel which is next door to Little Divi. My wife and I walked the beach from end to end very early every morning. We felt safe doing so. If you walk in the morning, stop and talk with the lady that has the "digging" dog. You can't miss them and she is very nice and helpful.

We rented a car and felt safe during our travels. We did VERY little driving after dark and we were careful to stay on the main roads. We had no safety issues. We did not rent a GPS because I didn't feel it was necessary and I didn't want to tempt someone to break into the car. We were fine without the GPS.

DEFINITELY go to Anguilla and visit Shoal Bay Beach. We absolutely loved Shoal Bay Beach and Elodias Beach Bar. Go early so you have a full day:)

I can't speak for Divi but we had no issues with theft at Belair. I took a tablet and my notebook computer. The tablet was locked in the safe when not used however my notebook would not fit in the safe so I hid it in the room and had no issues at Belair.
We snorkeled at Belair and had no issues with our belongings. When we snorkeled at other beaches, we used our KYSS bags to secure our stuff. We don't usually take much to the beach anyway.

Best advice is to use the same common sense you would use in the city at home.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95374
04/21/2016 10:22 PM
04/21/2016 10:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 787
Naples, FL & West Haven, CT
JeanneJOE Offline
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JeanneJOE  Offline
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Posts: 787
Naples, FL & West Haven, CT
We have stayed at The Divi for the past seven or eight years as has our son and daughter in law on separate occasions. We always rent a car and there definitely is no need for a GPS-you cannot get lost the island is a circle. Just be careful of your surroundings and you will have not problems. We don't walk along the beach but our daughter did on the times she was time and actually ran and had not problems. We have been going to the island since 1996 and have no issues driving around at night as long as you are careful. Stay in lighted areas and where there is people. As far as the safe in the room, it is small, you set the code according to the code you want. It will take wallets and an iPad along with phones but no laptop. We put it away in the luggage or in a drawer.Love the island and can't wait to go back. Once you get use to it hopefully you will enjoy it as much as all of us on this board. Go relax and have a great time.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95375
04/21/2016 10:26 PM
04/21/2016 10:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38
Pennsylvania
J
jamaicamecrazy Offline
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 38
Pennsylvania
We rented our car from Starlite which is based in the Belair Beach Hotel. We had a good experience with them. They would be very convenient for you since they are right next door.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95376
04/22/2016 12:47 AM
04/22/2016 12:47 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content
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jazzgal  Online Content
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Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
I've owned at Divi for about 8 years now and stay for three weeks. I have never had anything stolen from my room, and I have left a laptop on the desk when out of the room. I have had things stolen from the table on my deck - a travel alarm clock. So I wouldn't leave anything of value on your deck.

Running on Divi property is very safe. Security roams the property 24/7; your wife should have no problems in that regard.

GPS not necessary.


[Linked Image]
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95377
04/22/2016 02:12 AM
04/22/2016 02:12 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 261
CANADA
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LINNY Offline
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LINNY  Offline
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CANADA
We use the KYSS bag on the beach and have a computer lock cord to lock up the laptop in the condo. Better to be safe then sorry.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95378
04/22/2016 05:24 AM
04/22/2016 05:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
As others have stated, use common sense. If you rent a car, DO NOT leave anything of value in the car at any point unless you are in the car. Do not try to hide something in the trunk or under a seat and assume it will be safe.

Do not wear a lot of jewelry, especially neck chains as they are an easy target. Not trying to scare you in any fashion but the car break-ins and jewelry grabs are two of the more common problems but are not rampant.

Our first stay-over trip to the island was at Divi, that was 25 years and 42 trips ago.

Anguilla is a nice day trip.


J.D.
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: ruralcarrier] #95379
04/22/2016 01:11 PM
04/22/2016 01:11 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 685
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lcote Offline
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My husband and I travel to Divi and have done so for the last 10+ years. We are both in software development so travel with computers and tablets.
You must use common sense. We usually get a room on the ground floor and consequently, keep the blinds closed looking into the room when we are not there. We lock everything in the safe when we are not there and have had zero problems with thieves.
I feel very very safe at Divi even late at night. Divi beach is very very safe.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95380
04/22/2016 02:47 PM
04/22/2016 02:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,241
New Hampshire, USA
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WayneB Offline
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New Hampshire, USA
We have owned 2 weeks at Divi since 2004, and have never had anything taken from our room. We always bring a laptop, and leave it on the table in the room, from the time we arrive at the resort, until we leave 2 weeks later, and it has never been touched. Cleaning lady cleans around it, but does not touch it. Also, leave our Canon digital camera in the room, with no issues. You should have NO concerns about stuff in your room.... I use the safe for cash, passports, and jewelry.

Go, relax, and enjoy, but don't leave anything in your rental car, or that WILL disappear.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: WayneB] #95381
04/22/2016 02:51 PM
04/22/2016 02:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Honestly, I don't know anything about Divi in particular, but it doesn't matter where I stay, in the US, or SXM or anywhere, I generally try not to leave my expensive camera out of the safe if I am not there and if the laptop fits in the safe, that's where it goes. To ME, there's not a reason to take unnecessary chances.


Carol Hill
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: Carol_Hill] #95382
04/22/2016 03:44 PM
04/22/2016 03:44 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
Honestly, I don't know anything about Divi in particular, but it doesn't matter where I stay, in the US, or SXM or anywhere, I generally try not to leave my expensive camera out of the safe if I am not there and if the laptop fits in the safe, that's where it goes. To ME, there's not a reason to take unnecessary chances.


I have never even contemplated putting anything beyond passports, money and jewelry in our room safe. But we trust our maids and staff implicitly. We once dropped a fifty dollar bill under the bed w/o noticing. One of the maids found it while doing the midweek cleaning and left it on the nightstand in the master bedroom where I couldn't help but see it, and then asked me the next day if I had found it and told me where she had found it.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: pat] #95383
04/22/2016 03:50 PM
04/22/2016 03:50 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Honestly, especially at Beachside, I do trust the maids, etc., but it doesn't have to be a maid who develops sticky fingers, especially someplace where other people can walk right into the room. But, as I said, regardless of where I am, I really try not to leave things out if I am not there. Regardless of where I stay, I always leave a note by money that I leave out for the maid.


Carol Hill
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: Carol_Hill] #95384
04/22/2016 03:56 PM
04/22/2016 03:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 92
Toronto
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jupiter Offline
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Toronto
In short...Don't worry!
Just returned from 3 weeks at DIVI.
The resort has great security and the staff in not transient. The safes will hold a tablet but not a full sized laptop which I would keep in a drawer.
Your wife will like running the property unless she is "hard core". I do not recommend running the roads near the property as they are narrow and quite busy. The gym has several newish treadmills and is air conditioned, a must in May. Get a car...GPS not needed but plan to get lost a few times....part of the fun. I like the 2nd floor rooms with balcony...no worries re theft of alarm clock! (Sorry Jazz Gal...couldn't resist).
I do not have any concerns re theft of belongings from the beach

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: bryangle_ATT] #95385
04/23/2016 07:35 AM
04/23/2016 07:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460
île staten
Bobcat Offline
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Bobcat  Offline
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Divi Little Bay is a very secured resort due to among other things its location, water on three sides and a hill leading to the main gate, on site security. You should feel comfortable on this property.
=======================
Short Divi promotional video


[Linked Image]
Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: Bobcat] #95386
04/23/2016 08:40 AM
04/23/2016 08:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 103
S
Susieville Offline
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Susieville  Offline
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Been going to Divi for over 14 years. Nothing ever stolen. Use the same caution you would use on any vacation or going to the beach.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: Susieville] #95387
04/23/2016 09:36 AM
04/23/2016 09:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
We've stayed at Divi before Divi bought the complex and since there (1983) we've never had concern. We bring a laptop which fits in the safe. We put money, laptop, car keys from home, passports in safe. I don't bring expensive jewelry since I won't wear it out at night (not just in SXM but everywhere we travel) . Used to also place TC's in safe until we needed them but since lots of places on SXM no longer take TC's we don't bring anymore.

I know someone posted here that things were stolen from them at Divi but I suspect there's more to that story. The help there is trustworthy. Wayne said he leaves laptop out in sight and has never been touched. While I always lock it up when we leave the unit, I've left it on the desk while we were on the lanai and the maid came in to clean and never touched it. I don't think she even knew we we outside.

The only concern we have on SXM is traveling by car in the dark because of motorcycles cutting in & out. We leave nothing of value in the rental car.

Re: New travelers feeling concerned staying at Divi [Re: Carol_Hill] #95388
04/24/2016 04:03 PM
04/24/2016 04:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,359
a little right of center
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2fingers Offline
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2fingers  Offline
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a little right of center
Divi is very safe. We have stayed there since 1996.


"It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

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