New Press Release from SMTA

We have been asked to provide the following information here on the forum:


The SMTA is a St. Maarten association comprised of almost all of the St. Maarten timeshare developers. As an association of Timeshare Developers, we are familiar with the protections afforded timeshare owners under St. Maarten law. These legal protections may or may not apply to the Caravanserai situation. However, as an Association we want to assure consumers that protections have been built into the law for the vast majority of timeshare developments. While legal avenues may be available to timeshare owners of Caravanserai, legal proceedings are expensive and unpredictable.



To offer Caravanserai timeshare owners with an alternative to litigation, we have come together to offer valuable vacation rights at other resorts, on St. Maarten, to Caravanserai owners so that they can continue to enjoy the vacations that they purchased as well as maintain their exchange value.


We know that this does not cure the anxiety and angst that the situation at Caravanserai has caused our valued timeshare owners, but we do believe that as a destination we have to do something. For further information please visit www.caravanseraihelp.com

Also of interest, from their website is the following:

Ok, as I read this, other resorts are offering "owners" at the old Caravanseri a trade in amount of what they paid for buying in there. And will credit that amount on a purchase price to their resort? So if an "owner" paid $15K at Caravanseri they can get a credit for that against a resort that TS are now selling for $1 to $1500? So they are just giving away the week?

SXM??? Wendell

Based on what I was reading (the offers by the resorts) some appeared to be transfer of the Caravanserai week for a week at the new resort. Some of the listings are more detailed than others. Not sure exactly how it works, but I am sure that the details will be very clear upon request.

Some seem like it is a good option?

Here are the offers found on SMTA's website.

SBBR:
For a limited time only, Simpson Bay Resort and The Villas at Simpson Bay & Marina will offer those members from Caravanserai a week at maintenance fee. This offer will allow you to experience our resort and its facilities. To book a reservation with us, please contact Rose Blackwell at 1-888-852-8305 or e-mail rblackwell@simpsonbayresort.com Proof of ownership with Caravanserai and Certain restrictions may apply.

Belair Beach
Belair Beach Hotel will trade-in your former Caravanserai week for a week between 14-50 based upon availability in a 2 bedroom suite. We can transfer either your RCI Points or weeks account as we offer both. There is the standard transfer fee to pay. Contact us (see info below) and ask for Jennifer.

Sea Palace:
Sea Palace Resort, the crown jewel of Sint Maarten located on the oceanfront in the heart of Phillipsburg, will trade in your former Caravanserai Week for a week between intervals 16 and 45 in our studio units or our large one bedroom units, based on availability, first come first serve. There is a transfer fee of $499.00 payable to the management company. Contact Defender Resorts (see information below) and ask for Crystal.

Oyster Bay

We invite any Caravanserai owner to stay for a week at OBBR and pay only an amount equal to the maintenance fee charged to owners of OBBR. We would also offer a full market value exchange of your ownership interest in Caravanserai for the purchase of an interest in OBBR. More details are available through a personal representative at our resort. A link to our web site is provided. Call directly to Cindy Clarke at Oyster Bay Beach Resort at 888-784-6688 and identify yourself as a Caravanserai owner. This offer expires on June 30, 2015.

Royal Islander

Set on the soft, sugar-white sands of Maho Bay, the Royal Islander Club welcomes guests to Sint Maarten with two timeshare properties: La Plage and La Terrasse. These award-winning enclaves form "resorts within a resort". We do have limited availability, but will offer trade-ins for just a small transfer fee on off season weeks. These weeks do have high RCI Point values for use at other times of the year. Please contact Nina for more info on options.

La Vista:

Presenting an intimate and friendly atmosphere with unmatched personalized service, the dream of La Vista Resort was to create a small deluxe resort in a spectacular setting where the pleasure and comfort of our customers is our focus. La Vista will trade-in a Caravanserai week for a week between 18-34 with a $175 admin fee. Please contact Suzi for the details and also note that we do have limited availability.

Good way for the resorts to fill their open weeks and collect MF's they would not have otherwise. Good deal for both sides as long as the weeks work.

Sounds like a 'win-win' to me.. A chance for Caravanseri owners to maybe get into a much better situation, at LaVista or similar.. I have said for years that the only protection for timeshare owners is the integrity of the owners of the resort. Something to seriously look at these days!!

Nice to see. Hope folks can take advantage of this offer.

Looks to me it is a win for the resorts and just so so to an "owner". Most off weeks at TS resorts in SXM sell for very little, so not much gain or loss there for either parties. If you had an off season week with $500 MF and tradeded in another resort at low season you would have a transfer fee and most likely a higher MF, so good for a resort, not so good for an"owner". If you had a high season week, now you would have an off season week, transfer fees and most likely a higher MF. Good for the resort also not so good for the "owner. This is on the assumption the "owner" didn't want to pay a higher MF than what was at Caravnseri.

And some of these resort are just offering "a week" without a commitment by either party to use the next years like a hotel but you will probably have to pay in advance, not like a hotel.

"but you will probably have to pay in advance, not like a hotel."

You're sure?
Each time I book a hotel directly in the US or abroad, and I suspect it's the same for SXM, they place a hold on my CC and if I cancel too late, they charge the card.
If I use Priceline or Expedia, I'm charged the whole amount immediately, regardless when I'll be using the room.

I emailed La Plage/La Terrace for information with regards to this offer. Will post when I receive reply.

So did I. I will be happy to share the information received.

Please let everybody know what you find out.

Sounds like a couple of you are checking things out, so let us know what you find out. Also did you email the other resorts on the list?

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> This is better news in that perhaps several more timeshare resorts in Sint Maarten may come up to the plate and make more offers to Caravanserai Beach Resort timeshare owners. These resorts have a golden opportunity to retain more timeshare owners who have already invested in returning to SXM. Some negotiating may be necessary to get the best deal, which is kind of expected on this island!

No, at this time I am really only interested in Royal Islander. My parents have owned at Royal Islander since pre-construction in the 80's and have had almost 30 years of excellent service from this resort. In my opinion, it is one of the best run T/S resorts on the island. I have also stayed there for the past few years on a trade from our Caravanserai points and love the location.

I got an email back from Royal Islander. Only thing they are offering is at La Terrace not La Plague.

One bedroom unit at La Terrasse with low RCI points + closing cost + RCI enrollment fee and annual maintenance fee.

I really wanted La Plague; would have taken any week. Have not reached out to the other options. I also emailed the Lexwell Law firm to see how many people are trying to come together to try and fight for our Caravanserai options. This all still does not sit well with me.