We are more recent "discoverers" of the lovely island of St. Maarten. And while it does have some challenges, we consider it part of the price to pay for the wonderful time we have on this island (on our second trip we waited 3 hours for our luggage.... way before the recent additions - I felt the worst for the poor Airbnb guy who was waiting for us all that time at our unit).

While I'm sure all of Tom's observations are valid, I believe it is more a result of the passage of time than anything else. You really can't expect anywhere to remain the same after 30 years. We love a place in Florida, Anna Maria Island, which we discovered when my 30 year old daughter was 4. It was a wonderful, quiet, undiscovered spot which we dearly loved. On our last trip it took us more than an hour to cross over to the island and waits for our favorite restaurants were more than 2 hours in the middle of the week in May... and the costs for the week have skyrocketed. We have had to decide whether we want to continue going there or choose other options.... just as you have had to chose. But, there are many other people who had recently discovered it who think it is just wonderful.... as do I, just different.

For us, we have found SXM much less expensive and easier to get to, with MUCH better food options than other Caribbean islands we have visited multiple times in the past like St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Lucia. The comments about how great it used to be doesn't change my opinion at all about future trips, as I have researched and experienced it first hand... the good and the not so good - and we don't expect perfection. We frequent the places we enjoy and avoid the others if we wish.... we enjoy the discovery!

Laura