I wonder how much of the missing cash from the new tourism director went to pay for this ad?

Not surprised at all. I've always felt safe and comfortable on St. Maarten. I know the groups get a lot of discussion about crime and I'm not ignorant of the fact that it happens, I'm just not influenced by all the posts of doom and gloom that so often are portrayed. I truly enjoy St Marrten, warts and all.

The biggest BS is that St. Martin/St. Maarten is supposed to be safer than St. Barts. Bull...

I don't think they are classified in rank of the safest ! In fact when you read about each island, it says that St-Bart is probably one of the safest island in the Caribbean !!
I too never felt unsafe in SXM ! And we have been around for over 15 years and more than 20 trips !

Could be. That was the way I read it but perhaps not the way they meant it. Regardless, as someone else said, probably just an ad anyway. Interesting that they quote Trip Advisor, which basically deletes any notes talking about crime in SXM.. (..or pretty much anywhere else....)

Not at all surprised. Stay on the French side - Frommer's advice

JulieandKarl and all,

With all due respect, Frommers was written at least forty years ago and is occasionally updated. I know we purchased it for one of our earliest trips and that was at least forty-three years ago. Five years after Mullet Bay Resort was destroyed they were still recommending restaurants there. For them to suggest one stays on one side or the other should have more to do with one's enjoyment level and the amenities and life styles of the visitor, and really not much of anything to do with crime, IMHO.

Crime, such as it is on St. Maarten/St. Martin, is on both sides of the island and sadly, neither side is immune from it.

If they're suggesting someone would be safer on one side over the other - A. - the chances are the vast majority of visitors coming to the island will be safe on EITHER side, and - B. - saying something like that might lead to a false sense of security for an island newbie. The truth is, 'stuff' happens across the island with neither side being more or less immune from it.

Just one person's opinion but we've been visiting for over forty years at least once and usually twice a year over most of those years. We've yet to be a true victim on either side though we did have our car vandalized once at the beach at Mullet Bay - on the Dutch side. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Hi Pat - if Frommer's is recommending french-side - doubt that it is because of perceptions of crime. My favorite sentence in the current online Frommer's is: "Commander John Philips, a Scot in Dutch employ, founded the capital in 1763." Philips died December 16, 1746. He also did not found Philipsburg; Commander Meyer did.

More importantly, how many long closed restaurants are they recommending! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Snorkeller and Carol,

Exactly!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The way stories spread on the internet, any crime gets entirely too much coverage. I am not saying that it should be trivialized, but neither should it make you afraid to open the door to your hotel, timeshare or rental property. What it should do is make you aware of your surroundings, just like you should be in any City or Town.

We have been going to SXM since 1993. We have never had a bad experience. Doesn't mean it's not there. I also traveled to Manhattan, where I worked, for 43 years. Never had a bad experience there either, and we all know what can happen there.

Eyes wide open. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. And for first time travelers anywhere, find out neighborhoods and areas that you should stay away from.