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New York Times article covering SXM #157170
03/20/2018 09:01 AM
03/20/2018 09:01 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline OP
Traveler
sxmmartini  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
St. Martin After Irma: The Beaches Are Dazzling but There’s Work to Do...
By Michelle Higgins March 19, 2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/travel/st-martin-after-hurricane-irma-.html

SXM Sponsors
Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157172
03/20/2018 09:20 AM
03/20/2018 09:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
No newspaper article is ever perfect, but I wonder why they ignored Simpson Bay? Most everything there is open. And the last I knew, there was basically nothing there at Casino Royale. They are supposed to reopen this summer??


Carol Hill
Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157263
03/21/2018 03:42 PM
03/21/2018 03:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 572
New Jersey
JoeC047 Offline
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JoeC047  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 572
New Jersey
Irma has brought Sint Maarten back to the 1960's. Although some may not like my statement, but I have been going there for many enjoyable years. I had been intoxicated by it's lure. I even endured Louis in the 90's. The island has a long process to bring it back to it's former greatness. Until then I will go elsewhere!

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: JoeC047] #157266
03/21/2018 04:03 PM
03/21/2018 04:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,346
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,346
Rhode Island
Originally Posted by JoeC047
Irma has brought Sint Maarten back to the 1960's. Although some may not like my statement, but I have been going there for many enjoyable years. I had been intoxicated by it's lure. I even endured Louis in the 90's. The island has a long process to bring it back to it's former greatness. Until then I will go elsewhere!


Joe, we just returned and the French side has more damage than on the Dutch side. Yet, the French side locations are repairing. Driving through Marigot one wouldn't know there had been a hurricane in the mid-town. Grand Case already has 4 or 5 restaurants re-opened. Grand Case Beach Club is readily repairing and plans to open in October.

Beaches are still pristine. Yes, Orient lost buildings but it's still beautiful. Hotels are opening every week. Belair just opened, Divi soon to follow. Some never closed. Vegetation is coming back.

The more tourist that return the faster the island will recover. If you love this island don't stay away.

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157288
03/21/2018 07:06 PM
03/21/2018 07:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
S
SammyM Offline
Traveler
SammyM  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
Amen, RonDon. Very well said. If we turn our back on SXM this year how can we ever expect this island and their people to recover? My wife and I were set to return back in late November and stay at Palm Court. Then came Irma. We had no choice and rebooked our trip to Mexico. The Playa del Carmen area was very nice and the people were outstanding, but it wasn't St. Martin. Nothing is in my opinion. No sooner when we returned did we begin to lay out our plans for 2018. We'll return this fall with the realization that some of our favorite places may not be open (or are gone completely), but this won't stop us. There were always so many things to do here that it seemed that we never had time to do everything we wanted! Yes, we will long for the butterfly farm, Kakao on Orient Beach, Ocean 82 in Grand Case, and so on. But, we'll fill these voids with new places and new adventures as only St. Martin can provide.

For everyone 'on the fence' about visiting this year here is my advice (for what it's worth): Buy a portable beach umbrella, a small cooler, book a rental car, and just do it! There are 37 beaches on this island to explore, and how many of us can say that we've been to all of them? I know I haven't, but this fall my wife and I have plans to visit several new ones! In closing, all I can say is that St. Martin has been there for us in the past when we needed to get away and experience total relaxation. It's time for all of us to be there for them.

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: SammyM] #157289
03/21/2018 08:05 PM
03/21/2018 08:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 769
Western MA
S
SandS Offline
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SandS  Offline
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S
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 769
Western MA
Very nicely said. Missed February but will be there in November.

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: SammyM] #157290
03/21/2018 08:19 PM
03/21/2018 08:19 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,258
Kennys Online content
Traveler
Kennys  Online Content
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,258
Thanks for your positive comments of reality.

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: Kennys] #157293
03/21/2018 08:36 PM
03/21/2018 08:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
We are trying to come in late May.

Housing secured.

It's the flights we cannot get figured out.

Due to this, we are seeking another alternative. Sad. Very sad.


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: RonDon] #157300
03/21/2018 09:10 PM
03/21/2018 09:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,613
originally Long Island, NY/now...
irish1223 Offline
Traveler
irish1223  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,613
originally Long Island, NY/now...
Originally Posted by RonDon
[quote= The more tourist that return the faster the island will recover. If you love this island don't stay away.


clapping clapping clapping

Agree -- which is why we're returning in June. We'll make our own fun in the sun on our favorite island.


Robin & Ed

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: RonDon] #157311
03/21/2018 10:22 PM
03/21/2018 10:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 225
Michigan
cathym Offline
Traveler
cathym  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 225
Michigan
Well said - we missed our November trip, but we will be there next month. Can’t wait to return to our island “home”. We understand it won’t be the same, but it’s still St. Maarten and no other island destination can compare for us.

Thanks...Cathy

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157312
03/21/2018 10:23 PM
03/21/2018 10:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
doctorj Offline
Traveler
doctorj  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 540
Maine USA
Love the article. We are on the Island from 5/18 until 5/30. Just added two days on the back end. Flights are a little limited but are in line as far as pricing. We love the Island and can’t wait to get back. It will be different but we can’t get enough of St. Martin
carib cheers,
doctorj


It's Five O'Clock Somewhere........
Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157359
03/22/2018 11:42 AM
03/22/2018 11:42 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
MamaB Offline
Traveler
MamaB  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
We just spent 3 weeks on the island. Our timeshare wasn't open so we opted to find other accommodations even though we still have to pay our maintenance at our place- so we kind of paid double- but we couldn't skip a year since we haven't missed in over 30 years.. We felt that every penny we spent was helping someone in some way to rebuild their lives. Sure it was different from other years- but it was still magical!! Please support this island in its time of need- don't desert her!!!

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: sxmmartini] #157377
03/22/2018 02:59 PM
03/22/2018 02:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA

Re: New York Times article covering SXM [Re: SXMScubaman] #157385
03/22/2018 03:28 PM
03/22/2018 03:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
The place they refer to as "The Palms" I think is Palm Beach. I actually do not remember seeing any pictures of it since Irma. Sad...


Carol Hill

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