Please be kind, this wasn't easy to do, but for the first time in over 30 years, we have cancelled a trip to Anguilla and SXM. Just too much uncertainty. We shouldn't be where we are right now with Covid-19, but we are. Hopefully, we can still make our April trip! BTW, American Airlines was very easy to deal with, and the places where we were going to stay were very understanding. So on to April!

beachlover--no reason for anyone NOT to be kind. It has been very difficult for all of us that have had to cancel trips. Everyone has to do what they feel is right at the moment. And what is right for one person isn't right for someone else. Hopefully by April things will look a little better.

What Carol said! We each have to do what's right for us.

We're still going next month, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit apprehensive. I'm not afraid of the virus, as I believe that I can protect myself, but the process of getting there is going to be quite stressful.

To the OP - no need to worry as so many of us are in the same situation right now. To go or NOT to go - that is the question, and in too many cases it has nothing - or at least not much - to do with Covid19. . Like you, we haven't missed a trip for almost fifty years - but sometimes health issues, among other things, creep up on you and you have to make the hard call. We're there right now and sweating bullets the doctor says its a go. But still concerned he might not.

Georgia, slight flare-up of some old health issues have us wondering now IF this trip will actually happen. Hoping yes but still not 100 percent certain. Just keeping our fingers crossed.

We have reservations for Dec 23- Jan 5th. We usually split our time in SXM and St Barths , We cancelled our St Barths portion and are now hoping to spend our entire time in SXM. (If we went to St Barths we would have to get tested 3 times on the way to SXM, to get to SBH and leaving SBH back to SXM ) We are hoping to be able to get tested in Houston as you have to have symptoms in order to get a test . Now with the lockdown in France, I am not sure how long St Martin will remain open. As things are always changing.

You did the right thing although it was no doubt physically painful for you to do it. Too many uncertainties right now.

Cancelling your trip at this time is the smart thing to do. Too many uncertainties to be able to enjoy your vacation stress free. Hopefully by later next year, things will have improved to make everything more enjoyable.

As we speak, we were supposed to be making our way to fort Lauderdale from the west coast of Fla. for a Jet Blue flight tomorrow. We cancelled a few days ago for all the above stressful reasons. Hopefully our trip in the middle of Jan. will happen. We miss our friends and our condo there, but it just wasn't in the cards for now.

Dear sxmbeachlover, My wife and I did almost the same as what you have done. We were scheduled to head to SXM for 3 weeks last April and had to cancel since the island closed. Then we were supposed to be on the island for 3 weeks beginning 1 week ago. That didn't happen either due to our reluctance to fly. We now are scheduled to return once again for 3 weeks starting next April. It's been a year of vacations that we have missed due to the virus, but at least we will be able to return once again. That might not have been true had we tried to visit and might have been exposed to the virus in flight or while on the island. We feel safer being in our own home town if we would happen to have to be hospitalized due to the virus instead of on an island miles away. At our age, we just can't chance that! We too hope we can make the next April trip. Our realtor is a real sweetheart and has made all the changes with no questions asked. The place we rented sat empty and she lost money, but we have been clients for over 20 years and she appreciates our business. And, as you said, AA has been great. So, maybe we can meet each other sometime next April when we are visiting our favorite vacation spot. Thanks for posting and helping us see that we aren't the only ones who are suffering through all of this.

I am in total agreement with all the other posts before mine. Although we have our reservations in place for March in our ''second home'', we are still not convinced that we will be going. After almost being stranded on the island last March, and seeing first hand the shutdowns, it surely is something i want to go through again. If things improve both here and there, we will be going with bells on. If, there is no better certainty by then, we will be forced to make the tough decision also. I am not sure if anyone else here saw on facebook i believe, the picture taken at the ''hole in the wall'' earlier in the week. I was appalled to see a pretty busy place, with all the patrons jammed in, and not a mask worn among them. If this kind of stuff continues, and that the virus remains rampant, the decision will be an easy one. Hoping for the best, but honestly am fearing for the worst. Everyone....STAY SAFE!!

We will also be there next month ( fingers crossed ) next month Nov 28 to Dec 12 . Hope to see you on the beach . Jeff

Be positive .

Hey there kenny ,
You are our car rental man . our group of 5 couples will be renting from you ( fingers crossed ) on this trip . Keep a look out for Lisa Mc . She will be the one in charge of all our car rental info . Jeff

Thanks Jeff and looking forward to seeing you good Folks ; and have a brief drink lol cheers. Kind regards.

We cancelled our trip this year as we were booked to arrive oct 31 for 2 weeks. My wife was more concerned than I and said she would not do what she usually does. The conditions placed by the island government helped me make the choice to cancel. I am pleased with United which gave us a full credit good for 2 years and SBR allowed our deposit to be applied to our next trip next October at the same deal as this year. While I am disappointed we cancelled it was the best for us and looking forward to 2021.

Headed to St Maarten on Wednesday. Going to be really cautious, then really be thankful to be there. Cannot wait.

I understand everyones apprehension as to going but if all cancelled their trips ; the Island economy will collapse and may never recover.

We will not allow this VIRUS to ruin our lives and I truly believe we will be safe in St Maarten this winter season.

Get people that choose not to, but on that same note I hope people start going. We are going and will be there in 21 days for a couple weeks unless we get turned away. Also will be back in April and same thought, going unless they stop us. The testing process and that not being easy is the biggest issue we see as a reason not to go, there is a lot of money committed to have that chance we are not able to. They need to make that easier. The point that they had regarding comparing to places like Mexico who have been allowing people with out any spike is real influence to our decisions and rather than hassle with Hawaii or other locations we this year will have been to Mexico four times and plans for more next year, our usual is about once every two or three years.

Cheers!

I'm booked for a couple weeks in March. Currently going on my own. Hope to glean some good memories of the 20+ years great vacations before my wife passed. I was booked last year, but my flights got cancelled about a week before departure. I'm hoping for better luck this year.

I've also seen several photos at THTW that bothered me. One that REALLY bothered me recently was taken at Vesna's with 20-30 people on the staircase, all close together, none wearing masks. I know one island resident in that photo who says she wears a mask unless she's with people she "trusts." Blows my mind, as that is likely a group I would be dining with if I were on island.

We also missed our 3 weeks in April/May of this year.
Atrium closed and finally reopened.
We are still scheduled to go on 11-16 for 3weeks if everything is still a go 🙏.

The pictures of crowded establishments just cements in my mind that YOU have to be proactive in protecting YOURSELF.....do not frequent the places with potential crowded situations. SXM is mandating rules for incoming visitors but it seems, after that, it's an open playing field.

The Island economy should not be the worry of the visitor but the worry of the Islanders. If a destination is perceived to be a safe and enjoyable place to visit the economy will take care of itself with increased tourism...not just fluff rules to get in....

I will be going in January. I will rent a car, go to the market for supplies, go to the pool and beaches. I will not dine or recreate indoors since I presently do not do that where I live. I will enjoy my time there knowing what is in store.

We also had our April trip cancelled and have cancelled this November.
We would have been arriving on Election Day, a great time to be away!

Besides all the red tape about getting there, my biggest worry is getting sick there.
We will feel much more comfortable near our hospitals, if that should happen. We are seniors with medical issues.

We have friends that say they are covid free and safe----no one, IMO, can say that once they leave their homes.
I'm not saying you shouldn't--we do--but it's just reality.
We are not living in fear, just being sensible.
We take all the precautions and hope for the best.

Our next scheduled time is April!!!

We’re still booked for December, but I’m not letting myself get too excited. I think I won’t really feel like it’s going to happen until we land at SXM. There are just too many unknowns completely out of our control that could legitimately prevent the trip from happening. It seems like there’s some other new potential roadblock every week. We’ve booked everything with a flexible cancellation policy up until right before we leave and also have travel insurance just in case. I also qualify most of my statements about the trip with “if we go.” Again, I’ll probably do that until we’re on the island.

Was going next May but had to move it up to April as we just found out that both our daughters are expecting babies next May (not sure why they can't plan around our trips ). Also have another trip planned for August. Hoping we make both.

The nerve of those daughters!

Sorry about the trip changes but serious congrats on your ‘Grand’ Status. And not once, but twice? WOW!! Way to go! 😊😊

Thanks Pat. This will be grandbabies number 7 and 8 (I'm getting good at this). Both daughters live in the same town so it will be fun for them to go through this together. We know one will be a boy and are waiting to find out about the other. Just hoping for happy and healthy new additions.

YW - and that last is all that matters.

Our daughters and their families live a mile and a half away from us and next door to each other. We were so blessed to have such close access to both families and to be literally ‘around the corner’ from all our Grands. But they grow up; and go away to college; and then - the really hard part - some of them get married and move far away and you’re forced to love them mostly from afar. 😊😊

Perfectly stated.

I guess I mispoke. This is actually our THIRD time in thirty years that we have cancelled trips to St. Martin, St. Barts, and Anguilla. The first was after Irma, then last April, and now upcoming trip in January. Used to spend my time planning and booking trips, now spend my time cancelling trips. THIS TOO SHALL END!!!

A very personal decision, no right answer. While we cancelled our trip those that are going should be careful but I think they will still have a great time. This virus appears to be much less lethal than the early version. The Hopkins data show while cases are surging to record highs in Europe (even greater than the US) the death rate is way down.

We're scheduled to be there mid-January. Planning on it for now, hopefully things are getting better by then, not worse..........