TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Finally

Haven’t been back, since nasty Irma knocked us out of our last planned trip. Had been there 14 years in a row. Made a line of scrimmage call today and coming back in mid August. Staying at Port Cupecoy. Haven’t been on TT for years. Just truly, not sure what to expect, but we sure have missed the island. What will be the biggest change we will see or will we see anything much different.

Prices will be much higher for about everything.

That’s a common theme. Sad, but reality!

The airport arrival experience is much different. Now it's usually much better than it was. Make sure you fill out the airport arrival form online. The form is kind of screwed up, but if you have problems with it, do a search here or post a question.

In general, there is more traffic and a few new HUGE buildings in Cupecoy, but the soul of the island is still there and draws me back.

Negatives aside, You'll love all the new restaurants in the totally new built Maho plaza!!! Ours is Mr. Chow/Roma!!! Couple of new paces to eat on Mullett and yes Rosies is still there with there great beach food and drinks!! Driftwood packed up there operation and brought it back untouched by Irma. Still the best beach bar food and the best rum punch on the island IMHO!!! The Newly built Morgan hotel, has a beautiful restaurant"Salt" with live entertainment . SSBB still a tourist trap!! All the restaurants on Airport road are back better than ever!! That's my two cents in this subject!!

Colour1,

Great positive information. That’s nice relief. Is the safety about the same?

Ok, we will have to find out the arrival online process. Normally, we just filled out cards on the airplane. We just can’t wait to get there.

Nothing to find out, just go to the website and fill it out as best you can, the arrival cards are long gone.

https://www.entry.sx/

You might want to re-check the dates when you get the "confirmation" email since in the past it would be off a day for some reason.

Plug in a one day ahead of the actual date you want to list and it will show up correctly on the form (don't ask me why....it's just what you have to do).

Great info thanks.
We are sure, the first drive around the island will be amazing after such a long time away. 😊

I plugged in info.
$139 ????
It won’t even get it back to me until the day before I leave. What happens if there is some sort of mistake?

Who did you pay $139? Like some visa service or something similar? You should have received an email almost immediately after completing the form (check your junk mail) that says they received your info. <DoNotReply@entry.sx> Was where mine came from.

I think you filled out a form that is not at all associated with entering SXM, as others have stated, there is NO FEE.

You were scammed or used a third party site to the entry form.

I did get reply right back, but was charged $139? Now, you got me wondering!!! I used the site StMartin Blue sent me. 😱

Should be no charge. You were probably hacked over to a third party booking site and that was their fee. Post up that link you filed through.

Yes, please post the link you were sent and I will post a note warning about this place, which is a SCAM..

It's just like when you Google Passport Renewal various sites pop up that aren't the regular Government site but sites that will assist you for a fee. That is what probably happened here.

Thanks to all, I was able to get it cancelled and amazingly refunded and have properly filled out the free site and sent it in. Dated it one day early as promoted on here. 👍
Be there on Aug. 18th!

What was the original scam site you used so nobody else makes same mistake?

Someway, when I used (https://www.entry.sx/), it got me on iVisa, which does the same thing, but costs $139- $185. As you know, I was able to cancel and getting my money back. I tried to recreate several ways and it didn’t go there, but their site does exist.

SXMScubaman, while I assume you will see this comment, is The Sky Explorer worth doing and safe.

Was that possibly a VIP entry service?

My feeling about safety is that if you want to hang out all hours of the night. There is that element of trouble!!! The parking garage in Maho plaza is lit up, never felt worried about being approached!!(that would be very bad for said attacker!!!) I carry a high intense flash light for those open air lots like the one across from Greenhouse!! Once covid hit and all the Halloween parties were cancelled there was no reason for us to stay out late!! I'm a beach guy, I'm up at 5am to watch the sun rise. More important than hanging out!! Welcome back, you'll have fun!!

"SXMScubaman, while I assume you will see this comment, is The Sky Explorer worth doing and safe."
I haven't had any experience with this so I really can't say. Sorry.