TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin First day of a long stay

Flight out of SEA was non eventful to CLT and to SXM. Checkin at Flamingo was very smooth and was in our room by 1:30 Sat. Love all the new furniture and fixtures in our two bed hillside villa. WIFI is strong this morning but very windy here. Plan on diving this morn but lots of wind chop so it should be a bumpy time.
Lees last night for our obligatory first night dinner. As good as always.
A while back it was brought up that the 15.00 Monday sunset cruise was no longer available to RP or Flamingo guests unless you take a timeshare presentation. Not true. Still available for 15.00 but is free with tour. I'll pay the 15.00.
All for now, off to the dive boat.

That sunset cruise has changed then since March as it was mandatory to do the presentation.

Forgot to add that WiFi is free for owners but now there is a charge for renters at RP and Flamingo.

Renters?? What do you mean, "renters"--people who are there through a hotel site?

Just a guess, Carol, but thinking the term 'renters' would probably apply to anyone who isn't a direct unit owner, be it weeks or points ownership. We had a discussion with someone about this while there but we were actually talking about the distinction as made at the Towers. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yes, anybody that rents direct through Diamond or a rental agency. I believe that also applied to RCI and II trades too.

OK, but NOT anyone who rents a week from a current timeshare owner??

Correct.

Rentals do not apply to RCI trades.

I'll find out how they treat the wifi charges to trades with II and RCI so people here will know for sure before they get here.
Also Horatio is still captain of the Tango. Someone asked on a previous post.

Enjoy your vacation.

Thanks. Was thinking about you earlier. The new look of the Villas is as great as you said. They have really made some nice improvements all over the resort. Wifi is very fast. Wife says it's as fast or faster than home and its good home.

You may be thinking about Lambada. I never knew who was captain of the Lambada. Haresh has always been captain of the Tango, for the past few years, and according to JD, was the captain as of March this year.

I was told Haresh was the short name for Haratio by a person at Aqua Mania. Yes, I was referring to Tango.

OK, he always introduces himself as Haresh on the boat. He actually looks kind of Indian (from the country India) to me, so that name made sense. Regardless, happy for those going on Tango soon that he is still there, as he is a neat captain.

Yes, he is Indian as you thought. I usually take snacks with us and share with him. He is vegan so I make sure we have something without meat for him. Always fun to share.

Scubaman, is that SS cruise good for Simpson Bay Resort guests as well? Also, where do you dive? We've done Saba(and loved it) but don't want to pay to fly there again. Thanks in advance!!!

Carol. I talked to Haresh and that is his actual name and spelling.

SSR guests go on the Tango the same time the RP and Flamingo guests go on the Lambada. Same price. 15 on Monday nights.
I have over 200 dives in St Maarten. All on the Dive Machine through Aqua Mania with Dive Adventure. Diving again tomorrow. Two tank boat dive is usually back by 12:30. Saba is nice but it's an all day affair and a lot more expensive. Been there five times and enjoyed it but the waters around St Maarten have very nice dive sites too.

Which? Horatio is his name or Haresh?

I was there the week of 4/18 and did not have to pay for Wi-Fi ....We are not owners and stayed in building 7....Have they changed the policy?

Thanks, Scubaman! You're the best! What time? And where do you meet for SS cruise? Also, your fav dives on SXM IF you don't mind? So appreciate.We were supposed to do a dive w sharks last time but TS Jean was on location. We were lucky to do Saba. Got stranded on the island overnight. Almost two bc of wind. Merci again!

If you get a chance would love to see what they did to the villas if you can post pics. GLad to hear they did something with internet as it was not very good in Feb. Thanks!

Yes. So they say.

Haresh

OK

We stayed at Flamingo in January as hotel style guests, paid about 225 a night for 11 nights, Wifi supposedly was free but actually never worked. At check out we were charged an additional 10 PER DAY,for resort fees, when asked what that was for we were told Wifi and cleaning. They only cleaned the room once our entire stay, and that was after I complained, we were already there 5 nights. Glad to hear that they have upgraded the Wifi.