TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29

Hi folks. Before I begin, a little about me for the new folks. My family goes back many generations on SXM on both sides (via my grandfathers. both grandmothers are from AXA). My parents currently live in Colombier on the French side, where they were both born (aww, cute, right?). My parents retired back to SXM in 2004 and I grew up spending summers there and return as often as my life allows. That said, a little about my quick trip to check on them:

Flights
I flew from DCA to MIA, met by brother there a we flew together on American to SXM. Our plan was surprisingly full. I listened in on as many conversations as I could (i'm not a creeper, promise), and I'd say a good chunk of these folks were checking in on their properties. A few were in transit to AXA and St. Barths, and it looked like some were coming down for vacation.

Airport
Landing at SXM, my heart broke for the first time of many, seeing the damaged buildings. Stepped off the plane old school style and waited for our bags under a tent. Put the bags on a short "ramp" thing, and walked to immigration. They do ask where you are staying. Picked up our bags and went to customs where they jokingly ribbed us for bringing down a bunch of frozen meat. We were on our way in about 20 minutes of landing...mind you all this was taking place under tents/temporary structures.

Right as we walked out, we say a man holding a sign with our names - one of Michael's employees at Unity. He took us to their temporary home - by the simpson bay police station. Filled out paperwork and were on our way in minutes, as usual. Michael said they like many others lost many cars, but they have some (ours was damaged, but it ran and had AC so who cares!) and they are open for business. I could have just driven my dad's car, but I wanted to give them some business.

Driving Home
The drive to Colombier was mostly me and my brother saying "oh my God". I've seen the pictures, so I knew what had happened. But there is something about seeing it first hand that hits you in the gut. We go home via the causeway thru St. James and Marigot.

For those who've been to Cololmbier, you know that it is one of the greenest, most lush vegetation you'll find on the island. Driving thru, you could be deceived by the new greenery growing. But I know what was there, and it broke my heart again. Beautiful mature tree canopies stripped bare. Houses I never knew existed in the hills, exposed to the world. Homes missing roofs, homes destroyed. If I was looking for positives, I finally SAW the goats way up in the hills that I always heard from my parent's porch.

My parents were lucky. Their actual home received little damage - some messed up gutters. Their property had more damage - fencing, beautiful fruit trees gone. Everyone kept saying "you should have seen it after Irma. It looks great now". I can only imagine...

Driving Around
This trip was spent running errands for my parents and seeing my relatives. We did drive up to paradise view - one of my favorite places on the island. Someone posted a picture of the restaurant earlier - the building is there but heavily damaged. Bernadine's is gone as are most of the little shacks on the left hand side.

Grand Case. I don't know what I can say about GC except that is currently doesn't exist save for Sky's The Limit. I read that La Villa is now open (it wasn't when we were there) and I saw them working on Talk of the Town. The beach side restaurants were all damaged or destroyed. When not with my family, this is where we would spend most of our time, so it was particularly hard to see this. My aunt who lives in GC on the main street lost her roof and everything in her house. But like the people of SXM, she is strong and already rebuilding. This time with a concrete roof.

Hope estate was a mess as well. Carrfour in Cole Bay was severely destroyed. I didn't realize half the roof had collapsed in. It made me realize how often we would stop here to shop. Super U in Marigot is open, tho my mom doesn't love their meat selection. Grand Marche in Great Bay was pretty well stocked. Thankful I missed the armed robbery that just happened.

Oh, a note about safety. I never once felt unsafe, but I only went out once at night. My parents claim that one of the reasons they don't want to come stay with us in the states is they don't want to leave their house unattended.

We took my parents out to eat dinner - their FIRST TIME eating out since the storm. We went to Pineapple Pete's - my first time. It was packed! Izi across the street was packed too. I remarked that if you looked at Pete's and right across to Izi, you could almost imagine that no hurricane had hit. Lee's, Toppers and a few other restaurants are open in Simpson Bay. I definitely felt like that section of the island was coming back to life faster than the French side. (my limited view of things, mind you)

Looks like most folks had power and water back (again, just what I've seen). No clue when they'll get phones/TV/internet back. How my parents haven't driven each other crazy yet is a miracle. EVERYONE I talked too is beyond traumatized from this storm. To hear my mom say that from 5am - 8am she thought they were going to die broke my heart. My uncle had to hold a door closed for 2 hours by himself, because he knew that if the wind knocked it open, his house would be severely damaged. I worry about the kids who lived thru this storm - I hope both sides are factoring in mental health healing in addition to physical rebuilding.

"So Should I Come Down?"
My two cents on tourists coming back. My friend who has never been wants to come down. I told her to wait until next high season 18/19. I think for repeat visitors, you can come down sooner than that if you ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS. I cannot say that enough. If you NEED 5 star treatment everywhere you go, if you need drink/chair service at the beach, if you need every restaurant option open to you, for the love of god DO NOT GO DOWN ANYTIME SOON.You will be disappointed. This island has been thru the worst imaginable hell times 20, and it desperately needs your tourism dollars. But it doesn't need your negativity, your demands, your out-sized expectations. If you are a more laid back person who can deal with island time on steroids, being creative with how you spend your time, and won't be freaked out by seeing damaged buildings and people trying to rebuild their homes and lives, then yes, book that trip in Feb. SXM needs you and will welcome you. That's my 4 cents, really.

Sorry for the long report. SXM (and AXA) is more than a vacation destination to me. It IS my home.

Thanks for reading. And thanks to Carol and Eric for this site. During normal times it kept me connected to home. Post Irma it was often the ONLY information I was getting about SXM.

Thanks for the report.

Great Report. Not too long at all! Excellent perspective on returning. Just wish we had an option. (Simpson Bay Resort not re-opening until April 29, and our United flights cancelled into April) We will return, maybe in Dec of 18.

Great report. We can only go January so we are. We are going to help some people there if we give money can they get clothes for instance or should we buy & take with us on Plane? Thanks

Thank You for posting this report. It does my heart good, to know and hear that SXM is starting to come back, even though it sounds slowly. I pray that all the people of SXM can hold on through the rebuild... Don't know how the businesses can go over a year without the tourism dollars. Praying for all.

Thank you for the realistic, and heart-breaking, report.

Angel,

I can’t thank you enough for taking the time and writing a clear-eyed first hand description of how things really are. It about broke my heart to see the first round of post-Irma photos and I could almost feel myself sinking into a depressed state. And I’m just another tourist with no familial or birth ties to the Island so I can only start to imagine what you went through being so far away and having family there. My Dad lived through Hugo in SC years back and told of stories similar to your Dad’s. Heartbreaking to hear but terrifying to live through.

We stay in touch with friends and as optimistic as they are about their Island, their suggestions so far regarding coming down are NOT YET!. They talk about the garbage situation (which has improved, I know), the damaged buildings not touched as of yet, of the now derelict vehicles and the dark streets at night and the opinions are all too often, even if you think you know what’s in store, you will still be upset at what you see.

Hearing it from someone young and as optimistic as you are with strong ties to the island makes it all the more real and helps to reaffirm the fact we made the right move in cancelling our November and March trips. We hope to be back in November of 2018 and in the meantime we will keep the Island and her people in our thoughts and prayers and will continue to support so many of the Island financial causes as we’re able.

Again, thank you for this report. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the report.

What more can you say about the restaurants such as ocean 82, le cottahe, taste a vin, ...... is there reconstruction going on?

I read where bistrot caraibes was opening on the 7th.

Thank you for your open and honest report. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and all of the Islanders as they put their lives back together.

Thank you for an excellent, clear eyed report. I know your family will pull through this and so glad their home is safe.
Be well.
irina

For clothes in particular, where do they normally shop? My understanding is that most everything on BACK Street in P'burg is open.

Thanks for an honest, up to date report.

Thank you for taking the time to write and post your report.

Thank you for posting your report of the island after Irma. It will be a long recovery, but with the strength and dedication of the island people SXM will rise again. Thoughts and prayers continue for your family and all others who have the tremendous task of rebuilding their lives.

This is my thinking - I just want to chill like the old days. A cooler of beer, some rented chairs and umbrella, some sun and breeze on Orient, I'm easy to please. Now that it appears that Talk of the Town and Sky's the Limit, as well as a handful of the fabulous GC restos will be open, I'm good.

Thanks so much for the trip report.

Airlines are unreliable for notifying us about changes. It may not make sense for many, but those who are frequent travelers should consider something like the $49/yr Tripit Pro app:
https://www.tripit.com/pro/comparison#sm.0001opyzsx17ntdirr3yav6uibfzc

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your trip back home. Glad that your parents are ok and I have faith that the island will rebound to be better than ever.

Sorry this post should have been directed to re: Angelface

Thanks for the nicely-written report. Your paragraph "should I come down" sums it up succinctly. Hearing that the places that have reopened were packed is good news, indeed.

I made a quick trip to Phillipsburg to take my uncle to the bank. It seemed like a lot of stores were open. I also saw many clothing stores open in Marigot when I was driving my mom around. Unless there is something super specific they need, I say give them money so they can spend it on the island.

I didn't see any, but that doesn't mean that it's not happening. Could be that they just weren't there when I was.

Thank you for a very clear and concise report!

Thank you for sharing the truth...hard as it is to accept.

Thanks for the great, honest and insightful report.

Your comments about new visitors and multiple repeat visitors was perfectly on point.

Thank you very much.

Again, our thanks also for your report. It was sad to read about the damage to beautiful Columbier. Glad to hear your parents are ok. With the poor communications we finally heard from our friends on SXM and happily all survived, but with property damage. BTW, from our "trip ticker" you will notice that we were scheduled to be on SXM now as guests of our friends for the annual Fete de la Cuisine which IRMA cancelled. Our units at Simpson Bay Resort have been de-roofed and windows blown out. Will plan to return sometime in 2018 (not Feb/Mar our usual)probably in late Spring.

First, NO report is too long when talking about SXM. We who follow this Board and others about SXM never get enough info. Thanks especially for your recommendations and thoughts.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" />
Hope things continue to improve for you and your family.

We are thinking of keeping our April dates---hope it's not too soon.

Thanks for your report. It helps as we decide when is the right time to return. With all of the connectivity issues, are restaurants and grocery stores accepting credit cards?

It would be impossible for me to write a decent trip report...I am not a good writer...but this one is pretty much how I dream about SXM most nights and how I picture our favorite place in the world. We are NOT rich but we are taking our limited tourist dollars to SXM the beginning of Dec. to see with our own eyes. And we have helped the few friends who live there that we have known for 10+ years. Will help them more when we get there.

Been vacationing in St Martin since 1989. Our favorite place will bounce back!!!! We are booked & going 01/13/18-02/0318.

I don't know about restaurants in general, but Grand Marche has been advertising that they accept credit cards

The only places we used our card was for the rental car and at pineapple Pete's. But if I had to guess I'd say that if they're up and running fully, they probably are taking credit cards.

Thank you for sharing. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Umbrella.gif" alt="" />