TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin New York Times article covering SXM

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

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??

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.

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.

Very nicely said. Missed February but will be there in November.

Thanks for your positive comments of reality.

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.

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

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

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

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!!!

Article about Orient.
http://www.stmaarten-info.com/orient-beach-is-slowly-coming-back-to-life/

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...