TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Royal Islander La Plage - what to do?

I'm sort of disappointed with RI and I don't know what to do. I like SXM but I'm not too crazy of La Plage. I am leaning towards letting it go.
We have a week 16 and my flights prices are ridiculous from Chicago. Not knowing whether the place will be open and if the room we have will be better than it was - it always had a humidity problem and during the last few years we always got sick after a week. I would like to know what you think? Would RI take it back? Or should I just keep it and try to rent it out in order to pay the fees?

Well...you're:

..not too crazy about La Plage

...not sure if it will be open and maybe better than it was (or not)

...flight costs "are ridiculous"

..."always got sick after a week"

No clue why keeping it and renting it out rather than going back is even a choice....unless it's a one year see-what-happens thing

I am in SXM now and have been told that Le Plage will be open this winter season and a lot is being done in the Maho area.
We have been here for 5 weeks and this has been of our best trips to the Island in many years. Everyone here has been fantastic and friendly. The restaurants are mostly open and the beaches have been Super.
In my opinion, SXM is the best place to come to if you want a full round out vacation.

I have been an owner at LaPlage for almost thirty years now...and have NEVER had a problem . Was it a bit dated??? yes.... Was it always in super clean condition?? YES... Some rooms did have an issue with humidity.....and they responded by adding dehumidifiers in the rooms for the past couple of years. They have always gone above and beyond with the place. If you don't like it there...dump it. plain and simple. BUT....what i am hearing....and the few artist renderings that have been released....LaPlage's plans are to be reopen for next year's high season....and with all new updated furniture.....and decor the place will be better than ever!! Personally, the only way I will give up my ownership there, would be from the grave. It is our second home for three weeks annually....yesterday, today, and hopefully for years to come!!!!

Personally speaking, I can't see keeping something you're not happy with, and therein lies my surprise at your post. I have always considered RILP to be one of the nicest timeshares on the island, and had it been available when we purchased I would have bought there for sure. And week 16 is a prime week, particularly for those with kids since it so often falls around Easter and leads into Carnival on the island.

It goes without saying that almost any place as close to the water might be subject to humidity issues but a good dehumidifier should resolve that. Are you sure you didn't get sick because of your airline flights, and no, not the pricing but the closed up cabin air which sometimes raises havoc with me in both directions.

As far as airfare prices - I wouldn't let that force me into getting rid of something if I really loved it. Sounds like that's the big question here and if you don't - then it's time to let it go and find something more to your liking. Time moves on and our likes and dislikes change.

Well I don't wish to have anyone go to the grave but as far as my concerns - the property and location was great when we first bought into it.
We like the property and room location but as far as the humidity and dehumidifiers they should upgrade their systems. It was fine when we first bought.

We do not get sick on the plane - it's after a week in this unit and I empty out the dehumidifier at least twice a day. Oh and I do not leave the balcony door open.
As far as the flights are concerned I'm not going to purchase $800 tickets not knowing when the place will be open. RI is very slow in coming out with any kind of update.

EdB I know you've been there for quite awhile and you may have contacts that get you that information but I do not. I doubt very much that you would have anything but praise for the place - I'm just being realistic.

Maybe you are all right - I should get out.

If your decision is to ''get out''....i would NOT give the property back to the resort...but instead list if for sale on the homeowners website through. I bought my third week from there. You may not get top dollar...but you would definitely get a reasonable amount for it. Sure beats ''giving'' it back for no return.

I agree

Yup....that should be where you start and see what develops...or....you could deposit this visit with II or RCI (not sure which is appropriate) and go somewhere else THIS YEAR....then decide when there is more clarity with the situation

Not sure this is the time to try and sell anything Hurricae destruction. Who is going to buy??? we too wanted to try and sell a home, and our agent laughted. Now she said??? I agree giving back is worst thing, but its been done by very smart people. this is not a place to buy timeshare for all of the obove... this is the results of what happens when there is a hurricane or any other issue a timeshare has. this is international and you have no leg to stand on. I have many friends that gave back because there money was still to timeshare, even it it was not used. You advise it sno good. You need to learn about timeshare on this island and how it works and what you can do as an american. Be surprised very little.

Couldn't agree more with all of your comments about the excellence of the RI - I've been an owner for 20 years and now go down for 3 weeks in January every year and am hopeful they'll be open this January. That being said, Spiker is right - they have not been particularly forthcoming with updates. Because the volume of the airport is limited, I'd like to start shopping for flights now because as the planes fill up the prices will increase. It will do the RI no good if they reopen and their owners can't get a flight or refuse to be raped by the airlines.

i respectfully wholeheartedly disagree with you. who is going to buy? PLENTY of people...especially people that own at Royal Islander the week before or the week after. People at RI look at the place as their ''home away from home''. La Plage is NOT some of the other properties on the island. There rarely is any complaint about the place. Over the years...the Spadarros (the owners) have been more than fair to the owners. NEVER ONCE have they charged an additional assessment after a storm. Not saying it won't happen this time around...but so far we owners have not even been asked to pay the 2018 maintenance fees!!! In other storms...those fees have also been waived by them when the resort has been closed in the past. You say that you know smart people that have given back their timeshares??? OK....but if one can make a few bucks by selling it versus ''giving it back...does not equate to smart people. If your reasoning stands about selling a property after hurricane destruction is true...then i guess the state of Florida, Lousiana, or any other state must be out of business after a national disaster??? i don't think so. If a real estate laughed at you for wanting to sell your own home, my advice would be to you to FIND ANOTHER AGENT!!!!! Giving back a unit should only be a last resort. As of right now, it is costing ZERO to hold onto it.....First wait and see what comes up from the resort before any decision is made. None of us have been informed what all the changes will be....chances are that EVERY unit will be totally rehabbed with all new furniture, fixings, and air conditioning units. I bet that the place will be in BRAND NEW condition by the time the resort is back open. I personally cannot wait for March....and I know all my friends that we meet there year after year have the same feelings that I have. Sasal, just curious....and you don't have to answer me, but do you peronally own at Royal Islander LaPlage, or are you just putting in your two cents.

I am so glad you responded to her. We are very happy with our weeks of timeshare at Simpson Bay Resort and we have had quite a few assessments. I believe she owns a private home & has done a lot of complaining on this forum in the past.

Too ad my two cents we were there in April stopped by to see the progress being made the landscaping in the back was all done new scrubs and palm trees as far as the rooms they are working on them Nina said they should be open by Oct 1 they are making some changes to the rooms to some degree and Tortuga is gone and there making a new restaurant in its places I believe it’s going to be run by Three Amigos.

That's too bad about Tortuga. Enjoyed their food. 3 Amigos, not so much. And expensive!

We always enjoyed our breakfasts at Tortuga - one of the few really pleasant breakfast stops in the immediate area, so sorry to hear of it changing hands and functionality.

Aw man, I loved Tortuga. Ask for a mimosa and you’d ge an OJ and little split of champagne! Enough to make 3

I have always enjoyed the breakfast at SSB.

Aloha Spiker,
Here is my two bits on RI and what you should do. This seems to be an issue where you are not able for health reason to be able to handle the humidity caused issues of SXM, If you are having an issue at RI then likely you would have the same or similar issues at other places so it may be that you should instead vacation to dry climates like Vegas, Palm Springs or Arizona. Cost to travel to those locations would be less as well. Beyond that, I would listen to EdB. RI is probably the only property on island that you can actually make a profit consistently renting as well as buying and selling units as a bargain shopper part time berry picker "if" you are in weeks 46 - 17 range which you are. The place is well located and well taken care of, the AMF's are reasonable which creates a cost of ownership factor that can not be beat on island right now or for the past 5 plus years.

If you do wish to bail, I am sure you would have no problem finding one of us that is willing to pay all the xfer cost to get you out of it. But as EdB stated, it is costing you nothing right now.

Cheers,
Todd

Hello all: First of all I am very familiar with humidity on islands. We own 2 at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club and at Marriott Beachplace Towers in Ft. Lauderdale.
I am very appreciative of the Spadarros for not charging MF's for 2018. I was hit for $400 more for my FT. Lauderdale property after the hurricane mainly because it is deeded.

My biggest complaint is the failure of the Spadarros for not enough news and for their lack of concern to upgrade the properties A/C systems. Adding a dehumidifier that I have to empty out 2 or 3 times daily is a PITA!

Also my wife absolutely refuses to sleep in the bedroom because it either gets too cold and damp or if we let it get warm then its too warm and damp.
Maybe another dehumidifier in the bedroom would work. I don't know - I am not a HVAC guy. But I'm the one that gets sick around the 6th day - maybe there's some kind of spores or mold in that room!

So, with that in mind, I like SXM & La PLage. When this property came available I jumped on it. We stayed there earlier through an exchange.

Now what do to - I have considered all of your comments - some I listened with a grain of salt and some were insight-full. But we have decided to wait till October to purchase flights. If RI gives some sort of inclination that they will open and maybe replace some of the A/C units then I will start looking for flights. If not then I either will sell or give it away. I don't have much respect for an organization that doesn't have any respect for me, my health or my family!

i am sorry for those that think I complain or are doom and gloom. Those that are making those comments do not know me or husband. so i take it with a grain of salt. I only give my opinion here and not often, because I realize this is for certain members that are respected. I think given the fact that we know the Island and have been going for many years!!! We can say what we have seen, heard from others, and our own experience. I say what I know and with alot of knowledge. I know for a fact, that most here travel once a year and say they know the Island. Perhaps thats what you hear from others, but we live there all winter. I know many people many resort owners, many resturant owners, and many shop keepers. So I hear and say. Its sad when a message board it so closed it chooses to put down others opinions. Well but its your message board and you do what you need to do to keep it going. I Know the Island. thats the way it is.... this is my second home with many issues but my second home. Not many can say that.

Nope! No negativity here.......

Not a drop.

Maybe just a ting. LOL

i guess after thirty years of vacations plus or minus, as most of us have done.....we don't know anything. Never knew that one had to live there during the winter in order to know the island....to know the people...to know the resort owners...to know the restauranteurs...etc. Maybe some day the rest of us will finally get to know the island.. LOL I wonder how many weeks in total one has to be on the island in order to feel it is our second home???

Hey people, I didn't mean for my question to go south. Everyone has an opinion - some good - some bad. We're only on SXM for 1 week. We have made some relationships with a few restaurants and shops and for the most part they are very good. I am glad that some of my money went to restoring the casino! We very much would like to come back. We just have some concerns.

We've been coming to SXM since the year after hurricane Louis.We stayed at most of the TS's on the island & first bought at the Pelican & later at RI.When another RI became available we sold pelican & bought RI.Since then we've added a third week.Never had a bad stay or gotten sick,& can't wait to get back.However I am upset that The Three Amigos is taking over the restaurant.Their food was terrible & way over priced. Can only hope they've changed.

I just booked our flights for La terasse across the street. HAving been a travel nazi about planning for years, I always have looked forward to the ease of knowing that SXM is a no brainier and a true vacation. Keep it!


So is there any word that it will be confirmed as open for Feb 2019? I just booke the flights but ....should I beer an alternative if RI La Terasse doesn’t come through?

I emailed RI La Plage last week and mentioned I was holding off buying my plane tickets for mid March until I hear of the official reopening. Management emailed me back and told me to buy the tickets. I assume from that it will be open in mid March at least.

Thanks TomR. I’m feeling confident that RI timeshares did better than the Sonesta. I recall seeing Dutch Air Force footage from the air and seeing some palm trees in the pool of Terasse.

I dont tend to see a lot of posts about Terasse vs Plage. What are the major differences between both? Which is older? Although its the same management, they seem to run separately.

Hoping for the best and to see St Maarten again

Totally agree. We've been going to SXM for thirty years. We've been through all the drama of Pelican Resort. We now own eight weeks, and spend a large part of the winter there. So, yeah, I guess I'm one of those who only goes once a year. But on the other hand, I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl, and most everyone I know that comes year after year is as well. A lot of people gave up their units during the Pelican downtimes. Those who stuck it out are glad they did and are now owners of a top-rated resort. I personally am glad that those who saw only the negative gave theirs up. Life is too short to live with negativity. If you really don't like it, then get rid of it.

And PS, thanks to Carol and Eric and Rural Carrier for this site. I for one feel it's open to everyone. I read it regularly, I sometimes contribute, and I'm always interested in what others have to say. Again, thank you, and thank all the contributors.

To answer your questions.... La Plage is probably about 15 to 20 years older than La Terrace. They both are run by the same management and both owned by the Spaddarros....in fact many of the front desk staff work both resorts. Also, same maintainence staff and management. Both units are very similar in design and furniture...LaTerrace being a bit newer. La Terrace has the parking underneath for both properties. La Plage is on the beach.....La Terrace is across the street. When it comes to the amenities...ie pool....they are seperate. One cannot use each others....although supposedly from the old days, the owners of LaPlage would be able to use LaTerrace....but since it is NOT on the beach, i doubt that anyone would want to. Supposedly heard from the grapevine that LaPlage was home to the dutch military following the hurricane. Not sure if LaTerrace also housed any of the soldiers or staff.