TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Diamond email update

Just got this email today.
http://communications.diamondresort...ign=newsletter&utm_content=1901_8997

Well this is good news. It's taken a while, but later is better than not at all. Got me wondering about the places that got crushed up near Orient Beach. Alamanda was really nice, and down the road was Palm Court. I know these aren't Diamond Resort properties, but any rebuilding going on up there?

The four weeks we own in Flamingo will not be ready for our fixed weeks in 2020. Looks like we rent a villa again with the MF's dollars we would normally pay.

...which just goes to show that Flamingo and Royal Palm AMFs are out of touch, when you can rent a villa for the same price. I thought I saw that they were going to start charging the maintenance fees again?

Thanks carol, it’s just TIME. Makes no sense to me. Absolutely NO ownership, at all.

Hi. Kind of confused as to what you mean, but it's definitely taking a ridiculous amount of time, to me.

Carol, I have a lot to learn about time share, because what think I know is that time share is a block of time during certain weeks during the year staying at a motel room. So we have been going to St. Maarten since 2005 staying at large villas in Dawn Beach and then you got us to stay at the best place on the island “Beach Side Villas” we can easily save up during the year to pay for the price of these places that are not a motel room. We can stay at different places and have a variety to choose from.so for the prices that we pay does not even add up to the AMS that I am hearing these people are paying. So I will go back to my beginning statement, I do not understand time share. I would really like to learn.

Not for the fixed week owners that can't use their fixed weeks. Only fee they are billing to them this year is for the reserve fund covering insurance premiums which is actually a separate line item. Last year Flamingo fixed week owners weren't charged MF's or reserve fund fees as there was enough in reserves to cover the deductible. Not so for Royal Palm as they fell short last year of necessary reserve funds. Points members were billed the full MF's last year and will be this year along with fixed week owners that opted to join the special interem Diamond exchange program.

SXMFOX I agree. We used to go to Divi and stay a week in a 1 BR, kitchen, LR, DR 2 baths facing water, cruise ship dock, for less than $750. Fortunately we didn't own conventional TS. The the prices have rises too much now so we go to BSV.

Everyone should stay where they enjoy staying. If you really like your resort/villa then it is most likely worth whatever you have to pay...it's not totally a dollar thing..it's an experience thing..

I TOTALLY enjoy my guaranteed weeks 2 & 3 5th floor perfect view one BR unit at SBR and probably would pay more than the $1100 week I pay now. I would also enjoy saying at a unit in a rental located right on the beach...I would also enjoy a villa with a short walk to the beach....

Stay where you want to stay and ignore those who say their place is better...or cheaper...or whatever

So, how much are these reserve fees?

I was not impressed with the latest Diamond letter. Sounds like the same old BS without being specific. Not sure what most of the photos shown were. Looked like where the 200 worker's were going to stay. Glad th3e will have decent housing while they work but I am more interested in seeing progress on the complex itself. Understand Diamond has to wait for workers but when we've been waiting forever for updates, this one is a major disappointment for me.

Have not received a bill yet but in previous years I can't remember but it wasn't a heck of a lot.

Not sure what qualifies as not a heck of a lot. But Royal Palm 'owners' had to pay last year also.

That's because they didn't have enough in the reserves to cover the insurance deductible. Each resort is managed separately with its own reserve fund and MF's.

Yet I think their AMF was the same as Flamingo? AND their AMF is by far the highest on SXM..

Actually the royal palms MFs were higher than flamingos in years past.

Regardless, aren't both the highest on SXM??

So what's the point. You get what you pay for. Great appointments and amenities for starters.

...which you can get for LESS money if you rent from an "owner".. Makes no sense..

Depends on the owner. When I rented mine out I got more than the MF's.

You were lucky. Looking at units for rent from "owners" before Irma, at both Flamingo and Royal Palm, except for premium weeks, most were for rent for less than the AMFs.

And many "owners" are happy to get anything close to the m/f.

You are absolutely correct! It is the right of everyone to stay wherever they are happy whether it be a timeshare, villa or a castle. I just do not understand why people who do not have timeshares are always speaking unfavorably about them and commenting on the fees involved for those who have purchased them. I guess they do not fully understand the concept and the benefits of ownership We are all different and enjoy our vacations differently and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Many making comments do not understand the benefits of timeshare points and weeks Both are very different. For my one bedroom maintenance fee in St. MAARTEN, I can enjoy up to 6 weeks in Florida and several other places.That is great value! Six weeks for $800, You really can't beat that! In the past , I have even stayed 3 weeks at Flamingo for my one week maintenance fee. I can also exchange for a 3 or 4 bedroom and take 10 family members on vacation for one week in the location of my choice all for my $800 maintenance fee. Weeks owners do not enjoy the same advantages but if they are happy that is all that really matters. The bottom line here is know how to make the best use of your timeshare and just do what makes you happy. I would never tell someone to never buy a nice large two story home just because I liked bungalows better.😊

Well said but there are the same ones on this board who prefer to be negative on timeshare ownership.
Let them believe what they prefer and we timeshares owners who know how to work the programs will enjoy our usage.
Keeps the topics interesting.

Without us timeshare owners those non owners would be hard pressed to find accommodations.

So, you're just being altruistic, helping out your fellow St Maarten lovers?

Be it as it is. Timeshare owners provide a lot of units to be occupied by others. Not just in St Maarten but all over the world whether through RCI/II trades or out right rentals.

You're right. The happiest TS owners know the system, know how to get the most for your MF's, and thoroughly enjoy the familiarity of "HOME" resorts. Negativity abounds on this forum. And of course there are the happy folks who love SXM exclusively but have NEVER been to another Caribbean Island. Strange.

Probably not so. The hotels that turned into TS would be hotels with rooms to rent. Remembering Caravansera back as a hotel, Marys Boon, Little Bay, (now Divi) Belair, Sonesta, to name a few.

Divi, Belair, Sonesta are still timeshares. And Caravanserai is long gone.

I think he, and all similar "owners", are just doing what they have decided to be an appropriate way to have a place to stay at and enjoy. Some will rent them out but others will use them as intended...and those that rent them out for others to use do not deserve any negative comments

Hey, boucharda, everyone makes their own choices but people have their opinions...

Correct...and that is what we are here for...to ingest the opinions of everyone and formulate our own decisions in a non-judgmental way (my opinion)