TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Why being scared coming to Sxm

Scott... We would also be interested in more info about the villa (if you're willing to share)

As soon as we can get the anti Covid 19 vaccination, we are booking a return trip. It looks like AA is reinstating the daily PHL-SXM non-stop flight, and we have vouchers from our cancelled March 2020 planned trip.
I cannot wait to return.

I ain’t going to SXM till this $#.+ is over...

It's not gonna be "over" for quite some time. It will be better controlled but the $#.+ will still be around. Vaccine will be a welcome protection for everyone who gets it

We are here now and have had a great time. I think the island is more friendly than ever as people appreciate that we came. Every restaurant has hand wipes and temperature monitors when you enter. Some of the restaurants have smaller menus and fewer servers. The traffic has been great and the weather was fantastic. I felt safer here than home as SXM has a pretty lower infection rate and adequate tracking. We leave on Saturday and we will already be planning our next trip back.

I don’t understand either why the island isn’t full of tourists. That latest information and Science shows flying with precautions getting the virus on a plane has extremely slim chances. Sxm is tropical, beaches, non crowded, must everything we do is outside or open air. Sxm has very few cases compared to the island population. USA covid19 is out of control thousands of people dead per day. I know some can’t afford to travel but if you can travel why stick around closed up in you house Just to get sick or possibly die not to
Mention freeze. It’s winter! Just seems like it’s a great time to get out while you can. Ok sure comply comply comply but do what you feel best. It’s your life.

And that is the reason some stay home. It's their life at steak.

And I like my steak medium rare.

The IS the airport thing....and with some a FEW airports...and the testing availability thing

Because we have to to a quarantaine when we come back in Canada ! That s why !

What does quarantine really means ? Thanks.

It means isolating and no contact with others for 14 days. Also can't go to work for fear of possibly infecting others. Not knowing if you have virus or not.

We have to stay home and not go anywhere for 14 days when we come back, so not able to work !

Must isolate at home for two weeks, cannot leave your home for anything. Not even essentials. Health department will check on you by phone or visit ,to make sure you are complying. Your daughter and son will have to isolate/quarantine when they return to Toronto. I’m sure they know that.

This is our first year not being there, after spending Christmas & New Years on the island for many many years because of all the restrictions. Had to cancel everything. We have been travelling to the island since 1985 several times most years.
Have reservations for June, hope things work out then.

Thanks . Okay our Daughter will okay because she has her Husband to be living together, however of our Son he can order food via Uber and have it drop at his door where he lives in his Dorm Apartment.

Hope all goes smoothly, Enjoy your visit.

Thanks.

Hi Leslie,

We are headed down for our third trip since the island reopened. The prior two trips have been amazing, no issues whatsoever. Getting through the airport has been a breeze as we had the proper paperwork in hand and filed as required before hand. The 5 day rule made testing a lot easier. It’s well worth the effort in our opinion.

See you Tuesday! 😁

Ron and Dee

Thanks and will do.

And add us to the list of one spouse approved one spouse denied with same tests, same paperwork. Husband and I both took tests, 30 seconds apart, both received negative results. His application was approved and mine was declined. We cannot find any number to call to figure out why..... I expected to jump through some hoops, but the inconsistency with no way to figure out what the issue is, is certainly difficult. Maybe it will be for the best - won't have to worry about COVID test back to US and I am assuming it will be a valid reason for insurance payments.

This number was posted WAAAAY back and seemed to help those with similar issues

1-721-542-1570

We used that number and got a person!! She's very sweet - idk yet if she can help us, but at least she's trying. Thank you so much!!

Hi did you use a separate email for him and for you? The reason being that they need a separate email for each person is that they send you an email once you are on the island each day up to 14 days to report your temperature.

It sounds like you’re having the same issues we had on our last trip in Nov/Dec and possibly you spoke with the same person we talked to. We finally made an entirely new application uploading all the same info and I received my approval almost immediately after the three prior denied attempts.

And for what it’s worth, the trip was worth the effort - mostly made by my computer adept daughter on my behalf. 😊😊

Yes, we did totally separate applications. We were repeatedly given the advise to upload again and be sure it was "clear" - so I did and was waiting when I tried the above posted number. The lady chased down someone who was on her way home, but promised to look at the application when she got there, since my husband was approved and I wasn't. In order to make our first flight, we have to leave our house at 5am in the morning.

She called us back and said we should get the approval soon - and it came almost immediately. I truly believe we wouldn't have gotten the approval in time, if not for her help. She definitely represented SXM well. I wouldn't have been able to make the contact without the help of boucharda posting the number above. Thank You!

I guess we'll see what it's like trying to get home in a couple of weeks! I'll be sure to let you know!

Got my pre-approval from SXM yesterday. On my way Thursday morn. YEA!!!!!!!

Enjoy your trip, Norm!

Well, we are in Canada, so we are not allowed back into country now without negative test, and also mandatory quarantine for 2 weeks. So lets say we look forward to a 2 week vacation. First of all that means 4 weeks, cause we have to quarantine and not able to work. Loss of income. Then add in the exchange from Canadian to U.S. dollars for most things in SXM. But for me, most of all is the possibility of contracting the virus and givng to someone else unknowingly. It has been proven that this can happen. Sitting next to someone in a plane, crowded airports, going to pubs, eateries in SXM, mingling, the chance is there. Do I think I will die from it? Personally NO,,,but we all know seniors, etc and I could not live with myself if I unknowingly spread to them
We can't ignore this,,,or should I say I cant. But the extra time off work for the working stiffs, plus all the testing, etc. as much I would LOVE to be in SXM this time of year, like every other year, it is just not doable, or in my opinion a safe thing to do. Fingers crossed for next year.

Thanks for your response , however our two children lives in Toronto and was here with us for two weeks .

Fly Delta and you won't sit next to anybody until the end of March anyway

Don't go to pubs

frequent outdoor, not enclosed indoor, eateries in SXM

Not an issue unless you make it one. We had no concerns 'cuz we used common sense

It's not a SXM thing...it's a Canada thing because of the mandatory 14 day quarantine

Lesley, you really need to respect the fact that we all have different lives and different comfort levels with travel these days. My husband and I spent three weeks on the island during November and December, and felt very safe there. We're both retired, and there are no quarantine requirements here in North Carolina. The fact that your children traveled to the island really has nothing at all to do with megamania's decision. We all understand that the pandemic is affecting your income, but we also all have to make the decision that's best for us. Please respect that.

I'm not disrepecting anyone Gayle , just stating a fact our children were here with us .

Lesley it did not seem at all like you were disrespecting anyone.
Seems like everyone is so uptight about the whole situation which can be understood.
Everyone just has to look at it and decide for them what is best.
We are booked for May hope it all works out where we can come down.
Hope to see you then.

Thanks and looking forward to greetings you good Folks back .Stay safe.