TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Former El Zafiro Property

Does anyone have any updates on anything happening at the former E. Z. property? Such a nice beach. Would be wonderful if someone had beach chairs rentals there.

I doubt anything will happen there for a long long time. The owners of the property have a big price on it , i saw $12 million and a big price to rent the property also. Nothing has really ever been that successful there. It’s a nice beach but all of Simpson Bay is nice and already a few beach bars like Mary’s Boon which has restaurant/Bar ,,,,good food , beach chairs and umbrellas and restroom facilities. Sad to see anyone go out of business but plenty of great options still.

We really liked E Z Beach but we always felt it’s location and access were huge deterrents to its potential success. The flooding in the road along with dealing with the lookie lookers along the Maho beach road made it awkward to get to and the inconsistency of the restaurant was also a huge deterrent to people seeking it out. We enjoyed many a beach day there and stayed there too always personally enjoying our time there so we miss it too.

Personally, I think the biggest problem with that property is the owner. Jessica has always been a very difficult person to deal with.

Perhaps not paying rent for 5 years is why it failed?

Bingo!!!!

You would think not paying rent would help but they still failed.

Seems like that's a thing on the island. Either not paying the rent OR not paying the taxes. And the owners of these restaurants don't care or they claim it's not fair. I'm getting run out of my business! I don't get that! Two things you have to do in order to stay in business. Pay the rent and pay the taxes! We found the food at EL was was just OK and they never seem to keep the same staff! It's very hard to warm up to a place when the staff keeps over turning!! Take Yacht club, and Driftwood, both places have staff on for years! AND it's consistently good food and drinks!

Like everyplace these days, lack of people and supplies is making it difficult for many.

What a strange comment! I think if I hadn't received rent payments in 5 years, I would be a bit "difficult" too!?!

People sometimes say things just for saying sakes .

Not paying rent for 5 years those comments you brought up don't factor in.

after talking to some shop owners --and restaurant employees in Maho ---they tell me of the rent amounts and they are astronomical -10 to 15 k a month ---tough check to write on rented property---with a highly seasonal economy-----rough going

Vacancies will cure that problem post haste.

If your numbers are correct, and having heard the same ones several times I’m inclined to believe they probably are, there’s NO WAY the property in question could generate that amount of cash return. I’ve forgotten how many suites there are but if you do the multiples at an average of $300.00 per day, it doesn’t work. And then there’s the overhead - insurances, utilities, general improvements, staff salaries and most entrepreneurs want to have this thing called profit when all is said and done. The restaurant was apparently very hit or miss although we always were well satisfied but it just wasn’t a destination that most people would flock to for dining. At best, anytime we had dinner there we would be one of three or max four tables max.

I’m thinking the property owner is out of her gourd on the rental costs but that’s no justification for the lease holders to walk away as they did. I always liked Ed and Nicole and thoroughly enjoyed ElZafiro so I’m sad to see it end this way but they’re NOT the first tenants to lose their cookies there, and they put so much into the property. At least we were able to get our monies back when they walked away.

My two bits which are worth probably less. I hear rumors of what they paid or did not pay, but they did take pretty much a building that was in very poor repair and bring it to a level that it was rentable, then had to do it again post Irma. That was not free, and they did a pretty good job making it a place worth staying at. If after all that I was asked to pay the amounts I am hearing to rent or purchase, I don't think that it would be possible on the potential income of the place, in which case it would be best to walk away. Their decisions, renter and landlord.

I think they did a good job, could have done a bit better but I enjoyed my stays there as well as the food. I wish Ed and Nicole the best, they tried and there is a lot to be said for that.
T

Pat we stayed there 4 times and enjoyed each one we were there this past may and it looked like they were doing ok such great location and Nicole is such a wonderful person to deal with sorry to see it go . We are glad to have the pleasure to enjoy

I know people like to try new places. We know people that lost their room deposits at El Z. Exactly , the math does not work between high expenses and limited rental income. Plus the government is hitting business hard to collect more taxes. Everything is gotten very expensive. But to be safe stick with the known well established places. A few on Simpson Bay. Horny Toad , 30 years plus, BSV and of course Mary’s Boon 52 years in business. Good reasons they can endure and keep going even on sxm.

Hi all - We are one of the unlucky EZ clients. We booked our upcoming trip for this month back in July and paid for our 10-night stay in advance. Unfortunately we paid by check which had been customary in our dealings with Nicole. We’ve stayed at EZ many times, and sad they’ve fallen into foreclosure. It’s even more disappointing that we haven’t been reimbursed. While we’re still hoping she will come through, it’s not looking very promising.

For future rentals we will only pay by CC…

Thanks…Cathy

Cathy--so sorry that you got stuck on this deal. I hope you are able to still go to SXM.

Hi Carol - We are still going - one bright spot was getting good deals with AA miles. We’re booked at Mary’s Boone - and of course they only require a deposit then full payment upon arrival.

It’s a tough reality when someone you thought was so upstanding does this. We’re fortunate that this situation doesn’t prevent us from going.

Thanks….Cathy

So glad for your sake that you still will be able to go. For some folks, their default probably means that they will not be able to go at all. That is a d*mn shame.

Mary’s Boon got a lot of El Z former guests, we meet a few of them over the holidays at The Boon. It’s an amazing Caribbean Hotel with great staff. Also I heard they helped former EL Z guests with a better rate if they lost money. Very fair, one night deposit. I don’t think they would ever ask for a check deposit. Definitely a red flag not to take a credit card. Plus we get airline miles!

forever,

Won’t argue the merits of the Boon with you as we always enjoyed our stays and times there and if they assisted the stranded EZB guests that’s even more kudos to them.

I would, however, question your comment about a check deposit being a red flag. For the past nine or ten years ago we’ve been staying at Beachside Villas and they don’t accept credit cards under any circumstances. We’ve stayed once or twice a year since we found them and it’s never been a problem. We also rented from private owners at RICLP who would only deal with checks and no CCs.

Whatever ran amok with Nicole and Ed should NOT be allowed to become a black mark against all other properties and I think there are hundreds of BSV visitors who might agree with me. No CCs does preclude the accumulation of the oft treasured FF points (or miles) but it also allows the BSV owners to hold their rates without the added increases for credit card usage. I’m not saying this would be the case with all island rental properties but we have to be careful when we paint with that very broad brush.

The Horny Toad now takes a credit card deposit and will take a check (at least they used to) from established/repeat customers but for years they did not take credit cards and only a check for a deposit and payment. While I prefer the convenience of a credit card (but I do not like the surcharge some places apply), taking a check would not be a red flag to me either.

I agree I do not see accepting only checks as a red flag for accommodations. I do however prefer be able to pay by credit card. It is much more difficult for Canadians to pay by Check in US funds. Paying by bank transfer from a Canadian bank to a US bank is also costly. I did try that and the US bank charged service fees of $40 for processing through the various banks. Thankfully there was no charge by my Canadian bank. When my payment arrived to the owner, the bank withheld $40 and it was up to me to make up the difference. I have a US Visa card and using it makes everything easier for me. It is nice to see the Horny Toad now accepting credit cards and they have not increased their prices in doing so. Also I noticed a lot of places like the Palms is now accepting credit cards as well to make things easier for their clients. I can only hope that Beachside Villas might change their policy in the future.

if they won't accept a CC or money on arrival that's a big red flag for me.

For some places, it would be a red flag for me too, but I was referring to Beachside Villas in particular. I know the owners personally and trust them with my money. I would just prefer to use credit cards for accommodation to make the process easier.

Check payment ok if you know who you are dealing with and accept the risk of giving up your dispute rights if you have problems. I understand decades ago check payment but it just seems for reliable legitimate business not to take credit cards just inconvenient for it’s customers. To as your guests to write a check, go mail seems just unnecessary. Sure I understand some places wanting to keep it a all cash business, check mailed to the USA and the merchant expenses of having to pay a few percentage to the credit card company. All those reasons the El Z past guests that lost money have no recourse. IMO.

We're hearing that everywhere here in SXM. People are interested but don't want to deal with that situation.