TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Flamingo & RP Housekeeping

I was just reading elsewhere about a couple staying in the same unit for multiple weeks at Flamingo and they didn't seem to be getting any housekeeping other than at the end of the week when most were arriving or leaving. Also noted that previous staff gone and now using contracted out staff. Not sure if this is the same at Royal Palm noting their affiliation with Flamingo. I remember a lot of talk post Irma that if they were able to remain closed for a longer period of time they might have the right to fire or end employment with their existing staff. So sounds like that happened but did they actually also stop midweek cleaning? I find that hard to believe but that is what is being reported. Curious, certainly don't want that to be a new trend.

They stopped midweek cleaning at Flamingo to help reduce maintenance costs. Probably the same at RP too as both resorts are now under the Hilton umbrella. There are no plans to reinstate midweek service unless you request it at an extra charge. I'm happy not to have them do the midweek cleaning as it usually interfered with us having to be gone during the cleaning. If you need more towels, linens or supplies all you have to do is contact front desk and those items are delivered at no additional cost.

Scuba--as always, whatever they do at Flamingo is good with you. I am very happy to have DAILY housekeeping at Beachside Villas. And we are generally there half the time when they are cleaning. Doesn't bother me at all for the maids to be there. Every other day would probably be OK, but I for sure would want more than a weekly cleaning.

I'm an easy keeper. I don't have daily maid service at home and don't require it on vacation. There are ample clean replacement towels and linens in our room if needed and I can always get more supplies by just asking. To each their own.

I don't have ANY housekeeper at home, let alone daily. That's part of why I go on vacation, so someone else can clean..

I understand. Different strokes for different folks. 🤝

I do wonder--does your wife feel the same as you do??

I'm with you on this one Carol. We will be at Flamingo the end of next month for a 6 night stay and the 4 bath towels they provide will not be enough for the 2 of us. We don't reuse bath towels at home and when you're spending hundreds of dollars a night on vacation the least they can do is provide clean towels. Come to think of it last March when we were there for a month we would get a notice on the weekend to vacate the villa or your room would not be cleaned. One time we left for the entire day and returned around 5:30pm and the room had not been touched. Went down to the front desk and returned with a plastic bag with the towels that should have been there. Not impressed. On the bright side after our 6 night stay at Flamingo we are headed to Beachside Villas for 20 days and will look forward to Daily housekeeping or even every second day would be fine.

Wow, OK, didn't realize that was the deal, they won't clean if you are there. Basically deprives you of use of your room for a whole day. Crazy.

Yup.

Yes. She totally agrees and hasn't become an issue for us on our 4 week stay. At first we missed the midweek but now don't. Easier not having to pre-plan to be gone on that day.

Sorry, I haven't stayed that much in timeshares around the island, but that would not go down well with me, to have to be out of my room the whole day. Do other timeshares have that rule? I don't remember it at either Lavista or Atrium, although it's been a while since I've stayed at either. I don't recall that being the rule at Royal Palm either, although again, it's been a while since I've stayed there.

Carol when we stayed at Royal Palm last Dec for 2 weeks they would do housekeeping every 4th day (I believe). When they knocked on the door we would take off for an hour or two and let them do their thing and then return. There was no notice on the door to vacate for the day which worked fine for us.

Whale Tail--that is a lot more reasonable.

Flamingo changed that with the onset of Covid to both protect the workers and patrons when they reopened after the rebuild and Covid was still a problem island wide. They decided to keep that policy ongoing to keep costs down. I'm surprised that RP isn't the same as Mervin is the GM for both resorts and both are now under the Hilton umbrella. Maybe it's different for renters.

Again, so Flamingo is still doing it just to save money. Have your AMF gone up??

No. They actually came down a little.

When we were at Divi they came in Wednesdays & Saturdays unless you paid extra for daily service. They did however drop off towels in-between bit no sheet change, bed making or garbage collection. They now probably are like Flamigo don't know.

Grand Case Beach Club and BVS clean daily. But BVS does sheet change on Wed. & Sat. not daily as at GCBC (which to me is a waste). If given a choice I would pass on daily. At BSV if we're not there they seem to always leave beachfront doors unlocked. I don't like that. Last trip only once did I have dishes in kitchen and the maid started washing them. She even laughed saying first time in 2 weeks.

Divi did the mid week changeover when we were there in December. First time since Covid hit. I don't really need daily room cleaning.
One thing that bugs me is that they tend to leave the door open (not just unlocked but actually open) when they are in there. It causes issues with the air conditioner. Plus a quick enough thief could get in and take something and get back out while they were in cleaning the bathrooms.

Yes, I agree, no need to change sheets daily. We usually do our own dishes, and the maid puts them away.

Amazing.

Daily cleaning is no longer automatic at Beachside Villas. If you want your unit cleaned , you hang the cleaning card on your door on the days you want cleaning. If you want daily cleaning, you can also tell the housekeepers on the day you arrive and they will make note of it. I often find daily cleaning a bit excessive as I always make my bed every morning and no problem keeping everything tidy.

Interesting. That is changed from June 2022. I don't make my own bed on island. I guess we will have to decide whether to have them come in every day or not.

That and those pesky mosquitoes have free entry with those doors open.

We didn't get that message in our room, but I heard others did.

We were never told to hang the card if we want the service. One of the maids told us about new rules and ask want service do we want. They are not happy about new rules at all as they still have to be there to put in the hours to earn a base pay but no tips.

The Villas at Simpson Bay did a mid week cleaning for our 2 week stay in November just like they have been doing for years. They also leave at least an additional set of all towels (bath and kitchen) and sheets. We did not have to leave the unit while cleaning. I was always out at the pool, beach or snorkeling my wife would sometimes be on the balcony while they cleaned. We also wash the dishes and put them away before they come.
Bob

I am surprised that they would make that change considering the high AMF's that they have, they have to be the only two time share resorts on island that are doing that. La Vista this last trip was the same as normal which I think possibly do the best job of any of the staff's we have dealt with. Midweek cleaning and every day we get clean towels and garbage removal. Often they would do the dishes or also make our bed, note that we do tip. They also work with us if we happen to be at the unit and it just never is an issue. Towers was great back in the day and as much as Sea Palace and Sapphire are not exactly premium places we had very good housekeeping. Royal Islander gives you a whole basket of extra towels but still do midweek cleaning. Just don't get that cut by Flamingo/RP, surprised to hear about it.

Some like us like the change, others probably not. Never had a problem with getting extra towels or linens. There were always extras stored in the closet if needed. Who knows if they revert back to midweek cleaning or keeping the way it is. Whatever happens I'll accept it. Not about to get my panties in a bunch over it.

I think the part that you wear panties is a bit of over sharing, and I get that you can live with as you have stated I was just surprised that those two resorts of any on island made that change. No real big deal to me as long as other place don't follow along. Enjoy the Seattle weather!

But not surprising.

When I checked in, I was not told about it so after two days when housekeeping did not come, I went over to the housekeeping building to inquire. They told me to hang the card on the door handle the days I wanted them to come. They gave me a card since there was none in the room. I am not sure if this is something they are trying or if it will be permanent. They said many people did not want daily housekeeping for various reasons. This was new to me too, but it was not really a problem.

We do every three days at BSV, we inform "our" girl Joanie that she can have the unit to herself. Some of our friends like us have become quite close with the gal's that service our units. Some hang back to catch up!! IMHO, those people renting "TS" and only getting once a week service. That is unacceptable and I would never stand for that, nor would I pay extra!! Vacating the room so housekeeping can clean??? What if it's one of those days that you want to hang back, or one of those rainy days where leaving the unit isn't an option!!! Just another reason "TS" are off my list and never leave Beachside villas!!

We have no need for every day cleaning...we would rather just have our privacy uninterrupted.. At SBR during our two week stay they do a cleaning on Wednesdays and on Sunday and on the rare occasion that we return to the unit during or before cleaning we usually just hang out on the deck while they do their thing.

I think our preferences come from the many VRBO or long term private rentals we have every year where there is NO cleaning...so twice a week is a perk that can be planned for

It's definitely a personal preference like many other things while on vacay

Todd, our mutual friend who stayed at Flamingo as a hotel guest last December had quite a problem getting housekeeping services.

Like you, I'm very happy with the housekeeping at La Vista.

I was always very satisfied with the housekeeping when we still had our Towers timeshare weeks and very pleased still with the service at BSV. We were made aware of the changes in their room cleaning status. Basically all I want our maid to do is make the bed daily so knothing really changed for us. Our maid is Smarthie and she is the best but they are all very good and totally trustworthy!

We tend to be on the neat side and I do my own dishes such as we dirty so in all honesty, daily service is wasted on us.

And for the few that may not realize it, the maids truthfully do appreciate your generous tips.

Todd--God knows, I disagree with Scuba on about every subject on the planet, but his statement is a pretty generic statement that I would wager may have even crossed your lips at least once in your lifetime.

Not uncommon now for even big name brand hotels to cut back on housekeeping to save money. On SXM we just stayed at Marys Boon Hotel on Simpson Bay a month ago but they did provide daily housekeeping and sheet change as required or requested at no extra charge. It's nice to come back from the beach and have everything clean, looking and smelling good and one reason we love a hotel that provides services like housekeeping , Restaurant, Bar, etc and good staff. It's very hard to find good staff now and why services in Restaurants , hotels etc slow or slacking. The Island seemed very busy too.

Of course Carol, but it is Scoob and I am pretty sure he can handle a jab, I think he fishes for them. For the record I was sober at that time as well, guess I should have used one of those smileys or something.

9 days until island time! Whooop whoooop!

Todd--Ok, thanks.

Enjoy!