TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Awful Saturday arrival

Arrived Sat. Feb. 24 on AA at 4:15 with son and wife. 3 of us had checked luggage. Line was out the door as there were 3 planes ahead of us, and one behind us. I was in a wheelchair so we were escorted past the lines. Husband and I were taken to special line, but staff did slip son and wife into nearby line. They got through immigration before us because there were several other wheelchairs in our line ahead of us. Then we waited 2 hours before our flight's luggage came up. Finally left the airport at 6:30. Worst arrival experience in 29 years.

That is just terrible!!! One would think???? Let's rebuild the arrival department first!! This way our new and returning passengers have a pleasant experience coming into our country!!!! I've written to the department of tourism, nada chirping!!! As long as they don't have to put more staff on to speed things along, they just don't care! You are on the island!! Have a few rum punches and enjoy the sand gravity!!

Sorry to hear that. But at least now you are there!

And more of the same with the same people running the show. Very sorry for your expereince. I will find out for myself in about 2 weeks.

Hopefully the rest of your trip is uneventful.

We went in November and it was not good, and it sounds like it has gotten worse and I just can't understand how they could do any worse. More people standing around doing nothing? Will be there in two weeks landing on a Sunday, already warned the friends coming with us. It just shouldn't be that difficult to move luggage and get people through.

We were in that mess with you. We were on the Delta that landed right after 4. Yep. 2 hours waiting. And it was sticky and stagnant.But now we are having a great time. Hope you have an amazing trip after that goat rope we went through Saturday.

KitKat and FatCat--that's kind of funny, that is both your names!! Anyway, hope to hear lots about the GREAT parts of your trip!

Thanks Carol. I'm keeping notes, especially of the food. Trying to get pictures but my family does set upon our plates like starving hyenas pouncing on a wounded zebra. We are in Orient Village as usual. A couple of new places to check out plus an ice cream shop. Trying one new to us place, Le Bouchon, tonight.

Yes we are having a great time. More rain than usual for this time of year. Got a nice photo of a beautiful rainbow this morning. Now the sun is shining nicely. Have gone to Chesterfields, Oceans82 and La Rosa so far. Plan The Mix at Divi tonight and Emilios tomorrow night. Lunches at Divi, Sunset Beach Bar, Greenhouse, Gingerbread, and leftovers at home. Next week the kids are gone, so will be a little more relaxing.

You had lunch at Divi? Where did you go? And WHY?

Yes, little showers seem almost a daily thing for some part of the island. We had one of those pop up downpours yesterday at Kontiki. I always know when TIntemarre is getting rain I might better make plans to dash to cover. Husband always laughs at me hustling out of the rain at the beach "because the last thing you would ever want is to get wet... at the beach." 😏

But otherwise, the weather has been ideal and it looks like a carbon copy of yesterday out there. We are off to Marigot for shopping and lunch today.

Glad to read you are having such a great time.

Icote -- We are staying at Divi, so we had lunch at the Seabreeze by the pool on Sunday while we figured out with our guests what to do the rest of the week. Good thing we planned ahead and made reservations, or we would have had a long wait for dinner. May have to do that for lunch too at some of our favorites next week.

Ah, that makes more sense. I didn't realize you were staying there. That is our home resort and we love it there.....except for the food which has gone from absymal to mediocre and back. I will say the Mix, while expensive, was good!

Arriving with carry-on luggage only, is there a way to bypass the line? Thanks.

From what I've read, it is yes or no depending on who you ask, but more towards the "no " lately...