TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Belair sold?

Just saw this - https://www.smn-news.com/index.php/...sWiKLjr4_LNgE_aem_5EAH8qsEwO2JiREITTWSag

Looks like the new owner has big plans.

Lots of unknowns. Lots of employees and timeshare folks wondering but hopefully all will be receiving good news. Stay tuned to learn what is actually planned. Belair has always been a great location with hard working staff and good security. We look forward to upgrades and all that has been neglected for too long.

Sometimes new ownership proves positive. When Suntara sold to Diamond it saved the Resorts and when it was then sold to Hilton it turned out even better for the owners like me.

Not surprised since they seemed to be having money and other issues for a while. It will be interesting to hear more details. As long as the buyer purchased the current company obligations not just the assets and it wasn’t anything to do with a foreclosure everybody should be protected.

All depends how your original owners contract reads.

..which I assume 99% of t/s 'owners' never read before they signed up..

Safe to say.

I wouldn't be surprised if they build "Up" since, unlike the French side, Dutch side has no limits on height of buildings.

Does anyone remember that there used to
Be a casino next to Belair? Wipes out in 1995 I think? Or am I imagining this?

I do remember something about that but it was not there when we stayed there in '99

Kim, are you referring to the casino that was at Divi back then?

Yes, I remember the casino. It was short lived and built late 80s or early 90s. Since we stayed at Belair we checked it out. It was small compared to the established casinos at the time and I think it closed even before Luis hit the island. It was on the opposite side of currrent Gingerbread restaurant.

Tom, we’ve been going since 1984 and I can’t say that I recall it being there, but you would know better as you stayed there, thanks

The name of the casino was "Claestae" but I'm not sure how to spell it. Many of the people who worked there came from the Divi after it closed. The manager was a cheat. He would deal single deck, Caribbean poker and wouldn't allow a cut. One night he dealt himself 3 queens- 3 hands in a row.

Wow, somebody has a much better memory than I. I just confirmed with my son, who was about 13 when he and I visited the casino next to Belair. I am glad we never played poker but just watched others gamble. My son agreed that it was only there for a couple years at most.

There was a casino at the Great Bay Resort on the way to Belair.

Kim there was a casino at the old Little Bay Beach and Racket Club next to Belair.

It also had a deli, dining options and a dance floor with music acts. Then it was sold to Divi and the only thing that carried over was a deli. I miss Little Bay Club so much! Another person who always stayed there took up a place in Anse Marcel. He said he didn't want any part of the glitz the new place would bring. He wanted peace and quiet that Little Bay Club always had.

Het Tom, do you remember Gingerbread cafe was called Yellow Bird cafe and all those yellow birds used to perch waiting for sugar bits?

Great Bay Casino was a much better choice if you wanted to play blackjack. One of the dealers named Jimmy could tell you the next card even though he was dealing from a six deck shoe. He even showed me how he did it. He would only do it if you were losing and he didn't want you to leave.