TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin SXM article in local paper

Can't say I've ever been to this particular place... http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/bamboozled_oh_rats_vermin_and_other_problems_ruin.html

I've been in their pool dozens of times, but have only seen two-legged swimmers. Sounds like they weren't happy before they ever checked in.

I don't believe them!

Sad to see how dumb my fellow NJsians are in the comments section who are travel ignorant. Something doesn't smell right about this guy's story either.

I honestly am not a big SBR fan, but many of their complaints seem way overexagerated. As far as rats, there are rats in the Caribbean for sure, but again, the whole story seems somewhat overblown. SBR is not some flea ridden motel, but a large resort, which overall provides a decent product. Does the internet work like high speed internet at home? No. Are there occasional electric/water/cable/whatever outages anywhere on SXM? Yes. As far as maid service, SBR is a timeshare, which means that in general, maid service is ONCE per week, not every day. As far as the keys not working, not sure what the story was on that, but keys are often de-magnitized, if you keep them in your pocket with metals. And no, there is nowhere in the resort which is a half MILE from the reception desk. Lots of hyperbole here..

My travel experience to SXM via JetBlue Getaways was completely different. $4800 for a family of SIX, stayed at the Villas at Simpson Bay Resort in April 2014. It was a wonderful vacation experience for all of us!,

My first impression of the story was "those folks need to stay out of the Caribbean". Kind of cracked me up with how he kept referring to "what the website said". Wonder if this guy ever saw the photos of Cane Garden Bay on Tortola that the cruise lines use. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been staying at this resort for 10 years and there is no way this is true. Rats running all over the place? Give me a break. Jumping from the bar to the pool? I don't think so. We had our electricity go out in our unit one night. Just ours. every time the breaker box was reset it would last 5 minutes. We were in the middle of cooking dinner. Not only did they help us pack up our belongings and move is to the new villa but the gave us a voucher to get dinner at the stone restaurant to replace our ruined dinner..there were 5 of us so it wasn't cheap. They've come along way since I started staying there years ago. Their employees have always been wonderful---well not always but noticed a HUGE improvement when I went twice last year. Shame on the newspaper for publishing that.

Carol. 1/2 mile is what really made me laugh. Perhaps they were walking from pineapple Pete's and I'm not even sure that's 1/2 mile.

I have to say, re-reading the note, I think most of it is [email]cr@p.[/email] They got mosquito bites??? Oh the humanity!

Some people will do anything for a refund and a free vacation. I bet SBR will settle with them with a hefty refund just to shut them up.

Yes, you're probably right, which is a shame.. And of course, the travel "writer" had no obligation to investigate anything these poor people said, who were so totally duped and taken by SBR... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

You don't have to read very far into the article to figure out exactly what's going on here.

Plus, this feature is called "Bamboozled," which appears to be a regular consumer watchdog column. The author has -zero- incentive to provide a balanced report and every incentive to play up the problem and show they are standing up for the poor, abused consumer.

Sadly, that is the majority of "journalism" today. One sided and without proper investigation.

Having owned at SBRM (former Pelican) since 1984 (and visiting there annually) I agree with most of the posts. The resort is not over-run with rats. Mosquitoes are to be found on the island especially during the rainy months. Hot water is supplied by solar units on most of the buildings - there is about a minute lag from turn on to water being hot. We just returned from our annual trip last week, having spent two weeks in the older part of the complex (note: our unit was refurbished in 2012 and is gorgeous), Noticed no mosquitoes on island (it has been dry - just brief showers), have seen no rats on resort (some on island in our travels); staff including maintenance, security, housekeeping, and admin are all helpful and friendly. Grounds are manicured and not a scrap of trash was noticed. I won't make a judgement on the mindset of the individuals involved, but SBRM is NOT the place they describe in the article.

Maybe you should share this with Jet Blue OR with that newspaper. I know someone who always claims to get mistreated and gets refunds. I don't think that's right so if I had 1st hand knowledge of SBR I would certainly "out" that guy.

Oh, by the way we saw a rat on the rocks at a resort once. These are known as water rats. And that was at a very expensive place in Glochester Mass during a Tuna tournament. That's one reason when we stay at Divi I'm very glad to see cats walking the wall. Bugs, rodents, animals exist everywhere---sometimes they become visible.

He said that the pool bar was in the middle of the pool. I can't remember any of the bars being in the middle.

SBR apparently re-did their website and I can't find it now, but there used to be a webcam with view of a pool that had a bar in the middle of it. Not sure which pool that was though.

It's the villa pool bar. It's not in the middle. You can swim up to it or walk and sit on the other side. Great bartender named metal. I'm sure there are rats. Can't get away from that but with them living in New Jersey---nyc is the worst for rats. Friend lives there and said -you should see garbage day.

We stayed on another island in a very large high end villa with a group of first timers to the Caribbean. This was a very well maintained 5 acre estate with all the bells and whistles. One evening a couple of us waited for others in the driveway, we sat on a short stone wall, my hands were palms down ob the wall, yep a tree rat, black rat, rattus rattus or whatever you want to call it literally came down the wall and sniffed my hand!! I felt it and jumped up watching that vermon scamper away. These rats are everywhere, just sit still at night near any wall, they will come! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Lol Beerman
Never seen one there and hope I never do. April should be fun as now I'll be more aware of looking for them. It's their island so who are we to judge lol.

My sister lives in Scottsdale, AZ and they have roof rats or tree rats here. I think they are drawn to the warmer climates. I guess even rats need a vacation now and again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I think the trick is NOT to be aware. We didnt see any at NBBC, but Im sure Ben was out there. I do look for the big black bait traps, that means the management is proactive. Once when my daughter was very young and sitting on the great room floor of a beach front villa we saw a tarantula working its way through a patio door, its dead, that one still wigs me out! And I've learned to shake out my running shoes....scorpions! It is the tropics, cant have thin skin! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

omg! we have been here since 1985...from the B building to the Marina and now the Villas....what a crock of crap...he's just looking for a free ride 100% of it. We've seen roaches maybe 2 times in our room and have been moved with no problems..anyway at least he's getting over 1k from jet blue.

...now if that story had been about Caravanseri or Sapphire a year or so ago, everyone here would have probably been in agreement! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

What I don't understand is why the OP felt compelled to post such a weird story?

I put it up to get input from people who go there, to see if this story has any bearing on reality. Problem with that?

We have been going to Simpson Bay Resort twice a year since 1989 and even before the renovation, we never had anything near the experiences described in the original post. I agree with the many other responses this person is out to "get" something.

We've been staying at the Pelican( SBRM) for years. Did these people really stay there. Certainly sounds like a place that we don't know. Really sounds like they want a free vacation. Shame Shame

We're at SBR right now. I would never recognize the place for the article. We've never experienced ANYTHING like that and we're been coming since 1996. There simple is not pool bar as they describe. It's a timeshare, not a hotel. Sheets are changed only once a week. Maybe they don't like their own smell. The newly remodeled rooms are wonderful It's a great resort and I hate to see it disparaged unfairly like this. It's too bad there is no way to post comments to the article. I agree that the people sound like they are deliberately out to get something for nothing.

You can post on the article if you register with them.

I have been a timeshare owner at said Resort since 1992...Go there twice a year for 2 weeks at a time...Have NEVER seen any of what the poster speaks of....Few mosquitos now and then but they are all around the world and not exclusive to SXM....And rats,,, they are everywhere also....They are part of life...I am so sorry to read this article and see the bum rap that Pelican/SimpsonBayResort is taking for this...They are a first class operation..

I have been going since the 80's and have never, ever, had such poor conditions. This is simply not true. The real shame is that the article appeared online at nj.com and in print in the New Jersey Star Ledger. This is the big New Jersey paper based in Newark that covers the whole state. Many, many people read it. It is ridiculous that these people were already refunded $1000!

Sxmscuba. Thanks. Going to register and post my comments. Also sending an email to jetbluevacations people like this have no shame.