TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Demographics of TTOL members? age/loc

Late 40's from Western Wisconsin. Been going to SXM since first trip in 2010, otherwise we were going to the Caymans, Turks & Caicos, Mexico but found SXM with vast diversity & direct flights out of MSP.

We are both 60 y/o's from northeastern PA near Scranton. Have been traveling to SXM almost every year since we discovered SXM during our honeymoon in 1986! We bought one week timeshare at the Royal Islander preconstruction in 1986 and now own a total of three weeks. We love our yearly vacations in SXM:-)

Dont forget us up here in Canada....age group 48-63...been coming to sxm only since 2005....hardly want to go anywhere else. But the Canadian dollar is not good, plus now I read about extra departure taxes....ouch...oh well,,it "is" paradise to us. Kinda like headin to the cottage at Sauble Beach Canada,,,we now know our way around pretty good,,and the island is amazing, not to mention our winters are cold! Cannot wait till January 2017. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Hubby & I are 64, and from CT. We've been coming to St Martin since 1992 and have only missed 2 years- 1 due to a hurricane and 2014 due to health reasons, but made up for that in 2015 with 2 trips. We stayed at Divi for the first 2 trips, and since then, have stayed at GCBC with the last 2 trips staying part of the trip in a private studio in French Cul de Sac.We just returned last night from our longest trip(21 days) and miss it already.

We are mid 50's and adding to the Canadian demographic. We are from Ottawa Ontario. Unfortunately no direct flights but only one connection in Toronto. This will be our first time and we are staying on the French side. From the replies on this thread, it would seem that there is a danger or perhaps we should say sweet reward that we may fall in love with the place.

Will we be seeing a trip report soon? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

My wife and I are in early 70's Newbies being going to St. Maarten for 10 years

My hubby is 55 and I just turned 50. We are from Ontario Canada. Made our 1st trip here 12 years ago 1 month after we started dating. The next year he proposed to me while on the island and the following year we celebrated our anniversary in St Maarten. Have been coming now 12 years steady making our 15th trip in 5 weeks Can't wait! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

It will be the sweet reward version. Have fun and fill us in on your exploits.

My husband is 33 and I'm 32. We are from East Tennessee. We discovered St. Martin by booking it on a whim in 2012 and have been back every year and sometimes twice a year ever since. Will be there again the week after Thanskgiving!

Dustin and Ian

We're from upstate NY and in our 60's. Started going to SXM in 1992 and have only missed one year since then.

50 ish and based in the UK

Maybe a short one on our activities. We are friends with Cruzer, so the food/restaurant info would mostly be a repeat!

MJ and I are in our early 50's, started going in 2002 because that is where we got a TS Exchange to by chance. We have been going back since and sometimes multiple times per year.

This upcoming trip we will pass the 300 nights on island mark, and we have stayed at 24 different resorts in a total of 36 buildings and one sailboat. Mostly on the Dutch side.

23 days until we touch down at SXM!
Cheers!

We are in our mid 60's. We're from Nassau county and the east end of Long Island. We came over to TTOL from the old prodigy board. I remember the push to get 100 registered. I've had to re register many times. (Something to do with my cookies ??). We've made numerous trips to SXM and was on island for hurricane Lenny. Wow! Love TTOL and our home away from home. Thank you Carol and Eric. Anon Ellie

We are in our early 70's. live in Westchester, NY and the east end of Long Island. Have been traveling to Sxm for the last 38 years and many years twice a year. However, now we travel to Italy at least twice a year. We have never missed a year in Sxm and look forward to Feb. 9

NH resident for 45 years (Massachusetts transplant) and 63. My beautiful bride is from Ottawa Canada, age withheld for self preservation. SXM has been our favorite destination for 15 years with the French side being our preference.

58 & 59 from Utah. First trip to SXM was the result of this website. Our 7th trip is coming soon. Thanks Carol & Eric!

Early 50's for us from San Antonio TX. First trip in 2013 then returned in 2014 and 2015. Went to St John USVI this year.

Looking to return in 2017!

We are also old Windjammers. I met Pat on the Mandalay in 1997 and were married in a geezer wedding in my native California. Our first anniversary in 1998 was back to back on the Poly and that weekend we bought a condo at Monte Vista. Five months a year until 2012. Now we are too rickety to travel much, but we keep up with TTOL.

Our WJ trip was in '03 or '04. The agent offered a 10% discount if we paid in advance. I asked what would happen to my money if they went bankrupt or something, Hah! he said - we've been in business since the 40s, we're stable. Couple of years later we decided to go again - they had gone kaput.
3/4 of the people on the cruise got sick, including the captain, and ME. Never been so sick, thankfully it started around 6:00AM, by 2:00 PM I was drinking Bloody Marys. It was a virus that had started in St Maarten. Captain said half the people on island had gotten it.

Cruzer, I think you are on island now? We get there next Saturday, staying in Orient Village.

We are on the island now at GCBC, move to Mary's Boon on Monday, and, sadly, leave Thursday.

Unfortunately, we had bought into the WJ timeshare program, and only used 2 of the 10 weeks before they went belly up. Still, we have fond memories of those cruises.

And, I don't think I ever got sick, except maybe once after too much Jack Iron rum.

We're in our early 60's and from Phoenix, AZ. Our first trip was in 2004.

48 and from Philadelphia. First trip to SXM was 2007.

My husband and I are 40 and 45 yrs old. We ended up in St. Maarten in 2007 when my mom gifted us her interval time share to use. We stayed at the pelican that year but found the La Vista Resort,bought a week there and have been returning every year since. St Marrten is a wonderful place I'll never give up visiting every year.

since 1985 stayed at the old Dawn beach bought at Pelican, now rent from the Villas...im 65 my husband is 55 and we live in NJ

lina

We are 52, from South Dakota. We have loved St Maarten since our first trip in 2004, try to get back every year!!

44, Live in NashVegas

We are Canadian,,age 60 and 49,,,first trip to SXM was in 2005,,stayed at the Old C..in a one bedroom condo. REnted a car,,,travelled a bit....been trying to go every other year since....only missed one....loved the island and the fact that we are not all inclusive people,,,like to stay in a condo somewhere. Usually travel in January or February to get out of the cold for a week. One day would like to make our trip longer,,,but heck we have a lot on our bucket list!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

We're both in our mid 50s. We've been owners at Flamingo Beach since 1998. Our last time on the island was 2013 but we'll be back again for 2 weeks in June. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Early 40's (!), from Jersey, but my parents are from SXM. So I've been coming here since before I was born <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Mid 70's and came here first in 1992 on a cruise...Son bought timeshare at Pelican while we were stopped here and have been coming twice a year since 1992..

I'm in my mid-50's from Rhode Island. My Dad started going to SXM in the late 80's as a guest of friends who owned at Royal Islander La Plage. He bought three weeks in March soon after. I started going in March '94, and my sister in March '96. We own two weeks at Royal Islander in you guessed it - March <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> Dad still owns his 3 weeks and rents 8 or 9 weeks around them at La Plage. What a way to escape most of Winter - he's my idol! His next trip down is on New Years Eve, staying until 3/25.

While Royal Islander is home, my sister and I have also stayed at Port de Plaisance (displaced due to Royal Islander's closure from Lenny), Pelican, and Ocean Club.

We've met SO many longtime SXM friends through this message board - so grateful for TTOL <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> As a matter of fact, I "met" my SXM buddy Gretchen here ages ago. We figured out via posting that my Dad is good friends with Gretchen's Mom via Royal Islander. We met in person the next trip and we're BFF's to this day <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I am 69 from Albany NY, I hadn't posted this until now, but my wife Amy passed away from pancreatic cancer shortly after our return from our annual St. Maarten vacation. I am planning to return again in March with my friend Rita, whose husband Tom died just 8 days after our vacation 2 years ago. Rita and I have many great memories, but this next trip may be our last. We have TS in 3 different resorts. Towers, Royal Palm and LaTerrasse. They are consecutive weeks and contrary to what you would think would be a hassle, we enjoyed moving around to new views, pools and restaurants. Amy and I forst visited in 1985 and bought our first TS in 95 with Rita and Tom. We had a great 20 year run.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ti...spx?page=lifestory&pid=179962111

Warren--thanks for posting your story. I hope you have a wonderful trip in March..

I am so very sorry for your loss though happy you will return to a place
that has given you such joy and so many happy memories.

I have read your story and will admit that I cannot and would not suggest that I know or understand your loss as well as your friend, Rita's loss.

I have found, (for what it is worth) that life often offers us decisions as we bravely try to move ahead. You will make the right decision for you and Rita will do the same.
Good luck my friend.
TG

So sorry for the loss of your wife. May your wonderful memories of your previous vacations together in St. MAARTEN help to ease the pain at this difficult time. I sincerely hope you and your friend will find peace on your upcoming trip.

Condolences in your loss.

western ny here