Jim

I think the recent (June 2000) gang rape of an American tourist is cause for alarm. She was pulled from her rental car.

amber

I have been to many caribbean islands that I loved & thought were absolutely breathtaking. St. Martin is not on that list. If you are offended by my comments about my trip to St. Martin, DON'T READ THEM. That is pretty simple to do. My whole point in posting my trip report on all of those other sites was so to warn other tourists who have never been to St. Martin. They really do not know what to expect if everyone raves about how great this place is. I know that I never want to be in that place again & I never will.

Chas

Amber: <BR> <BR>I had read some of your earlier posts and agree that you did deserve some criticism because of your presentation. <BR> <BR>I have read your more recent posts and they definitely should be posted and are welcome because they do provide an objective point of view. <BR> <BR>Thank you.

dee-n-california

is there any joy in your life did anyone have a good time, wow, if you pay the money too go somewhere u should make it a goal too have fun no matter where you are????? dee n california

Patricia

I don't know what their agenda is, but please, please ignore the bashing. <BR> <BR>We just returned from one week at the Great Bay Hotel in Philipsburg. The most wonderful vacation ever. We have been to Hawaii, Jamaica, Antigua, Cozumel and therefore feel qualified to assess (not compare, because each location has its unique features and problems for tourists). <BR> <BR>We drove around the island visting the different beaches. Orient beach was a blast! Those who say it is full of "swingers" need to grow up. (I hadn't heard that term since the seventies). We did NOT find the beaches littered....in fact, the beaches are in better condition than most in North America. There was one "look-out" south of Orient Bay that looked like a popular drinking spot - but you have to ask who put the litter there. <BR> <BR>We took day excursions to St Barths, Anguilla, and Prickle Pear - fun rides on the cats (Heidleburg crew to Anguilla and Prickle Pear were the best we have ever had). Anguilla's sand is like baby power. Great snorkeling at the latter two islands. Best salad ever at Le Repaire in Gustavia, St. Barths. <BR> <BR>Our hotel was clean, well-maintained, and the staff were nice comfortable "friendly". Great Bay is nicely appointed on the beach within walking distance of Philipsburg shopping - great shopping. Greenhouse restaurant - great food - best customer service around - the chef and host visiting our table to ask about our satisfaction - each night. <BR> <BR>There is still evidence of the hurricanes. Some resorts have not recovered - unfortunate - but it was an experience to see how powerful a hurricane can be. <BR> <BR>Rental vehicles are not big, powerful, and plushy and ours had a few bangs (Hhm! I wonder who did that). But it got us around the island several times. <BR> <BR>We spoke to a transplanted local (a young woman who is a world-traveler) in Marigot about crime. What she described was no different than what we hear on our radios every day about North American cities and towns. She and hotel/car rental staff did advise us to act like responsible tourists - don't walk in unlit areas at night - don't leave anything in the car - say no to anything that is illegal. Sounds like advise I would give any tourist anywhere. <BR> <BR>If you would like a few pictures - highlights and hurricane damage - respond by e-mail.

Kris

Yes, very interested in pictures. Thanks

Marian

Bennie - <BR> <BR>I just saw this posting, and I only wish that I too had read it before I went to st martin. The funny thing is that our observations are quite similar. You must also live near NYC to be able to make a comparison. I however liken the Island to Harlem. It's actually semi-safe to walk around during the day, but you have a nervous sick feeling the whole time. It's a little worse with the constant harrassment from the shop owners in Phillipsburg. My favorite saying was "I hate shopping, leave me alone"

Barbara

Marian <BR>you are absolutely out of your mind. to compare St. Maarten with Harlem is absolutely ridiculous or is that because there are a lot of Black people in both places and you simply are nervous around Black people? <BR>I lived in NYC for many years and have lived in St. Maarten for many years. I know both places initimately.There is no comparison

marian

I was amused that a different person had the same opinion as I. You should be more concerned that it was compared to the South Bronx. I would go back to Harlem, I lived only a short distance from. There is alot of culture, and the vendors don't harrass you. It also amuses me that you have lived in both places! Maybe you should move back to NY, unless you are still woking on your tan. <BR> <BR>PS. As much as my visit to st martin pained me, I am aware that a storm is headed your way. My thoughts are with you.

Barbara

Marian <BR>I worked in the South Bronx for years. you are still out of your mind. there is... and I repeat...no comparison. and I would never move back to NY although I love that city and visit often. it too is a dump but I still love it... and if I didn't love it, I would just keep my big mouth shut about it <BR>and please don't worry about us and that storm. we are proud strong people who live here and we will handle whatever comes our way

marian

Is your family from St Martin? <BR> <BR>If not, what are the immigration laws that you have to abide by. ie: Do you need a work visa or anything of the sought. Just curious!

Barbara

my husband is from St. Maarten and , yes, you neeed a work permit to work and a residency permit to live here. there are many people residing here illegally though, unfortunately

Bill

I have been to Sint Maarten and will not go back for personal reasons. <BR> <BR>After reading many postings it is obvious that Barbara is Sint Maarten's biggest fan. I found one of her postings on a different board that I thought was interesting. So I paste it here: <BR> <BR>Author: Barbara ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 8/11/2000, 10:57 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: every day it is a different story. today the story is that Carnival is not pulling out but is replacing the Fascination with a new ship, The Spirit. a smaller boat will be calling in between during the off season <BR>the Disney Magic starts calling on Tuesday but will not be using the new docking facilities on the first trip.I guess they want to check things out <BR>This is good news for the merchants in sburg. The bad news is that the problems still have to be addressed or else St. Maarten really will lose cruise ship business.I hope this is a wake up call for the govenment to get its act together and start enforcing the regulations sot hat tourists getting off the cruise ships are not being harassed <BR> <BR> <BR>- Maybe Barbara would like to elaborate on the "problems" that need addressing and the tourists being "harassed". <BR> <BR>Respectfully Submitted, <BR>Bill

Chas

Bill: <BR> <BR>If you've checked all of the other St Martin boards you would know which issues that Barbara is refering to. <BR> <BR>Bill, if that's who you are; I find it strange that you enter this thread by reposting a message from another board, yet you did not look for a response from that board; only this one. <BR> <BR>Of course we'd never know if you posted on another board since you don't like to be identified with any single name. <BR> <BR>Now run along and bother someone else for a change; your act is getting old.

Barbara

Bill <BR>I am not St.Maarten's biggest fan actually. But I do live here. it is my home and I am proud of my home and at the same time acknowledge the many problems we have <BR>I post postive things on the BB when I can. I also try to answer as honestly as I can the criticisms of St.Maarten.. some of the posts are honest and fair comments and some are just malicious lies and trashing. Those are the posts that make me furious because they are so untrue <BR>It would probably take a book to address all the problems facing St. Maarten. We have had 7 hurricanes in 5 years and it has devastated our economy. There is more unemployment than ever before. Major hotels are still closed and people are hurting financially. <BR>The govenment is trying, I guess, to better things, but I don't always agree with what they are doing or how they are doing it or when they are doing it. it is often a problem of too little too late.I do think the French side has addressed their problems more successfully than the Dutch side. <BR>Regarding the tourists being harassed, it is a problem. There are time share people, arts and crafts people, car rental people,etc.,etc.. all looking for a sale. I get it too when I walk down Frontstreet in Philipsburg. I must say though that my personal opinion is that it is nowhere nearly as bad as it is in Jamaica. <BR>But the govenment needs to puts controls on.They say they are going to stop the people from being on the piers and the streets. They have said that before.I hope they really mean it this time because it is getting out of hand. <BR>St. Maarten, I think, is a great island. We are very developed. we have people from all over the world living here. We have over 300 gourmet restaurants here. we have a busy night life. we have beautiful beaches.But we are not a laid back sleepy little place. We also have traffic, crime( although not as much as is indicated on these ), and garbage. I hope the island can clean up its act because I do understand that some of the problems turn people off. Many other tourists come here and love the place and come back again and again. so we are not all good, but we aren't all bad either. <BR>and all I am trying to do here is show both sides of the island <BR>

Patricia

Barbara, we have communicated before. We just returned for SXM a few weeks ago. We now have another favourite place to go on vacation. <BR> <BR>I find it odd that people perceive that they are being "harrassed" by storekeepers and vendors in St. Phillipsburg. There are hundreds of shops; people go there to shop; it's all part of the atmosphere and St. Martin is not the only island (country for that matter) that has street vendors who call out to tourists. When my partner and I were not interested, we simply and politely said "No, thank you". The vendors always responded pleasantly. <BR> <BR>As for timeshare sales, again St. Martin is not unique. However, the biggest culprits in St. Martin for us were the North Americans trying to get us interested in their timeshares. At least the locals were honest in their approach and politely backed off when we told them we were not interested. Incidently, we were only approached twice by locals. The North Americans used the guise of friendship and polite conversation. My partner and I didn't realize that we had been tagged-teamed and "qualified" until we compared our notes at the end of the day. Needless to say we felt betrayed and returned their call telling them that we weren't interested in meeting with them "for drinks".

Barbara

Hi Patricia <BR>how are you? glad you enjoyed your trip. <BR>your comments about the North American time share people made my chuckle. you are so right. I have had that happen to me also here. It was also the same last year when I visited Hawaii. I think time share people are the same all over the world. and, you are right, the locals who have that job are more polite and back off when you say thank you. They have not yet learnmed how to be the hustlers that the North Americans are.

PGFKR

HI IM A BIG FAT SLOB.I AM AFRAID OF BLACK PEOPLE.I DONT LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE DONT KISS MY ASS.I LOVE CRUISE SHIPS.I AM TOTALLY OUT OF SHAPE AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS COMPLAIN ABOUT PEOPLE NOT KISSING MY BIG PAT PAIL UGLY ASS.I LOVE TO EAT AND WHINE.MY HUSBAND NEVER FUCKS ME.I HATE ST MARTIN

debbie

i do not know why i want to enter the fray but it is sad when people are bashed for their opinions. This is why we read these boards. I do not want to take our one vacation a year and have it ruined by crime or rude people so if someones opinion is going to help us have a wonderful vacation than i am grateful for it. We went to St. Martin years ago and it pains me to hear how it has changed - we could drive all over the island - the police carried nightsticks and the people were wonderful and the restaurants in Grand Case were the best and most romantic we have ever been to. It is sad. I guess what we all have to remember is these beautiful pieces of paradise are still 3rd world countries with very poor people and as usual a few spoil it for the rest!

All Lies

First of all, Bennie posted this 1 year and 2 months ago. He's so full of SHIT it's unbelievable. <BR> <BR>I was in St. Martin 3 months ago and it was absolutely fantastic in every respect. If anyone lets Bennie's post affect their vacation plans, they're as silly as he is. It's obvious Bennie had a little problem with something on St. Martin. Maybe he saw a few naked people on Orient Beach and it freaked him out. Who knows? Whatever it was, he's a fool and a troublemaker.