Anon

What does that matter?

Anon2

Anon: If you don't know the answer, then intellectually you are can't afford the explanation.

Anon

Anon2: It's turned into a good debate. When the issue started is irrelevant. Obviously you need an explanation.

bubba

I have been to St. Maarten twice. Unfortunately from a cruise ship. But I am going back this November for a week. <BR>There are good and bad with all destinations. If you are going to travel you have to have an open mind, if you don't you should stay home. <BR>I have been in Africa (3 times),Indonesia, Seychelles (twice), Hong Kong, Chile, Argentina, most of the Caribbean Islands and Puerto Rico at least 10 times, Jamaica 3 times, Hawaii, Greece, Italy, France, Zanzibar. I've cruised at least 10 times and every time it is different. <BR>You can't expect to go to a place in 1994 and again in 2000 and expect things to look the same. Places change and so should we, find new places to go to and experience them for yourself, everyone has their own opinion and are entitled to it. My first visit to Martinque I wasn't going back, the second I stayed on board the ship, the third time I got off the ship and I love the island now. <BR>People are being attacked by pirates off Cabo, sharks are attacking people in the U.S. hey lets all stay in our houses and watch travel, travel. <BR>Just my opinion.

Jeremy

37 beaches in the caribbean-and you hated it? <BR>2 countries in one- and you hated it? <BR>Access to other islands <BR>Best food <BR>Mountains <BR>White sand beaches <BR>Caribbean sea <BR>Cliffs <BR>Beaches on a runway, beaches on a sandbar, beaches with waves, beaches with food, beaches that are nude. And you hated it? <BR>St martin has it all, it seems. And it seems most people love it and go back many times. Hope im one of them.

Chanda

Went to St. Martin last year & it was the ugliest island that I ever saw. It was dirty, crowded, & overrun with cruise ships. The only good thing that came out og my trip was the platinum ring that I bought. This place was a waste of my money & time. It was traffic hell, stunk like a garbarge dump & looked like one too. There are much prettier places to visit. I should have stayed home.....

Jeremy

How the hell could you have gone to an island and actually HATED it. YOu use no examples in your description, just the same crap that all the bashers write. Didnt mention beaches, food, excursions, hotel. Come on EXPLAIN!

Anonymous

Look, Jeremy, IDIOT -- Chanda DID give you a THOROUGH explanation as to why she hated it! Can't you READ?!? It was ugly, dirty and disgusting to name a few of her remarks! The food and beaches meant NOTHING to her, PERIOD!!!

Jeremy

If she didnt go for the food and beaches, why else did she go to a cairbbean island? to write a book on how the roads were? To sit in the middle of a street at midnight with at briefcase of 100 dollar bill? To say that the caribbean sea and mountains are ugly? She didnt mention an hotel or anything. Your all morons!!!!

what a joke

WHO CARES ABOUT THE BEACHES AND THE MOUNTAINS AND THE FOOD AND THE CULTURE AND THE SHOPPING!!!!!!! THIS ISLAND SUCKS!!!! LOL WHAT A JOKE!!!

Lyn

No, it was the shopping. She went to shop and she came back with a lovely little platinum ring. Isn't that nice???? That's why I go on vacation. I live in a major U.S. city but there's not enough shopping here so I fly all the way to St. Martin to buy a ring...NOT!!!! I've met people like you Chanda....do me a favor and GET A LIFE!!!!!

zz-top

= <BR>This is my first visit to the "Caribbean Islands" section of forum. Prefer to hang out with the eccentrics on the Europe board. Just got off phone chatting with friend who's planning a trip for her 50th birthday in February to St. Martin. She'd gotten some encouraging feedback from other friends who've come here & loved it. <BR> <BR>And now I'm running thru this commentary and geesh, I find it difficult to believe that you're all talking about the same place! Tossing all the vitriol aside, there's alot of very extreme & diametrically opposing views on what this island is all about. It's not merely a "love it" or "hate it" discussion --- sounds more like an argument between 'paradise & idyllic place' and Dante's Inferno. Is there any more level headed opinions on what this island is really like? Any recent visitors who haven't been robbed/raped/pillaged?

Jeremy

The words of my travel agent. <BR>"Your the first person to mention st. martin crime on 25 years." <BR>"You got it from the internet? , who know who those people are" <BR>Dont change your vacation plans because of this.

HaHaHa

This is one of the most entertaining threads on this board. I've actually been to St. Martin (more than once) and I love reading these anti-St. Martin posts!!! They're HILARIOUS! "Overrun with cruise ships"!! Pray tell, how many were there? 20? 30? How about TWO, if that. "Stunk like a garbage dump and looked like one too"!! Face it Chandra, you're a fool. Go back to High School and get a diploma. It'll do you a world of good. <BR> <BR>Please keep it up. This is all just too funny!! How about quicksand? Run across any of that? Killer bees? Packs of wild dogs? C'mon you bunch of nitwits. If you're going to lie, at least do it creatively. Prove to us that you have just a LITTLE intelligence.

J. Tanner

So, how long have you worked for the St. Martin Tourism Board? And why are you afraid to post your real name and e-mail? Sometimes the truth hurts, and the truth is that hurricanes and rampant corruption have resulted in SXM's problems -- unemployment, crime, "filthiness," and other concerns to travelers. YOU can choose to ignore whatever makes you happy, but don't ruin somebody else's Caribbean vacation. There are too many nice islands in the Caribbean Sea to bother with this one. <BR> <BR>

HaHaHa

Yo, J. Tanner - read my lips: <BR> <BR>I-was-just-there. It's-a-great-place. <BR> <BR>Sorry, I don't work the tourism board. Surely you can do better than that. <BR> <BR>

Jan

I'm not sure I need to get mixed up with all this (am mixed up enough on my own, thank you). Haven't been there (yet). We're thinking about going and I was researching the islands prior to the making of reservations. Must say there is vehemence from all sides! I was under the impression that Jamaica was the worst (but better than some place like, say, Haiti ;-) I've yet to see any report in this thread about an actual crime, though (one WITNESSED or EXPERIENCED by a respondent). I think perhaps some people may have assumed they were headed for Fantasy Island and were disappointed by reality. HOWEVER, the fact that Bennie can make a detrimental comparison between 1994 and 2000 DOES matter. A trend is a trend. Is there a comparison from 2000 to present?

Shari

OK Jan, I'm not certain I want to enter the fray either...but here is my recent experience. I stopped in St. Martin in January 1999 for the day, off a criuse. Have traveled to a number of islands for several years and this was my first cruise (and likely my last). Went to Orient Beach for the day. Remember...this is January 1999. I thought Orient was lovely. There were the big CO clubs on each end (actually, the whole beach is CO, but most stay close to the ends). We spent the day in the middle of the beach, sorry...can't remember the name of the little bar/restaurant. Anyway, very pleasant day. Moderate foot traffic on the beach, lots of room to roam around, spread out and play. Even so, St. Martin didn't capture enough interest in me to plan to spend a full vacation there. Too many other lovely islands to visit. <BR>Two years later...January 2001, spent the week in Anguilla and took a day trip to SXM. Again, to Orient Beach. Geez! This isn't even the same place! From one end of the beach to the other...solid people, beach chairs, bars, vendors, couldn't find a quiet spot on the ENTIRE beach!! Every stinking minute, someone wanted to braid my hair. And that's not an exaggeration. Every minute! And the construction and development of property nearby is astounding! Now I know the whole island is not like this. But still, I have no desire to return to SXM. I'm sure if someone gave me a free vacation there, I wouldn't turn it down. I mean hey, at least it's sunny and warm. But when spending my hard earned vacation dollar...I'm gonna look elsewhere. <BR> <BR>SXM has lots of activities and choices, so for some people (especially those who like go-go vacations) it's ideal. I prefer lower-key, quieter, less commercial destinations. Different strokes for different folks. I won't knock those who like St. Martin. Hey...they probably wouldn't enjoy MY little chunk of paradise either!

HaHaHa

Now that's an accurate assessment. Orient Beach (not entirely c.o., by the way) can be very crowded and isn't for everybody. <BR> <BR>I don't have a problem with someone not liking something and I can understand if St. Martin is too built up for some people. But people should be honest in their criticisms and not spread inaccurate information.

Jeremy

Its one beach though, the most popular on the island. Did you shop or eat at grand case or go to the other 36 beaches? I cant judge st. martin (never stepped a foot there) but one beach isnt enough to assume its not a good place to vacation. P.S, when did you go the second time? What time of year?