St. Maarten resorts, thinking of buying

[rlizzie]

Hi, an old, re-registered member here. My husband and I had been traveling the US and the Caribbean for close to 10 years as tag-alongs with friends who are owners at Royal Caribbean in Cancun until 2006 when they traded into Oyster Bay in October of that year. We so loved the resort, it was the first time my husband and I found a resort we thought we could call home. PBBR has a very casual, tropical, light and airy feel to it. There's no marble or brass to bee seen. We bought one week in a studio before the week was out, which can be upgraded to a one or two bedroom within II with a fee before trading. On a subsequent trip Oyster Bay had begun construction on a new one bedroom building and a condo building (and the construction was handled well, still ongoing, but little interference with guests) and we added another week in the new one bedroom building. Beautiful building, the construction should be completed very soon. OBBR is out of the way, but cab service is plentiful, and OBBR is away from the congestion. Car rental is not difficult. The beach is clean, the resort is set high on the coral, so it should be safe from hurricanes (or, safer), and there are several private restaurants in the immediate area, along with the Westin down Dawn Beach. We are early Baby Boomers, so we like getting away from the action - we have too much action in our lives at home! We also recently purchased a one week, two bedroom at Los Abrigados R&S in Sedona AZ, to have a week domesticly.

I would encourage everybody to spend a week at Oyster Bay, the staff is wonderful and the owners and guests are also.

 

[Susie]

Divi

We own at the Divi and have just returned from two weeks there. Although they did get some damage from Omar, they are busy redoing the room that were hit. The entire resort has been refurbished. We love it there!!!

 

[shar]

We own at the Divi Phoenix in Aruba and have traded internally to the Divi Little Bay. This is a plus for the Divi system as you do not have to use RCI or II. You can use RCI and then have priority to trade into another Divi. If yoy buy at Divi make sure your unit includes this option.

Shar

 

[pixie45]

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[RIMike]

Interesting about Pelican

It is interesting to note that Royal took over that resort...it is my least favorite of the Royal properties...I own at the Royal Islander in Cancun. But the new Residences look very nice.

But I also frequent St Martin and love OBBR. In fact it was my very first exchange from my RI...and I fell in love with it too. IT is on the uncongested side of the island, close to the good French food, lovely orient beach...not that Dawn Beach is bad. And I watched for a long time and finally came upon a real steal and was able to pick up an every other year week at OBBR.

I am also a member of Diamond The Club and Royal Palm is always highly rated and recommended. It has a good location near Phillipsburg, but not out closer to the airport near Pelican where the traffic is so bad.

Good Luck! My recommendations: Oyster Bay 1st, Royal Palm 2nd, Pelican Residences 3rd (and for a lot more money)

 

[KathyA]

Royal Palm is NOT near Philipsburg

It is interesting to note that Royal took over that resort...it is my least favorite of the Royal properties...I own at the Royal Islander in Cancun. But the new Residences look very nice.

But I also frequent St Martin and love OBBR. In fact it was my very first exchange from my RI...and I fell in love with it too. IT is on the uncongested side of the island, close to the good French food, lovely orient beach...not that Dawn Beach is bad. And I watched for a long time and finally came upon a real steal and was able to pick up an every other year week at OBBR.

I am also a member of Diamond The Club and Royal Palm is always highly rated and recommended. It has a good location near Phillipsburg, but not out closer to the airport near Pelican where the traffic is so bad.

Good Luck! My recommendations: Oyster Bay 1st, Royal Palm 2nd, Pelican Residences 3rd (and for a lot more money)

I am also own aat Diamond Resorts in St. Martin (as well as Pelican). Royal Palm is nowhere near Philipsburg. It is right by Pelican, and in fact is closer to the airport than Pelican is.

 

[skidoc]

We just stayed at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. It's a really wonderful setting, right on the border with the French side, out of the hustle and bustle of Simpson Bay or Philipsburg. You absolutely need a car there, but you can pretty much get anywhere on the island in 30 minutes. Big fan......