The St. Maarten & St. Martin Traveler

2009-05-02T16:44:00.001-04:00

Reserve Early for Pub Crawls, Sunset Cruises, and Day Sails to Tintamarre

Celine catamaran captain Neil Roebert tells us his lagoon pub crawls, sunset cruises, and day sails to Tintamarre are all selling out in advance these days, even though we're in the low season. (Our members get discounts on all Neil's cruises; see details later in this article).

Uncle Harry's is a Pub Crawl focal point. But don't be surprised to see good-natured pirates on these Pub Crawls; Neil is offering pirate garb to passengers as a fun theme. We'll have more news about the food on the Pub Crawl coming shortly. Rest assured you will not go home hungry.

We've done the pub crawl, sunset cruise, and Tintamarre sail several times each. Members: visit www.jmbcommunications.com/secret and follow the instructions in our Member Benefits List / Welcome Letter to make reservations with Neil and get the JMB Website Supporters members-only discount on any of his cruises. You'll need the password in the Welcome Letter.

After the trip, Neil gives JMB members a souvenir bought especially for them by www.everythingstmaarten.com and JMB Website Supporters.

2009-05-02T16:42:00.000-04:00

Last Few Weeks To Win a Vacation at Divi Little Bay, The Radisson St. Martin, or Summit Resort

Our "Memory Lane" St. Maarten and St. Martin vacation giveaway is only a few weeks away. You can enter up to 50 times; see http://www.jmbcommunications.com/memorylane to see all the prizes and learn how to enter.

2009-05-02T16:36:00.001-04:00

New St. Maarten Timeshare Owners Association Forming

If you are interested in St. Maarten timesharing, please visit the "St. Maarten and St. Martin Travelers" group on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and join it, free. Not only does this 500+ person group share island info, it is also actively involved in the formation of the St. Maarten Timeshare Owners Association. Learn more at www.linkedin.com -- look for the "St. Maarten and St. Martin Travelers" group. You will be admitted if you ask to join.

2008-04-01T12:01:00.002-04:00

Urgent News For All St. Maarten Timeshare Owners:

Every current or future owner of any St. Maarten timeshare resort --- or even full- or partial-owners at other condominium developments --- had better be watching closely the latest litigation initiated by Festiva Atrium against certain timeshare owners who are litigating against that resort.

We published news about this last week in a Bulletin to all our readers. If you missed it, see our archives at http://jmbcommunications.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/pelican_resort .

Festiva wants the Antillean courts to allow it to change provisions of the contracts it currently has in force between itself and its timeshare owners regarding charges it has levied and intends to levy against its timeshare owners. It apparently wants to remove limits on these charges, so it can charge whatever it decides to charge.

The court’s forthcoming decision on this matter will no doubt be applicable to all other SXM Dutch Side timeshare or condominium resorts and that is why it’s so important. A decision in favor of Festiva Atrium would, according to some people, open the floodgates to big increases in Annual Maintenance Fees at all SXM timeshare resorts and to huge Supplemental Maintenance fees such as those at Atrium that are being contested in court by some Atrium timeshare owners.

It’s critical for all timeshare owners to stay aware of this situation. We will post news as soon as we receive it. In the meantime, if you know anyone who owns or is contemplating buying timesharing in SXM, please suggest to them that they subscribe to this newsletter using the link immediately above the masthead on www.everythingstmaarten.com . If they own at Atrium, they should also contact rowiep@aol.com ; that’s Rowie and Pat Percoco who are involved in the current Atrium timeshare owner litigation.

Spread the word please . . . this is a big deal.

2008-03-27T12:05:00.001-04:00

We've Switched To A New St. Maarten / St. Martin Blog

This is actually the JMB Communications blog which was usurped by everythingstmaarten.com. Since JMB is going to start using this for their businesses, "Everything St. Maarten" now has its own blog: http://stmaartenstmartin-jeff.blogspot.com/

Please visit that new blog for the latest St. Maarten info.

2008-03-21T11:42:00.005-04:00

Swells Lash St. Maarten & St. Martin

This photo, from Sunset Beach Bar's webcam, was taken before the road between Maho and SSBB was closed.

15-foot swells from a big North Atlantic storm some 2500 km from the island brought in the swells, which caused Orient Beach to be closed for a time and beachfront restaurants to be deserted. Little damage of significance and no injuries have (yet) been reported. Things are expected to return to normal Friday (today).

St. Maarten Weekly News has a lead story on the storm Monday.

2008-03-14T07:50:00.000-04:00

The Best Places to Watch Moon Rises

It's easy to notice the moon once it's in the sky, but did you ever watch it rise? It's amazing how billions of people gather to watch sunsets, but few actually watch the moon rise. Here are a couple of great locations to do that:

First: Westin Hotel Dawn beach. Go onto the beach and you'll be able to see the moon rise to the left of St. Barts, right out of the ocean. If you have a sensitive camera, and something to hold it steady, you can get some great photos here.

Second: the pool terrace at the Kissing Fish bar, Summit Resort hotel, Dutch Side. The visibility from the cliff-top bar and pool terrace is phenomenal. As we've mentioned before, during the day you can see all the way to Creole rock north of Happy Bay on the French Side.
The moon rises over the mountains here, casting its beautiful reflection on the northern part of Simpson Bay lagoon.

It's another great place to shoot pictures.

2008-03-13T09:20:00.004-04:00

"St. Maarten and St. Martin Weekly News" and "Timesharing in St. Maarten Email Forum" Move To RSS Feeds

Our two weekly St. Maarten newsletters, both free, are now read by over 130,00 people worldwide. We had also published them here for a while but will now publish them as RSS News feeds instead. You can check (and subscribe, if you like) to those feeds through the RSS link just below the masthead at www.everythingstmaarten.com. You can also receive either or both newsletters by email -- the way most folks get them. A "subscribe" link is just above the masthead on every page of www.everythingstmaarten.com.

We'll still publish assorted St. Maarten news, features, and meanderings on our blog, but we'll no longer load it up with the newsletter every week.

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2008-03-10T11:32:00.003-04:00

Low Round-Trip Airfares To St. Maarten

These fares are currenly avaiilable:

Northeast: $348
MidAtlantic: $293 (not a typo)
Southeast: $264 (a big airline but not who you think)
Midwest: $293 (not a typo)
Rockies: $434
Southwest: $303
Far West: $434

Fares include all taxes and fees. For all the details, see www.everythingstmaarten.com .

2008-03-06T18:16:00.002-05:00

St. Maarten's New "Stone" Restaurant's Website Now Live

Lots of desserts I never heard of before. Great little restaurant. Super appetizers & dinners. Get hungry at www.thestonerestaurant.com :)))

It's run by Johann Roebert, son of Celine captain Neil Roebert....

2008-03-03T12:43:00.003-05:00

When To Buy Air Tickets To St. Maarten

Start looking now even if you're not flying to St. Maarten until next January. Waiting loses good seats.

If you have FF miles, use them; there are fewer and fewer FF seats and they go quickly, especially if you're flying weekends as a plurality of passengers do. We often go with one "free" seat and the other paid.

If you belong to JMB Website Supporters (see www.everythingstmaarten.com) you will get Airfare Bulletins soon for dates as late as December... when you see good fares, pounce, since they don't last long and when they're gone, they're gone.

Our free St. Maarten Weekly News talks about this subject often. :)

2008-03-01T12:50:00.001-05:00

Might American Airlines Be Going on Strike?

The Allied Pilots Association, APA, www.alliedpilots.org, representing all 12,000 American Airlines pilots, has pledged "unequivocal support" for British Airways pilots who are protesting BA's plan to launch a low-fare cross-Atlantic airline, OpenSkies.

American already has labor trouble with both its pilots and its flight attendants, but APA's support for BA pilots could mean a strike soon by AA pilots. BA pilots already have voted overwhelmingly to strike that airline and if they do, APA is expected to tell its pilots to walk off the job on AA.

Talks to avert a strike by BA pilots begin on Monday. We'll keep you posted.

2008-03-01T10:03:00.003-05:00

Buying Gasoline in St. Maarten and St. Martin (Very Tricky)

Buying gas in "SXM" is tricky.

First, Dutch side gas pumps pump in liters and charge by Antillean guilders (one dollar equals 1.80 guilders).

Second, by accident or otherwise, Dutch side pump jockeys often miscalculate what you owe in dollars after buying gas. Usually they miscalculate in their own favor. I've seen it at Shell on several occasions and a long-time member, Jim H, who is on the island now, had it happen to him two consecutive times at Texaco last week.

Solution. Right now it is much cheaper to buy gas on the French side...upwards of 20 cents per liter cheaper. The station we usually go to is Cadisco on the main drag north of Orient Beach, which has been accepting dollars 1:1 with Euros, though we don't know how long that will continue. You pay what you see on the pump.

You can also:
a) Pay in guilders on the Dutch side. Scotia Bank gives you the option of withdrawing guilders from your US bank account. Bank of America account holders do not currently pay any service fees for Scotia Bank withdrawals. There's a Scotia Bank in Simpson Bay and a Scotia Bank ATM at Westin Dawn Beach, among other places. I usually get 200 guilders...filling a tank is usually 50 guilders. (See next item).

b) Pay specific amounts. For example, if you have a 1/4 tank of gas left, your compact will likely be almost full if you add 36 guilders to it, or $20 USD ($10 = 18 guilders). You can also specify $20 and know it is 36 guilders in case they "miscalculate."

Our solution was to buy on the French Side at Cadisco. Much better...

2008-02-25T07:44:00.004-05:00

St. Maarten's Heineken Regatta-Winning "Team Goldendog" Gets A New Website Courtesy of JMB Communications' "Websites That Work"

Heineken Regatta 2006 and 2007 bareboat champions Team Goldendog has a new website to support their programs to help abandoned and abused animals find their forever homes: it's www.teamgoldendog.org .

The website was created at no cost to Team Goldendog by Websites that Work, a unit of JMB Communications, creators of the St. Maarten Information Center, www.everythingstmaarten.com.

"When Team Goldendog founder and CEO Jeff Sochrin approached us to do this, we were thrilled to help," said JMB founder and CEO Jeff Berger. "They needed it done quickly and we pulled it off well before the start of the Regatta. We have high hopes that it will enhance Team Goldendog's worldwide fundraising efforts to help abused and abandoned pets around the world. We're also very proud to be a first-time sponsor of Team Goldendog in the Heineken Regatta and we wish them well in this year's competition."

2008-01-05T13:17:00.000-05:00

St. Maarten & St. Martin Timeshare Condos for Rent or Sale

2008 is shaping up like a busy tourism year for St. Maarten, and a lot of the timeshare rentals posted on www.everythingstmaarten.com are renting out or selling quickly. You can rent or buy directly from the owners at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/condorentals.shtml .

Ads are free and without commission for all members of JMB Website Supporters. Info on "JWS" is here (currently three years for $59 total, quite a deal): http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml

2008-01-04T09:39:00.000-05:00

$198 Round-Trip Fares From The Northeast, Midwest, and Central Atlantic to St. Maarten
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Why shiver?

Fly from the Midwest, Central Atlantic, or Northeast for just $198 round trip plus taxes, or about $280 total. Warm up with these low round trip fares to hot St. Maarten beaches. These fares apply for travel from now through the end of November...but they won't be available for long.

Early this morning, we posted a Low Airfare Bulletin with all the details at www.jmbcommunications.com/secret, our "secret" website for JMB Website Supporters members only. This is the first time in years we've seen fares this low for multiple cities . . . and there are plenty of available seats.

Dozens of times a year, we tell members about the lowest fares to St. Maarten from 100 US cities coast-to-coast plus cities in Canada and Western Europe. Surprisingly, many fares this year are really low despite record-high jet fuel costs.

Stop shivering! We have a time-limited offer for you. Instead of joining for $49 for one year, you can join for three years for $59 total right now… (And renewals are just $13/year when you select our lowest-cost multiyear renewal option.)

Offer ends soon. Go here to learn more: http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml

Former members can reinstate their memberships at attractive rates here: http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/support/expired.shtml

2008-01-03T12:16:00.000-05:00

St. Maarten Winter Airfares

You'd expect that airlines -- whacked now by record-high jet fuel prices and doing everything possible to cut costs -- would not be offering very good St. Maarten fares. But you'd be wrong.

We have a crew of airfare researchers and Tracy Green, who is in charge, says they are continually baffled by the fact that they continue to find fares this good not just for this Winter, but for Spring, Summer, and even next Fall as well.

Today our members are receiving word about exceptionally low fares from the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest... fares well under what we had expected given the state of the jet fuel market.

"I don't get it," Tracy says. "But it sure makes members happy."

2008-01-03T07:51:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney, Smiling Liar From Massachusetts.....

Mitt Romney lied to get elected in Massachusetts and he is lying now about what he did here. Normally we don't talk politics here but as a Massachusetts-based company, now we must.

Mitt Romney said in his Massachusetts campaign for governor that billions of dollars was being wasted in Massachusetts. He said he would stop the waste, make Massachusetts fiscally responsible, and do it with no new taxes.

Had he bothered to do his homework [which he NEVER did here], he would have found that the Massachusetts legislature, in the wake of 9/11 and the fiscal catastrophes it caused, already had eliminated virtually all waste.

So instead of making "tough choices" at the state level (about which he always waxes so poetic), Romney cut local aid to cities and towns, delegating the dirty work to them.

They had a choice: cut police, fire, and schools, or raise taxes. People have died here in fires because fire stations had to be closed as a direct result of Mitt Romney's local-aid budget cuts... stemming from his overwhelming incompetence as governor.

Cities and towns were forced to lay off police, close fire stations, lay off teachers, and raise taxes. Here, more than elsewhere, elderly on fixed incomes facing rising tax burdens had to choose each winter between food, heating their homes, and paying for medicine. This guy now wants to be President?

Mitt Romney looks nice in a suit and says the right things -- mostly lies. He spent his last year as governor here away, campaigning and not doing his job. His choice for lieutenant governor was a vacuous millionaire dilettante nicknamed "Muffy" who was entirely decorative as opposed to functional.

And on health care for all...something Romney frequently brags about...Romney threatened the Massachusetts legislature with huge negative press ["They opposed healthcare" - another Romney lie] if they did not approve his awful health care plan.

His plan: "Everyone in Massachusetts is required to buy health insurance, no matter whether they can afford it, and if you don't buy it we'll fine you $900." That's a health plan?

This country has had enough of lying politicians. Although I don't agree with many of their positions, I respect the honesty and patriotism of John McCain and the honesty and freshness of Mike Huckabee. Either of them stands heads taller than Mitt Romney, the smiling liar from Massachusetts.

Now we'll get back to St. Maarten blogging...

2007-12-17T07:56:00.001-05:00

Pelican Marina Residences Panorama

Ever since Marina Residences construction began more than a year and a half ago, Pelican C & D building owners have been livid that their views --- promised by Pelican sales people to be available in perpetuity --- have been blocked by the new resort complex.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Kim Sha Beach [the beach between Festiva Atrium Resort and Diamond (Sunterra) Royal Palm Resort] and photographed Marina Residences. We then used Autostitch software to stitch the photos together. Here's the resulting panorama, which really makes the case for C & D timeshare owners:

Get the free Autostitch software here: http://www.photo-freeware.net/autostitch.php
It's exceptionally easy to use...

2007-12-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

See St. Maarten 10-Vacation Giveaway Winners At Everythingstmaarten.com

Just click the link near the top of the page for all the details.

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St. Maarten Coping Well With Intensifying Ice Storm

We'll have all the details for you in a lead story in "St. Maarten Weekly News" on Monday, December 17. Free subscriptions are available at www.everythingstmaarten.com.

*****

Dawn Beach in the 1950s and 1960s

Amazing video of "old time" Dawn Beach as it was developing 40-50 years ago....

2007-12-12T07:03:00.000-05:00

Reminder: 10-Vacation Drawing Live This Morning at 9:10 a.m. EST

Listen live online at www.959watd.com or www.island92.com. Good luck!

2007-12-11T08:37:00.000-05:00

About Low Airfares to St. Maarten (12/11/07)

Our staff watches airfares to St. Maarten from more than 100 cities...airline fares (including many they don't ballyhoo), charters, special fares, air-only from packages, wholesale fares, and more. They'd do what you'd do if you had many hours a day to do it, and they specialize in St. Maarten exclusively.

Overnight last night they found a number of $377 round trips from several cities (including taxes/fees) and we're transmitting a bulletin about that to members as you read this. It's surprising to see such fares in light of high oil prices, but if they can do it and still profit...fine by us.

JMB Website Supporters membership information is available on our home page at www.everythingstmaarten.com.

* * *

JMB Gives Away Ten St. Maarten Vacations Tomorrow, Dec. 12

The Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager of Plymouth Massachusetts will do the honors tomorrow as we draw the winners in "Thanks Two Million," celebrating www.everythingstmaarten.com reaching 2,000,000 site visits. See our home page for details. It will be broadcast live on radio and on the net from Massachusetts and St. Maarten (simulcast live).

2007-12-06T09:25:00.000-05:00

(NEWS RELEASE)

"Everythingstmaarten.com" To Give Away

Ten Weeks of St. Maarten Vacations Dec. 12

(Plymouth, Massachusetts, December 6, 2007) --- The Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager of Plymouth, Massachusetts, will draw the winners of ten St. Maarten vacations next Wednesday as the Plymouth-based website "Everythingstmaarten.com" concludes its celebration of reaching two million site visits by going after a Guinness World Record.

Plymouth Town Manager Mark Sylvia and Assistant Town Manager Melissa Arrighi will draw the winners at 9:10 a. m. Eastern time Dec. 12 at radio station WATD (95.9 fm), an event which will be broadcast live on the station and on its website and simulcast in St. Maarten on "Island 92" 91.9 fm. The drawing will be streamed worldwide on the stations' websites, www.959watd.com and www.island92.com.

The everythingstmaarten.com website has quietly accumulated more than two million site visits, most of them in the last two or three years. The site -- which started as a writing sample on a Plymouth, Massachusetts PR company's website 12 years ago -- provides news and travel advice about the popular half-Dutch, half-French Caribbean island.

"This St. Maarten website started as an accident," admits its reluctant founder, Jeff Berger, owner of JMB Communications, the company that posted the original writing sample in 1995. "When search engines kicked in, they found my writing sample, and business-owner friends on St. Maarten starting calling us. I had no idea why until I did a search for St. Maarten and found my writing sample."

Today the site has more than 120 pages and publishes two free weekly newsletters -- one offering general news of interest to tourists, the other oriented toward timeshare owners. Known both as everythingstmaarten.com and everythingstmartin.com, to reflect both the Dutch and French-Side spellings, Berger's St. Maarten website offers details about island restaurants, resorts, villas, beaches, tours, and shopping.

Berger says the top winner will be able to choose four one-week stays from a list of 10 destinations -- among them two hotels, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort and Summit Resort Hotel, one naturist resort -- Club Orient on Orient Beach, French St. Martin, a luxury catamaran from Tradewinds Cruise Club, and six villas on both sides of the island. The top prize also includes jewelry gift certificates, day sails, and many gourmet dinners.

Six other winners will each win one-week vacations.

A complete list of prizes is at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/nine.html . Entries are being accepted until December 11.

2007-12-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

Simpson Bay "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"?

We'll run an article on it in our St. Maarten Weekly News on 12/10, but it looks like Theo Heyliger may be aggressively pursuing plans to build a road from the east end of the Princess Juliana International Airport runway to the French Side to aleviate severe Simpson Bay traffic headaches. With him in charge of public works, it's a real possibility. More coming.

2007-11-29T23:10:00.000-05:00

St. Maarten Feels Minor Effects from Strong Caribbean Earthquake

A strong Caribbean earthquake this afternoon (Nov. 29) was centered well South of SXM. Though early press reports say residents of Martinique saw significant damage on that island, early feedback from around SXM indicates that the Northeastern Caribbean island apparently suffered little damage of significance.

Flights into Princess Juliana International Airport were suspended briefly. Overall, initial reaction was rather muted, with one medical student at the American Universty of the Caribbean blogging that he initially thought it was "just another idiot" with an exceptionally strong car radio.

We will have more details in St. Maarten Weekly News on Monday. You can subscribe to that free newsletter on the home page of www.everythngstmaarten.com .

11:17 p.m. 11/29

2007-11-27T19:10:00.000-05:00

St. Maarten Experiencing Water Problems

Though electrical blackouts have been occurring for more than 40 years in St. Maarten and the rest of the Caribbean, water "dryouts" are a new and hugely irritating problem on the Dutch Side of St. Maarten.

After shutting down its antiquated salt water treatment plant in Mullet Bay, the Dutch Side of the island, whose entire water system makes a sieve look water-tight, experienced exaggerated shortages. Result: rolling "dryouts" or water supply shutdowns, some of which lasted many hours on end.

There was no water for anything. Some creative people with pools have dumped pails filled with pool water into their toilets to enable flushing.

The Dutch Side says it will buy water from the French Side, an expensive proposition because high-flying Euros are used there and the Dutch Side's Antillean Guilder (Florin) is tagged to the weak US dollar.

Experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, the Dutch Side should have anticipated an increase in its need for potable water, but it didn't.

Hopefully buying water from the French Side of the island will start soon and relieve the problem. Until that happens, when water service is periodically restored, beware of stampedes on the way every Dutch Side bathroom....

For more on this, subscribe to the free "St. Maarten Weekly News" at www.everythingstmaarten.com.

2007-11-18T15:31:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving in St. Maarten
(c) Copyright JMB Communications 2007 (www.jmbcommunications.com)

For some of us, being home in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving is what it’s all about. Thanksgiving was born here, Thanksgiving is what Plymouth is all about, and it’s part of our culture.
But long before Jimmy Buffett started singing “Christmas In The Caribbean,” some residents of Plymouth and elsewhere across the USA have headed South – sometimes, far to the South – to enjoy Christmas, Chanukah, July 4, and – yes – even Thanksgiving in the Caribbean.
I love turkey almost as much as I love sushi, to which I am irrevocably addicted, but I hate the onset of cold weather as much as I love either of the above.
That’s why, when the opportunity presents itself, my wife and I migrate south to St. Maarten to enjoy everything that island has to offer even as our home town (America’s home town) enjoys the festivities of America’s first home-grown holiday.

Turkey Aplenty
Visiting St. Maarten does not mean abandoning all that most Americans hold sacred about the holiday.
Although turkey isn’t exactly a staple menu item here in St. Maarten, nonetheless some restaurants go all out to make sure American visitors to this half-Dutch, half-French island aren’t disappointed as they suffer through Turkey Withdrawal.
Far from it.
Turtle Pier Restaurant, near the sparkling new Princess Juliana International Airport main terminal, roasts about two dozen big birds every Thanksgiving and is mobbed with Americans in search of an authentic taste of home. Owner Al Wathey, though a native St. Maartener, graduated from Bentley College in Massachusetts and his chefs know how to do turkey.

Other Choices
Although many other restaurants follow suit – and “Ric’s Place American Sports Bar” (owned by transplanted Californian Tamara Deutsch) always has American football on TV to ease the pain of sports fans who find themselves thousands of miles from home on one of the year’s biggest sports days – the fact is that for most Americans in the Caribbean, turkey isn’t where it’s at.
You can get turkey 365 days a year at home and have a Thanksgiving type dinner “whenever.”
Here, on an island with 400-plus restaurants, a place known as much for its gastronomic excellence as for its jewelry, friendly people, and clothing-optional beaches . . . here you can have extraordinary culinary delights instead of, well, turkey.
Let’s say you have breakfast at Mr. Busby’s Beach Bar on Dawn Beach or at the new Westin Dawn Beach nearby, then spend a few hours on the beach, buy some eye-popping bling at any of the dozens of fine jewelry stores in Philipsburg, the Dutch capital, then head back to the Gault Millau Award Winning “Beach Restaurant of the Year,” Daniel’s By The Sea, for some luscious grilled Caribbean Lobster. Put some Matouk’s Flambeau sauce on it and you get a dinner that quickly makes you forget turkey even exists.
International restaurants abound in St. Maarten . . . Italian, Creole, roadside “lolos” which grill lobster or chicken with “dirty” rice (including the famous Johnny B’s Under the Tree, which literally is under a tree), Rastafarian eateries, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and many Italian restaurants.
Two of the best Italian restaurants are Spiga, in the French Side fishing village of Grand Case, and La Gondola, one of a number of fine gourmet restaurants in the Atlantis Casino complex at Cupecoy Beach.
Located in a beautifully restored Creole home, Spiga (www.spiga-sxm.com) offers “creative Italian cuisine.” Everything is wonderfully home made, reflecting the many hours of daily preparation put in by Chef Ciro Russo. Spiga also offers one of the best “melt-in-your-mouth” beef tenderloins you will ever experience. It’s served with grilled portabella mushroom, potato, and grilled asparagas, and it could not possibly be more delicious.
La Gondola, perhaps the island’s most popular restaurant, started life as “La Raviolina,” where owner David Foini made pasta by hand every day and sold it wholesale to other restaurants on the island.
Today it’s ultra chique and sublimely creative. Chef Marco Ferrante not only still makes all the pasta from scratch, he does the same with half a dozen flavors of ice cream. . .and the sauces used for all the entrees on their huge menu are worth the price of a plane ticket.
Miss Thanksgiving? Nah. Cozy up to a table at any gourmet restaurant here in St. Maarten, and we feel right at home. . .

2007-11-11T18:50:00.000-05:00

We definitely have to get in the habit of blogging more often. To those seeing this page shortly after we posted it 11/11/07, see a sample of St. Maarten Weekly News below, published every week with lots of St. Maarten News and St. Martin News. Here you go:

BTW: (By the way for the uninitiated): watch for news of our Thanks Two Million drawing occurring next month. Includes our try at a Guinness World Record vacation giveaway!

St. Maarten and St. Martin Weekly News, Monday, November 12, 2007

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A Few of This Week's Top Stories:

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--- When Should You Buy Tickets? (Feature, Story #15)

--- Thanksgiving in SXM

--- Jimmy Buffett Sings for SXM & Anguilla

--- Daniel's By The Sea / Busby's Wins "Beach Restaurant of the Year" From Gault Millau

--- Three St. Maarten Videos Make You Ready To Go...

--- "Barbaron" Starts Pushing Via Email

--- For Members: How To Get Free Renewals Every Year (Story #18)

--- Holiday SXM Gift Sale In Full Gear

--- Three Dinners At Top Restaurants...For Member #5,000 (All Members are Eligible)

--- Euro Surges Toward $1.50; French Side Stages Protest

--- Don't Get Gouged by Air Travel Websites

--- How To Complain To Your Airline

--- Email Fraud Warning

...plus many more island stories of interest to tourists.

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Lowest SXM Round-Trip Fares offered last week to our Members:

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--- $300 from a number of cities (Winter, Spring, Summer round trips)

Members: See this fare at the Low Airfare Center on the members' "secret" website. Visit by

clicking the link at the very top of every page at www.everythingstmaarten.com.

Nonmembers, learn about the benefits of membership:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml

Former members, reinstate at new low rates:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/support/expired.shtml (There's also

"reinstatement bonus" described on that page now.)

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Reader Saves $3000:

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"I can't thank you enough for last week's secret site email with the early heads up that

JetBlue was beginning service to SXM. I booked Presidents' Week for $1,000 apiece which,

while high for JetBlue, was better than the $1,700 fare offered on AA or CO. Since four of us

are flying I figure you saved me almost $3,000 with the early notice. Thanks for that."

- B. J., New York

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Reading a pass-along copy?

Subscribe today, fast and free, at http://jmbcommunications.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?

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This is Jeff Berger's / JMB Communications' weekly "Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin"

newsletter, published every Monday (Tuesdays during some holiday weeks). You're

receiving this because you subscribed or are a JMB Website Supporters member.

To unsubscribe, visit http://jmbcommunications.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi , select "St.

Maarten Weekly News" list at top left, and follow the unsubscribe instructions. You can not

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button on AOL.

Feel free to forward this newsletter in its entirety to your friends, but please don't send

Communications, P. O. Box 1812, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02362-1812.

---

Email Address Changes:

To change your email address for this free newsletter, unsubscribe your old email address at

the above location, then subscribe your new address. JMB Website Supporters members

must also notify Susan in our office of the new email address for continued Secret Site

access.

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Search The Newsletter Archives:

To search previous issues, visit our Archives at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/cgi-

bin/mojo.cgi?f=archive&l=testlist . The search window is at the bottom of that page. Note: our

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Members of JMB Website Supporters who wish to contact us should write to the addresses

listed on the members-only "secret" website, http://www.jmbcommunications.com/secret .

NONmembers who wish to contact us should write to jmbweb@jmbcommunications.com with

the subject "Free Newsletter Recipient," but due to the huge volume of mail received,

individual responses are not likely. We suggest instead that nonmembers use the public

Message Board on our website, www.everythingstmaarten.com. The Message Board is

located at http://www.aimoo.com/forum/freeboard.cfm?id=624449 .

*****

Timeshare Rentals of the Week:

12/22/2007-12/29/2007 (Week 51) Atrium Beach Club, Saturday-Saturday. One bedroom

lockout with fridge, stove and Microwave & dishwasher. Full washroom with shower & tub. On

the beach within walking distance of many restaurants Stores and casino. Asking $700.00.

Contact Brian 905-886-1616 ext 24 or email brian@tristarpromotions.com

02-23-08 thru 03-01-08 (week 8, sat thru sat) Sapphire Beach Club, studio unit located on the

5th floor overlooking the ocean. King size bed with queen size pullout sofa, with a room

divider for privacy. Full kitchen. Deck overlooking ocean with table, chairs, and hot tub.

Marble floors thru out including bathroom. Underground parking for renters, approx. 4pm sat

check in thru 9am sat check out. Has a large pool with a bar and food on site. Located 2

miles from airport on the Dutch side of Island, with 4 beaches nearby. Rent for the week is

$650.00 . joe4sunfun2@hotmail.com or call 425-387-1763, Joe Gathmann. (This unit is for

sale also.)

Timeshare Sales of the Week: See above 2/12 to 3/1 listing.

Each week JMB randomly picks timeshare condominiums for rent and for sale from the huge

selection at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/condorentals.shtml and

features them here. If you want to rent out or sell timeshares you own in SXM, you can do so

for free (up to 10 weeks per 12 month period) through a membership subscription to JMB

Website Supporters.

To learn more about the many St. Maarten / St. Martin vacation-related benefits of

membership, visit http://www.jmbcommunications.com/paypal.html , where you can also join

on-line. Membership subscriptions help fund these weekly newsletters.

------------

This Week's Stories:

------------

Stories are numbered; scroll down for stories of interest.

Section I: Getting There: Airlines, Airports, Cruises, & Weather

1. Don't Get Gouged by Air Travel Websites

2. RBTT To Fund Most of Cruise & Cargo Facility's $120-million Expansion

3. Hurricane Season Ends November 30

---Please also see articles 14 & 15 for more "air" stories.

Section II: Accommodations

4. "Barbaron" Starts Pushing Via Email

4a. Our Sister Newsletter Wants To Know About Your Timeshare

5. Early Morning (4 a.m.) Holdup at Sonesta Great Bay

Section III: Island

6. Euro Surges Toward $1.50; French Side Stages Protest

7. French Side Restaurant Comings and Goings

8. "About Your Safety" Page Updated

9. Listen As Buffett Sings In Anguilla

10. There's Something Very Familiar About "Ciao" In St. Kitts

11. Daniel's By The Sea / Busby's Wins "Beach Restaurant of the Year" From Gault Millau

12. Three St. Maarten Videos Make You Ready To Go...

13. Thanksgiving in SXM

14. AA Spells Out High/Normal Fare Holiday Periods

15. When Should You Buy Tickets? (Feature)

16. How To Complain To Your Airline

17. Email Fraud Warning

18. For Members: How To Get Free Renewals Every Year (plus a free SXM Beach Sticker

Now)

19. Holiday SXM Gift Sale In Full Gear

20. "Thanks Two Million" 10-Vacation Giveaway Coming Next Month

21. Three Dinners At Top Restaurants...For Member #5,000 (All Members are Eligible)

22. Join The "Everything St. Maarten" Crowd on Facebook

23. Get It Now, Before Thanksgiving & Before You Need It: How To Save Yourself $35,000

24. "Sponsors" Sought For "Everything St. Maarten" Site; Price Increases to $249/Year 12/01

Section IV: For Members Only

25. Members: Why You Need To Check Airfares Daily

26. Members: Password Recovery Info

27. How To Submit Rentals or Sales to Our SXM Condos for Rent or Sale Page

Section V: Background Information for Travelers

A) Low-Priced Timeshare Condos For Rent or Sale By Owners

B) "Everything St Maarten / St. Martin" Website Online Booking Info Guide

C) Useful St. Maarten / St. Martin Websites (Updated 2007)

D) SkyMed Emergency Medical Evacuation: Important No Matter Where You're Going

E) How To Be Sure You Receive Each Issue Of This Newsletter

F) Free SXM Souvenirs When You Join, Renew, or Reinstate JMB Website Supporters

G) Spend Less On Airfare to St. Maarten & Get Many Other Travel Benefits: Join JMB

Website Supporters

H) For Much More About JMB Communications...

I) Contact Us

*****

All JMB Newsletters Now Read "From JMB"

*****

This newsletter, our timeshare newsletter, and mail from JMB Website Supporters to

members (including "Low Airfare Bulletins") now read "From JMB" in the subject area so you

won't misinterpret them as spam.

Section I: Getting There: Airlines, Airports, Cruises, & Weather

--------

1. Don't Get Gouged by Air Travel Websites

Our friend George Hobica, who runs www.airfarewatchdog.com, keeps an eye peeled for

sites that screw people. Here, he discusses Travelation, a little known company that probably

should stay that way based on the high fees they charge. Take a close look at:

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/AirfareWatchBlog/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5

31/Default.aspx and scratch "Travelation" from your travel reservations sites. Their fees are

outrageous, as the article explains.

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2. RBTT To Fund Most of Cruise & Cargo Facility's $120-million Expansion

Despite the island's skyrocketing availability of hotel rooms, day tourists from ships still

account for the majority of SXM tourists, according to press reports we quoted last week. To

help lure new ships coming into service, SXM's port facilities are undergoing a huge $120-

million expansion and RBTT, the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, is funding most of it. A

story about the funding is here http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,67718.html , and a

story about the expansion is here: http://www.caribbeanpressreleases.com/articles/289/1/St-

Maartens-Port-Authority-Embarks-on-100M-Expansion/St-Maartens-Port-Authority-Embarks-

on-100M-Expansion.html . This is the port authority's site:

http://www.portofstmaarten.com/home.htm .

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3. Hurricane Season Ends November 30

Keep your fingers crossed. Right now, nothing much is happening except, as we reported last

week, it has been a rather rainy Fall. Part of the reconstructed area of Back Street in

Phillipsburg has sort-of caved in and that is being fixed. The road through Mullet Bay to the

Cupecoy area has had a lot of water (nothing new there).

November 30 is about three weeks away.

Section II: Accommodations

--------

4. "Barbaron" Starts Pushing Via Email

"Barbaron" -- the new condo development on the beach next to Bel Air, Dutch Side -- is

heavily pushing its sales via email. It's also pushing local residents to buy them as an

investment but in this economy, that's a dubious investment short-term.

Their website is: http://www.barbaronsxm.com/ but turn down your sound first, the "bongos"

are annoying.

The place is huge --- ten stories including penthouses --- something that very narrow strip of

land (where it's supposed to go) won't accommodate, so it looks like here again, a mangrove

swamp with lots of wildlife is, at least in part, likely to be filled in.

A hotel is planned here too, but we've not yet heard what the brand might be. Wyndham,

Sonesta, Westin, Marriott, Radisson, and Hilton are all spoken for. Wouldn't surprise us to

see a Starwood property here since they've been eyeing the island for a few years. We'll let

you know when we hear.

Why do we keep hearing Joni Mitchell singing? See

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/joni+mitchell/big+yellow+taxi_20075370.html

--------

4a. Our Sister Newsletter Wants To Know About Your Timeshare

Our "Timesharing in St. Maarten Email Forum" is looking for your impressions and

experiences now and over the next several months in specific units (and overall) at all SXM

timeshare resorts. It's our intention to publish listings of the best and worst SXM timeshares

based on your reports. We hope the news is good, but we'll publish it either way (edited, if

necessary). You can subscribe to that forum by clicking the link atop the home page at

www.everythingstmaarten.com. You can send reports to jmbweb@jmbcommunications.com

with the subject "Timesharing." Sorry, that address cannot conduct correspondence; it is

being used to gather information only. All entries may be published in our timesharing forum,

with the first name of the sender. Thank you.

--------

5. Early Morning (4 a.m.) Holdup Outside Sonesta Great Bay

The Daily Herald ran this story. See it:

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k147/attack147.html .

Most people are back in their rooms long before 4 a. m....

Section III: Island

--------

6. Euro Surges Toward $1.50; French Side Stages Protest

French Side businesses want some help to cope with the surging Euro and sagging dollar

which make everything on the French Side pricey compared to the Dutch Side and very

expensive for US dollar-carrying tourists, who still are the vast majority of island visitors. They

planned a two-thousand person march through Marigot last Friday, effectively shutting down

the city during their protest.

Here is the Herald's story about advance plans for this:

http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k149/march149.html

You can check the dollar-Euro situation in real time at http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi ,

which is the best currency conversion site on the net. It has recently taken about $1.46 to buy

one Euro's worth of goods and services.

With the US economy sagging, things could get worse for the French Side.

--------

7. French Side Restaurant Comings and Goings

Erich Kranz' newsletter reports that Rainbow, the original restaurant in Grand Case, will soon

return and will be offering lunch. We'll have more news about restaurant comings and goings

later this month.

--------

8. "About Your Safety" Page Updated

A reader expressed confusion about whether we were suggesting guests use the room safe

or the hotel safe. We've cleared that up. Please see

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/safety.shtml .

--------

9. Listen As Buffett Sings In Anguilla

Jimmy Buffett gave a live concert in Anguilla last Spring which we know some readers

attended. You can now listen to his entire new "Live in Anguilla" online here

http://music.aol.com/artist/jimmy-buffett/3797/album/live-in-anguilla/1213101 where you can

also download it. Quality is usually better on a CD, of course.

Order the CD here: http://margaritaville.com/index.php?page=news&n_id=575 . It was just

released last Tuesday, 11/6. A You-tube clip is at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmiq5l-uazI.

--------

10. There's Something Very Familiar About "Ciao" In St. Kitts

If you happen to visit the quiet Caribbean island of St. Kitts --- sometimes distantly visible

from SXM --- stop in Ciao, a fine Italian restaurant, and you will likely see a familiar face --

that of Ilde Figarolo who for many years was the woman behind Trattoria Pizza Pasta, the

sometimes noisy but always luscious little restaurant behind Cheri's in the Maho area. (Pizza

Pasta is now very capably run by Ilde's daughter Selena. Dinner for two at Pizza Pasta is one

of the prizes in our "Thanks Two Million"; see www.everythingstmaarten.com to enter.

Ciao, which we've heard great things about, should be on your list when you go over to St.

Kitts. When you do, please say hello to Ilde for us.

--------

11. Daniel's By The Sea / Busby's Wins "Beach Restaurant of the Year" From Gault Millau

For the second consecutive year, Daniel Jurczenko's Mr. Busby's Beach Bar / Daniel's By

The Sea has won the prestigious "Beach Restaurant of the Year" award from Gault Millau.

Daniel writes, "Thursday morning when I was reading the Daily Herald while having a cup of

coffee, there was an article that Gault Millau handed out its awards for 2008. I had no idea

that they had returned, the last I had heard was that they were not coming down this year. As

I read down the list of awards I was totally taken by surprise to read the following paragraph

as quoted by the paper:

"Retaining the title Gault Millau Beach restaurant of the year for the Dutch side was Mr.

Busby's Beach Bar / Daniel's By The Sea .This second consecutive nod from the Dutch guide

was credited by Van Lissum to a successful formula created by Daniel Jurczenko."

"Wow, what a surprise it was a great feeling for many years of hard work and long hours have

been put into creating this winning formula that I and all employees are very proud of. To be

awarded this title two consecutive years in a row just blows my mind, I am very proud of this

award and the efforts of my crew. Gault Millau is significant as it is, but two years in a row is

just amazing, thank you to all involved."

Dinner for two at Daniel's by the Sea also is one of the "first grand prizes" in Thanks Two

Million. The drawing, during which we will give away 10 one-week St. Maarten vacations, will

occur in December and be simulcast on two radio stations (one outside Boston and one in

SXM), and on two websites.

--------

12. Three St. Maarten Videos Make You Ready To Go...

The first is "St. Maarten Photo Essay" which we shot in SXM in February. It's on You-Tube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfU6YtSYCrE#zt1zRR3Nqms . Though 10 minutes long, it

goes quickly, with soft jazz in the background. Some pictures are of familiar places; others

are things you've likely never seen.

"St. Maarten Odyssey" was the first video we did using Photo Story software from Microsoft

so it's rough around the edges but has lots of photos too. Six minutes. The music, freely

available on the web, was from a concert 30 years ago. See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1mrHJfBmR8 .

The third, Pictures of Paradise, is the latest and our favorite, probably because of all the

sunsets and the self-composed steel-drum music. Lots of memorable scenes... check it out

at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJZqdnvzyY0 .

More videos are coming soon.

The one negative about You Tube is that they condense all the videos, which cuts down

substantially on video quality. Some of these videos, are on our members' "secret" site in

their original resolution.

--------

13. Thanksgiving in SXM

Although the island is generally rather quiet in November and December, it gets busy

Thanksgiving week and it's totally packed for Christmas and New Year's.

We've been there a few times at Thanksgiving and it's a great time to travel, provided you

leave the States ahead of the holiday rush and return home after it's over. Flights are much

less expensive then, too (see next article).

A few years ago, when our friend Al Wathey was still managing the day-to-day operations of

his Turtle Pier Restaurant on Airport Road, we walked through the kitchen the night before

thanksgiving. At around 2 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, they started roasting big turkeys. . . dozens

of them. And Rose, Al's wonderful wife, was personally home making pies (truly home made)

--- dozens of them.

Al and Rose are relaxing now (as much as they ever relax), but the tradition lives on with full

Thanksgiving dinners at top restaurants all over the island. And for those who don't like turkey

or who want to escape from it, there's usually plenty of Caribbean lobster to go around.

If you visit SXM for Thanksgiving, from a culinary point of view you won't be disappointed.

--------

14. AA Spells Out High/Normal Fare Holiday Periods

What it doesn't do is tell you the lowest fares AA offers, but it does tell you when "not" to

travel this holiday season because of high fares for the holidays. "It" is an e-mailing sent out

this week by AA.

We'll interpret it for you...first for Thanksgiving:

Most expensive flying days... November 12, 16, 20, 21, and 24.

Slightly less pricey flying days... November 11, 15, 17, 18, and 27.

Best days around Thanksgiving to fly... November 13, 14, 22, 23, and 28.

Now for Christmas / New Year's:

Most expensive flying days... December 14, 15, 23, 26 through 30, and January 1 and 2.

Slightly less pricey flying days... December 13, 15, 16, 18m 25, and 31.

Best days around Christmas and New Year's to fly... December 17 and 24 (that's it).

As always, watch for our near-legendary Low Airfare Bulletins and check the Low Airfare

Center on the secret site to get the lowest fares all year long.

--------

15. When Should You Buy Tickets?

This may be the most important article you ever read from us. Bottom line, start looking for

low-priced tickets 350 days ahead of when you plan to travel.

Most of the best airfare sales airlines ever offer, in our experience (particularly for winter

travel), occur far in advance of the season they're for.

Early on an August Saturday morning about three years ago, AA and US Airways very quietly

started offering $199 round trips (for travel over the next 350 days, including all winter) to

SXM from each other's cities. It escalated, and by the time it was a full-blown fare war, both

were selling $199 round trips (plus taxes) from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Charlotte,

and even Dallas. We had members driving to these gateway cities from Canada and flying in

from Colorado to catch these trips. One long-time member told us he reserved three trips to

SXM for his family at the usual cost of one round-trip.

Look ahead. Start looking now for next Spring, Summer, and Fall. Though more low winter

2008 round trip fares will certainly be coming, last summer we told members about many

winter 2008 fares in the $299-$350 range for travel over the next few months.

Our Low Airfare Bulletins often apply to travel many months ahead because that's when the

best deals are routinely offered. The days when you could buy a ticket then easily get a

refund from the airline when the price declined are over. Plan ahead and use our Low Airfare

Bulletins to get the fares you want. See the next article regarding vouchers for future travel

that airlines used to give you when you alerted them that fares for your booked itinerary had

declined....

JMB Website Supporters brings you low fares year round from about 100 USA and Canada

airports. Membership is $49/ one year, $57/ two years, or $89/ five years, with $13 annual

renewals when you select our lowest cost multiyear renewal option. Go here for more info:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml . Former members can

reinstate at very attractive rates at:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/support/expired.shtml .

--------

16. How To Complain To Your Airline

This information, first published here in September, is valuable for thousands of travelers who

bought seats early expecting to get air travel vouchers later when fares declined , , , AA, US

Airways, and Continental have recently stopped issuing vouchers, penalizing customers who

plan far in advance. (That's why buying in advance at really low fares [about which we

routinely tell our members] is so important now.)

Note: Lots of information on getting the lowest airfares --- without having to use vouchers ---

is on our JMB Website Supporters members' website at www.jmbcommunications.com/secret

. If you don't recall your password, click the JMB Website Supporters link atop the home page

at www.everythingstmaarten.com to get one.

Ellen Phillips has written two outstanding books giving consumers step-by-step instructions

on how to "right" wrongs done to them by big businesses. You can get the details at:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-3584726-3671209?initialSearch=1&url=search-

alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Ellen+Phillips&Go.x=11&Go.y=9 (copy this entire web

address and enter it in your browser to access the website).

Here's what Ellen wrote just for our readers:

Synopsis of the problem: US Airways, AA, and Continental have stopped issuing future travel

vouchers to people who discover that the fares they paid for flights have dropped. Before, if

you found that fares on your itinerary had dropped, you called the airline and they issued

vouchers good for discounts on future travel in the amount of the price difference --- but not

now. It is a terribly anti-consumer policy which punishes people sensible enough to make

reservations early, and it will cost a lot of $ for a lot of people who can't be flexible in their

flight arrangements.

Here's how to complain. The place to which you complain is listed after the complaint letters:

[Your street address]

[Your city, state, zip code]

[Today's date]

[Inside address - see airline corporate information below]

Dear Mr. _____:

As a [long standing/frequent/faithful/other adjective] customer of [American/Continental/US

Airways], I am terribly [upset/appalled/frustrated/horrified/other strong adjective] with, in my

opinion, your company's unprofessional and insulting treatment of its passengers. [Be

especially careful about couching opinion as opinion rather than fact.] I particularly wish to

call your attention to the airline's new policy of refusing to offer a travel voucher when ticket

prices to St. Maarten drop after their initial purchase.

Quite frankly, [American/Continental/US Airways] already treats the flying public as second-

class citizens. For example, it was not too long ago when a flight of several hours duration

would provide at least a decent snack; today's reality is a meager "free" bag of pretzels and a

small cup of soda with the purchase of a $400-plus ticket. Or what about when one schedules

a wheelchair far in advance, makes sure of its provision upon check-in and, again, during the

flight, only to discover upon arrival that no assistance is provided at all. A situation such as

this one is not only inconvenient but also very dangerous, especially when that handicapped

person generally has only minutes to catch his next flight. [Use any incident as an example of

what has occurred with you or with someone you know.]

Finally, to add insult to injury, you show us this very last disservice with your current policy of

"Let them eat cake" doctrine a la Marie Antoinette with regards to the denied voucher. [Or use

any other appropriate quotation.]

I and many others who vacation in St. Maarten/St. Martin (or elsewhere, for that matter) are

delighted that additional airlines take a dim view of your rule. While I cannot make claims for

other consumers, I can state that - regardless of any extra aggravation - I will try my best in

the future to fly with a more customer-friendly airline. Please notify me when you restore your

former procedure, and I will be glad to spend my money with you once again.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Corporate Information for Inside Address and Envelope

Gerald J. Arpey, Chairman, President/CEO

American Airlines

P.O. Box 619616

DFW Airport, TX 75261

Larry Kellner, Chairman/CEO

(and/or separately)

Jeff Smisek, President

Continental Inc.

P.O. Box 4607

Houston, TX 77210

Douglas Parker, Chairman/CEO

(and/or separately)

Scott Kirby, President

US Airways

111 West Rio Salado Parkway

Tempe, AZ 85281

Our thanks to Ellen Phillips, a long-time subscriber and member, for writing this exclusively

for our readers. Her books are well worth your attention. We'll soon put this on

www.everythingstmaarten.com to make it available to you on a permanent basis.

--------

17. Email Fraud Warning

Long-time reader Dick Seng, who has an ad on our timeshare rentals page, phoned us last

Friday about a new email scam.

Our timeshare rentals / sales page

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/condorentals.shtml warns advertisers

about Nigerian scam artists who send bogus checks for more money than the seller requests

and ask sellers to rebate the difference pronto. Weeks later, when the seller's bank finds the

scammer's check was bogus and charges it back to the seller, it's too late and thousands of

dollars have been lost. Warnings about these scams have been on our site for years and we

have forwarded appropriate materials to Federal authorities when members are approached

and they forward it to us.

Now a new wrinkle has been added. The scammers are saying they saw the victim's email on

the JMB Communications site. Here is the text they send:

"my family have funds for invesment worth $32m, into any viable\lucrative business with

return of 15-20% over the period of three years. We are looking for a trustee/expert for the

family who can proficiently handle this investment and also acting as the family trustee to

receive the funds from the bank where it is deposited and you will be entitled to 10% of the

total funds for your service as the trustee.Contact me back through my email box or you can

reach me on my mobile +447045719180. I am presently resident in London. My aged mother

resides in the states her number is : 973-7893191. Do get back to me with your executive

summary to proceed further.

Best Regards,

Phill Kings

BARKING ROAD 335

E6 1LA LONDON

phone: +447045719180"

If you receive an email like this, please file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint

Center, a site operated by the FBI. The location is https://complaint.ic3.gov/Default.aspx .

Also read www.fakechecks.org, which has been running national TV ads about these

schemes.

Bottom line: Anyone who sends you a check for more than you're asking and wants you to

mail them a check for the difference is a criminal attempting to scam you. Don't be a victim...

--------

18. For Members: How To Get Free Renewals Every Year (plus a free SXM Beach Sticker

Now)

We've just greatly simplified the way members in good standing can get free membership

renewals.

You simply recommend membership to people you meet in SXM or elsewhere, and when

they join and mention you, we extend your current membership for a year, free. No limits.

(Members in good standing only.) Applies only to extensions; we can't credit the cost of

already-paid renewals.

We've just printed "member referral cards" you can order (free). Members must email

Membership Services at accounts@jmbcommunications.com with the subject "Member

Referral Cards." Minimum order is 25 cards (same size as business cards). Order 25 or 50

cards. We'll ship your order in about a week. With it we'll send you a St. Maarten / St. Martin

Beach Sticker, the tongue-in-cheek permit you can put on your car at home to make

neighbors and friends jealous. You can see it 2/3 down the page at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/shop/vdaysubscribe-2.shtml . (These

normally sell for $10 apiece.) Sorry just one free sticker per household but there is no limit to

the number of free one-year membership extensions you can earn.

We test marketed this with a few folks early this year... it worked very well for them. Request

your cards today.

--------

19. Holiday SXM Gift Sale In Full Gear

We have lots of great SXM-oriented gifts for the holidays: t-shirts, tank tops, tie-dyed

eyeglass cases with a carry strap (use like a necklace), SXM grilling aprons, polo shirts, our

rugged oversized SXM Euro Oval fluorescent green luggage tags, and lots more. All orders

received between now and November 28 will be shipped by December 1. You can order by

PayPal or Fax. See

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/shop/vdaysubscribe-2.shtml for more. Email

questions about orders to susan@jmbcommunications.com.

--------

20. "Thanks Two Million" 10-Vacation Giveaway Coming Next Month

The "First Grand Prize" winner in "Thanks Two Million" wins their choice of four one-week

SXM vacations soon (drawing in December, exact date to be announced) as we celebrate

reaching two million visits to everythingstmaarten.com. The drawing will be simulcast on

WATD radio outside Boston and on their website, and on Bogart's island92 radio in SXM and

on island92's website, so you have a good shot at listening. We'll tell you when soon....

Hotel prizes include a week at Summit Resort Hotel (www.thesummitresort.com), a week at

Divi Little Bay (www.divilittlebay.com), a week at Club Orient Naturist Resort

(www.cluborient.com), or a week aboard a luxury catamaran courtesy of Tradewinds Cruise

Club (www.tradewindscruiseclub.com).

A total of ten weeks of vacations will be given away. Six more are at the island's top villas, on

both the French and Dutch Sides: Villa Blue de Mer (www.villableudemer.com) at Guana

Bay; Sunset Breezes Villa at Monte Vista (www.sunsetbreezes.com); Villa Seawatch at Dawn

Beach Estates (http://www.caribbeanoceanvillas.com/); Casa Boco villa at Burgeaux Bay,

Dutch Side (http://www.villalady.com/wfcasaboco.htm ); Villa Le Jardin Tranquille, Grand

Case (http://www.caribbeandays.com/stmartin/3bedroom/lejardintranquille.shtml); and Vista

Royale at Monte Vista near Philipsburg (www.vistaroyale.com).

As if that weren't enough, we have dozens of dinners at all the best restaurants on the island,

jewelry, sails on several boats, a massage by Tricia Altenau (which may be the best prize of

all --- see www.aiamassage.com), and more. See the whole list at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/nine.html .

The drawing is only about a month away so enter now. Caution: entries are limited to no

more than 36 per person. We track this closely and we are shredding excess entries daily....

Someone is going to win, and it may as well be you (SM); enter today.

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21. Three Dinners At Top Restaurants...For Member #5,000 (All Members are Eligible)

Our 5,000th JMB Website Supporters member gets dinner for two at Daniel's By The Sea

(www.dawnbeachsxm.com), $100 off dinner for two at Spiga in Grand Case (www.spiga-

sxm.com), and $100 off dinner for two at La Gondola (www.lagondola-sxm.com).

Reinstating former members are also eligible to win, as are any current members who renew

for 7 years (at just $13/year). Once our 5000th member signs up we'll do a drawing among

these three categories of members to select the winner.

Nonmembers, learn about the benefits of membership:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml

Former members, reinstate at new low rates here:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/support/expired.shtml (There's also

"reinstatement bonus" described on that page now.)

Current members, renew at the Membership Renewal Center on the Secret Site at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/secret/renewals.html . If you don't recall your password,

you can get a new one, anytime, by clicking the link on the very top of any page at

www.everythingstmaarten.com. The 7-year ($13/year) renewals are the only way you get to

enter the drawing for our 5000th member prizes.

This is going to happen soon...

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22. Join The "Everything St. Maarten" Crowd on Facebook

We recently started this Facebook page for our St. Maarten readers (you). Join us at

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6297726366 .

Do it soon . . . "open enrollment" may change before long and once it's over, only members

will be able to join. So do it now.

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23. Get It Now, Before Thanksgiving & Before You Need It: How To Save Yourself $35,000

$35,000, give or take, payable in cash in advance, is what it will cost you to get a medevac jet

home to the US from SXM or from anywhere in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda,

the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, or Costa Rica, if you become critically ill or injured at least 100

miles from home.

Why risk that?

For a membership costing $9/day or less, SkyMed "takes you home" on a specially-equipped

medevac jet to doctors you know or trust if you do become critically ill or injured while away in

the countries noted above.

The annual family plan gives you great coverage for very short money, and members get a

$72 discount. To join, visit www.skymed.com/jmbsxm . Members, go to

www.jmbcommunications.com/secret and visit SkyMed from there for your $72 discount. If

you don't recall your password, go here first:

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Supporters/index.shtml .

Thanksgiving is next week. Don't risk travel over 100 miles without SkyMed.

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24. "Sponsors" Sought For "Everything St. Maarten" Site; Price Increases to $249/Year 12/01

We're seeking St. Maarten Newsletter & Website sponsors. For $200 for 12 months, we'll

publish a text ad every week in Weekly News and publish a (jpg) ad for Sponsors on a new

Sponsors page on our popular everythingstmaarten.com website, and on another appropriate

page on our site. All ads will include a link back to the Sponsor's website. The introductory

$200/year price rises to $249/year on December 1.

We're doing this in part to help keep St. Maarten & St. Martin Weekly News free and in part to

keep renewal fees paid by JMB Website Supporters (now as little as $13/year) from rising.

If you own a business that caters to SXM travelers --- either in St. Maarten / St. Martin, in the

States, in Canada, or anywhere --- please email Susan at JMB Communications

(nospamsusan@jmbcommunications.com), deleting "nospam" before you mail, with the

subject "Sponsorship" and we'll take it from there.

New sponsors who recently joined us will be posted this week. We'll tell you about them in

next week's newsletter.

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Please Patronize our Newsletter & Website Sponsors:

****************************

Emergency Medical Evacuation Protection:

SkyMed "Takes You Home" if you become critically ill or injured while traveling more than 100

miles from home in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, plus

Belize and Cozumel. Learn more at www.skymed.com/jmb . Highest recommendation by

JMB.

****************************

Travel Arrangements & Accommodations:

For The Best Prices On Individual and Group Tours to St. Maarten & St. Martin, as well as

stays at B&Bs, condos, hotels, and villas, visit our sponsor: Sandy Molloy at SXM Travel

Specialists --- http://www.stmartin-stmaartentravelspecialists.com 704-567-6661

****************************

"Villas in Paradise" is your one-stop source for great St. Maarten Villa Accommodations.

See many choices at www.villasinparadise.com or call Marilyn Pulito directly at 508-533-

1388. "Villas in Paradise" is Our Sponsor.

****************************

"Emerald Cove Villas" provides a one-of-a-kind vacation experience in Oyster Pond. See their

website at www.emeraldcovevillas.com. Learn why "Emerald Cove" is the name. Emerald

Cove Villas is Our Sponsor.

****************************

Summit Resort Hotel has long been Jeff Berger's favorite St. Maarten resort hotel. See why

for yourself: check out www.thesummitresort.com. The Summit Resort is a JMB Sponsor.

****************************

Shopping:

Radiant Gems at 85 Front Street, Philipsburg, brings you jewelry "as beautiful as your love."

Try them on your next visit or see their site at www.radiant-gems.com.

****************************

Section IV: For Members Only

-------------

Members - For important news about free renewals, please see story #18

-------------

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25. Members: Why Check Airfares Daily?

Always check our home page "lighthouses" to see when new low airfares have been posted,

then click the link at the very top of the page at www.everythingstmaarten.com to see the

fares on the secret site. Fares change often. Since most airlines have discontinued voucher-

based credits when fares decline, it's critical that you get the lowest fares early: it's best to

start looking 350 days ahead of flight time.

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26. Members: Password Recovery Info

Members, please print this and save it:

If ever you need to recover a username or password, change your email address in our JMB

Website Supporters member database, access the members-only message board, place an

ad on our SXM condominiums for rent or sale page, or have any other membership-related

question, please click the "Attention JMB Website Supporters" link at the very top of

www.everythingstmaarten.com and that page will make it happen. Everything is there

including our automated system for replacing forgotten passwords.

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27. How To Submit Rentals or Sales to Our SXM Condos for Rent or Sale Page

Go to the home page of the Secret Site, www.jmbcommunications.com/secret (if you forgot

your password, see previous story). In the navigation bar on the left side of the home page,

you will see "Member Benefits Center" and under that, "Our Current Benefits List / Welcome

Letter." That list/letter, recently revised, describes all twenty current membership benefits.

Condo sales / rentals are benefit #14 at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/secret/welcome.html .

You can place up to 10 ads for SXM timeshare condos you own for rent or sale within any 12-

month period. Instructions are at the above page. Ads are free for members; no commission.

Section V: Important Background Information for Travelers

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A) Low-Priced Timeshare Condos For Rent or Sale By Owners

See our complete listings of timeshare units for sale or rent in St. Maarten / St. Maarten and

elsewhere at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/condorentals.shtml . Ads

are updated roughly every 7 to 10 days.

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B) "Everything St Maarten / St. Martin" Website Online Booking: $449 Per Room, Per Week

JMB Website Supporters members have access to timeshare weeks and hotel stays at top

resorts for far, far less than normal rack rates through Cheap Caribbean, which charges our

members $50 less per week than their public rates. Details on the new discount are now

posted on our "secret" members-only website. Packages are available that entitle members

to rooms for $449 per room per week in the "St. Maarten Surprise." See the secret site for

details.

Global Discount Hotel / Car / Air reservations (For Everyone) --

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/index.shtml

Hotel / Villa Reservations (For Everyone):

Book online on both sides of the island at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/index.shtml . Also see

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/condorentals.shtml and

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/places.shtml

One top choice for a luxurious but reasonably priced condo on the beach:

http://www.vacationsinparadise.info .

Car Rentals:

Tropical-Tropicana Car Rental: www.tropical-tropicana.com

JMB Website Supporters members get discounts at Tropical. See the Secret Site for details.

On-Island Activities:

Get discounts unavailable on the island: http://jmb.caribbean-activities.com/ .

Don't forget the "jmb" - - otherwise you're not on our site.

Low Airfares:

Save hundreds on airfares and get many more travel benefits thru JMB Website Supporters.

See http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml to learn more.

Restaurants:

Detailed descriptions of many restaurants are at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Here/sxmdine.shtml

Emergency Medical Evacuation Protection:

In case of critical illness or injury while traveling 100+ air miles from home, emergency

medical evacuation can cost you upwards of $35,000 payable in cash in advance. "SkyMed"

takes you home from the US, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica,

or the Caribbean. See www.skymed.com/jmbsxm . The cost is a measly $9/day per person,

minimum five days - - much less for annual and family plans. Members get a $72 annual plan

discount...about 20% off. We never travel without this life-saving protection.

Bookmark our SXM site and visit us often: www.everythingstmaarten.com .

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C) Useful St. Maarten / St. Martin Websites (Updated 9/2007)

Le Montmartre, Cupecoy www.lemontmartre.com

Villa Bleu de Mer, Guana Bay www.villableudemer.com

La Gondola Ristorante, Cupecoy www.lagondola-sxm.com

Mr. Busby's Beach Bar / Daniel's By The Sea /

Penthouse Paradise Beach Vacation Condo www.dawnbeachsxm.com

Vacations in Paradise beach villa SXM www.vacationsinparadise.info

Beach Weddings & Vow Renewals www.stmaarten-beachweddings.com

Spiga Restaurant SXM www.spiga-sxm.com

Peg Leg Pub & Steakhouse SXM www.peglegpub.com

Taloula Mango's Caribbean Café SXM www.taloulamangos.com

Ric's Place Restaurant SXM www.ricsplace-sxm.com

Tropical Car Rental SXM www.tropical-tropicana.com

Blooming Baskets by Lisa (handbags) SXM www.bloomingbasketsbylisa.com

We do websites for businesses. If your business website isn't working - - or if you're looking

to build your first one - - Massachusetts-based "Websites That Work" can help, and we're

reasonable. See http://www.websitesthatwork.info for more.

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D) SkyMed Emergency Medical Evacuation: Important No Matter Where You're Going

You never know when or where you could become critically ill or injured . . . that is why we

recommend SkyMed, which "takes you home" to your choice of hospital by emergency

medevac jet if you become critically ill or injured more than 100 miles from home anywhere in

the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, throughout the Caribbean, and now on

Belize and Costa Rica. We buy their inexpensive annual plan so we're never without

protection. Other "competitor" plans bring you to the nearest qualified facility which could be

thousands of miles from where you live.

If you're a JMB Website Supporters member, you receive a significant discount ($72) from

SkyMed International off their membership emergency medical evacuation protection. What's

it cost? Annual SkyMed memberships give you one full year of protection at a cost that is

very close to what you'd pay for a week or two. Look:

NON-members pay the annual fee of $360 for family memberships, $180 for individual

memberships, and an additional one-time $60 application fee.

But JMB Website Supporters members pay an annual fee of just $288 for a family SkyMed

membership (a $72 savings), or just $144 for an individual membership ($36 off). New

members also pay an additional one-time $60 application fee. (We always get the annual

family membership.)

Bottom line: one year of family protection for $288, a $72 savings for members only. That

protects you against a bill of $30,000 payable in advance should you need emergency

medical evacuation while on your next SXM vacation. We've used their annual plan for years.

click the link at the top of any page at www.everythingstmaarten.com. Again, the $72

discount is for JMB Website Supporters members only (the discount is huge).

What about upgrades?

If you already bought a SkyMed plan covering just a week or two, call SkyMed today at 1-

800-475-9633 to learn about upgrading to an annual family membership for just a few dollars

more. Tell them you read about it in Jeff Berger's newsletter.

Nonmembers, see the top of the www.everythingstmaarten.com home page for more info on

joining JMB Website Supporters. Former members can reinstate through the link under the

hit counter near the top of that page, too. Get SkyMed at www.skymed.com/jmbsxm .

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E) How To Be Sure You Receive Each Issue Of This Newsletter

To avoid difficulty receiving our newsletters, whitelist "jeff1620@jmbcommunications.com" by

placing that address in your Outlook, Outlook Express, or other PC address book. If your mail

program allows you to otherwise "white-list" addresses to ensure that mail gets through,

please do that as well. Also check your spam folder, since a few overzealous spam

prevention programs may put our newsletters there.

You can always see recent issues in our archives. Just go to the Archive Index at

http://jmbcommunications.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?flavor=archive;list=testlist . The archives

are searchable; the search window is near the bottom of that page. We periodically delete our

oldest issues, but the archives usually display issues for at least two years.

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F) Free SXM Souvenirs When You Join, Renew, or Reinstate JMB Website Supporters

We're now giving you great gifts when you join JMB Website Supporters for five years.

One year of membership is $49 (two is $57) and renewals are only $13/year when you select

our lowest-cost multi-year renewal option.

----

Former members... reinstate today at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/support/expired.shtml . Rates were recently

lowered!

-----

Current members... get free oversize fluorescent green SXM luggage tags or other bonuses

when you renew. See http://www.jmbcommunications.com/secret/renewals.html

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G) Spend Less On Airfare to St. Maarten & Get Many Other Travel Benefits: Join JMB

Website Supporters

We work virtually around the clock seven days a week (24/7/365) to find the lowest available

fares from about 100 cities all over the U.S. ., plus Canada and Europe to SXM and send you

"Low Airfare Bulletins" telling you about them.

Could you find these fares yourself? Conceivably --- if you have hours to spend every day

and know everywhere to look. We do that for you, and JMB Website Supporters membership

offers lots of other benefits as well. Learn more at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml

When you join online, you have access to everything in about 48 to 72 hours (weekdays). If

you're in a hurry, you can join by phone or fax and get set up within roughly 24 hours on

weekdays.

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H) For Much More About JMB Communications:

If you own a business or are responsible for sales or marketing, think about us. JMB

Communications provides public relations, marketing communications, and website creation

services to businesses of all sizes worldwide. Please visit our website at

www.jmbcommunications.com or our website development site, www.websitesthatwork.info.

Phone JMB Communications at (508) 830-3456 for questions about our capabilities.

--------

I) Contact Us

JMB Website Supporters members wishing to contact us should visit the secret site,

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/secret , for JMB Website Supporters contact emails.

You can not reach us at any addresses other than those shown on the secret site. If you

have misplaced your password, you can get a new one at

http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Supporters/index.shtml assuming your

membership is in good standing. (A link to this is at the top of every page on

www.everythingstmaarten.com .)

-----

*About Email Address Changes / Unsubscribes

To change your email address, first use the Unsubscribe link in this email to delete your old

email address, then go to http://www.everythingstmaarten.com to subscribe to our free

newsletter with your new email address. Don't hit "reply" for address changes or

unsubscribes - - nothing will happen.

LEGAL:

"Everything St. Maarten" and "Everything St. Martin" are service marks of JMB

Communications. "JMB Communications" is a trademark of JMB Communications, P. O. Box

1812, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02362-1812 USA.

Feel free to distribute this newsletter to others in its entirety only, including this copyright

notice. Excerpting is forbidden by copyright law. Join our free St. Maarten mailing list at

http://www.everythingstmaarten.com . You cannot join by emailing us. See email headers for

subscribe / unsubscribe / address change links. To see the JMB Communications privacy

policy, visit http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/JMB/privacy.shtml

11/12/07 Transmitted 11/11/07 6:00 p.m. 7.8

2007-04-25T19:03:00.000-04:00

Big News: We're Now Giving Away TEN Weeks Of St. Maarten Vacations

The "Everything St. Maarten" website (www.everythingstmaarten.com) is now giving away TEN weeks of St. Maarten / St. Martin vacations to celebrate it reaching two million site visits later this year.

Several weeks are at top island hotels, many more are at the island's most elegant villas, and one is aboard a luxury catamaran for a week-long trip.

Whether you're looking forward to visiting those fabulous St. Maarten beaches (including nude beaches), dining at gourmet St. Maarten restaurants, doing some great jewelry shopping in Philipsburg, sightseeing in St. Maarten, or anything else . . . we've got you covered with vacations, gourmet dinners for two, day sails around the island and to neighboring islands, and much more in "Thanks Two Million." Visit www.everythingstmartin.com for all the latest information. The festivities are about to begin....

2007-03-15T10:23:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I posted here...being busy does have disadvantages. The biggest news: we've formally launched "Thanks Two Million" which gives away nine weeks of St. Maarten vacations to celebrate www.everythingstmaarten.com reaching 2,000,000 site visits this year. ("Hits" are something else entirely...we get millions of them every month). See our home page for details...

More to come!

2006-11-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

We've now taken the final step and transferred our home page to www.everythingstmaarten.com, and www.everythingstmartin.com. Click either one and you're on our new home page.

2006-11-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

Finally, it's ready for prime time. (Everythingstmaarten.com). We have a few minor things to tweak, but we're ready to go...the "tweaks" will be done after launch. Go to our home page first... the new home page is http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/index.shtml . Scroll down just under the pictures to read "How to Use This Site" and you're in business.

The picture above is there (or not) so we could see how to post a picture here. It's of the new air terminal in St. Maarten.

Happy thanksgiving...

2006-10-19T08:18:00.000-04:00

Seems interesting this year that Election Day and Halloween are exactly one week apart. Seems to me there's a hidden message buried in there somewhere, but I'll leave that alone.

THE REAL NEWS IS THE NEW WEBSITE, on which we've made fantastic progress since I last wrote. The home page is live now (though we have not yet switched the site over to it). You can see it -- and use it -- at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/index.shtml. You can also find practically anything you seek on the new site using the "Google Search Utility" on the top of the left-habd column, on all pages.

We are still adding pages (we have dozens and dozens and dozens of them) and we're going through every page, word by word, making updates, additions, and corrections . . . and ensuring that all the links work on our new pages (a mammoth job since every link on every page must be updated, and there are thousands of them). Then we are proofing everything. Then, finally, we will switch over. Our target for that has been "Fall" (loosely put, for good reason). Right now we think the actual switchover should happen during Election Week, but sooner (or later, alas) isn't out of the question.

You can use the new site in the interim, of course, but it may be a little quirky until we formally sign off on it -- and set it live. The old pages will stay up too; they will just have a big new headline to tell readers the new site is live and that's where they should go. There will be a direct link on all old pages to the equivalent new page so you can bookmark it.

Re the condorentals page... once we switch, the new page will be updated but the old one won't. It'll be clear. We know that page is important to many of you.

We're also going to be adding many entirely new pages and features over the next few months. For example, we'll add a restaurant map...point to an area of the island on a map, and voila! You'll be linked to information on restaurants there.

The new site will be a whole new experience in ease-of-use. Kudos to the entire team that has been working on it, but especially to Dennis Randall, head of our Design & Conversion team, who has done a tremendous job. You can see a description of Dennis at http://www.websitesthatwork.info/who-we-are.shtml . Dennis is Chief Designer for our website operation, Websites That Work.

Catch you later.