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
--------------------------------------------
A Few of This Week's Top Stories:
--------------------------------------------
--- 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.
-------------------------------------------
Lowest SXM Round-Trip Fares offered last week to our Members:
-------------------------------------------
--- $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.)
=====
Reader Saves $3000:
=====
"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
---------
Reading a pass-along copy?
Subscribe today, fast and free, at http://jmbcommunications.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?
---------
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.
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Feel free to forward this newsletter in its entirety to your friends, but please don't send
excerpts; that violates our copyright. Entire contents copyright (c) 2007, JMB
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.
---
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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---
Contact us:
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.
--------
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 .
--------
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.
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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.
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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.
--------
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
--------
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.
Sign up today at the SkyMed signup center on the home page of the secret site. To get there,
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 .
--------
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.
--------
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.
Sign up today at http://www.jmbcommunications.com/sxm/pages/Go/paypal.shtml
----
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.
--------
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:
Entire contents copyright, (c), JMB Communications, 2007. World rights reserved.
"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
