Sint Maarten in January

Sint Maarten in January is one of the best times to visit. Most of the timeshare owners report having a great time as the weather is beautiful, the beaches not so crowded, wonderful food, a great time is had by all.

Reports coming back indicate the season will be a good one in St Maarten. As the cold weather up north usually drives the owners south Sint Maarten is one of the premier destinations to warm up.  The cruise industry brings over 1 million visitors each year to St Maartin. This year is no exception.

The St Martin timeshare industry is going full blast. We have had reports that some of the resorts have raised their AMF fees over the average CPI index,  these resorts are not providing their owners the best deals as in the past.  Many of the owner are not paying these hight fees and are just walking away from their home resorts.  Too many good deals are available at this time.

We propose to write some timeshare consumer protection legislation to protect the owners against this over charging each year.  Please join our association at www.sxmtsoa.com

We have clsoe to 200 members all with the same goals of protecting our vacation experiernce.

Sint Maarten Travel Tips

Preparing For Your Sint Maarten International Flight Each year, millions of Americans make the decision to travel out of the country. Many individuals travel for personal reasons, while other travel for business reasons. Whatever your reasons for flying, you will find that international flights are not like most domestic flights. For that reason, you will often find that you need to prepare for a Sint Maarten  flight differently. The first step in preparing for your next Sint Maarten flight is to make sure that you have all of your travel arrangements in order. You should do this in advance, just in a case any problems arise or you find that any mistake were made.

Your travel plans should not only include your airline reservations, but your hotel accommodations and any other travel arrangements. Once you have made certain that all of your plans are in order, you can begin to start preparing for the rest of your trip. One of the first things that you will want to do is make sure that you have all of the documents needed to take an international flight. Depending on where to are traveling to, which airline you are flying on, and which international airport you are flying in and out of, you may need to have different proofs of identification. These proofs of identification may include, but should not be limited to, a driver’s license, a government issued identification card, a certificate of citizenship, a passport, or a visa.

To determine which items are required and which are optional, you are urged to contact the international airport that you will be flying out of, for further information. Once you have gathered all of the necessary documents, you will need to start packing for your trip. When packing your bags, it is important that you know which items are prohibited aboard an airplane, either altogether or in your carryon luggage. In the United States, as well as a number of other foreign airports, you will find that liquids and sharp objects are restricted only to checked baggage. It is also important to note that all explosive and flammable objects are completely banned from airplanes, including your checked baggage.

While it is important to familiarize yourself with the items that are banned aboard an airplane in the United States, it is also advised that you familiarize yourself with the bans enforced in the country that you will be flying to. This is extremely important because not all areas of the world are the same. Essentially, this may mean that although a certain item may be allowed in your carryon luggage in the Untied States, it may not be in another country. To prevent a problem from arising, namely with airport security, you are advised to examine the most commonly banned items, throughout the entire world. In addition to packing your bags and making sure all of your travel plans are in order, you may want to take the time to famialrize yourself with the international airports in which you will be flying in and out of.

You may want to print off or request a map of each airport, as well as familiarize yourself with all airport screening procedures. Although airport security is heightened all across the country, even in domestic airports, you will find that the security at international airport is more intense. The security measure taken at each airport will vary depending on the preference of the airport in question. Despite the fact that specific airports can add in their own precautionary measures, there are some rules that be must followed. These rules often involve the proper screening of all passengers and bags. Since this screening may take some time, you are advised to arrive at the airport as early as you possibly can. For international flights, it is advised that you arrive no latter than two hours before your flight is set to take off. In the event that a problem should arise, two hours should give you enough time to, hopefully, get the problem straightened out.

By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should successfully be able to prepare for your next international vacation or business trip. When it comes to international travel, nothing is more important than the proper planning.

Enjoy you vacation in Sint Maarten.

AMF Fees increased over 10%

It appears that the AMF for 2010 has increase over 10% for the resorts managed by Diamond Resorts in Sint Maarten.  The increase is well above the 5% increase in the CPI for the NA.  Many of the resorts use this index to increase their AMF fee each year.

This increase is another reason that you should support the SXMTSOA, we are prepared to confront the government of St. Maarten about the continued violations of the intent of the timeshare industry to provide a reasonable lodging experience for the average consumer.  With some of the maintenance fees above normal weekly rack rates the next question is how many of the owners will walk away from the entire experience.

The Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association is ready to step up to the plate to help the individual St. Maartn timeshare owner.  You the owner deserve better; the management companies cannot continue to reap the outrageous fees each and every year  and not provide the leaseholder any information on how their monies are being utilized.

Please consider joining our organization to protect your leaseholder rights in Sint Maarten.  We are close to our second goal of 200 members before the end of the year.

Flyer Available for Distribution

Board member Marie Bowman has produced a flyer for all members of the Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association to take to St. Maarten to pass out and advertise our association. The flyer is available on the website www.sxmtsoa.com as a PDF file, click the link and then print the flyer on your computer. Non-members may also distribute the flyer, please feel free to do so.

Currently we have over 150 active members of the association, we expect to reach our 200th founding member in the next few weeks.  After the 200th member the “founding members” category will be closed forever. Now is the time to join.  Please visit the website Sint Maarten Owners Timeshare Association to join.

With the increases in Flamingo/Royal Palm 2010 AMF these resorts are now the highest AMF’s on Sint Maarten. Many of the owners have indicated this may be their last year as timeshare owners.  A two bedroom unit AMF is over $1300, the average for all the other St. Maarten timeshare resorts is near the $800 mark which make the Flamingo/Royal Palm nearly 60% higher than the average, this fee has to be justified by the resort management.  The increase for 2010 was near $150 much higher than the 5% increase of the CPI of the NA index used by many of the resorts. What justification does Diamond Resorts use for such a large increase two years in a row.

This is on of the reason the SXMTSOA is needed at this time. We propose to have the St. Maarten government step in to control this clear violation of the principles of timeshare ownership.  None of the current owners at these resorts would have bought their units if they would have been privy to the current trend of increases in their AMF. Our organization will promote the “code of ethics” now under development.  This code will enable the resorts management to start the much-needed resolution to the current timeshare owner problems.

Many of the owners have not received their 2010 AMF billing as of today. This is another problem that has to be addressed. Most contracts require payment to be in a timely manner, billing also must be in a timely manner. A 30 day billing is unacceptable as many of the owners have multiple units as multiple resorts. Also a short time line leaves little time to resolve disputes or errors in billing.  Our goals will address this problem.

We wish all our members and all Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners a very Happy Holidays.

Please feel free to post on this blog, it is for your use, your input is also another way to inform all timeshare owners of your interests.

Rowie Percoco

Annual Maintenance Fee Time in Sint Maarten

Just like our annual trip to Sint Maarten it is time to pay our annual AMF’s.  As in previous years it appears the management companies will push the envelope as they say to collect as much of an increase  in the fees as they can.  Only in a few instances are the limitations of the AMF increase part of the standard timeshare lease agreement.  Some of the agreements have a cap each year limited to the increase of the CPI of the NA.  This increase for 2010 should be in the 5% range if your resort management goes by the actuals.  In some cases the increase is not capped and each resort can and will increase the AMF as they see fit.

Therin lies the problem with the Sint Maarten Timeshare system, there are no regulatory authorities on how much a resort can increase the AMF or on what the AMF’s can and should be designated for or to be applied to.  Some management firms take over 10% in management fees plus have on premiss management staff which also take a percentage of the AMF, the actual percentage for maintenance is in the 12 to 18% range leaving over 80% of the budget for operations.

Our organization, the Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association, has grouped like-minded Saint Marten timeshare owners into a group with the goals to promote protection against the violations of our leases and our resorts not maintaining the facilities as per the lease agreements.  Over and over each and every year the same problems arise in that management takes their fee and the resorts continue to deteriorate.  Raises in the AMF do not mean the monies collected will go to improve the overall condition of the resort properties.  Raises do mean the percentage of management fees will rise each and every year. Something must be written into law to protect the leaseholder from this incessant violation of the trust we placed in the management companies to maintain our individual resorts.

Consider joining our growing group of St. Maarten timeshare owners to protect your investment in the years to come. Now is the right time to organize and promote our goals.  Please visit our website WWW.SXMTSOA.COM read over our goals, if you agree with them please consider joining and supporting our efforts.  We welcome you to participate in the organization, we need your help.

First 200 Founding Members

The Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association is fast approaching our first 200 members,  as a thank you the first 200 members will be in the category of “Founding Members”.   We have also proposed that all founding members have business cards with the title “Founding Member”.  A copy of the business card at left, all the new members have been notified of this opportunity to  become one of the “Founding” members.

At this time attorney Hofman expects the association to be fully registered this week.  This usually take from three to four months as our registration has been fast tracked.  We also expect the board to issue the “code of ethics” in the next month. This code will be presented to the Timeshare resorts in Sint Maarten/St. Marten for their review.  We expect that some of them will adopt the Code as a first step in our goals of Timeshare Consumer Protection legislation.

The island economy appears to be on the road to recovery as many of the establishments are very busy.  The season is just getting started, reports have the new season occupancy rate at or about the levels of last year.  Many new projects in Sint Maarten have begun, the new bridge/causeway from the airport across Simpson Lagoon is under development. This road is needed to relive the traffic congestion in the Simpson Bay area.

The AMF for 2010 are just now arriving in the mail, so far no reports of any major increases or violations of the standard increases.  This is where the “Consumer Protection” legislation is needed to protect the leaseholders from the continued violations that have occurred in previous years.  It appears many of the resort management firms do not report to the owners any information on either the collection or expenditures of the annual AMF.

Please consider joining the Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association, we expect to reach the goals proposed on our website http://www.sxmtsoa.com in the near future.  Sint Maarten/St. Maarten reaches country status on 10/10/10 this will be a milestone, the opportunity for us to pass this protection is fast approaching.

Get involved, join the association now.

News From SXMTSOA

Three more days here in Sint Maarten/Saint Marten, weather turned a little cloudy and rainy last two days. Sint Maarten day was yesterday, the 50th anniversary. Big celebration on the Dutch and French side.  We are still waiting for word from Attorney Hofman that the registration of the SXMTSOA will be today.

All the timeshare owners we talk to are very enthusiastic about the formation of the new association to promote the protection of the timeshare owners.  We also talked to many visitors to the island and they are also interested in the industry.  As always Sint Maarten is a destination everyone want to return to.  The island is very busy as the season is starting with a bang…

We expect to reach our goal of 200 members by the end of December.  The first 200 will be in the category of “founding” members.  To join the association please visit our web site:  http://www.sxmtsoa.com

We are looking  for a writer to help with this blog.  If you are interested please email me directly:  Rowiep@comcast.net.

Sint Maarten/St. Martin looks to be on its way to a great 2009-2010 season.  The new Carnival cruise pier just opened, Royal Caribbeans newest ship with over 5000 passengers will call once week starting in December.  The entire timeshare industry in Sint Maarten will only gain from all the new first time visitors.

Enjoying out last few day here before the trip home.

Sint Maarten Timeshare News

Today, Thursday November 5, we met with Monique Hofman, attorney for the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association. Monique also represents litigation groups,  Atrium resorts leaseholders, Diamond resorts leaseholders and Sapphire resorts leaseholders. Her expertise is in the defense of timeshare leaseholders contracts. Monique’s firm also writes legislation to be reviewed and considered for passage by the Sint Maarten government.

The SXMTSOA was formed to promote certain improvements to the timeshare industry in Sint Maarten.  As over 300,000 timeshare units have been sold over the past 20 years in Saint Martin/Sint Maarten an organization to link all the existing groups is needed to promote our similar goals of maintaining our timeshare units and resorts to the standards we all expect.

We propose to first develop a “Code of Ethics” that all existing timeshare resorts will have the opportunity to examine and subscribe to.  This will be the first step in our goal of standard legislation to protect all timeshare leaseholder/owners from the continued violation of their leases. This process will take many years and a continued need for funds.

If the timeshare owners in Sint Maarten are serious about the needed changes out goals will be reached.  We are now on a recruiting membership goal of 200 members by the end of the year.  I will continue to promote the SXMTSOA at every opportunity.

We are here in Sint Maarten for the next week,  the island appears to be very busy as the season has just started. The weather for November has been St. Marten perfect.  We hope you consider joining the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association.   Please visit our website http://www.sxmtsoa.com to read our goals and to join.

In the near future we expect to link to the other timeshare groups, this will expand our base to include thousands of SXM timeshare owners.

Sint Maarten Timeshare News

Members News Update November 3, 2009

Pat and I are in Sint Maarten until November 15. Thursday we have an appointment with the association attorney, Ms Hofman, to set up the process of registering the association as a NPA in Sint Maarten. She also represents the Atrium, Sapphire and Diamond Resorts litigation groups plus her firm writes legislation for the SXM legislation.

I also have had some correspondence with a few other Sint Maarten Timeshare groups’ principals. They have made some constructive recommendations on how to fulfill our objectives. When I return home I will discuss these proposals with the board to receive their guidance on how to proceed to integrate these groups into the association. It appears that over the years other organizations have tried to resolve the same issues now confronting all the timeshare owners and failed. If the entire structure in existence was able to unite on a common cause it would assure our success.

 I would like to recruit a member to write a blog about Sint Maarten Timeshares and the timeshare industry. I have only so much time, I started the blog and will add to it occasionally but would like a member or members to add to it each week. The blog enables us to maintain a presence on the web and will keep our website in the top pages of the search engines. Plus it will be informative for other SXM timeshare owners. Please email me if you would like to write some posts. I have advertised on the Caribbean Craigs list for a blogger to no avail.

It has been suggested that we first work on a “code of ethics” to be presented to the individual resorts for adoption. I am also requesting help on writing these ethics. I have a copy of ethics used in the European Union as a guide. Please email me if you would like to help write the SXM “code of ethics.” Our membership is about 75 members; my next goal is 200 by the end of December. Please suggest to all your SXM timeshare friends that they too support the association so we can ll help promote our goals.

The island appears to be very busy as the season has just started. Many new improvements to the road structure keep the traffic flowing. New buildings going up all around, the island continues to grow. Weather has been perfect for this time of year. I will post another update later next week.

Again thank you for supporting this new endeavor; with your continued support and help our goals will be attainable. It may take a few years but with perseverance we will succeed.

Latest Sint Maarten Timeshare News

Atrium NV vs Atrium Leaseholders suit in the Sint Maarten courts was put on the dockett for a final verdict on December 1, 2009. The Court hearing, October 19 was for the parties to present to the court their final terms for a settlement.  Atrium NV terms were presented to the owners on October 20. A vote by the 468 leaseholders belonging to the Litigation group was about 100% to have a court verdict.  Atrium NV asked for another 4 week delay, this was denied by the defendants.

In May of 2009 the court rendered a interim judgment, this in turn required an appearance in court by the principals in August of 2009 to formulate an out of court settlement if possible, Festiva/Atrium to answer 11 questions presented by the court. The court did not grant Festiva Resorts/Atrium Resorts any of the requested changes to the existing lease.  Festiva/Atrium had five months to prepare a reasonable settlement, they did not and waited until the day of the hearing on October 19 to inform council of a proposed settlement.

Atrium NV settlement asked for a limitation of the AMF to be capped at 10% annually and that the illegal SA of 2007 be upheld, terms of the cap to be for two years with a committee of 5 to 7 either 2 to 3 representatives of the owners and 2 to 3 representatives of management and 1 impartial representative. This committee was to be formed to establish a new version of the “rules and regulations” which would include reactivation of the now defunct “advisory” board. The committee would have been established to “replace the current mechanism” to regulate the AMF, clearly another try to violate the existing lease. This was to be done through the “Rules and Regulations” which do not pertain to the “Terms and Conditions” of our leases.

A final verdict on December 1 will affect all members of the Atrium Leaseholders Association, as the court has recognized this SXM registered group.  If you are not a member of the Leaseholders Association please contact me immediately.  We can add you to the litigation group and you will also be under the protection of the court verdict.  Any other Atrium owner is still under the exclusive Festiva Resorts umbrella and will have to deal individually with any demand of Festiva Resorts/Atrium NV.   Festiva Resorts now owns over 2000 unit weeks, in 2007 thy owned approximately 1200 unit weeks.  The Atrium Leaseholder Association represents over 760 unit weeks.

Please contact me Rowie Percoco at rowiep@aol.com for more information.

We have also formed the Sint Maarten Timeshare Owners Association to promote Timeshare Consumer Protection Legislation and to formulate a “Code of Ethics” that each Sint Maarten timeshare should adhere to. This association is supported and endorsed by all the existing litigation groups. Please visit our website,

www.sxmtsoa.com for more information.

If you need to Rent or Sell your timeshare please visit our Ad dirven site www.btsrbo.com, the Ads are FREE, list as many times as you want.  We also list any Vacation Properties, Yacht Charters, Vilas, any resort related rental or sale.