We recently returned from St Maarten after a stay in out time share at the Sapphire Beach Club (10th year). After reading a lot of bad press I didn't quite know what to expect.
The fact is: The place looked Great! The grounds were lush and the staff was helpfull and friendly. The food coming out of the kitchen looked good although I never did eat there. Our room was always clean and the maid service went out of thier way to help us with extra towels ect. Sure lots of things could be better but it was far from the bad press I had read. If you are going to stay there go, enjoy. and have fun.

I agree. My stay there for 2 weeks this past winter was fine, as always. I think the "bad press" has an axe to grind...just my opinion. I love it there. We have a view of the ocean from the balcony and a view of the lagoon from the bedroom. The appointments are beautiful...marble bathroom, granite counter tops, etc. Maintenance always responded immediately to our needs, even one year at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. As for maid service, I'd settle for a little less of it. They're always popping around.

We go for 2 wks in Dec (wk 49/50) for 12+ yrs and have never had any problems that some have reported on some of the sites. Granted it is not the best but it is far from the worst. There is a new manager who is trying to get it back on track but as long as Philippe has control it'll be an uphill battle.

My opinion is that everyone has different expectations. I am a person that is usually has easy expectations to meet. I am in a service industry and know that some people go through life with unrealistic expectations. The more I hear the more that seems to be the case concerning the Sapphire. My stay was great. The location makes it in my case. I can't really relate any great or bad stories about the SBC.

amend !!!!!!!! lets's here some good press ..........the place is great!! end of story !!!!

I'll be staying there the end of May and am concerned about smoking. Are the rooms smoke free and is it allowed on the beaches?

Ellen,
I don't think anyone gives hoot what you do there, the French smoke so much I want to toss them in the pool to put them out !! LOL
I think its ok to drive another nail in the box if you want to.

I just returned from a stay at the Sapphire Beach Club. The place is very nice. However, we did have some problems. While there, there was a holiday. We were not informed by the management that we would not have any maid service that day. After a day at the beach, we returned to clean up for dinner. We found the beds unmade and no fresh towels. We called the front desk and were informed that they didn't have any maid service that day (although I did see housekeepers working). It took several calls before we were finally given any towels to take a shower. One night we returned from another day at the beach. We got ready to go out and then went to the safe to get money, jewelry, etc. The safe was broken and wouldn't open. We again called the front desk. We were told by the girl at the desk that nobody had a key and we would have to wait until 11:00 the next morning before someone could open the safe! We found that hard to believe, so my friend went down to speak to them. Suddenly, a key appeared and we were able to open the safe, so we could go get something to eat! We also lost electricity one day in our condo. It took at least 5-6 calls before someone came to take a look at it.
Each time we had called, we were told that someone was "on the way up", then they wouldn't show up. It is a nice place, but the management is very poor. I know other people that have time shares there and they are very dissappointed that they aren't keeping the place up like they should. I was considering purchasing a time share from RCI at the Sapphire, but once I saw what little interest they had in pleasing their guests, I changed my mind and will look elsewhere. Other than the problems with the facility, St. Maarten itself is a wonderful place to visit.

I don't think that RCI sells timeshares directly (but through their Century 21 didision) and I think that you could use a towel two days in a row and sleep in an unkempt bed two days in a row.

go to Ebay and buy a cheap 2 bedroom red week with a low maint fee and trade to sxm. Make sure the timeshare is at least international distinctionand you can stay anywhere on the island. Thats what I do Good luck

SXMaholic Wrote:
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> We go for 2 wks in Dec (wk 49/50) for 12+ yrs and
> have never had any problems that some have
> reported on some of the sites. Granted it is not
> the best but it is far from the worst. There is a
> new manager who is trying to get it back on track
> but as long as Philippe has control it'll be an
> uphill battle.


Barbara, who is the new manager? The little guy with curly hair who has been there the last few years seems to laugh at problems. If he is gone, that could be a BIG plus. He was counterproductive to getting anything done.

Most of the bad press regarding Sapphire has been generated by an individual with some kind of ax to grind. I have stayed twice and never had a problem.

We have owned there 11 years. Granted the unit could use sprucing up, but whenever we have complained about something missing in the unit or broken, they fix it very quickly. Last year, they put a new kitchen faucet in when I complained it was dripping. They even had to take the dishwasher out to do it and I never heard a complaint from maintenance. I just wish they would redue the drapes and lampshades and I would be much happier.

Maxie

We stayed at the Sapphire from June 18-25th. Our room was nice, a bit of a musty smell when we first arrived but once the AC was turned up it was better. The pool area and restaurant were both good in my opinion. I am not sure where the complaints are coming from unless it was because we stayed in tower 3 which is the newest tower. One complaint is the exercise room, that really needed updating and new machines.

I spoke with someone in management and they informed me renovations are under way starting with the first tower. They will be repainting the buildings, getting new furniture or reburbishing furniture, updating appliances, etc starting this fall. Hopefully its true, because even though our unit was nice it still could use a touch up here and there. That said, I would have no problems returning there.

Thats true! That little curly hiared Frenchman is worthless. Same thing happened to us.