Getting Here; Weather:
REMINDER: EHAS to Give an Immediate Automated Pre-Approval for Vaccinated Travelers as of August 1
-- When Should You Buy Tickets?
-- More About The Idea of Calling Retired Pilots Back to Solve the Pilot Shortage
-- Exactly Where to Find Our "Guide to SXM Entry Requirements / Return to US Requirements"(Updated)
-- What To Do If Your Flight is Canceled Or Delayed...
-- Where to Find Current SXM Weather Info
-- As Hurricane Season Begins, Here's How to Be Sure You're Properly Prepared
SXM Accommodations:

-- Hundreds of SXM Timeshare Condo Rentals Available for '22 and Lots for 2023
-- Realtors to See for SXM Condos & Villas
-- Buying a Condo in SXM: Important Procedural Help (including Residency)
-- How To Rent Out Or Sell Your Timeshare Units

Other Island Headlines for Tourists:

-- LEAD STORY: Lagoon Causeway Bridge Now Back in Operation
-- July 14 Is Bastille Day on the French Side, With 9pm Fireworks
-- How To EASILY Keep a Closer Eye on Tropical Developments
-- JMB Website Supporters Member Parties Expected to Resume Later This Year
-- A Look at Neighboring Islands -- Part 1, Anguilla
-- Looking More Closely at SXM - Special Edition
-- Beaches: In SXM, Different Strokes for Different Folks
-- How to Listen Live to Island 92
-- Who Are The BEST SXM Jewelers?
-- Where to Find SXM's Best Restaurants
-- Restaurants Where You Might Want to Eat Dessert First (No, Really)
-- Where to Get Truly Authentic Pizza (and "The SXM Pizza Story")
-- Time to Schedule Your Vow Renewal / Destination Wedding / Special Celebration
-- Where to Post Your Best SXM Pictures
-- Heads Up: Entries End Soon for Our Six-Vacation Giveaway: How to Enter & What You Can Win
-- SKYMED'S BIG SUMMER SALE IS NOW UNDERWAY:
-- Two New SXM Euro Oval Stickers Now Available; Where to See Them & How to Order -- Message To Weekly News Readers from Jeff Berger -- Restaurant of the Week:
-- First Responders Now Get Platinum Benefits
-- Please Patronize JMB Sponsors

Please see our complete Table of Contents below.

Scroll down for our complete Table of Contents

Timeshare Rental and Sale of the Week

Each week JMB randomly picks timeshare condominiums for rent and for sale in SXM from the huge selection at http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml and features them here.

To rent out or sell timeshares you own in SXM or anywhere else worldwide, for no ad charge or commission, join JMB Website Supporters. Visit http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml for info. Membership now delivers a growing list of about 300 St. Maarten and St. Martin-focused travel benefits -- and your membership subscription helps keep these weekly SXM newsletters coming.

SXM Timeshare Rental of The Week:

RENTAL 1/6/2023 1/13/2023 1 Royal Palm Beach Resort Beachfront, 2br, 2 bath, top floor, spectacular view. Free parking, free WIFI, walking distance to many restaurants, supermarket. For other dates and unit size, pls send me an email $2,300 1-647-227-3434 jgarro55@gmail.com

See them all at http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml

SXM Timeshare Sale of The Week:

SALE 2/4/2023 2/11/2023 Week 5 The Atrium Resort and Spa Selling ocean-front 4th floor, 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suite (king-size beds). Fixed week, deeded property. Stunning 220 degree view of entire Simpson Bay Beach, Atrium pool area and harbor. Fully equipped kitchen with dishes, 3 TVs, air conditioning. Resort brings clean towels daily and fully cleans unit mid-week. Full wrap-around deck off living area with second deck off the bedroom. Recently remodeled bathrooms and new deck furniture. Pullout sofa in living area accommodates additional guests. Grocery stores, numerous restaurants, and casino within walking distance. No need for car. We've cherished it for 11 years and loved every minute -- aging makes travel difficult, so we are selling. Start your memories today. $7,500 Gina 612-618-9969 ginaltruitt@gmail.com

See them all at http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml

Villa Rentals Now Offered On Our Site Too:

St. Maarten / St. Martin Homes, Villas, Businesses, Commercial Properties, and Residential Properties for Sale (NEW): Click to access our recommended real estate agents

TABLE OF CONTENTS -- This Week's Stories

Stories are numbered; scroll down for stories of interest. This week's Table of Contents follows these links:

"Like" Our "Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin / SXM" Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/mysxm

"Like" Our All-New "Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin / SXM" MeWe Group
https://mewe.com/join/jeffbergerseverythingsxmmewegroup

Search the SXM Weekly News Archives:
Current Archives (Since 4/2014) in PDF Format:
http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/free_newsletters/sxmweeklynews.shtml

Archives prior to April 12 2014 (old format):http://everythingsxm.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?flavor=archive;list=sxmweeklynews

Get a growing group of about 300 SXM-focused island discounts and other SXM-related benefits through JMB Website Supporters membership: http://www.everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml

Complete Table of Contents

Section One: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Going Home, Etc./ Weather --Scroll Down in This Section--

Getting Here:

REMINDER: EHAS to Give an Immediate Automated Pre- Approval for Vaccinated Travelers as of August 1
1. When Should You Buy Tickets?
2. More About The Idea of Calling Retired Pilots Back to Solve the Pilot Shortage
3. Where to Find Our Guide to SXM Entry Requirements / Return to US Requirements (Newly Updated)
4. Got a Spare $45,000++? You May Need It, In Cash in Advance, to Get a Medevac Jet Home in a Medical Emergency
5. What To Do If Your Flight is Canceled Or Delayed...

Etc.; Weather

6. Be Properly Prepared for Hurricane Season
7. Where to Find The Latest SXM Weather Information

Section Two: Accommodations (Hotels, Resorts, Timeshares, Villas, Etc.)
--Scroll Down To This Section--

8. For SXM Condo Buyers, Some Critically Important Advice
9. Buying a Condo in SXM: Important Procedural Help (including Residency)
10. Realtors to See for SXM Condos & Villas
11. Hundreds of SXM Timeshare Condo Rentals Available for '22 and Lots for 2023
12. Reminder: JMB Members May Now Advertise Both Timeshare Weeks They Own and Privately Owned SXM Condominiums for Both 2022 and 2023 On Our Site
13. How To Rent Out Or Sell Your Timeshare Units
14. SkyMed TRAVEL Guarantees Big-Time Savings on Hotels, Cruises, Car Rentals

St. Maarten / St. Martin Homes, Villas, Businesses, Commercial Properties, and Residential Properties for Sale (NEW): Click to access our recommended real estate agents

Section Three: JMB Member Discounts & Benefits
--Scroll Down To This Section--

15. UPDATED Reminder: $100 Jewelry Gift Card Emails Sent to All JMB Website Supporters Members: News About JMB Member Discounts / Benefits Updates (Updated 7/11/22) How To Get Yours
16. JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program Major Update Expected to Complete by Fall
17. Updated Contact Information for JMB Communications, JMB Website Supporters Members

Section Four: Island News, Info, & Features
--Scroll Down To This Section--

18. HUGE SUMMER SALE NOW UNDERWAY BY SKYMED: TRAVELING ANYWHERE THIS SUMMER, FALL, or NEXT WINTER? Look: Get Up To 22 Weeks FREE (PLUS Military/First Responder Free Weeks) with New Multiyear SkyMed Purchases ===Only $1.64/day Gets You Guaranteed Renewable, Price-Guaranteed-Forever SkyMed Annual or Multiyear Medevac Protection;

19. THE FULL SKYMED STORY: What SkyMed Medevac Protection Is, Where & How It Works, and More

20. Answering Your Questions: What Does SkyMed Actually Do?
-----An Important Message from Jeff Berger

21. LEAD STORY: Lagoon Causeway Bridge Now Back in Operation
22. July 14 Is Bastille Day on the French Side, With 9pm Fireworks
23. How To EASILY Keep a Closer Eye on Tropical Developments
24. Where's Bonnie?
25. JMB Website Supporters Member Parties Expected to Resume Later This Year
26. A Look at Neighboring Islands -- Part 1, Anguilla
27. Looking More Closely at SXM - Special Edition
28. Beaches: In SXM, Different Strokes for Different Folks
29. How to Listen Live to Island 92
30. Who Are The BEST SXM Jewelers?
31. Where to Find SXM's Best Restaurants
32. Let Them Eat Cake: Where to Get It
33. Restaurants Where You Might Want to Eat Dessert First (No, Really)
34. Where to Get Truly Authentic Pizza (and "The SXM Pizza Story")
35. Time to Schedule Your Vow Renewal / Destination Wedding / Special Celebration
36. Where to Post Your Best SXM Pictures
37. Heads Up: Entries End Soon for Our Six-Vacation Giveaway: How to Enter & What You Can Win
38. Restaurant of the Week:
39. Two New SXM Euro Oval Stickers Now Available; Where to See Them & How to Order
40. No Story 40?
41. What Are the Best Sources of Accommodations Rentals?
42. Enormous Library of SXM Information is On The Web
43. Flying This Summer? Here's Something You Should Know
44. Getting Answers to All Your Questions About SXM
45. Important Updated Contact Information for JMB Website Supporters & SkyMed Sales Inquiries
46. Who Our Sponsors Are, and Why You Should Patronize Them
47. Join Our New Conversational SXM Group on MeWe, the Facebook Alternative
48. First Responders / Military / MDs & Nurses Now Get Platinum Benefits
49. Want to See Back Issues of SXM Weekly News? Here's How
50. SXM Business Owners: How To Increase Foot & Web Traffic

Section Five: For Members Only (Revised 8/2017)

A. Where to Get Member Info: www.everythingsxm.com/secret
B. Password Recovery Info: Your username is the email address you have registered with JMB Website Supporters. If you forget your password, click "forgot password" in the orange login box near the masthead at www.everythingsxm.com.
C. How To Submit Rental or Sale Ads: Links are on the Secret Website (see a, above.)

Section Six: Where To Find Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) (Revised 8/2017)

How To Get a GROWING LIST of 300+ Money-Saving St. Maarten- and St. Martin-Focused Travel Benefits
Visit http://www.everythingsxm.com/secret , the *secret* site for JMB Website Supporters members only, for low fares to SXM from cities across the USA, Canada, and Western Europe, plus a growing list of 300+ additional major travel benefits.

Not a member yet? See http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml . Cost: $59 for one year, or $99 total for three full years. Other durations available. Join us today...

**********************************************************************
All JMB Newsletters Read *From JMB*
**********************************************************************
This newsletter and mail from JMB Website Supporters to members read *From JMB* in the subject area so you won't misinterpret them as spam.

THIS WEEK'S STORIES:

Stories are numbered; scroll down for stories of interest.

SECTION 1: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Covid, & Weather; Etc.

GETTING HERE:

REMINDER: EHAS to Give an Immediate Automated Pre- Approval for Vaccinated Travelers as of August 1

As of August 1st 2022, the intention is to make EHAS more convenient by allowing vaccinated persons to receive an immediate pre approval, once the form is filled out in it’s entirety. The entry requirements will not change for the country, but by allowing an automated immediate response, many cancellations can be avoided. It is important to note that the checks on arrival will still take place at the airport, and persons may be required to test locally if their documents are not valid.

Despite claims that EHAS is detouring tourist from visiting the country, statistics show that this is far from the truth. In the high season of 2021-2022, Sint Maarten was at approximately 120% of its 2019 pre-COVID arrival numbers and to date we are at 90% of the 2019 arrivals. We often look at other countries without realizing the full measures being taken there. For instance, while Aruba may not require any testing to enter the country, they do require that an ED form be filled out prior to traveling and they still have a night life closure time of 1 AM during the week.

Even though America has finally eased their entry requirements, noncitizens are required to be vaccinated to enter their country. This shows that everyone is trying to find a balance that would also protect their population, while still attracting visitors. Sint Maarten is no exception, the intention is for EHAS to transition into our Port Health Authority, which is mandatory for all the countries within the kingdom. An international health regulation (IHR) meeting was held last month in Aruba and is scheduled to be a yearly event. The IHR requires each country to be able to detect, asses, report, respond and stop outbreaks of infectious diseases before they spread internationally. This means that Sint Maarten must have a Port Health Authority at all points of entry, to meet our obligations as international ports.

"I am not someone that likes to remove regulations and then have to replace them later”. Said Ottley. The Minister is working on transitioning the EHAS to a more effective system that fosters safety without negatively affecting our visiting numbers. The plan is to allow this automated approval to be accessible for all visitors regardless of their vaccination status by October 15th 2022.

-- Published verbatim from the Government of St. Maarten.

1. When Should You Buy Tickets?

That's the million-dollar question. There is probably a certain place in the airplane where you'd like to sit and a certain maximum price you'd like to pay for your tickets. However, buying seats when they first become available generally means you'll pay maximum price; but waiting until a few weeks before your visit makes it likely that the seats you want will already be sold.

What to do?

It's always best to buy airfares directly from your chosen airline. If something goes awry, issues with ticketing bought directly from airlines tend to be the "easiest" to solve — although airlines are so busy and staffs are so lean now that "easy" is relative.

We suggest that for ticket purchase timing you use one of the online ticketing operations — whichever one you prefer that will notify you when prices go down. You can then go to the airline website and get the sale price and hopefully the seats you want there.

The system isn't perfect, but under current circumstances it's the best way to get what you want: have someone else keep a close eye on fare changes, as described here.

2. More About The Idea of Calling Retired Pilots Back to Solve the Pilot Shortage

As we mentioned in an article here last week, many passengers think a nifty way to solve the current pilot shortage would be to recall thousands of pilots who had taken early retirement during the Covid Pandemic: snap your fingers and away goes the problem.

But as we wrote in last week's feature here, it is far from being that simple.

A captain with one of the world's foremost airlines wrote to us after seeing our story last week and noted there are even more reasons underscoring the fact that recalling pilots won't work and is not going to happen. Here are his comments:

The pilots who took early retirement/buyouts cannot just be brought back. They are permanently removed from the seniority list. If they want to come back they would have to be rehired and would start at the bottom of the list on year one pay. We’ve had several whining on our Facebook pages about wanting to come back…as the senior captains they were before taking the out. It’s not happening. A four-year recovery became a two-year recovery. No one, not even me, thought it would happen this fast.

3. Where to Find Our Guide to SXM Entry Requirements / Return to US Requirements (Newly Updated)

Tens of thousands of tourists will be visiting SXM this summer and fall, with hundreds of thousands coming next winter. Planning for all of these visits is well underway.

Our Guide to Entry Requirements (Second Edition, just updated) simplifies SXM Entry Requirements to make it easier for our readers to understand exactly what the island is looking for and to successfully navigate SXM's Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) website, through which visitors to SXM must still apply for the required preapproval.

To access the just-updated second edition of our Guide to Entry Requirements, which is free, go through this link (revised) to the files area of our Everything SXM Facebook Group. You should be able to access the file easily if you are already a Facebook member.

Further updates may happen as the number of hospitalizations on the island stays very low. See next story.

4. Got a Spare $45,000++? You May Need It, In Cash in Advance, to Get a MedEvac Jet Home in a Medical Emergency

$45,000 or more payable in cash in advance could be what you must pay out-of-pocket should you need emergency medical evacuation while traveling anywhere in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, or anywhere in the Caribbean. By contrast, SkyMed Takes You Home® for zero dollars when you become critically ill or injured in any of those countries if you are a SkyMed member. All it takes is one phone call and SkyMed does everything. That $45,000 you might have to spend without SkyMed assumes that you can make all the arrangements, find and hire the jet, make sure it is properly outfitted for the specific medical problems you face, staff it with appropriate medical professionals who are cleared to travel back home to the US or Canada, and take care of customs, immigration, and loads of other paperwork including Ambulances and getting your records to your Destination hospital. By contrast, SkyMed does all of that and its members pay $0 for the evacuation or ambulances.

Setting up medical evacuations sounds complicated because it is — and having to do all this in a medical emergency is a daunting task for anyone who has never done it. For about $1.64/day for an annual or multiyear SkyMed membership, SkyMed will do all of this stuff once you make that single quick phone call.

For more information, call us today at 508-591-3483 or Jeff.Berger@skymed.com. Include your phone number and time zone so we can call back and get all your questions answered. We can also take your application by phone in roughly 10 minutes.

5. What To Do If Your Flight is Canceled or Delayed...

What should you do if your flight is canceled or delayed as happens fairly often now due to weather or staffing shortages?

This recently published article gives you exact answers.

Etc./Weather

6. Be Properly Prepared for Hurricane Season

Compiled by NOAA and the National Hurricane Center, this information can help anyone who is ever in the path of any tropical cyclone hopefully make it through that event safely. For your own safety, download this document and save it after reading -- and feel free to share it with others.

Get your SKYMED MEMBERSHIP *BEFORE* you need it. Air ambulances are now more costly than ever: when you become seriously or critically ill or injured while traveling, SKYMED TAKES YOU HOME® to doctors and hospitals you know & trust. Otherwise you must pay tens of thousands of dollars in cash in advance to get a medevac jet -- if you can even do it (NOT easy or fast if you don't know how). SkyMed annual or multiyear memberships are only about $1.64/day, and they're guaranteed renewable regardless of age or medical condition at renewal and they are PRICE GUARANTEED FOR LIFE. Why wait? CALL today 508-591-3483 or email us at jeff.berger@skymed.com; include your callback number & time zone please. Protect your family NOW!

7. Where to Find The Latest SXM Weather Information

Although hurricane season officially begins June 1, nonetheless it's best to be prepared before then. In recent years, tropical activity has begun around mid-May. Stay in touch with any or all of these sources of tropical weather information...

Here are SIX sources of current SXM weather info:

1) Crown Weather Services whose very inexpensive subscription service is, we feel, the best in the business.
2) Our "Weather Center / Hurricane Center" at www.everythingsxm.com -- it has current satellite images and radar loops 24/7/365 and now all the latest NHC weather forecasts, outlooks, and advisories as well. There are now also active weather widgets on the site's home page. That page also includes real-time or near-real-time satellite images and radar loops.
3) Our Everything SXM Facebook Group publishes the latest advisories, watches, and warnings when SXM is threatened by any storms.
4) On or off the island, listen to Island 92 -- 91.9FM or see www.island92.com. They report island warnings at once so you'll know exactly what's going on. You can listen on the web anytime through live streaming.
5) For a quick look at weather radar exactly where you are or where you're going, try the My Radar phone app or My Radar for Windows -- excellent programs.
6) Get a quick, current satellite look at the Atlantic basin anytime: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GIFS/ATWV.JPG .

N. B.: Again...Never rely on any website if you're in the path of a storm; always heed warnings from local authorities.

In addition… When storms form or pass near SXM, we expect to run the latest forecasts, watches, warnings, and observations in our Everything SXM Facebook Group, and we will post all of that material directly in the weather center of our everything SXM website, www.everythingsxm.com.

SECTION 2: Accommodations: Hotels, Resorts, Timeshares, Villas Etc

8. For SXM Condo Buyers, Some Critically Important Advice

Moving to the Caribbean requires a multi-step procedure that involves different citizenship programs. While territories in the Caribbean region have made relocation to the Caribbean easier for people, it’s still a meticulous process. It’s best to go through the application with seasoned immigration consultants.

Our partner BrightPath Caribbean is an expert immigration agency that has helped countless people move to their slice of paradise in the tropics. Investors, retirees, and skilled workers who were assisted by the BrightPath team now enjoy life in the land of sun, sea, and sand.

By working with BrightPath’s immigration consultants, you don’t have to deal with the nitty-gritty of the complicated immigration process. Plus, you avoid delays and increase your chances of approval.

Moving, retiring, and opening a business in Sint Maarten (country abbreviation SXM) all involve complicated, multi-step processes. So leave the nitty-gritty to professionals who are well-versed in immigration and the business climate in this Caribbean country.

BrightPath Caribbean makes your move to Sint Maarten smooth-sailing and fuss-free. You no longer have to deal with complicated paperwork or complex immigration, incorporation, or retirement procedures. Our consultants in Sint Maarten will oversee everything so that you can focus on the important thing — your new life in paradise.

Moving to St. Maarten
BrightPath Caribbean provides various services to prepare for your relocation, retirement, or venture in Sint Maarten.

Immigration Services
Our team handles immigration matters for individuals who want to relocate to St. Maarten. Moving to this country is no easy task, but the effort is more than worth it. Its beautiful beaches and scenery make it seem like you’re on vacation all year round.

BrightPath immigration consultants in Sint Maarten:

Walk you through the various immigration avenues in Sint Maarten, including investment, employment, family reunification, cohabitation agreements, and more
Collect required documents based on the avenue for immigration and review them for completeness and accuracy
Oversee the entire application process and guide you every step of the way

Business Incorporation Services
Our business incorporation consultants see to it that you start your company on the right legal footing. You’ll get expert-level guidance in:

Business License. Our experts deliver reliable advice about the right business license for your company if you haven’t applied for one yet. We also guide you in applying for the license in St. Maarten.
Name Search. BrightPath consultants check if your chosen business name is available. If not, we can work with you to form a cleared name.
Preparing the Articles of Incorporation. Our team prepares and makes sure the paperwork is complete and error-free. We’ll also be the ones to file the articles of incorporation.

Business Banking Services
Our team opens bank accounts for existing or planned businesses in SXM to make sure your company starts on the right financial footing. You’ll be assisted as you:

Choose Your Bank. Our consultants review your business’s banking needs, as well as your in-person and online banking preferences, to help you choose the right bank. Our goal is to find a bank that provides scalable solutions and day-to-day banking convenience.
Gather Requirements. Our team helps you collect the required documents and review them for accuracy and completeness. We’ll also be the ones to submit them and set an appointment with your chosen bank in Sint Maarten.
Sign Forms. You simply attend the appointment and sign the forms.

Retirement Planning Services
You’ll develop a personal retirement planning strategy that takes into account your personal financial goals, the financial risks you face, and the kind of life you want to lead during your golden years in the Caribbean. Our retirement service consultants in Sint Maarten:

Help you set clearly defined goals for your retirement in St. Maarten
Improve tax efficiency and help you maximize your benefits
Plan your legacy in case you want to leave something to your grandchildren or a charitable institution

Sint Maarten Awaits:
There’s more to Sint Maarten than beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes. The culinary scene is rich and diverse, representing over 100 nationalities, including French cheeses and Mediterranean wines. The shopping experience is divine, and the festivals are spectacular.

If you’re eyeing St. Maarten for your retirement or new venture, then you’ve made the right choice.

9. Buying a Condo in SXM: Important Procedural Help

A while ago, working with Arun Jagtiani of Island Real Estate Team, we put together and conducted an SXM Relocation Seminar for dozens of attentive attendees at Emilio's Restaurant at the Emilio Wilson estate near Philipsburg.

Many of you have asked whether it would be possible for you to see video we made of our relocation seminar.

Although we do intend to put on future relocation seminars, the video of our November '18 seminar is available online to anyone interested in buying on SXM, whether for a vacation home, retirement home, income property, or anything else. Lots of outstanding info was communicated during this excellent seminar, and another is now in the early planning stages.

See the video here. (Link is being updated).

Please check this link to BrightPath Caribbean SXM, a company that can help provide very deep and expeditious help in completing residency requirements for people buying a second home, income property, or a new business in SXM, or relocating there. They're located in the Puerta del Sol building opposite Avantika, Simpson Bay, Dutch side. Tell them you heard about BrightPath through Jeff Berger's SXM Weekly News.

10. Realtors to See for SXM Condos & Villas

The following list of our sponsor realtors tells you how to contact SXM's best sources of condos and villas across the island:

VILLA RENTALS / RENTAL COMPANIES:

If you're interested in making a villa reservation (doing it with close friends can be fun and more economical than you'd imagine), contact our top recommended Villa rental/sale partners at Island Real Estate Team. Call the number that follows and ask to speak with the agent who handles villa rentals: 1 721 520 7284. Please let the agent know that you're interested in a rental and you were referred by Jeff Berger's Everything SXM Facebook Group. Hundreds of villas are now online.

Jennifer's Vacation Villas has also joined us as a villa rental partner. Jennifer's Vacation Villas is a licensed management, real estate and villa rental company specializing in the rental of private villas and condos on both French and Dutch St. Maarten. Its proprietor, Jennifer, is a New Yorker who has been residing in St. Maarten for 40 years and whose goal is to provide guests with personal attention and to ensure that their vacations are memorable. Jennifer's Vacation Villas also does Weddings, Private Events, and any additional services including massages, boat trips, and private catering. Their aim is to make your vacation stay as comfortable, accommodating, and easy going as possible. Call 1 (721) 544-3107 | +1 (631) 546-7345. When you contact them, please tell them you were referred by Jeff Berger's Everything SXM Facebook Group.

Candie Billant does condo and villa rentals and sales. You will find her at #Caribbean Estate Agency N. V.

GoBeach Vacations

Sunshine Properties

Monte Verde / Belle Vue

Villa Acropole:
www.acropole-stmartin.com

Villa Vijoux:
https://www.facebook.com/VillaVijoux

Villa Steel Magnolias (new 1/22)

40Weeks SXM Vacation Rentals (new)

Villa En'sea 5 bedroom Villa, overlooking Philipsburg bay (new)

Villa Kimon

Daffodil Villa

11. Hundreds of SXM Timeshare & Condo Rentals Available for Both 2022 and 2023

Dozens of new listings of timeshare and other condominiums for rent and for sale for both 2022 and 2023 have been added to our timeshare sales / rental page in our main SXM site, www.everythingsxm.com.If you're looking for a place to stay, that's where to find it. All of our listings are from members of our JMB Website Supporters island discount program so you deal directly with timeshare owners -- there are no middlemen or agents or anyone else charging commissions. Usually, timeshare owners charge close to their actual annual maintenance fee costs.

Dozens more new entries were posted over the last couple of weeks.

12. Reminder: JMB Members May Now Advertise Both Timeshare Weeks They Own and Privately Owned SXM Condominiums On Our Site

We are now accepting advertising for both timeshare resort condominiums as well as privately owned condominiums on the island directly from their owners who are members of our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program. This is effective immediately and includes weeks from both 2022 and 2023. Submit your ads through the members-only "Secret" website.

Not a member? Join us by clicking the page curl on our main site, www.everythingsxm.com. All the details you need are there.

13. How To Rent Out Or Sell Your Timeshare Units

If you own timeshare weeks that you would like to rent out or sell on our main everythingSXM.com website, you can do it once you become a member of our JMB Website Supporters island discount program. For all the details, go to our main site, everythingSXM.com and click on timeshare rentals in the navigation bar. You'll find the details about posting there.

For information about joining JMB Website Supporters, click the page curl on all pages of everythingSXM.com. As a member, you will have access to a growing package of about 300 discounts and other benefits including the ability to post up to 10 ads per year in our rental pages at everythingsxm.com.

The ability to post timeshare rentals on our site is limited to JMB Website Supporters members only, and is not available to any others at any price.

14. SkyMed TRAVEL Guarantees Big-Time Savings on Hotels, Cruises, Car Rentals

We're now giving JMB Website Supporters members and SXM Weekly News readers access to a private, "members only" travel wholesale club that offers incredible prices not only on airfares but on travel reservations and packages worldwide.

SkyMed Travel offers exceptional pricing on everything and almost invariably beats everyone else's pricing. We have found their pricing excellent across the board and their 15% low rate guarantee on hotels and car rentals is real news.

Normally, SkyMed Travel charges $99 to join plus $99 annual renewals. But for our JMB Website Supporters members and now for Weekly News readers, the cost to join is zero as will be the cost for renewals. Join the Club by going to https://www.skymedtravel.com/register, sign up, and provide the requested information. Complete the first sign up item (SkyMed Membership Number or Representative ID) by entering the code 391330 �ߡ�doing that ensures that you pay nothing for your SkyMed Travel Club membership. No code, no free entry to the club's phenomenal pricing. If you are a SkyMed Member, however, enter your SkyMed Membership Number there to get the absolute greatest possible discounts.

You won't be disappointed.

Not a SkyMed member? Learn more about it at www.skymed.com/jmb, then call us with questions or to sign up. Call 508-591-3483 (NEW NUMBER) any weekday. Thanks.

SECTION 3: JMB Member Discounts & Benefits

15. UPDATED: $100 Jewelry Gift Card Emails Sent to All JMB Website Supporters Members: News About JMB Member Discounts / Benefits Updates (Updated 7/11/22) How To Get Your $100 Gift Card to Caribbean Gems

One of the newest benefits of JMB Website Supporters membership is a $100 Gift Card from Caribbean Gems. The Gift Card was sent last month by email to all members of our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program, and will soon be added (for one-time use only) to our members-only passworded "Secret" Website. Details on its use accompany the card. Those $100 Gift Cards are expected to be mailed again to all JMB Website Supporters members this week.

We are now working to further increase the already huge number of restaurants, jewelry stores, hotels, car rentals, and other businesses offering discounts or other incentives to members of our JMB Website Supporters SXM Island Discount Program. As these additions are made, they will be reported here in SXM Weekly News and will also be noted in our Everything SXM Facebook Group. We hope to finish these updates late during Summer, 2022.

JMB Website Supporters currently offers roughly 300 discounts and other benefits to its thousands of members.

Want your own $100 Gift Certificate to Caribbean Gems? Join JMB Website Supporters and we will send it to you. We recently sent Certificates to all JMB members.

For more info on what you get with your JMB membership or to sign up, go here.

16. JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program Major Update Expected to Complete by Fall...

The huge update we have been working on for some time of our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program — which coincides with a major server upgrade and upgrades to two mission-critical programs for our new servers — is taking longer than we had originally hoped.. Unfortunately, this seems to be a common theme among many businesses dealing with personnel shortages among their principal contractors. In any case, we believe this major upgrade should be finished by Fall. We will keep you aware of program changes and apologize for the delay.

17. Updated Contact Information for JMB Website Supporters and SkyMed Sales Inquiries (UPDATED 6/6/22)

Updated Contact Information for Everything SXM / JMB Communications / JMB Website Supporters Membership Services and SkyMed Sales:

Because of volume, email is not the best way to reach us. Here’s what’s best: First, a Suggestion: Get the free WhatsApp app. It lets you make free phone calls (including video calls) worldwide and send free texts, all for zero cost. It is very widely used around the world.

SkyMed Answers to Questions or to Sign Up by Phone: If you’re interested in learning more about SkyMed, contact Jeff Berger at jeff.berger@skymed.com. Leave your phone number and time zone and he’ll return your call. SkyMed is sold only to Americans, Canadians, and xPats. If you prefer, phone Jeff at 508-591-3483 and leave a message; that is a NEW NUMBER. You may also call our JMB office, 508-747-8281.
JMB Membership Questions/Issues -- JMB Website Supporters: Use WhatsApp to send questions to Membership Services; use Jeff Berger’s WhatsApp phone number, 721-588-4188, but call or TEXT (texting is
preferred) from within the WhatsApp application ONLY. Membership Services at our headquarters in Massachusetts handles all these calls. INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL, since all responses are made by email.
Our new email is jmbcomms@gmail.com; use it for JMB Website Supporters membership questions. Thank you.

SECTION 4: Island News, Info, & Features

18. HUGE SUMMER SALE NOW UNDERWAY BY SKYMED: TRAVELING "ANYWHERE" THIS SUMMER, FALL, or NEXT WINTER? This is Huge News from SkyMed:

Up To 22 Weeks FREE (PLUS Military/First Responder Free Weeks) with New Multiyear SkyMed Purchases ===Only $1.64/day Gets You Guaranteed Renewable, Price-Guaranteed-Forever SkyMed Annual or Multiyear Medevac Protection

.........................SKYMED's BEST PROMOTION EVER IS NOW UNDERWAY!.......................
For ALL NEW MEMBERSHIPS in 2022:

22 FREE weeks added to all new 5-year ULTIMATES*
12 FREE weeks added to all new 3-year ULTIMATES*
22 FREE days added to all new Annual memberships

=== PLUS===

"Thank YOU for Your Service"
Bonuses for US & Canadian Military Veterans
& FIRST RESPONDERS:

6 FREE months added to all new 5-year ULTIMATES*
3 FREE months added to all new 3-year ULTIMATES*
*What are "Ultimates"? See next story.
***These MILITARY benefits are IN ADDITION TO the benefits for all new members!***

WHAT IS SKYMED? WHERE DOES SKYMED WORK?SkyMed is a medical evacuation membership company. "SkyMed Takes You Home®" when you become seriously or critically ill or injured when traveling anywhere throughout the USA, Canada, all the nations of the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Global protection is also available. SkyMed members pay nothing for SkyMed-arranged medical evacuation flights that would cost non-SkyMed members $45,000 and up payable in cash, in advance. Why risk that? Of course, you must get your SkyMed membership before you need it -- just like fire insurance. You'll find an overview of all SkyMed Services here, and you'll find Frequently Asked Questions here.
WHAT ARE "ULTIMATES"?SkyMed Ultimates are SkyMed's best memberships and also its LEAST EXPENSIVE on a cost-per-day basis (about $1.64/day for family protection). They offer a suite of 18 services and protect you worldwide -- almost everywhere. They are offered in monthly-pay (minimum payment period two years), three-year, and five-year versions.
LOW GROUP PRICING *LOWER THAN THE PRICES ON THE SKYMED WEBSITE*:

All of the SkyMed memberships we sell go to either members of our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program, to members of our various online SXM groups, or to readers of SXM Weekly News. The prices we charge for all multiyear Ultimate memberships are SUBSTANTIALLY LESS than the retail prices you will see online from SkyMed's website. Call or email us DIRECTLY (contact info below) for details on all of our major-league savings on SkyMed Ultimate multi-year membership prices.

LIFETIME PRICE GUARANTEE / GUARANTEED RENEWABLE MEMBERSHIPS:All existing SkyMed memberships and new SkyMed membership purchases of one-year or longer are now price-guaranteed for life. The price of your membership will not increase if you buy during 2022 or if you already are a SkyMed owner of any annual or longer membership: this applies as long as your renewals are paid on time. SkyMed annual and longer memberships are also Guaranteed Renewable when annual or multiyear fees are paid on time -- guaranteed renewable regardless of advancing age or declining health.
HOW TO CONTACT US: Phone us ANYTIME at 508-591-3483 (new number, where you can also text us) for answers to questions or to sign up. When you call us directly, we get credit for the sale. You can also email us directly through SkyMed at jeff.berger@skymed.com.
My SkyMed website: http://www.skymed.com/jmb. But please CALL ME DIRECTLY with questions or to sign up - that way I get credit (number above). Or jeff.berger@skymed.com
.
When and Where SkyMed Protects You:Basic SkyMed short-term and annual memberships protect you throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all the nations of the Caribbean. In that SkyMed universe, SkyMed Takes You Home® when you become critically ill or injured. Optional protection covering most of the rest of the world is provided by GETS, Global Emergency Travel Services, a SkyMed company.
Key Differences Between SkyMed Short-Term & Annual Memberships: Many people who buy SkyMed memberships first request short-term protection. Is that the best solution for most people? That's a decision you have to make, but before you do, here's some important info. First, short-term memberships are available only for a specific defined short term. They protect you with SkyMed Takes You Home® membership that applies throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all the nations of the Caribbean including Cuba. Short-term protection cannot be upgraded or renewed since you buy it for a specific trip; it's temporary protection. There is no waiting period for benefits. When you want protection for another future trip, you must make a separate application for it. Although at $15/day per couple SkyMed short-term protection is the most expensive product SkyMed sells on a cost-per-day basis, short-term protection is economical if you seldom travel and take brief trips. The cost is $9/day per individual, or a maximum of $15 a day per family (parents and kids 21 or younger). We always tell people who are 50 or over about the most important advantages of SkyMed annual and multiyear memberships. The single most important benefit is that SkyMed annual and multiyear memberships are guaranteed renewable, regardless of advancing age or declining health. Details are in SkyMed's Member Services Agreement. We currently have members who are still traveling and are in their upper 80s and 90s. The cost of annual memberships per family is far more economical than the $15/day per family for short-term coverage -- it's now only about $1.64/day total. Multiyear memberships also have more features; contact me for full information about features of each type of SkyMed membership. Ultimate memberships protect you worldwide. I can answer all your questions by phone in minutes, and can also take your application by phone (that way I get credit). Phone anytime at 508-591-3483 (NEW NUMBER). That's a direct line to Jeff Berger that also accepts text messages. Updated 6/20/22.

*What is the SkyMed Ultimate?
Again, the Ultimate is SkyMed's best - and least expensive (on a daily cost basis) form of medical evacuation membership. With SkyMed "Takes You Home"® services in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all the nations of the Caribbean, plus Global Emergency Travel Services (GETS) almost everywhere else worldwide, the Ultimate is for people who visit Europe, Africa, Asia, and almost anywhere else your wanderlust takes you. It also delivers 18 critically important travel-related services as opposed to 12 with SkyMed annual memberships. You'll find an overview of all SkyMed Services including those provided with Ultimate memberships here.
SkyMed Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ

Feel free to contact me via Facebook Messenger as well or now WhatsApp, 721-588-4188 (through WhatsApp ONLY), or use our new office line, 508-591-3483. Or email me at jeff.berger@skymed.com (SkyMed inquiries only please). You can also send texts to that 508 line and leave voice messages. Please include your phone number, time zone, callback number, and email address.

--Jeff Berger
6/20/22

20. Answering Your Questions: Examples of What SkyMed Does & How SkyMed Works
---An Important Message from Jeff Berger to All SXM Weekly News Readers---

We've always said SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME® when you become critically ill or injured --
home to doctors and hospitals you know and trust, and home where your health insurance works. In
recent weeks as many of you have decided to resume traveling, you've asked us for examples of
what SkyMed does. Several examples are right here:

For answers to questions or to sign up, email me at jeff.berger@skymed.com or call me at
508-591-3483. Open to Americans & Canadians & xPats only. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona,
for the last 33+ years, SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME® when you become critically ill or injured
while traveling anywhere in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, or all the
nations of the Caribbean. Global protection is available. Cost for family membership is as
little as $1.64/day on annual and multiyear plans. IMPORTANT: Buy directly through me;
our pricing for multiyear memberships is much lower than SkyMed's pricing published
on the web.

Here are specific examples of how SkyMed works for its members:

On a recent Thursday at Mullet Bay Beach, a woman at the edge of the water fell and accidentally
knocked down her friend, standing close by. The friend felt pain in her leg as she got up, went to
a hospital, and was told she had a "soft tissue injury" and should relax in the sun. Pain
continued. Next day she went to the Maho Clinic for another opinion since she couldn't put any
weight on the leg without pain. The doctor there sent her to the French Side for a new x-ray. That
diagnosis came back - broken leg and she had to be medically evacuated back to the US for surgery.
A few days before, the woman had bought short-term SkyMed medevac protection for her short trip to
SXM. Cost, under $100. She was sent home by jet by SkyMed. The charge for the jet: $0. Without
SkyMed, had she needed a medevac jet, the $26,000 (approx.) price of that jet home would have had
to be paid in cash in advance; with SkyMed she was home and in the hospital of her choice the next
day for $0 out-of-pocket.

Mary Beth and her partner Don were vacationing in SXM when Don fell and broke his hip -- only about
a month after they had bought SkyMed. SkyMed flew them home on a medevac jet for the hospital care
he needed. Flight cost to the patient: $0. Savings: over $35,000.

An MD from Florida who always visits SXM was on a cruise vacation to the Greek Islands with his
wife when he broke his femur aboard the ship. He was rushed to the hospital in Corfu but called
SkyMed which arranged and paid for an emergency medevac flight to Athens for urgent surgery. A few
days later SkyMed evacuated him again, with an excellent male nurse, all the way home to Florida,
where an ambulance took him home for recovery. Required flight cost to the patient: $0. Savings:
huge.

A Summer trip ended in disaster when a child visiting her grandmother in Grand Case was bitten in
the head by the grandmother's bulldog, imperiling the girl's eyesight. She was flown to Miami in a medical
evacuation jet for emergency eye surgery that saved her sight. Flight cost to the patient: $0.

A woman from Virginia shopped at an island grocer and headed back to her car carrying two bags of
groceries. She tripped and fell on a curb and knew at once she had fractured her hip. After being
stabilized locally, she was flown home on a medical evacuation jet from SkyMed where she had the
surgery she needed. Flight cost to the patient: $0.

Two men were riding their horses on a hill in Cay Bay when a car backfiring spooked one of the
horses, which threw its rider. The other rider got off his horse to check his companion when the car again
backfired, spooking the horse again which led it to kick its dismounted driver in the head, luckily
causing "only" a severely dislocated jaw. The local hospital had no ability to solve that problem
so the victim was airlifted by SkyMed back to Pennsylvania for surgery. Flight cost to the patient:
$0.

A member of the clergy fell down cement stairs and broke her leg. She too was airlifted home by
SkyMed for surgery. Flight cost to the patient: $0.

Not all trips end well: anything can happen when you travel. Being a member of SkyMed was the common thread in all these cases. SkyMed takes its members home when serious or critical injuries occur in the "SkyMed universe" , usually in a private, ICU-equivalent medical evacuation jet -- home to doctors and hospitals the patient knows and trusts -- and home where their health insurance works. That's just one of up to 18 benefits received by SkyMed members for about $1.64/day for annual or multiyear memberships.

All this is why we always recommend SkyMed. Call Jeff Berger 24/7 at 508-591-3483 and leave
your name, phone number, and time zone. Jeff will call back at a mutually convenient time and
answer all your questions. He can also take your application by phone in about 10 minutes. You're eligible to
apply regardless of your age or health if you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen or an American or
Canadian ExPat living in SXM or certain other countries.

Anything can happen anywhere: Do it now, BEFORE YOU NEED IT. To learn more, visit
www.skymed.com/jmb. JMB members get big discounts off SkyMed's online pricing for all multiyear memberships, the BEST memberships for most people age 50 or over. More contact info is above.

Thanks for reading this.

21. LEAD STORY: Lagoon Causeway Bridge Now Back in Normal Operation

Late last Thursday, after several days of being stuck in the open position, the lagoon Causeway bridge resumed normal operations.

Days before, after a normal bridge opening, apparently some sort of unexpected electromechanical event caused the bridge to get stuck open, requiring vehicles that were in line to cross it to make a U-turn over the median to exit the causeway -- or to backup half the length of the Causeway.

This was the second time in roughly a month that something happened to disable the causeway bridge.

Authorities are investigating to try to make sure that the cause of these incidents has been thoroughly isolated and resolved so that the incidents don't become repetitious.

22. July 14 Is Bastille Day on the French Side, With 9pm Fireworks

Bastille Day, July 14, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution (much as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts marks the beginning of the American Revolution there in Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775), will be celebrated next week on the French side with fireworks. Lara Russo, whose Spiga Restaurant is in Grand Case on the French side, posted news of Bastille Day festivities in our Everything SXM Facebook Group this past weekend.

23. How To EASILY Keep a Closer Eye on Tropical Developments

If you want to take a quick glance any time at the current state of affairs regarding tropical weather in the Caribbean, as well as in the Atlantic basin, the Gulf of Mexico, along the US East Coast, or in the US Northeast, you can do all that with the free and ubiquitous MyRadar application, available for most platforms.

MyRadar shows you weather radar for planet Earth. You can set up views you'd like to see on a regular, recurring basis and save them in the application as hyperlinks to current radar for specific geographic areas. We do that for the areas mentioned in the first paragraph, and we use MyRadar regularly on our desktops, laptops, phones, and elsewhere. You can also use it to see what's happening along your route of travel by air or car.

Things are calm in the tropics now except for Bonnie, who we feature in the next story. Because of an anticipated upward pulse in the Madden Julian oscillation, which we have described here before thanks to help from Rob Lightbown, our chief meteorologist, of Crown Weather. Things are expected to start to get busy again in the tropics in the next several weeks.

Although the number of storms this year again is expected to be above normal, that fact doesn't particularly matter to fans of SXM or to people who live in areas susceptible to strikes by tropical cyclones: what matters is whether one of them hits the area where you live or work. The weather center/hurricane center in our main site, www.everythingSXM.com, gives you an enormous amount of information including more current radar and satellite loops plus immediate access to all tropical updates, tropical outlooks, and all advisories, watches, and warnings that apply to the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean. We do recommend MyRadar as an add-on to your ability to keep an eye on tropical systems that may be forming.

24. Where's Bonnie?

You may remember hearing about tropical storm Bonnie as it affected the far southern Windward islands and northern South America more than a week ago, before crossing over Central America just north of Panama and heading to the Pacific. Unlike many other storms that dissipate while crossing Central America, Bonnie held together because she was farther south than most of the storms that pass this way.

After moving into the Pacific, Bonnie intensified into a hurricane and reached major hurricanes status, category 3 for a time. You can see its historic track in the MyRadar app mentioned in the previous story. As of Saturday morning, it was expected to dissipate sometime this week as it continues to move west to west northwest in Pacific waters.

25. JMB Website Supporters Member Parties Expected to Resume Later This Year

Until the Covid Pandemic started killing thousands of people about 2 1/2 years ago, our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program was throwing regular island parties for its members at a variety of venues on both sides of the island.

The Covid Pandemic is not completely over, but the numbers continue their apparent improvement and we are continuing to watch what's happening.

As of now, it is possible that we will start resuming our JMB Website Supporters Island Discount Program member parties late this year on SXM. When this happens, we will send notices directly to our JMB members enabling them to sign up. Only if space allows will our parties open later to members of our Everything SXM Facebook Group.

Our JMB Website Supporters island discount program offers an increasing array of hundreds of discounts and other benefits to its members. Learn more about it by clicking the page curl in our main site, www.everythingSXM.com. A price increase on membership has become inevitable for the first time in many years and it is coming soon so we urge you to join now.

26. A Look at Neighboring Islands -- Part 1, Anguilla

Under normal circumstances, Anguilla, SXM's closest neighbor, is easily visited via a small ferry from the terminal in downtown Marigot. You'll need your passport and it would be wise also to take your latest Covid vaccination status information — though you should check first to see what Anguilla's current entry requirements are before your travel dates.

The ferry you take will land you not far from the Valley, the only real town on Anguilla. It's an area with a number of small stores and the last time we went, just before Covid, the road looked like it hadn't been paved in about 50 years -- it had lots of holes and was a patchwork of repairs.

To rent a car here you will need a local driver's license which you can buy for roughly $30 from the car rental agent at the ferry port. Remember that Anguilla is a British island so driving is on the left side of the road. Also related to the allegedly "stiff upper lip" British, if you're looking for fresh nude beaches to conquer, forget Anguilla — there aren't any.

Anguilla is known for its gorgeous beaches, for Bankie Banx Dune Preserve (the site of a famous Jimmy Buffett concert several years ago), for fairly large and highly upscale hotels, for privacy and for a generally laid-back vibe on those quiet, gorgeous beaches. It's a neat place to relax and enjoy exceptional restaurants and gorgeous beaches. It is very much unlike SXM and, for that matter, St. Barth, about which we will write here in a subsequent column soon. See our writing about Anguilla from about two years after Irma at www.fodors.com.

Is Anguilla worth a day trip? Absolutely; there are some outstanding restaurants here for lunch or dinner, getting back and forth is easy and relatively inexpensive (you don't need a plane), and the accommodations are beautiful but expensive. The gorgeous beaches and fine dining make it worth the trip. Note that Anguilla isn't a particularly great place to shop (for jewelry shopping, stay in SXM; for couture shopping, St. Barth). Much more info: See our friend Nori Evoy's www.anguilla-beaches.com. She is the "Jeff Berger" of Anguilla.

27. Looking More Closely at SXM - Special Edition

SXM Weekly News is intended to bring you tourist-oriented in-depth news and information about your favorite island. Its contents since they are visitor oriented aren't something you're likely to see in local newspapers.

Every year at about this time, we try to bring you a special edition which examines some of the unique things about vacationing on SXM. We hope you enjoy the following several articles in this year's special edition.

28. Beaches: In SXM, Different Strokes for Different Folks

SXM has dozens of beaches on both sides of the island, each with its own particular vibe. Here are several favorites:

a. For Cruisers: although people on daytime excursions can go to any island beach they wish, if your visit us on any day but Sunday (when downtown shops are usually closed), Great Bay beach is a perfect spot. Along the Great Bay Beach Promenade (popularly known as the "boardwalk"), you'll find dozens of gift shops, bars, and restaurants so you won't starve when spending time on the beach. In our Everything SXM Facebook Group., you will also find the best of the gift shops posting (Flamboyant) and the best new Tapas bar (Bold Buddha). And on Front Street, a few feet away, you'll find great pricing on a spectrum of jewelry pieces and watches that we think is the best selection in the islands.

b. For Daredevils: if you want to try something different and perhaps a bit dangerous, you can go either to the central section of Orient beach on the French side or to Maho beach at the end of the airport runway on the Dutch side. On Orient beach, kite surfing is available. That's where you stand on something that looks vaguely like a relatively short surfboard, put a harness around your body and attach to it a large kite like device that will whisk you around Orient Bay why you furiously try to maintain control of its direction so at some point, you can get back where you came from. Normally, people who are trying this first learn how to control the kite from land, which is fun to watch for people who would rather stay on the sidelines and keep their feet (and everything else) dry. It is worth noting that occasionally, new kitesurfers will find that the kite may dive into the ocean without notice, and there are occasionally sharks swimming in Orient Bay along with you. So until you really know what you're doing, it may not be particularly sensible for you to kite surf in areas where there are few people since you may need someone to help you get the kite back in the air so you actually can get back where you came from.

On Maho beach, at the ocean and of the Dutch side airport runway, on busy days you may see many hundreds or perhaps even thousands of people cramming the beach to watch planes take off or land from this legendary spot. When planes take off heading westward over the mountains, big jets rev up first blowing anything that isn't nailed down into the water -- that can include (but is not limited to) people, sunglasses, hats, picnic lunches, coffee cups, beer cups, bathing suits sometimes, and people from young to old. It is especially unwise to go near the fence, which we hear is now a bit taller than it was to prevent people from climbing to the top to take pictures or get sandblasted by departing jets. People have been injured here on many occasions and a few have died here from the effects of jet blast. When you arrive, if the time is anywhere near noon, you will see an area behind the center of the runway which is almost completely abandoned on the beach. That's the area immediately behind the runway that is most susceptible to severe jet blast which can, in fact, seriously injure or kill you, as signs on the fence point out. Heed those signs — they are there to protect you.

c. People watching on Great Bay beach or the southern end of Orient beach, where the nude people are: for some reason, some "textile" people like to watch people on nude beaches and they gravitate toward the southern end of Orient beach to do that. It is much more fun to join in and try the no-tan-lines section of the beach rather than just gawk, which makes you look rather ignorant to naturists. If you want to just people watch, you're better off to go to Great Bay beach downtown in Philipsburg (see the first section of this article); there are lots of them around in all shapes and sizes and you may find their presence entertaining. If you do choose to go to the Club Orient part of Orient beach at the far southern end of the beach, where nude sunbathing is practiced, practice naturist etiquette which you can learn about through our hyperlink. You can also check this article on trying naturism for the first time; for most people, it's much easier and less nerve-wracking than you might think.

d. One of the most popular and crowded beaches on all of SXM is Mullet Bay beach, roughly a 10 minute walk from Maho beach. Parking is problematic here unless you arrive at the beach very early — in which case you are liable to be hemmed in by other beachgoers. If you take a cab, make sure the cabdriver can return you to the cruise port on a timely basis if needed. Leave at least two hours ahead of your cruise departure during the week, but even earlier if you are here during high season. Mullet is a very pretty beach but it also, like all other SXM beaches, has no lifeguards and surf conditions can change rapidly. Definitely swim with others and watch the currents. The beach can vary from relatively calm to dangerously rough, and there may be a significant drop-off. Keep your eyes wide open.

e. For families with kids or young children, Friars Bay is an ideal spot. It has a few snack bars on the beach and is generally fairly calm, making it an attractive strand for families with young children. Nonetheless, pay attention when driving to Friars; you may occasionally find donkeys on the road or, more likely, oxen, which look like giant cattle. They are not likely to move out of the way if they happen to be standing in the road when you want to go by, though they do tend to be at the side of the road rather than in the middle of it.

Complete descriptions of all SXM beaches will be found in our main SXM website, www.everythingSXM.com, in the beaches section. Again, remember that there are no lifeguards and that sudden changes in surf here like anywhere can make beaches treacherous — so always swim with others.

It's also not uncommon occasionally for there to be cows, horses, donkeys, or occasionally wild monkeys on SXM beaches. The monkeys, especially, may partake of any food you leave on your blanket — and they particularly like alcoholic beverages. Go figure….

29. How to Listen Live to Island 92

Regardless of where you are in SXM or at home, you can use your cell phone to listen live to Island92 radio, our favorite SXM station for many years. Jeff is also live on the air most Mondays at about 9:45 AM island time (same as EDT) with Jeff "Dr. Soc" Sochrin on Island92 radio, 91.9 FM or www.island92.com. The listen live link is on their website.

30. Who Are The BEST SXM Jewelers?

All of the best SXM jewelers show you a spectrum of their best pieces in our Everything SXM Facebook Group. What they show varies by jeweler, since each jeweler has its own areas of specialization. Some will show you top-of-the-line Swiss watches including all of the world's most famous brands; others will show you diamond rings of various sizes; others will show you highly creative and beautiful but very unique rings and other pieces with a spectrum of beautiful multicolored stones; others will show you gorgeous pendants and other highly unique pieces. Go to our Everything SXM Facebook Group and scroll through posts for the last few days. When you see pieces you particularly like, use the search feature in our Everything SXM Facebook Group (it looks like a magnifying glass just above the discussion threads) for other threads from the individual jewelers whose pieces attract you.

The best jeweler on SXM is always the one whose pieces make your eyebrows rise the highest. You may find more than one of those here in SXM which we suggest could easily be called the Jewelry Capital of the Caribbean.

31. Where to Find SXM's Best Restaurants

Almost every week here in SXM Weekly News, we run an article entitled Restaurant of the Week. Not only does the article tell you who is this week's selection -- and why, it also provides details on the location, specialty, and perhaps on the top dishes of our weekly restaurant selection.

In addition, our restaurant of the week feature shows you which restaurants we have selected for restaurant of the week honors over the last several months with details about each. Our articles cover all SXM restaurant genres so you can first pick the type of food you want, then find the best restaurant serving it. Rarely, we take a week off from listing new restaurants — but our listings of recently covered restaurants continue to appear every week here in SXM Weekly News, so you can always find restaurants that are bound to appeal to you.

This week's restaurant of the week is featured in a new story below, where you will also find many recent restaurant of the week selections and their descriptions. Our articles also tell you, of course, where our top restaurant selections are located and in most cases, we give you a link to their website so you can call for reservations.

32. Let Them Eat Cake: Where to Get It

SXM has a number of restaurants with excellent desserts — as you will find. Over time, you will find that should you wish to order something special for a dessert, chances are high that you can order that special dessert in advance when you make your reservations (preferably at least a couple of days ahead) so you can surprise family and friends with your selection when you visit.

Most of the restaurants mentioned in our restaurant of the week section (see the previous article and also see below in this issue) are able to make cakes with advance notice for special occasions. Many others have extraordinary desserts already on their menus. Think the top restaurants on the island -- including Emilio's, Izi, Spiga, Mario's Bistro, Isola, Mama Pizza, Avantika, Movida, Astra, and of course Vesna Taverna where Vesna herself works long hours almost every day making every dessert herself. We have often run pictures of her desserts in our Everything SXM Facebook Group; think tart tatin (her apple tart), her infamous lemon meringue pie, her cheesecake, and many more. Think also about the pear tartlet at Mario's Bistro and any nightly dessert specials at any of the restaurants we mentioned here or in our restaurant of the week selections.

The only thing that can go wrong is any attempt you're making to maintain a diet....

33. Restaurants Where You Might Want to Eat Dessert First (No, Really)

If you read the prior couple of articles, and our restaurant of the week selections, you know that SXM is not the perfect place to try to maintain a diet.

Never before published fact: there used to be a dessert-only emporium behind the former Cheri's Café in the Maho area. Unfortunately, it has long since disappeared, but one night a number of years ago when I was on the island working alone on a writing project, I decided to go to that dessert restaurant and have a slice of pie for dinner. (Ilene was out elsewhere with friends.) Although that night is rather a blur thanks to the excessive amount of sugar I consumed, I believe the three pieces of pie and cake I ultimately had that night were pecan pie, key lime pie, and carrot cake — although I may be wrong about some of the details. There may have been some apple pie in there to.

So, if you decide to do so, you can eat dessert first -- but remember your plans for that night may involve an appetizer, main course, and dessert like the ones I selected above that could cause you to collapse in your room a bit early and sleep very soundly thanks to a sugar coma.

More stories are below.

34. Where to Get Truly Authentic Pizza (and "The SXM Pizza Story")

Some people have said in our social media pages, including our Everything SXM Facebook Group, that they have a place they like at home for pizza — so why should they bother getting pizza in SXM?Although the real story about pizza in Italy differs hugely from pizza consumed in the United States, nonetheless the truth is that much of the pizza made in SXM is made in restaurants run by native Italians who really know their stuff.

Marco Ferrante, the Chief Culinary Officer (our title for him) at Isola next door to Hollywood casino in the Simpson Bay Resort, will make you pizza with pineapple even though he like virtually every other native Italian says it's against his religion. (I've seen him cringe.) More important than pineapple, Marco recently introduced gluten-free pizza which you can get in a variety of styles every evening. Isola is open seven days a week and their pizza has been consistently voted number one on the island by readers taking part in periodic polls in our Everything SXM Facebook Group.

Across the street from Vesna Taverna you will find Pizza & Co. which also rates very highly in all polls of the favorite SXM pizza places voted on by SXM tourists. They have a big variety of pizzas and a fiercely loyal following.

Another favorite of ours is Mama Pizza located both in Cupecoy at Porto Cupecoy and in oyster pond near the French/Dutch side border. In addition to offering a very complete Italian lunch and dinner menu, Mama Pizza offers a very deep selection of outstanding authentic pizzas that are big and loaded with your favorite toppings. You can buy them for dinner at the restaurant or get them to go.

35. Time to Schedule Your Vow Renewal / Destination Wedding / Special Celebration

Sint Maarten Marry-Me is one of the foremost event planning organizations on SXM. Whether you're planning a huge destination wedding on the island for 250 of your closest friends or something much smaller, these folks can plan it all from soup to nuts and help you with all the legalities involved in planning a St. Maarten wedding or a vow renewal or other major family or business event. We highly recommend them.

If you're looking for a beach wedding and a civil ceremony, or a vow renewal, get in touch with Fawnette Angelides, civil minister who also owns Azure Hotel and Art Studio on Simpson Bay beach, a small local hotel that puts you on the beach within seconds of the time you step out the door of your unit. You will love Azure...

36. Where to Post Your Best SXM Pictures

Our Everything SXM Facebook Group is constantly looking for your best SXM pictures to post in the masthead of our page. Visit our everything SXM Facebook group and join it by answering a few simple vetting questions.

Here are a few hints for getting your picture in our masthead. Make sure the pictures are beautiful with bright colors and are in sharp focus. If they show the horizon, please make sure the horizon is level (we don't want to make people dizzy). Of course, all photography must be shot in SXM or the waters around the island. Last: remember our site has a family audience, so we can't use pictures you wouldn't want your parents to see... (FB wouldn't want that either.) Thank you.

GOING ***ANYWHERE*** THIS SUMMER?

SkyMed has available a suite of services to protect you almost everywhere AROUND THE WORLD.

Cost: as little as $1.64/day for guaranteed renewable, price-guaranteed-forever annual or multiyear memberships.

Going away? Call us today at 508-591-3483 or email me at jeff.berger@skymed.com (include your phone number & time zone) or use WhatsApp (FREE) 721-588-4188.

NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT SKYMED --
SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME®

37. Heads Up: Entries End Soon for Our Six-Vacation Giveaway: How to Enter & What You Can Win

Everythingsxm.com surpassed 10 million site visits months ago and we're on the verge of giving away SIX SXM vacations to celebrate. ENTRIES END SOON -- drawing date will be in AUGUST and YOU MUST ANSWER YOUR PHONE TO WIN.

Want to win a vacation?

The vacations will be at:

Villa En Sea high on a hill overlooking beautiful Great Bay and downtown Philipsburg;

Colony Manor Golden Daze condo directly on Simpson Bay beach;

Simpson Bay Resort, Marina, & Spa in the heart of Simpson Bay, on its own private beach;

Belair Beach Hotel on its own private beach minutes from Philipsburg;

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, on its own private beach with a gorgeous multi-level pool and lots of great restaurants on-site; and

Azure Hotel & Art Studio, a small family-owned hotel on the beach and within walking distance of many fine Simpson Bay restaurants.

In addition, there will be a car rental from Leisure Car Rental for the grand prize winner, several dinners for two at top island restaurants (see below), and a $400 women's or men's watch from Caribbean Gems in Philipsburg.

Dinners for two will be at Mario's Bistro; Emilio's Restaurant; Isola Restaurant; Vesna Taverna; Mama Pizza; Movida; IZI Ristorante Italiano and Spiga in Grand Case. All are subject to limitations set by the owner; if you exceed the limit, you are responsible for the excess.

Our GRAND PRIZE winner will also appear live on Island 92 radio with Jeff "Dr. Soc" Sochrin on his Fresh Air in the Morning Program.

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN AND IF YOU RECEIVE YOUR OWN COPY OF SXM WEEKLY NEWS, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO WIN BUT YOU STILL MUST ENTER. ENTER HERE. If you do NOT subscribe, you must go to sxmweeklynews.com now to subscribe FREE before entering this giveaway. ENTRIES FROM NONSUBSCRIBERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN. PREVIOUS WINNERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

38. Restaurant of the Week:

IZI Ristorante Italiano in Simpson Bay opposite Pineapple Pete / Wasabi Charlie has been voted SXM'S #1 Italian Restaurant by the readers of TripAdvisor. They have also won our EVERYTHING SXM CULINARY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE since we first awarded it years ago; you will see the awards on their wall near the exit door.

Setting / Location: Simpson Bay opposite Pineapple Pete / Wasabi Charlie
Offerings: Great Italian dishes in an upbeat, truly vibrant ambiance. Elegant TASTING MENU also offered (it must be reserved in advance and requires a minimum number of tasting menu guests). Restaurant Reservations strongly recommended. See https://www.izisxm.com/the-restaurant for much more. IZI is one of the best restaurants of any kind on SXM - go soon.

Here are recently featured SXM restaurants:IZI Ristorante Italiano, www.izisxm.com (featured 7/11/22). Open for dinner starting at 5pm except Mon., when they're closed. Fantastic food from one of SXM's very best restaurants. Fun atmosphere, too.
Bold Buddha Bar/Restaurant, 49 Front Street at Horizon View Hotel, Philipsburg (featured 7/5/22) Cool new place with seasoned service, very good tapas / Caribbean / Asian and other food, a superb location, and a perfect concept. Highly recommended; something new and different. Ideal place to cool off with a delicious drink and make your taste buds happy.
Vesna Taverna, www.vesnasxm.com (featured 6/13/22). Now open every day but Monday for B/L; dinner is offered Tuesday through Saturday. Outstanding dining, reasonable pricing.
La Rosa Restaurant, Maho Plaza, (featured 5/23/2022): Loved the relaxing vibe, attentive service, GREAT food, reasonable prices, and BIG portions. www.larosarestaurant.com/index.html
Jai's Contemporary Fusion Cuisine (featured 5/9/22), Simpson Bay Leave your preconceptions behind! A 15-second walk to the opposite side of the building from Top Carrot. Outstanding dinners (and lunches a few days weekly) in Jai's, a fun new contemporary fusion restaurant operated by two young SXM graduates of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Super creative, artfully presented, phenomenally executed selections spanning an ever-growing spectrum of flavors, aromas, textures, and tastes. You gotta try Jai's! Highest recommendation. See https://www.facebook.com/jaissxmresto
Astra Steak & Seafood (featured 5/2/22) is the newest creation of the organization that also operates Avantika and Movida in the same area of Simpson Bay. It's relatively new, beautiful, constantly evolving, and has high-quality written all over it. We go often and love it. See https://www.astrasxm.com/
Melange International Grill, Port de Plaisance (next to Princess Casino entrance). (featured 4/18/22) A spectrum of delightful offerings from Europe, the USA, and South America. One of the most eclectic menus on SXM. Delicious dining.
Mama Pizza, Porto Cupecoy & Oyster Pond, (featured 4/4/22) Big, outstanding pizza, and sizable portions plus reasonable prices on numerous other delicious Italian specialties. They also have a number of fresh fish entrees you should not miss. On the plaza at Porto Cupecoy, Cupecoy Beach, and on the main drag through Oyster Pond, French side. https://www.facebook.com/Mamapizzaisthebest
Mandarin Pan Asian at Port de Plaisance Resort off the Union Road, Cole Bay, (featured 3/21/22). Excellent selection of palate-pleasing offerings from Japan, Thailand, and China. Highly recommended.
Isola next to Hollywood Casino at Simpson Bay Resort, (featured 3/7/22). Italian. Excellent food, many choices (pizza too), busy, good specials. Lively; busy; entertainment some nights. Many folks from Simpson Bay Resort dine here as well as many locals and lots of casino high-rollers. www.isolaristorante.com
La Patrona, Simpson Bay Resort (featured 2/28/22) La Patrona is SXM's only truly authentic Mexican restaurant. Highly recommended: great food, great service, not to be missed.
Bovin Steakhouse at Simpson Bay Resort, Marina Plaza next to la Patrona (featured 2/21/22) Upscale restaurant offering sumptuous dining, outstanding service, and more than just steak (though we expect lots of steak lovers will flock here.
Avantika Thai www.avantikasxm.com (featured 2/14/22) Avantika is flat-out wonderful; SXM's best 4hai Delicious food artfully presented and reasonably priced, backed by seasoned service. Go...you'll become a regular.
Spiga, www.spiga-sxm.com (featured 2/7/22) Chef-co-owner Ciro Russo & Lara Russo haven't missed a beat here as Spiga continues to be simply the best restaurant of any kind in Grand Case, where it has a lot of competition. Incredibly irresistible food, great staff, service, and beautiful ambiance. Everything is great, appetizers are out of this world. Absolutely not to be missed.
SkipJacks Seafood Grill, Bar, and seafood Market (featured 1/31/22 is one of the largest seafood restaurants on the island, located in a remarkable site overlooking Simpson Bay Lagoon and many megayachts. With many types of fresh fish cooked to order, SkipJack's is best known for lobster, both the local spiny variety and even some flown in from Maine. Pick your own and have it prepared as you like it. Lots of other choices too for all kinds of appetites. Classic attentive service and delicious everything. It's a must.
Emilio's at the Emilio Wilson Estate, Dutch Side, https://emilios-sxm.com/ . [Featured January 2022] Truly fine dining in one of SXM's most well known and respected restaurants. The property is rich in history, the owners and Chef Sidney are culinary perfectionists, and you will kick yourself if you don't go here early in your trip so you have time to come back. Sunday Brunch is a must but requires reservations as does dinner. Not to be missed.
Mario's Bistro at the Cliff, formerly Mario's Bistro www.mariobistrot.com/en/ 1/17/22 Mario's is one of the most spectacular culinary experiences you'll ever have -- here in SXM or anywhere else. Go. Phenomenal dining. Formerly on the plaza at Porto Cupecoy, Cupecoy Beach, they are now at the Cliff. Open every day but Monday, they serve both lunch and dinner six days a week. Traditional and highly creative Continental dinners, with Tapas and other selections at lunch. Do not miss it. Reservations essential. They do not use an answering machine, so call when they are open and let it ring.
The Coffee Lounge, (featured 1/3/22) Simpson Bay next to Domino's and in Philipsburg at the head of town. Great freshly roasted coffees, pastries, and sandwiches. Don't miss it.
Pineapple Pete, www.pineapplepete.com (featured 12/20/21) Known for great lobster Thermidor and lots, lots more. Generous portions, reasonable prices. Huge variety. Games for kids & their parents.
Wasabi Charlie Japanese Restaurant (12/20/21) now combined with Pineapple Pete at the Pineapple Pete location, opposite IZI Ristorante Italiano in Simpson Bay. GREAT sushi rolls and sashimi and much more.
Topper's http://www.sxmtoppers.com/ (featured 10/11/21) One of SXM's oldest and busiest restaurants, now in a beautiful new over-water setting at the Carousel building on Simpson Bay lagoon. Lunch, dinner, and late dining. Karaoke. Co-located with Toppers Rhum Distillery so have some rum (rhum is the French spelling) and rhum cake when you dine. Open until late night. Sports on TV. From cops to billionaires, everyone loves Toppers.
Blue Bitch Bar www.bluebitchbar.com, formerly Taloula Mango's Blue Bitch Bar, is THE bar/restaurant to visit on the Boardwalk in Philipsbuirg. (featured 8/9/21) Great open-air atmosphere, outdoor dining/drinking, entertainment. Their menu is extensive with excellent food, fun atmosphere, and beautiful ocean views. Located on the beach, at the Boardwalk....
Pure Ocean Restaurant at Divi Little Bay Resort, Dutch side (featured 3/1/21) Fine new beachside restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and fine dining dinners. Excellent choices for everyone, innovative menu, beautiful presentation, and downright delicious. Great #Caribbean ambiance on their open-air beachside deck. Attentive service and responsive staff.
Freedom Fighters ITAL SHACK Rasta Restaurant, www.sxmfreedomfighters.com/restaurant 4/15/19. Just go....
Dany's Smooth Cupecoy Beach Bar (on Cupecoy beach); follow the road toward Shore Pointe and turn near Shore Pointe to get there. (Featured 1/20/2019) Parking, drinks, chairs and umbrellas, lolo-type food, and an all-over tan. What could possibly be better?
Enigma C3 luxury Catamaran, www.sailstmaarten.com (featured 8/7/17). Neil's new boat is as big as Celine Too was and it has now entered service. Neil is known for amazing cooking on board his boats.

You will find hundreds more restaurants from both the Dutch Side and French Side listed in the Files area of our Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin / SXM Facebook Group. Our thanks to our Admin there, Contessa Aiello, who edited the restaurant entries on that site.

39. Two New SXM Euro Oval Stickers Now Available; Where to See Them & How to Order

As many readers are aware, we have SXM euro oval stickers available for sale to our readers for very reasonable prices. There are currently two versions available: our traditional green SXM Euro ovals with a large SXM overlaying a recently modified image of coconut palms in the background, and a purple sand chair SXM euro oval which features the SXM letters in large purple type with a purple sand chair in the background. Both of these are now available for ordering.

They are great for cars, smooth-sided luggage, mirrors in your home, and LOTS of other places. These are copyrighted by us and available ONLY from us by mail. (Sorry, no magnets but we ARE working on luggage tags...) Available for mailing only to USA, Canadian, and APO/FPO Addresses. Pricing: 1 for $10, but THREE for $20 including shipping; multiple orders of three accepted (order a total of 6 or more ovals and we'll send a surprise in the package). Unless you direct otherwise, We will send you our green coconut palms SXM euro oval to fulfill your order. If you'd like to have both the purple sand chair SXM euro oval and the new green coconut palm tree SXM euro oval, tell us how many of each you want when ordering.

To see pictures of both Euro ovals, please visit our Everything SXM Facebook Group and search for "coconut" or for "purple sand chair" -- remember that prices are as indicated in the preceding paragraph when ordering.

HOW TO ORDER: Please use PayPal and submit payment to jeff@jmbcommunications.com. NOW BEING SHIPPED. Allow 3 weeks for delivery but they will likely arrive much sooner. Printed on vinyl and varnished for long life. Questions? TEXT US at 508-591-3483 or email us ONLY AT jmbcomms@gmail.com please. IF YOU DON'T USE PAYPAL send a US DOLLAR check payable to JMB Communications to JMB, P. O. Box 1812, Plymouth, MA 02362-1812. Include # of ovals you are ordering and your phone, email, and delivery address.

40. No Story 40?

We will publish information soon about an inevitable price increase coming to JMB Website Supporters memberships. We had expected to raise prices last March but killed the increase as Russia invaded Ukraine and oil prices skyrocketed. But with all our costs now at record levels we must now, finally, after years of no increases, raise our prices. To renew or join now at current prices before the new pricing is announced, click the page curl at www.everythingsxm.com (for new memberships) or go to the Membership Renewal Center on the members-only Secret Site to renew. You can send us credit card information by text securely through the WhatsApp application as well; use our WhatsApp text ability at 721-588-4188 (TEXTS THROUGH WHATSAPP ONLY), or contact our office at 508-747-8281. Thank you. We'll have more on this during the next couple of weeks.

41. What Are the Best Sources of Accommodations Rentals?

We offer hundreds of timeshare condominium rentals directly from timeshare owners in the listings on our main site, www.everythingSXM.com. There, you're not buying from strangers — you're buying from other people who love St. Maarten as much as you do. We've been doing this since 1992 and we know that it's the way thousands of people have rented weeks successfully over the last 30 years. Give it a try. More information about Condominiums is in Section 2, above.

42. Enormous Library of SXM Information is On The Web

Regardless of what kind of SXM information you need, our sites deliver it.

Here are three examples:

a) our SXM Weekly News PDF archives include every edition of SXM Weekly News since 2014 – now approaching 9 years of editions and hundreds of thousands of words of SXM information. Our PDF archives are searchable by keywords to make it easy for you to find whatever information you seek quickly and easily on your computer. (A link to the Archives is in every edition of SXM Weekly News.)

b) our Everything SXM Facebook Group is a repository for an enormous amount of SXM information posted during it's more than 10 years of existence. You can search all posts ever allowed, for any SXM topic — and you will find hundreds of posts on virtually any specific topic. If you don't find what you're looking for, you can always post a question on that site that will tap the brains of nearly 33,000 members — not counting their friends and spouses. The vast majority of our members are tourists who have spent years visiting SXM and who have a wealth of information available.

c) we have a Files area in our Everything SXM Facebook Group with another enormous reservoir/library of island information. Our files are also searchable directly from our everything SXM Facebook group. They are also frequently updated by our admins and moderators, particularly Contessa Aiello who has written most of them.

Take advantage of these resources — and don't forget to thank those who have made them possible.

43. Flying This Summer? Here's Something Else You Should Know

If you are traveling anywhere this summer, there is a way you can inject tremendous peace of mind into your travels…

For the first three months of any new SkyMed annual or multiyear membership, SkyMed excludes coverage of pre-existing conditions; after three months, those conditions are covered in full. So...to AVOID ANY IMPACT on your travel plans this Summer or Fall, buy your new SkyMed annual or multiyear membership NOW, at least three months ahead of your planned Summer/Fall travel -- then the 90-day exclusion period for preexisting conditions will end before you travel...

Why get annual or multiyear memberships? SHORT-TERM family memberships (for a week or two) are $15/day, while guaranteed renewable for life, price guaranteed for life annual and multiyear memberships are only about $1.64/day -- less than a decent cup of coffee. Call me at 508-591-3483 or jeff.berger@skymed.com for answers to questions or to sign up by phone.

Available exclusively to Americans and Canadians. SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME(R) when you become seriously ill or injured while traveling in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all the nations of the Caribbean. Global protection is also available through GETS, Global Emergency Travel Services, part of the SkyMed group.

44. Getting Answers to All Your Questions About SXM

Regardless of what questions you have about SXM, you can find the answers to any questions either in the files area of our Everything SXM Facebook Group (where we post our current Guide to Entry Requirements) that answers many questions) or you can simply post a question on our site.

We have over 32,000 members, more than other active SXM Facebook sites combined. Our site is also a unique news and information portal, not typical social media where people post pictures of smiling cats, monkeys standing on their heads, and other pointless items. Our SXM site is strictly SXM focused with no drivel. Join it today at www.facebook.com/groups/mySXM.

45. Important Updated Contact Information for Everything SXM / JMB Communications / JMB Website Supporters Membership Services and SkyMed Sales (UPDATED):
Because of volume, email is not the best way to reach us. Here’s what’s best: First, a Suggestion: Get the free WhatsApp app. It lets you make free phone calls (including video calls) worldwide and send free texts, all for zero cost. It is very widely used around the world.

SkyMed Answers to Questions or to Sign Up by Phone: If you’re interested in learning more about SkyMed, contact Jeff Berger at jeff.berger@skymed.com. Leave your phone number and time zone and he’ll return your call. SkyMed is sold only to Americans, Canadians, and xPats. If you prefer, phone Jeff at 508-591-3483 and leave a message; that is a NEW NUMBER.
JMB Membership Questions/Issues -- JMB Website Supporters: Use WhatsApp to send questions to Membership Services; use Jeff Berger’s WhatsApp phone number, 721-588-4188, but call or TEXT (texting is
preferred) from within the WhatsApp application ONLY. Membership Services at our headquarters in Massachusetts handles all these calls. INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL, since all responses are made by email.
Our new email is jmbcomms@gmail.com; use it for JMB Website Supporters membership questions. Thank you.

46. Who Our Sponsors Are, & Why You Should Patronize Them (Updated 6/27/22)

Today's Change: Bold Buddha added

Our JMB SXM Web Media Sponsors help make it possible for us to research, write, produce, and email you SXM Weekly News every week. They also enable us to spend lots of hours making sure our Everything SXM Facebook Group fulfills its mission to be SXM's only authentically managed [by a seasoned journalist] interactive conversational SXM news and information portal on Facebook. And their help makes our JMB Website Supporters members-only Island Parties possible (resuming next year) as well as all the working going into enhancing our Island Discount Program now for its thousands of loyal members. Thank You for patronizing our Sponsors! (JMB Communications is based in Massachusetts, USA).

AMUSEMENTS

Island Pedals Beer Cycle (Philipsburg)

ARTISTS

Roland Richardson
Patty Meotti
Laura Fisher Saxon

AUTHORS/NOVELISTS

Russell Clark

Jacky Rom

BOAT TOURS / BOAT CHARTERS

Celine Charters (Enigma)

Luxury Private Catamaran Charters:
www.sxmstmartincatamarancharters.net

Rumbelly Boat Charters Pleasure boats, motorized and catamaran (new)

BOUTIQUES

En Vogue, Billy Folly Road opposite Atrium Resort

BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES

SXM Beer Brewery

Toppers Rhum & Vodka Distillery

Caribbean Brewing

CAR RENTALS:

Leisure Car Rental

Sax Car Rental

Exclusive Car Rental

Tropicana Car Rental

Dollar/Thrifty Car Rental

SixT Car Rental

CHILD CARE & MORE FOR VISITORS

Alisha Brookes

COFFEE / PASTRY & MORE (NEW):

Coffee Lounge & More: Head of town in Philipsburg and Simpson Bay near Domino's

COVID TESTING:

Medcare (near Avantika in Puerto del Sol)

Test-to-Fly (new 1/22)

CUBAN CIGARS:

Cigar Mack

SXM Cigars

DOLLAR STORES

All in One Place (Near Carrefour and now in Simpson Bay near Domino's)

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING (NEW)

Great Deals on Watches, Bags, Wallets, Sunglasses and Fashion Jewelry:

https://www.facebook.com/buy.sxm

EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS:

SkyMed International (Covers the entire USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and
all the nations of the #Caribbean Global protection available. Sold only to Americans, Canadians,
and X-Pats living in these countries.)

FASHIONS FOR WOMEN

En Vogue, Billy Folly Road, Simpson Bay, opposite Atrium Hotel. (New 1/22)

FISHING CHARTERS

Taylor Made fishing charters, Captain Dougie. Full day or half day Call WhatsApp # 721-524-7510

Immigration (SXM Residency) / Relocation / Business Formation /"Papers" Consulting Companies

BrightPath/Caribbean is posting in our Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin / SXM Facebook Group

JEWELERS:

Zhaveri Jewelers in Philipsburg.

Caribbean Gems

Oro Diamante

Majesty Jewelers

Ray's Jewelers

Alpha Jewels

JN Jewelers (Maho under Jax, open late) NEW!

Jewels & Beyond (Maho) NEW!

Shoppers Haven

Royal Jewelers (new)

Kay's Fine Jewelry (new)

Joe's Jewelry International (new)

Ballerina Jewelers (new)

LIVE MUSIC

Hole in the Wall, Maho Plaza, Dutch side

MAPS (SXM MAPS and others in the Caribbean)

Kasprowski Publisher

PARFUMERIE / PERFUME

Tijon Parfumerie, Grand Case, www.tijon.com

PHARMACIES

Simpson Bay Pharmacy

Orange Grove Pharmacy

REAL ESTATE COMPANIES: (See also VILLA RENTAL COMPANIES, below)

Island Real Estate Team is widely regarded as SXM's top real estate organization. A long-time JMB Sponsor, they offer both residential and commercial real estate in every price range. Call the number that follows and ask to speak with the agent who handles what you seek: 1 721 520 7284. Please let the agent know that you were referred by Jeff Berger's Everything SXM Facebook Group.

Jennifer's Vacation Villas

Century 21 St. Maarten

Sunshine Properties

Candie Billant does condo and villa rentals and sales. You will find her at Caribbean Estate Agency N. V.

BrightFuture Real Estate (new)

My Net Immo (French Side, Muriel Lemoine)

40Weeks SXM Vacation rentals

RESORTS:

Baker's Suites

Belair Beach Hotel

Simpson Bay Resort

Azure Hotel & Art Studio

Mary's Boon (new 1/22)

RESTAURANTS, BARS, & BEACH BARS

IZI (See their new website)

SPIGA

VESNA TAVERNA

ISOLA

Mandarin Asian Bistro (Port de Plaisance)

Melange (Port de Plaisance)

Pelican Bistro

Soggy Dollar Bar

Topper's Restaurant

LA PATRONA (Simpson Bay Resort)

MARIO'S BISTRO (Porto Cupecoy)

NAVY BEACH

BOVIN STEAKHOUSE

Pineapple Pete Restaurant

Wasabi Charlie Japanese Restaurant

Emilio's

Taloula's Blue Bitch Bar

Nowhere Special

ROXXY Bar / Restaurant

LA ROSA

NONNA ROSA

LAZY LIZARD

RANCHO (new)

SUNSET CAFE (new)

AVANTIKA (new)

MOVIDA (new)

ASTRA (new)

JAI'S CONTEMPORARY INDIAN RESTAURANT (new)

COFFEE LOUNGE & More, Head of town in Philipsburg & Simpson bay near Domino's (new)

BUCCANEER BEACH BAR

NAVY BEACH

BAMBOO HOUSE (new 5/16/22)

BOLD BUDDHA BAR / RESTAURANT on the Boardwalk at Horizon View Hotel, Philipsburg (6/27/22)

RESTAURANT ORDERING ONLINE
Orders.sx

SOUVENIRS

Flamboyant on The Boardwalk, Philipsburg (new 1/22)

SPAS

Sunset Spa, Simpson Bay Resort (11/21)

STAR WARS / YODA GUY MUSEUM

Nick Malley, Front Street

VILLA RENTALS / RENTAL COMPANIES:

Candie Billant does condo and villa rentals and sales. You will find her at #Caribbean Estate Agency N. V.

GoBeach Vacations

Sunshine Properties

Monte Verde / Belle Vue

Villa Acropole:
www.acropole-stmartin.com

Villa Vijoux:
https://www.facebook.com/VillaVijoux

Villa Steel Magnolias (new 1/22)

40Weeks SXM Vacation Rentals (new)

Villa En'sea 5 bedroom Villa, overlooking Philipsburg bay (new)

Villa Kimon

Daffodil Villa

Wedding Planners / Wedding Venues

Fawnette Scott-Angelides - Azure Hotel and Art Studio (Fawnette is a minister and she owns Azure,
a venue on beautiful Simpson Bay Beach, where beach weddings are her specialty)

Sint Maarten Marry-Me Destination Weddings (new)

Updated 6/27/22

47. Join Our New Conversational Everything SXM Group on MeWe, the Facebook Alternative

For years, you have been able to obtain a great deal of SXM information and photos/videos in our Everything SXM Facebook Group. Unfortunately, not everyone is a fan of Facebook, so we have started a new Everything SXM group on a platform that has become a strong competitor Facebook �ߡ�it is called MeWe.

We urge all fans of SXM Weekly News to become members of MeWe and join our group there; here is the link.

48. First Responders Now Get Platinum-Status JMB Discounts

If you're U. S. Military with a DD214, you're able to get a Platinum-Status Military JMB Membership for $16.99/year, the lowest we ever charge anyone. You get instant Platinum Status which is permanent as long as you're a JMB member plus 300+ SXM discounts and other benefits. All you do is pay for four years to start and renew in four-year increments ($67.96). Nobody else pays so little -- our small way of expressing how grateful we all are for your service.

And now we're adding police, firefighters, EMTs, and nurses to our just-renamed Military / First Responder Memberships in recognition of their sacrifices for the rest of us every single day. We just need you to send us documentary proof (ID) that you're one of America's very best. To sign up or upgrade your JMB membership to Military / First Responders, visit everythingsxm.com and click the page curl to sign up for your JMB military membership (the page still says Military). We'll also need a DD214 (or other police / fire / nursing ID) with your SS# obliterated for security. We'll be delighted to welcome you all to our new best-of-all JMB Website Supporters Platinum Memberships.

49. Want to See Back Issues of SXM Weekly News? Here's How

Our SXM Weekly News PDF archives enable you to download any issue of Weekly News published since Spring 2014, including our amazing 2018 April Fools' Day parody and many Special Editions.

Check it out here. It has just been thoroughly updated. Each week's newsletter is usually added within a few days after mailing of that issue to its subscribers completes (Monday).

Ask Jeff for details -- call him at 508-591-3483. More info? See skymed.com/jmb or email Jeff at jeff.berger@skymed.com. SkyMed is the Principal Sponsor of JMB SXM programs.

50. SXM Business Owners: How To Increase Foot & Web Traffic

SXM Weekly News, our everythingSXM.com website and its Hurricane Center, and our Everything SXM Facebook Group along with our many Vacation Giveaways and hundreds of benefits of JMB Website Supporters membership are all made possible through our partnerships with our JMB Website Supporters members and our Sponsors.

Our JMB SXM Web Media Sponsorships enable SXM businesses to present their products or services to a huge, responsive audience of tourists from around the world, but primarily the USA and Canada. (Our site is based in the U. S. and is focused on the needs of tourists traveling to SXM.) If you own an SXM business and want to look into and take advantage of this unique marketing opportunity, please email susank@jmbcommunications.com with the subject "JMB Sponsorships". Or PM us on FB for an even faster response. We'll get complete information to you quickly.(Or again, just PM Jeff Berger on Facebook Messenger or phone us / text us on WhatsApp at 721-588-4188.)

Tourism is returning in a big way and with it, plenty of opportunity to bring more tourists into your business not only in the short term, but especially as tourist business increases in the months ahead. Contact us today for more information.

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

St. Maarten / St. Martin Homes, Villas, Businesses, Commercial Properties, and Residential Properties for Sale (NEW):

Click to access our recommended real estate agent, Arun Jagtiani, featured on HGTV.

Rent Out or Sell Your Timeshare (both SXM and Worldwide)��-- Frequently Updated

JMB members can run up to 10 free ads on our website per 12-month period to rent out or sell St. Maarten / St. Martin timeshare weeks they own -- or any timeshares, anywhere worldwide. If you're not a member, learn more about membership here: http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/about_sxm/paypal.shtml .

Want to rent or buy a week?

"2022 St. Maarten / St. Martin Timeshare Weeks For Rent or Sale" are posted at
http://everythingsxm.com/sxm/timeshare_rent_sale/index.shtml Listings are now updated weekly. Ads are free (no commission) but are accepted from our JMB Website Supporters members only.

SECTION 5: For Members Only

A. Where to Get Member Info: www.everythingsxm.com/secret
B. Password Recovery Info: Your username is the email address you have registered with JMB Website Supporters. If you forget your password, click "forgot / change password" in the orange login box near the masthead at www.everythingsxm.com. To change your password, click that same link.
C. How To Submit Rental or Sale Ads or Update the Price in an Ad: See www.everythingsxm.com/secret .Your username and password are required.

SECTION 6: Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) Updated 7/2017

See www.everythingsxm.com.

About Email Address Changes / How To Unsubscribe (Updated 4/17/17)

To unsubscribe, go here: www.sxmweeklynews.com. You CAN NOT unsubscribe either by replying to this email or, if you are an AOL user, by clicking the *spam* button on AOL.

To change your email address, visit www.sxmweeklynews.com; unsubscribe your old email address and subscribe your new one. JMB Website Supporters members should notify Membership Services of the new email address for continued Secret Site access.

Get Your Own Free Copy Of St. Maarten and St. Martin Weekly News:
http://www.everythingsxm.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?

LEGAL:

Entire contents copyright (c), JMB Communications, 2022. World rights reserved. Excerpting, quotation, and republication, in any form, print, electronic, or archival, is expressly prohibited without written advance permission. You can forward this newsletter in its entirety only to your friends. For reprint permission, email us. JMB vigorously defends its copyrights. *Everything St. Maarten*, *Everything SXM*, 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. Join our free St. Maarten / St. Martin newsletter mailing list at http://www.everythingsxm.com . You cannot join by emailing us.

Our email headers also contain subscribe / unsubscribe / address change links.

Contact Us (Revised 11/22/21)

SkyMed Answers to Questions or to Sign Up by Phone: If you’re interested in learning more about SkyMed, contact Jeff Berger at jeff.berger@skymed.com. Leave your phone number and time zone and he’ll return your call. SkyMed is sold only to Americans, Canadians, and xPats. If you prefer, phone Jeff at 508-591-3483
and leave a message; that is a NEW NUMBER.
JMB Membership Questions/Issues -- JMB Website Supporters: Use WhatsApp to send questions to Membership Services; use Jeff Berger’s WhatsApp phone number, 721-588-4188, but call or TEXT (texting is
preferred) from within the WhatsApp application only. Membership Services at our headquarters in Massachusetts handles all these calls. INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL, since all responses are made by email.

Our main St. Maarten / St. Martin website: www.everythingsxm.com .

Privacy Policy http://www.everythingsxm.com/sxm/privacy_policy/index.shtml (Updated 5/25/18)

Get Important SXM News as it Happens & Lots of Pictures Too from our Facebook, MeWe, and Twitter Pages:

Download PDFs of Recent Editions ---- Attention iPad, iPhone, Note, and Android Users

TABLE OF CONTENTS -- This Week's Stories

Section One: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Going Home, Etc./ Weather --Scroll Down in This Section--

Section Two: Accommodations (Hotels, Resorts, Timeshares, Villas, Etc.)
--Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Three: JMB Member Discounts & Benefits
--Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Four: Island News, Info, & Features
--Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Five: For Members Only (Revised 8/2017)

Section Six: Where To Find Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) (Revised 8/2017)

THIS WEEK'S STORIES:

SECTION 1: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Covid, & Weather; Etc.

Rent Out or Sell Your Timeshare (both SXM and Worldwide)��-- Frequently Updated

SECTION 5: For Members Only

SECTION 6: Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) Updated 7/2017

Get Important SXM News as it Happens & Lots of Pictures Too from our Facebook, MeWe, and Twitter Pages:

Download PDFs of Recent Editions ---- Attention iPad, iPhone, Note, and Android Users

TABLE OF CONTENTS -- This Week's Stories

Section One: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Going Home, Etc./ Weather --Scroll Down in This Section--

Section Two: Accommodations (Hotels, Resorts, Timeshares, Villas, Etc.) --Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Three: JMB Member Discounts & Benefits --Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Four: Island News, Info, & Features --Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Five: For Members Only (Revised 8/2017)

Section Six: Where To Find Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) (Revised 8/2017)

THIS WEEK'S STORIES:

SECTION 1: Getting Here: Flights, Airlines, Airports, Cruises, Covid, & Weather; Etc.

Rent Out or Sell Your Timeshare (both SXM and Worldwide)��-- Frequently Updated

SECTION 5: For Members Only

SECTION 6: Background Information for Travelers (For New Readers) Updated 7/2017

Section Two: Accommodations (Hotels, Resorts, Timeshares, Villas, Etc.)
--Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Three: JMB Member Discounts & Benefits
--Scroll Down To This Section--

Section Four: Island News, Info, & Features
--Scroll Down To This Section--