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Caribbean - After the Storms
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CARIBBEAN WEATHER UPDATE
We have been monitoring the weather in the Caribbean and the effect on
hotels and tourism facilities. Here is our latest update for each island,
Wednesday 20 September 1995, 1 pm Chicago time.
In ANGUILLA, the Casablanca Resort had some wind and water damage.
The hotel will close for remodeling and will be open to accept guests by
November 1995.
ANTIGUA was affected by Hurricane Luis, but bypassed by Hurricane
Marilyn. Admirals Inn, Antigua Village, Falmouth Harbour, and Hawksbill
Beach were spared by the winds and rain. All rooms and public areas are
operational.
Banana Cove was touched by the storm, and has closed for remodeling until
October 1995. Barrymore Beach Hotel had some serious damage and is
closed until Summer 1996. Blue Waters had some structural damage to the
restaurant and will reopen in February 1996.
Galley Bay received a direct hit to the cottages so has closed until Spring
1996. Runaway Beach had serious damage and is closed until Summer
1996.
BARBADOS Neither storm affected any of the tourist areas in Barbados.
There was some minor flooding in the lowlands far away from the tourist
areas by Hurricane Marilyn. All hotels, restaurants, shops, and tourism
attractions are open.
The BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS were touched by Hurricanes Luis and
Marilyn, but no serious damage was reported. Biras Creek in Virgin Gorda
had some minor damage to the dock area and the road. The resort is closed
until 20 January 1996 for a complete remodeling.
Bitter End Yacht Club, Fischers Cove, Leverick Bay, Mango Bay and
Virgin Gorda Villas in Virgin Gorda were tickled by the hurricanes, but are
fully operational and open now. Peter Island Resort, off of Tortola, had
water damage to the suites along Deadman's Bay. The resort has closed for
a few weeks for remodeling and will be open by November 1995.
Long Bay Beach, Prospect Reef, Rockview Homes, the Tamarind Club, and
Sugar Mill Resorts in Tortola had no damage. According to Persia Stoutt,
the owner of Rockview Homes:
"The British Virgin Islands were spared the wrath of the hurricanes. None
of the hotels was badly damaged, and the rain from Hurricane Marilyn was
needed for the vegetation. In the British Virgin Islands, we take care to
construct our homes and hotels to withstand high winds and seas. Visitors
to the British Virgin Islands can rest assured that all the tourism facilities
are in full operation, and we look forward to welcoming travellers to our
beautiful islands."
GRENADA was out of the path of both hurricanes. The Secret Harbour
Hotel is open for guests.
GUADELOUPE received some water damage from Luis, but the Creole
Beach Hotel is open.
MONTSERRAT had some water damage from Luis but the Montserrat
Springs Hotel is open.
PUERTO RICO had little damage from Luis and Marilyn. In the Condado
Beach area, the El Canario Inn and the El Canario Lagoon report that there
was no damage to the hotels. The Dorado area, a few miles from the city of
San Juan, also reported that the hotels are fine.
ST. BARTS had beach erosion and landscaping damage from Luis but was
spared by Marilyn. The hotels in St. Barts traditionally close for vacations
in September and reopen on 1 Oct. 1995. Baie des Flamands Hotel had
severe damage and is closed until Summer 1996. Christopher Hotel, Le
Residence Villas, St. Barths Beach, and Village St. Jean had no damage.
ST. KITTS and NEVIS: The owner of Bird Rock Beach Hotel in St. Kitts,
Larkland Richards, is in the Midwest visiting travel agents to assure them
that Hurricane Luis did not damage the tourism structure in St. Kitts or
Nevis. Hurricane Marilyn passed by with rain but did not affect the island.
According to Mr. Richards:
"The hurricane did some damage to the roof of the hospital in Basseterre,
and to the landscaping of the islands. In the tropics nature restores the
landscaping so quickly that within a few weeks the plants will be more
beautiful than before.
None of the hotels, nor any of the tourism infrastructure were seriously
affected by either storm. At Bird Rock we protected the hotel rooms and
public areas, and the facilities of St. Kitts Scuba. The boats were not
damaged, and the program is in full operation to receive scuba divers and
snorkellers."
In St. Kitts the Bird Rock Beach, Frigate Bay Beach, Horizons Villas,
Rawlins Plantation, Sun n Sand Beach Village, Sunshine Car Rental,
Timothy Beach, and VistaMare Villa are all undamaged and open for
business.
Most Nevis hotels did not have any problems, and the Golden Rock,
Hermitage and Nisbet Plantations as well as the Oualie Beach Hotels are
open for business. Both Nisbet and Oualie Beach report that the beaches are
much bigger than before the storms. The Four Seasons sustained water
damage and beach erosion. They expect to reopen by Nov. 1995.
ST. LUCIA had no damage from either storm. Marlin Quay villas are open
for business.
ST. MARTIN was hit hard by Hurricane Luis, but bypassed by Marilyn.
Shops in the Phillipsburg area are closed for several weeks. The Le
Flamboyant and the Marine Simpson Bay Hotels had minor water damage
but are open for business. The Oyster Pond sustained severe damage and is
closed until Spring 1996.
ST. VINCENT and the GRENADINES are out of the path of the hurricanes.
Grand View Beach in St. Vincent and the Palm Island Resort in the
Grenadines are open for business.
The TURKS and CAICOS Islands were not affected by the hurricanes.
LeDeck in Providenciales and the Pelican Beach in North Caicos are open.
Phones are still out in ST. JOHN, but reports are that the Cruz Bay area was
hit hard by the storm. Caneel Bay Hotel has closed for remodeling.
Sapphire Beach Resort in ST. THOMAS had some minor flooding but no
structural damage. In the same area, Pavilions and Pools seems to have
been spared. The storm hit mostly near the airport and the town of
Charlotte Amalie. Hotels near the Red Hook area on the east part of the
island are in better shape than those in the center of the island.
We have just spoken to Barbara Peterson, manager of the US Virgin Islands
Tourist Office in Chicago, who was in St. Thomas during the storm.
According to Barbara:
"Electricity and telephone lines are still out in St. Thomas, so
communication is impossible. Some of the roads are blocked with debris,
and there are many nails in the roads, so transportation is very, very
difficult. All the cars are getting flat tires.
The vegetation on the island was destroyed by the hurricane, but nature
restores plants very quickly. Everything we need to rebuild St. Thomas is
there, and our Islanders will work as quickly as possible to restore St.
Thomas better than it ever was. The stores will be new and fresh, hotels
will have the most modern amenities, and shops will reopen with new
merchandise. Those who visit St. Thomas in a few months' time will be
amazed at how quickly we mange to recover."
BOAT OWNERS: The British Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, a
volunteer organization, has been working with VHF radio to assist boat
owners who had vessels in St. Thomas and St. John. Their phone number is
809-494-5820 and the fax is 809-494-5821. Because they are volunteers, a
contribution towards their efforts would certainly be appreciated.
The Buccaneer in ST. CROIX had some minor damage to the windows of
the restaurant, but is fully operational. Reports are that the Club St. Croix,
Colony Cove, Mill Harbour and Schooner Bay in Christiansted are open, as
is the Frederiksted Hotel on the west coast.
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Those planning to visit St. Thomas in the next two months will not have the
tourism facilities available. Shops and restaurants need time to rebuild.
Should you postpone your trip or change to another island? This is an
individual decision for each traveller. While social and entertainment
facilities may be limited, this is balanced by the warmth and welcome the
hotels will extend to their October and November visitors.
We have been advising travel agents and their clients to consider the pros
and the cons. Travellers booked by Caribbean Information Office have a
choice of a full refund, or the transfer of their deposit to another hotel or
another island.
We have been in business for twenty-five years, and have survived many
hurricanes with our hotels. Those who can live without the nightclubs and
the duty free shops, who travel to the Caribbean after a storm, will get such
a warm reception by the hotels that they will COME AS A GUEST, BUT
LEAVE AS A FRIEND.
reprinted with permission from the Web site of
http://www.caribbeans.com