Just some food for thought - and this may offend some, which I won't apologize for. For those offended by this, well - it speaks more about you than the words I am about to share.
For those of you who are able to travel and support the island - THANK YOU - we sincerely appreciate you and are grateful for you! However, for those of you who think this is the time to "get a deal" or trying to negotiate a discount because you think you are doing the island a favor by visiting - remember that 99.99% of the businesses on the island are struggling to stay open (the exception would be for those who the shop is a hobby and who are otherwise millionaires, independently wealthy or who have investors that are one of the above - and I only know of a small few of those.
There was literally no income for anyone for 4+ months and businesses were still required to pay bills, payroll and taxes as if the world was normal. Those that are still able to provide services have gone through reserves, personal savings, taken in donations or loans to stay afloat, and some are working extra jobs back in the states or elsewhere to keep things going. Unlike pre-COVID times, there still is not a constant cash flow to most businesses. The fill station and gas stations are no longer giving weekly or monthly credit to ANYONE - tanks and gas must be paid for each day. We still cannot operate at full capacity so can still barely break even. My point is that most shops are currently operating hand to mouth while trying to recover and provide services to you with a smile and some sense of normalcy. Operations are in no way back to normal for most of us. Yes, you may see some out there with full boats - these are the ones who don't have permits so they have nothing to lose. Those of us who operate legally have been warned under no uncertain terms that permits will be revoked (not renewed in November) if we violate the current restrictions.
So while you are able to travel and take a vacation, remember that the businesses on the island are struggling to stay open and offering a discount may actually cause them to operate at a loss. In other words, it would cost them less not to have your business than it would to give you a discount. Again - food for thought - ask yourself what a discount means to the big picture of your vacation vs what it means to those providing goods and services who are struggling to keep their doors open, gas in the boats, crews on the boats and tanks on the boats.
Now is a better time than ever to have compassion, generosity, and respect for your favorite island businesses and for the prices and policies that are quoted or posted. If you can afford to vacation and travel right now, remember that you are blessed to be able to do so.
For those of you who are able to travel and support the island - THANK YOU - we sincerely appreciate you and are grateful for you! However, for those of you who think this is the time to "get a deal" or trying to negotiate a discount because you think you are doing the island a favor by visiting - remember that 99.99% of the businesses on the island are struggling to stay open (the exception would be for those who the shop is a hobby and who are otherwise millionaires, independently wealthy or who have investors that are one of the above - and I only know of a small few of those.
There was literally no income for anyone for 4+ months and businesses were still required to pay bills, payroll and taxes as if the world was normal. Those that are still able to provide services have gone through reserves, personal savings, taken in donations or loans to stay afloat, and some are working extra jobs back in the states or elsewhere to keep things going. Unlike pre-COVID times, there still is not a constant cash flow to most businesses. The fill station and gas stations are no longer giving weekly or monthly credit to ANYONE - tanks and gas must be paid for each day. We still cannot operate at full capacity so can still barely break even. My point is that most shops are currently operating hand to mouth while trying to recover and provide services to you with a smile and some sense of normalcy. Operations are in no way back to normal for most of us. Yes, you may see some out there with full boats - these are the ones who don't have permits so they have nothing to lose. Those of us who operate legally have been warned under no uncertain terms that permits will be revoked (not renewed in November) if we violate the current restrictions.
So while you are able to travel and take a vacation, remember that the businesses on the island are struggling to stay open and offering a discount may actually cause them to operate at a loss. In other words, it would cost them less not to have your business than it would to give you a discount. Again - food for thought - ask yourself what a discount means to the big picture of your vacation vs what it means to those providing goods and services who are struggling to keep their doors open, gas in the boats, crews on the boats and tanks on the boats.
Now is a better time than ever to have compassion, generosity, and respect for your favorite island businesses and for the prices and policies that are quoted or posted. If you can afford to vacation and travel right now, remember that you are blessed to be able to do so.