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French Side Trip Report
JohnandBev
2 hours ago
We are currently on island March 24, returning April 14
Easy trip down on WestJet, nonstop from Toronto.
Apologies for the length – just kept adding and today decided it’s long – time to post.
Wilfred Birooks took us to our unit in Orient Village at Costa Caribe – complex with two pools. Always a pleasure to talk with Wilfred. Wilfred will take is back at the end of stay.
Car rental thru AAA – we go without a car for the first week to decompress. They deliver, we meet across from Yellow Sub, and they will pick up the car before we leave. Love the service they deliver.
Jeannie of Shop n Drop had stocked our unit in advance so cold drinks at the ready when we arrived. Great customer service. One item was unavailable, Hannie emailed the problem, I said OK to substitute, her choice. Did not disappoint!
Same unit we normally rent, except new mgt co – BHomeSXM – Nathalie Beauty.
Excellent responsive customer service would recommend checking her web site.
Great weather, but there is seaweed on the beach from end to end. It gets cleaned up somewhat and then comes back.
Water a bit of a miss when we first go there. Was supposed to be nightly only, but then Thursday March 26, out for the day with really no info from SAUR. Now its off 9:30 pam to 6 am, except Easter weekend it will be off till 8am. It takes about half an hour after turned on to reach us in Orient.
In the village:
Traiteur On Dirait le Sud is open 7 to 7. Hubert of Aloha is the new owner. A little different, more prepared food. Everything we’ve tried is excellent.
119 Palm is the ice cream place two? doors from Petit Casino. Love the passion fruit, salted caramel and the choco. The Choco is a dark not too sweet flavour.
Tried Mango Café for a lunch quiche, very good. They are open for breakfast and lunch,
Good Morning Café always great as well.
The village square is hopping every night. Love to see it’s busy but suggest reservations if you have a favourite resto and or table choice.
Chez Leandra’s is beach choice most days. Love the creole and jerk. Their jerk chicken and rib plate - $17 US beats anything from the Grand Case LoLo’s. The red snapper has been excellent, very fresh, take the grilled over the fried.
Speaking of the lolo’s, we normally go to the Lolo’s once per trip. More for the view and chaos than the food. This trip decided it will our last lolo adventure, just too much better food elsewhere.
Wilfred’s wife – Kat has a restaurant in the container row just south of the market. – Kats Too Too Korner. Great food with excellent presentation.
As an aside, four of the container resto’s have smokers on the harbour for chicken and ribs. Seems Friday’s and Sunday’s they are in operation but have not yet tried them. Hope it works out, another option vs the Grand Case lolo’s.
Currently running a pizza contest. First contestants were Peau de Vache, Le Piment [ both in the village square.
Peau de Vache – Reine Blanche: cream base, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, olives and oregano – 15 Euro
Le Piment – Quatro Stagoini: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, artichoke, anchovy, parsley and garlic, olive oil drizzle
Name refers to four seasons, hence the ingredients
Judged based on crust, toppings, how well cooked and the kicker …. Last slices the next day for breakfast topped with an egg
Very close, Le Piment by a nose – we like artichokes and anchovies!
Disappointed with the Art Box Gallery in Simpson Bay on Welfare Rd. We have shopped / stopped in several times. We are a fan of the Antoine Chapon water colours. While looking at an Antoine water colour, the person in the store showed us a Roland Richardson regatta painting, which was a bit more money, but we really liked it. We talked for a minute or so with the salesperson about it, the price was on a sticker attached to the back of the pic. We were quoted the price twice; I was ready to buy …. All of a sudden, she remembered the owner said it was priced incorrectly. After 5+ minutes of scrolling in her computer, talking on the phone, the price suddenly was almost double. OK, we were in initially upsold, but I liked the pic. Once hooked the then price rockets on a flimsy pretext … hmmmm.
We left, our last stop at that store! I have a rule, I don’t beg people to take my money.
Will be stopping at Bacchus tomorrow for my Martinque rhum purchases – yum.
As I am writing, I’m watching the sugar birds – we put out a bowl of water with some sugar. Must be a dozen swarming the bowl.
Kontiki has been playing music all day – nice background hope it stays that way.
That’s it so far, reporting from paradise.
John & Bev
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Marigot vs Philipsburg
TOWZERONE
6 hours ago
Seems to me in talking to people that Marigot is still in rough shape compared to Philipsburg as far as rebuild from Irma 9 yrs ago
Is this because Philipsburg is busier with the cruise ships etc and has more visitors?
Seems to me that their are fewer investors taking a chance in Marigot
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A few images
torch
6 hours ago
A few images from my trip to the island in March. They are mostly aviation related as I have a love of aircraft and stay in the Maho area. I have to say that the traffic situation was very poor this year, It made it impossible to go from Maho to Simpson Bay for supper - I'm sure the restaurants must be feeling it. Also noted what appears to be less cruise ships than in previous years and Phillipsburg pretty dead even with 3 cruise ships in town
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Cant wait till Mid May
TOWZERONE
6 hours ago
Looked out the window in New Brunswick Canada today and its cold, rainy and fog
Yesterday we woke up to snow and ice on April 4
We have had one day of sun in the past 20 days here , long winter that started early December
Bodies are desperate for natural Vitamin D
Our trip cant come quick enough
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Orient Beach Question
MikeMc
18 hours ago
What is the best beach bar/restaurant (besides the Perch) to spend the day at on Orient Beach AND is close to the Perch? We like to snorkel the reef by the Perch but some folks in our group are not comfortable with the nudity at the Perch.
I think Chez Leandre's is the closest but would like the member's opinions of your favs and why.
Thanks, Mike.
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Back on the Island
fabila
18 hours ago
Back on the island splitting this vacation staying on both the French and Dutch sides.
Happy to report that departing from Terminal 5 at JFK was surprisingly smooth. Getting through TSA took about 20 minutes, while scanning passports and self-checking luggage actually took a bit longer.
There weren’t any skycaps available, so the process involved checking in at a kiosk and then heading to a separate area to drop bags. That said, there were plenty of TSA agents, ICE officers, and airport staff on hand guiding everyone through the process.
Considering we were traveling on a Saturday—the day before Easter—it ended up being a pretty routine and stress-free departure experience. That’s not to say we weren’t stressed heading to the airport—after seeing the news and hearing from colleagues who had spent hours just getting through check-in in recent weeks.
Hoping to get some food and a drink at La Playa but kitchen was closed. Too late for lunch yet too early for dinner so we stayed for a cocktail and enjoyed the view and breeze.
We had a lovely dinner at La Favela in Orient Village. We went early—travel day had us hungry and a little tired—so we had our pick of restaurants and could ease into the evening at our own pace.
The chicken nem was cooked perfectly—crispy on the outside and full of flavor—served with fresh mint and lettuce leaves for wrapping, alongside a delicious sweet chili dipping sauce. With five pieces in the order, it was a generous and satisfying starter.
The jumbo prawns in garlic sauce, served head-on available from the specials this evening —rich, succulent, and paired beautifully with a warm eggplant caponata and subtly curried flavored rice.
The flank steak, ordered medium rare, arrived closer to medium but was tasty, complimented by a chimichurri sauce. It was accompanied by more of the delicious eggplant caponata and perfectly cooked hand-cut fries.
By the time we left, the village had completely come alive—buzzing with people dining, strolling, and browsing the vendors who were displaying their wares.
A large inflatable arch reading “Happy Easter,” flanked by playful Easter figures, welcomed you as you passed beneath the Baie Orientale sign.
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