1000% agree!

I will add my experience. (to this older thread) Been to Jamaica twice since Irma. Nov 2017 short wait on arrival (Tuesday) Departure on a Sat or Sun - Long long long line. Line went fast and security was fast and great. Maybe an hour wait. Mobay people had little to no wait.
Trip in end of June Arrival on a Friday - wait was long. perhaps almost an hour. and VERY warm/ hot. I watched the Mobay people pass through with no to little wait. At this point I was thinking MoBay was worth every penny. Departed on Thursday (July 5) Line was much shorter and wait was minimal to get through security.

So my thoughts are - do the MoBay thing if you're travelling the on the busiest days - Friday, Sat & Sun. The other days you might roll the dice unless you're anxious to get though as quick as possible. Perhaps there is a place where you can see when all the flights arrive to find out if you're arriving in the middle of the rush, etc...

My other advice: Book a private shuttle/car. The group mass shuttle stinks. We waited over an hour to fill up every single stupid seat. Search/google and trip advisor helped me find a reasonably priced taxi.

I did some research for a (different) naturalist place, in the Caribbean, since SXM was set back a little bit. I found Paya Bay Resort. I almost went in June but my plans shifted a couple weeks and we landed up in Jamaica. I am eyeing it for May or June of 2019. So just trying to find out if anyone has been there. I am never to excited to read tripadvisor reviews.
Thanks in Advance.

Looking back now it was almost magical despite the large numbers of people and you are right about the one guide I hired. I did elephant rides years ago in Thailand and once is enough. I'm not sure if it is even PC anymore

The museum in town is pretty cool too. I am thinking of returning as there are so many sights and things to do. Yesterday I did Tonie Sap lake on a boat I chartered from a local and I got the full experience of the floating village, floating market and going thru the mangroves on a rowboat and ended at a crocodile farm.

For just an overnight, being right on the beach at Emerald Resort is a nice relaxing place.
Lindbergh Bay hotel is a shuttle ride to the same beach instead of steps away.
Both hotels are a short walk to the airport, Emerald is slightly farther.
A taxi can easily take you to Frenchtown, Downtown or Crown Bay if you want to get off property.

Many restaurants are open, but some are still closed;

Open
Top of the Baths
Bath & Turtle (located adjacent to Chez Bamboo)
Coco Maya
Island Pot
Hog Heaven
Leverick Bay
Fishers Cove
Oil Nut Bay
Village Café at Olde Yard
Mermaid’s & Pirates (formerly Mermaids Dockside… no longer on the dock)

Closed
Rock Café (maybe re-opening by December)
Mad Dogs
Mine Shaft
Little Dix Bay
Saba Rock
Bitter End
Fat Virgin Café
Sugar Cane

Great. About time rules mean rules and enforcement will happen.

What I quoted above ($724) is a direct flight out of Charlotte. We go down twice a year (May & November). I book my flights about 6 months out or sooner if I can. I have been able to book 1st class tickets out of Charlotte for only about $300 more for the two of us. The upcoming November trip will be our first direct flight post hurricanes. It could be that we usually go Saturday to Saturday and the flights are always full. Maybe that is the most expensive time to fly. But due to work, I have no choice. I am not a fan of American Airlines, but not much choice from Charlotte and we do like the direct to St Thomas. It is just simply not cheap to fly out of Charlotte. I just shake my head, pay the price knowing I will have my feet in the sand within 5 hours.