Our first trip to SXM was 3/20 - 3/27/1983! Coincidentally, I was just looking at our photo album of that vacation. We knew nothing....relied on the travel agent. We stayed at the Maho. What a beach there was then...long, wide, sea grape trees, palm trees. We have a picture of me flat out on the lounge chair, white as white can be, stretching every fiber of my being toward the sun. The OP asked if we would have changed anything...Yeah...sunscreen would have been smart. I never needed sunblock before. Then again, I'd never been south of New York. What a burn. Anyway, the beach was so beautiful, we used that as our base beach. We did rent a car....Drove all around. Our very first experience with "real" French food. First time I had escargot. The chef (honest to God) came out to show me how to get the snail out of the shell with the eyelash curler it was served in. That was in P'Burg. Can't imagine where or what it was because it was fine, fine French food. There was also a little beach bar on the Boardwalk called Pinnochio's. Best banana daiquiri. In Grand Case, I remember eating at the "Rainbow Cafe." All the waiter could say in English was, "American Express, don't leave home without it." What a meal....we had a booth right on the water where we were joined by the house Siamese cat. In those days all the restaurants had cats in them because of the mice. Same deal at Caravanserai (sp?). I remember that meal as being not so good, something about undercooked veal? (I gave the rest to the cat!) On Marigot Harbor, we ate at L'Aventure up on the hill. Another really cute French waiter with whom I was so excited to speak French. Then when he came, I was too embarrassed & could only choke out, "Deux Gin et Tonics, s'il vous plait." I had my first Salade Nicoise.....so good.

We went to the casino (1st time) at the Maho one night after I had a little too much to drink (ahem). I must have been so annoying at the table because I kept splitting tens and WINNING. Everybody was rolling their eyes when all of a sudden the lady dealer said to the table, "Leave her alone, mon. It's women's in-two-wishin." I won $350 at blackjack (lost it all the next night after the snail fiasco).

That was that...we spent 25 years after that trying out different islands, when I didn't realize that it's SXM that's special. We went back in 2008 & the fever hit me like a hammer. I'd like to make it a yearly (heck monthly) trip, but my husband didn't get the fever. My 24-year-old daughter came with us this year, and she got the fever. She better hurry up and get a job so she can start taking me with her!

Anyway, I love St. Martin & I never want to go anywhere else (except Italy).
Go and enjoy!

P.S. A passport was needed in 1983. I'm looking at mine right now!