For first time was able to check-in at home and print boarding passes and was able to proceed directly to baggage drop-off at AA at JFK--kids flew JB and were able to check their bags at the curb--even easier. Landed 40 minutes early and Hibiscus car rental was waiting (would definitely use them again). Stopped and picked up the new privilege card (more about that later) at Sharon's, stopped at new market at Billy Folly road (actually higher in price than Peli Deli), really easy check-in at Pelican (they are certainly trying to improve things) and into my room, unpacked and ready for that first rum punch by 1 pm. Weather was not too nice so wandered into the casino to wait for the kids--won $100 and off to airport again to pick them up. JB also land 30 minutes early and trip back and forth was amazingly traffic free. Went to Greenhouse for happy hour and dinner--excellent as usual.

Sunday woke up to more clouds and decided to hang at Pelican beach for their beach party. Around noon skies opened up and it poured for quite awhile--party cancelled.
Weather was like that until Wednesday--Tuesday almost total rain out--went to Dawn to have breakfast but weather just got worse so it was a good day to shop. Went to Shiva and found just what we were looking for so day was a success. Dinner at Granduca - which was excellent - and Enzo as gracious as ever. One side note--when I showed him the privilege card he told me he only signed up for a Christmas promotion but he would honor the 10% off--bill $160 for 3 so the $16 almost paid for the card--then went over to the casino where you get $10 in free play so card already paid for ($20)

Weather--very strange for April--first cloud free day was not until the 19th when it got hot and the wind died down.

Restaurants--Pineapple Pete's (3 times) Excellent with nice dinner music every night. Side note--they have a surf and turn for $38 which is lobster thermador and an 8 ounce filet--could not even touch the filet which became my lunch for the next day there was so much lobster. Their coconut shrimp was one of the best I ever had and their conch fritters (which were shaped like potato pancakes) were also delicious

Halseys--just OK
BBB--Wanda and the best burger on the Island
Sunset--was shocked at great service, good food and drinks after what I had been reading here about service there
Cafe at Atlantis--great light dinner place and with Privilege card 1 free drink for each of the 3 of us (at $8 and $9 apiece better than 10% off bill.
Toppers on the beach--only went for lunch but very good
Topper--great prime rib
Ciao--good for pasta
Having senior moment - can't think of name of restaurant that moved from where caravansari is--but great sushi.
Byatsu(sp)
--cant rave enough
Karackters--Tuna there was excellent--nice breeze off ocean--only complaint is that they do not believe in putting too much ice in your drinks and had to ask for a bucket
Orient beach next to Bikini--$35 for 3 chairs and umbrella and $14 for 1 coke and 1 rum punch--never go back to that one again (sorry don't know the name)

Things that made an impression

How much Pelican is really trying to improve
Traffic seems improved with new roundabouts
never felt at risk
prices seem much higher than last year
Privilege Card is worth the money--especially for those that
stay on the French side
casinos are actually giving play vouchers for a change
People just seemed more friendly