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Trip Report April 27 - May 11 #160879
05/15/2018 07:57 PM
05/15/2018 07:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 50
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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beachman1957  Offline OP
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My wife and I just returned from our April 27-May 11 two weeks at Mary's Boon. The water was rough on Simpson Bay Beach but not a stitch of seaweed to be seen. However, I think Irma must have blown a hole in the atmosphere because we were subjected a number of days to wind whipped sand pelting that we only experienced in Aruba. I agree the wind was nice because added to the low humidity, I never broke a sweat once, including during our many open air dinners. It was quite comfortable other than the wind whipping days. Mary's Boon is back to pre-hurricane status with the loss of only 1-2 rooms. Painting, door and window replacement are ongoing but no construction noises. The 3 girls in the office are the best - Elena, Bisera and Biljana - and the entire staff at Mary's Boon is to be commended. We only ate in the restaurant for breakfast and the breakfast menu is the same as before Irma. We did not venture to Marigot or Orient as we were told there isn't much open. The Simpson Bay restaurant strip from the runway to Kentucky Fried Chicken was pretty much all open save for Lee's, Skipjack's and I think Boathouse (We saw lights on in the front but I don't think the restaurant was open).

We ate in Grand Case 5 times but only at 2 restaurants - Bistrot Caribe and L'Auberge Gourmande. Both are open and in excellent form- same great staff and food. Other than 2 lolos and Rainbow, the beach side restaurants all remain closed. Thibault at Bistrot Caraibe says they will eventually reopen Ocean 82. Tastevin, Thibault says, will "take longer". I can only confirm that other than the 2 lolos, Bistrot Caraibe and L'Auberge Gourmande, Spiga, Blue Martini and the Villa are open in Grand Case. The road is horribly pitted and potholed but we were told they are burying all power lines underground and then will repave the road. The free parking lot was empty. We parked right along the roadway which we've never been able to do before. NOTE: Much of Grand Case remains dark at night so bring a flashlight or use your flashlight apps because you could step into a pretty nasty hole. However, we never felt unsafe there.

In talking with Thibault at Bistrot Caraibe and Pascal at L'Auberge, their business is of course way down. If you can find a place to stay, go. They need the business. The Simpson Bay restaurants are pretty much filled with the local French people as well as the tourists who, like us, were not afraid to return. We love the island and the people. We got "Thank you for coming" and "Bless you" everywhere.

We are beach lovers so most of our days were on the beach. Breakfast was at Mary's Boon, Zee Best and our favorite, Cafe Atlantico. Lunch was, in the case of my wife, leftovers from dinner the night before or in my case, roasted chicken from the place by the runway (now called Pollos Hermanos), ribs from Captains Rib Shack near the Royal Palm or a sandwich from Cafe Atlantico. All eaten at our little table outside our room.

Dinners - LAL's Curry in a Hurry (good inexpensive Indian food), Al Pascha (excellent Lebanese- great lamb chops and the kibbeh plate! Wow!), Wasabi Charlie (next to Pineapple Pete's - great sushi), Pizza Italy (love their thin crust, excellent!), Moulon Fou (the only place open in Maho other than 3 Amigos, the Hole in the Wall Bar, a coffee place and the cigar shop. Oh, and En Vogue - wife loves the Coure de Lion (sp?) jewelry. Perfume store open too. So sad over there but quiet. Dinner at Moulin Fou is always excellent. They are redoing the storefronts across the street and the Casino but Maho is just a shell. They will return.) We also ate at Marios Bistrot which is now in Cupecoy - while the regular menu is short, our waiter rattled off about 10 appetizer specials and 10 main course specials. Without a tape recorder or a pen and paper, forget about remembering! Food and service were great though. There is another Bistrot open next to Mario's. The shops left there are only open a few hours during the day. The supermarket is open too.

The airport was amazing so don't let that affect your decision to go. We were on Jet Blue from NY which is the first commercial plane that landed. We went down the ramp and on to the bus and when we got to arrivals, the sixth couple on line. Right through. The gentleman pulling luggage from the outside crew and bringing it over to you has been there forever and was doing it alone. But it worked. Lesley Bruce was right outside and we were in our car and at Mary's Boon within 10 minutes. Departures also totally stress free. Fully enclosed with air conditioning, full bathrooms and food/drinks/souvenirs.

Do the research. If your regular place is still closed, find somewhere else. The island needs us back. We never regretted going back so soon after Irma. We already are planning our October trip.

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Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160881
05/15/2018 08:04 PM
05/15/2018 08:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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Ohio
Thanks for the report. Sounds like a pretty decent trip overall.


J.D.
Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160883
05/15/2018 09:13 PM
05/15/2018 09:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
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foreversxm Online content
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We just love Mary's Boon, Its just totally amazing how fast they have recovered and better than before. I saw the pics of the damage and was bad, but now OMG its incredible. And The Boon Beach Bar and Restaurant is really good and lots of fun. Plenty of new beach chairs and umbrellas and to us much better than the beach bar in a bus next door to them. We were there in April and the tress and gardens are lush with lots of new landscaping and the rooms are very very nice and almost everything is brand new. And they are still working. The staff at Mary's Boon has to be the nicest and most caring Hotel staff I have every seen and always happy to help. I heard the owner was back and forth from SXM to the USA every week since the hurricane buying and shipping in materials, etc and they all worked 15 hours days for months and did a great great job. They are starting a new building soon with 4 one bedroom units to replace the 2 that they lost. They really do deserve to be commended for a job well done!

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160884
05/15/2018 09:24 PM
05/15/2018 09:24 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,258
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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Thanks for the report and great to hear that you Folks had a great time. But I had to leave the same for Texas for the loss of our Eldest sister.
Thanks till next.

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160885
05/15/2018 09:30 PM
05/15/2018 09:30 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
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4Driver4 Offline
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Central Connecticut
I think your Grand Case comments are spot on. Airport too. Good report.

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160888
05/15/2018 11:21 PM
05/15/2018 11:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,613
originally Long Island, NY/now...
irish1223 Offline
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irish1223  Offline
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originally Long Island, NY/now...
Thanks so much for your report! We will be there one month from tomorrow and can't wait!

Leslie, so sorry to hear about your sister.


Robin & Ed

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160901
05/16/2018 09:13 AM
05/16/2018 09:13 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline
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SXMNorm  Offline
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Thanks for your report and support for our favorite Island. I thought, Piazza Pascal was also open in Grand Case.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160912
05/16/2018 09:46 AM
05/16/2018 09:46 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,474
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Thanks for your report. We will have to visit Mary's Boon when we are down. Their story sounds almost exactly like Beachside Villas. Small hotels try harder I think, and the experience of staying there is very special. Sounds like a lovely report. Thanks for the note regarding a flashlight. Will have to remember that.


Carol Hill
Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: beachman1957] #160916
05/16/2018 10:21 AM
05/16/2018 10:21 AM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 111
Greenwich CT
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dmwieser Offline
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Thank you for the report and glad you had a great time!! Bistros Caribe, L'Auberge Gourmande, Le Villa, Moulin Foo - all great places!! Thrilled that you heard about the eventual reopening of Ocean 82 and then Tastevin!! First that I have heard and are two of my favorites! Great News!!

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: Kennys] #160921
05/16/2018 12:17 PM
05/16/2018 12:17 PM
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Posts: 50
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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Lesley, Hillary and I were so sorry to hear of your loss. We met your lovely wife (finally!) at the airport and she told us the news. Our prayers are with you. We will see you in October. Thank you for your excellent service.

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: SXMNorm] #160923
05/16/2018 12:21 PM
05/16/2018 12:21 PM
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Posts: 50
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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We were in Grand Case for 5 dinners on 5 different nights from April 27- May 11 and Piazza Pascal gate was locked and dark. I don't know if it is open for business now but per my comments in my post, many restaurants reopened after Irma and due to the slow business are using their own money now to stay open. Places like Harry's on the dutch side reopened but the business wasn't enough to keep them going. They need us all to come back.

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: ruralcarrier] #160926
05/16/2018 12:30 PM
05/16/2018 12:30 PM
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Posts: 50
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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We never regretted once going back. We will always come back to our "home in the Caribbean!"

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: foreversxm] #160927
05/16/2018 12:32 PM
05/16/2018 12:32 PM
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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Only our second time here. We had pre-paid for October and then Irma hit so we had to switch to Aruba but we were so happy to be back at Mary's Boon. We are converts now!

Re: Trip Report April 27 - May 11 [Re: irish1223] #160928
05/16/2018 12:42 PM
05/16/2018 12:42 PM
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beachman1957 Offline OP
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Good for you guys! Enjoy it! It's still our same old island and friendlier than ever! I'll look for a trip report when you get home. NOTE: if you use the Welfare Road through Simpson Bay, it still backs up horribly all the way around the runway in the late afternoon. Everywhere else the roads were very quiet, including through Marigot and on to Grand Case. Never once felt unsafe.


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