This was our 19th trip to SXM. Our first was in 1990 and since 1996 we have been going twice a year (one week in Nov/Dec and two weeks in May). Even if I wanted to, I don’t think that I could give a day-by-day description of what we did and where we ate, etc., so I will try to categorize and elaborate where possible. <br><br>Air: AA BOS-SJU-SXM; used FF miles to upgrade to business. Being a Saturday at Logan we expected the upgrade would save us a lot of time checking in. When we arrived at the counter 1.5 hrs before take-off there was hardly any line for in either the business or coach check-in, very surprising considering we were told that the flight was oversold by 22 seats. After a 25 minute delay for "rebalancing of fuel" and another 15 or so to remove a sick passenger and his luggage we were on our way. The pilot was able to make up enough time in the air and we easily made our connection. On our return PJIA was a zoo going through security and with only an hour between flights in SJU, by the time we cleared customs, there was no margin for error. Hopefully AA will add another ½ hour or so to make this part a little less stressful.<br><br>Car: Rented from Kenny’s. Lesley met us at the airport as promised and on-time. We were on our way in #R18 in under 5 minutes. On our last day we had the misfortune of having the car broken into in Marigot about 2 hours before we were to leave for the airport. There was nothing in the car to steal (we always carry our crack with us….just kidding). The way Lesley handled the situation has guaranteed him a customer for life!<br><br>Accommodations: We rent a huge 2 bedroom apartment on the beach in Grand Case from Grand Case Vacation Villas. The apartment (1 of 2) is probably 800-900 square feet with full kitchen, micro, cable tv, computer with internet, and a huge terrace overlooking Grand Case Bay. Off-season rates are $90-125/nt. for 2ppl. depending on level of service required. These are wonderful accommodations for those who don’t like or need hotel-type living. If anyone wants more information send me a PM.<br><br>Weather: Probably the best 2 week stretch we’ve had in 10 years. Hot and sunny with occasional passing clouds which were welcome.<br><br>Entertainment/Casinos: Made a deposit at Casino Royal and withdrawals at Atlantis and Princess. Saw the band 420 on Grand Case Beach and at SSBB. They are on summer hiatus now, but worth checking out next season.<br><br>Beaches:<br>Baie Rouge (5X) Our favorite. Unbelievably calm and clear. Don’t remember a wave larger than 2 feet. <br>Orient (3X) Maybe our least favorite but a short drive from Grand Case. Great wraps at Bikini Beach for lunch and comfy beach chairs. We mentioned in an earlier post about being called "rubberneckers" while walking near the Club O section to look for some friends. Unfortunate that some people seem to think that this part of the beach has been set aside for only their enjoyment.<br>Grand Case Beach (3X) - Very clean and calm and a nice change of pace.<br>Mullet (1X) Beautiful, and much cleaner than previous years. <br>Cupecoy (1X) Looking back on pictures from pre-Luis, those people who did not get to experience this beach prior to that devastating hurricane have no idea what they missed. It is still beautiful but not what it used to be.<br><br>Breakfast: Zee Best Domestic (Marigot) or Zee Best International (Simson Bay). After some wrangling with the local politics the Simson Bay location reopened on 5/6. It’s a beautiful location with the same great pastries as in Marigot.<br><br>Lunch: Sanwiches from Bounty (Grand Case) Royal Food Store (Sandy Ground), Gus’s Beach Bar on Baie Rouge or Bikini Beach.<br><br>Dinner (otherwise know as Stefanie’s unending quest for the perfect Mil Cuit/- Warm Chocolate Cake) : Le Belle Epoque- Great pizza and the best Salade Nicoise on SXM. Le California - Kitchen open until 10:30 . Temptation- Pretty dining room. L’Auberge Gourmand- Wonderful as always. Very good wine list. Bamboo Bernie’s. Cote Plages - Orient Beach. Thanks to JimJanet for the recommendation. Great food, ambience and very reasonable. La Main a la Pate. Bounty Pizza - Take away. Le Chalet "The Cheese House" - located on the road to Sandy Ground. This is a very unassuming spot from the outside. It looks like a "lolo" type restaurant from the street, but once inside it looks like a chalet in the Alps with murals on the walls. Great fondue. This would be a lot of fun for larger groups. Le Pirate - What a bathroom!. Le Piccolo-We love the all appetizer format. Grand Case Café - great for ribs, chicken, fish etc. Located on on the beach side of Grand Case Boulevard across from Portofino. Cheaper than the lolo’s and much cleaner too.<br> <br>Random Thoughts:<br>1) Ugly Americans at L’Auberge Gourmand - During dinner we were subjected to a loud group and one woman in the group proceeded to tell the waitress "We Americans don’t like the French people and we want to kill your president…except you… we like you and the French people who visit here". Mon Dieu!<br>2) The island looks great but is very quiet. One weekday afternoon ride from Baie Rouge to Grand Case took 12 minutes.<br>3) For those who have decided to "boycott" the French side. Please don’t complain when your favorite hotel or restaurant is out of business. Based on what we saw and heard it is inevitable that some won’t be able to survive in the current climate.<br>4) As great as it is to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, experience great restaurants and beautiful beaches, best of all is the opportunity Stefanie and I are afforded to wake up together, spend all day together and go to bed together without the stresses and strains of "real life". We are lucky to have discovered SXM while we were in mid 20’s, and that we look forward to experiencing this bliss for 3 weeks per year for many years to come.<br><br>Brian & Stefanie<br><br>