I will try to keep this short and just hit the highlights. This was our 4th trip to SKB.<br><br>1. US Airways – ORD/CLT/SJU/SKN Codeshare w/Caribbean Sun on the SJU/SKB leg. <br> <br> Outbound - Worked like clockwork. Baggage checked all the way including codeshare flight (Caribbean Sun) from SJU to SKB. <br><br> Return - Not pretty. Bags checked thru again except for customs - we were told. Got to SJU and deplaned. Employees rode to the gate and passengers walked!!! Got thru customs and then had to carry all bags (no luggage carts available) to Caribbean Sun counter & stand in line (30 minutes) to recheck them. Checked thru? To where? The only thing checked thru about it was that they did not have to replace the routing tags. US Airlines or Carib Sun should have had a baggage handler just outside the customs area to deal with this. Flights were delayed in and out of CLT. No info as to this problem when we left SJU. Most cramped plane in my traveling history from CLT to ORD. Rows were so close to each other that my tray table actually hit the armrest and would not stay flat. The ATR and DH8 had more room. I will not let price drive my purchase the next time.<br><br><br>2. Marriott - Beautiful property. 10% service charge and 7% tax added to everything. When appropriate, I added additional tips in cash. Not sure how they divide the service charge and distribute to employees. Or if it gets distributed to employees.<br> <br> Restaurants - Prices high but not out of sight. Very comparable to better restaurants in US. Quality was good but not as good as I had hoped. Service a bit slow but very hospitable. Marriot Steakhouse was OK, but $6 for bottled water when island tap water is perfectly fine??? Same w/La Cucina. Both of these had a very limited menu. Only 5 or 6 entree choices. In my mind, Cafe Calypso was just as good if not maybe better than either of the specialty places. More choices. Bohemia Grill was OK.<br><br> Housekeeping - Unorganized and inconsistent. Room supplies (soap, etc.) in strange quantities. At one time we had 5 bottles of conditioner and no shampoo, 8 towels for the 2 of us, Decaf but no reg. coffee, 9 bars of soap, etc. 1st day housekeeping didn’t clean until 4:30 p.m. Next day they woke us at 8 a.m. Room very dusty. Crapshoot on emptying trash.<br><br>Pools – Cleaned main pool on Monday during the middle of the day (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Closed for most of the day along w/swim-up bar. Why not clean when no one wants to use it??? Barware left on tables for most of the day, yet plenty of wait staff wandering the area. Main pool was quite warm and not very refreshing. North & south pools were cooler and less crowded. Jacuzzi was just a bit warmer (2 or 3 degrees) than the pools. Best part of the pool situation is that they never close. Open 24 hours.<br><br> Beach – Beautiful. Art vendors were annoying. Most chairs chained. Looked at 10 stacks before I found one I could use. Had to clean it first as it was covered w/caked sand. This was during the middle of the day. No attendants to assist w/moving things.<br><br> Bars – Bohemia was very nice. Shawn the bartender was quite good. Lobby bar was excellent and attracted a very entertaining crowd. Anthony was a good source of information about the island.<br><br> Casino – Very accommodating. Lots of machine choices. Dealers very professional and helpful.<br><br><br>In general, the Marriott was too flashy and noisy for my tastes. If you want peace and quiet, go somewhere else. If you want pampering in a flamboyant style, have lots of money, and don’t care how much you spend, this is the place to be. A book or pamphlet describing current services, policies, prices, etc. would also be very helpful. A map of the facility would also help. A good experience, but just not what we were looking for.<br><br><br>3. Turtle Beach – Lots of changes. New condo just off the beach but it didn’t look as if finished. New attraction is the pig. He just wanders and begs for handouts. Quite funny. Beach is smaller as the condo has taken about 15-20 feet (><??) of beach area. The most shaded part. Drink prices still very reasonable. Didn’t have lunch this time but what I saw being served looked quite good. Road to the beach is still pretty bad and is in need of a grader. Go slow or risk breaking your suspension and rattling your teeth.<br><br>4. Rainforest tour – Used Royston. He customized a ½ day for 2 out of shape and slightly handicapped individuals. I have a bad knee and wife has a fused ankle. Great!!! While not a naturalist, he does have a great deal of knowledge about the island. I don’t know which was better, the tour experience or just being with him. Our 3 hour tour was actually over 4 hours. Nice young man who is trying to get ahead while providing a quality tour. He didn’t mention payment until I reminded him. Please consider him if you are visiting the island. Excellent value at $30 USD each.<br><br>5. Restaurants - PJ’s was good. I didn’t remember it this way but I would certainly recommend it. Garbage Pizza was better than at home. Frigate Bay Garden served us very well. Rack of lamb was a bit overdone for my taste but very flavorful. I was just too hungry to send it back. Excellent service. Stopped by La Dolce Cabana and checked out the menu but didn’t have a chance to go back. Looks pretty good. Did not stop at Circus Grille, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ballyhoo, Spratnet, Sunset Cafe, or OTI on this trip.<br><br>6. Rental Car – Used Avis at the hotel. Very convenient to do so. No problems. Have used TDC/Thrifty and DeLisle Walwyn in the past. I think all 3 are OK. Avis is a bit higher but more convenient. A young couple we met on the plane used G&L and were not happy. They had a flat and had to go get it fixed themselves as it was a holiday weekend and no one from the agency offered to help. Birdrock Shell station was helpful to them in the repair.<br><br>7. Jack Tar – Rumor has it that they will reopen in September. Still all-inclusive. <br>
