2021 Nov 8-15 Couples San souci Jamaica

We started this journey two days early. We had to get an antigen covid test on Saturday. Thankfully, the tests were negative.

On Sunday, we decided to stay at the airport Hilton since we had such an early flight the next morning. We checked into the hotel. We were assigned room751. We went to the bar and had club sandwiches. We took my laptop with us, and we watched the new Yellowstone. We went to bed. About 10:30 we were awakened by a fire alarm. We got up and dressed and grab my purse and the camera bag and vacated the premises via the stairs. We were given all clear, so we went back to the room. We got back into bed. The alarm went off again. Again, we dressed and grabbed the camera bag and my purse and started down the stairs. This time we were given all clear before we left the building. By this time, it was well after midnight, and we had to get up at 3. Needless to say, we did not get much sleep.

We got up at 3:00 showered and caught the 4:00 shuttle to the airport. We checked in with no issues and boarded our flight to Miami on time. We arrived in Miami and grabbed some breakfast at American Bagel. We got back on the very same plane at the same gate we had arrived for our flight to Jamaica. We arrived in Jamaica about 1:30. It ok an hour to get through immigration and then we had to wait 10 minutes for our luggage. Then it took 30 minutes to get through customs. We checked in at couples and waited 10 minutes for the bus. It took almost 2 hours to get to San souci. We checked in. We got room A31. We are incredibly happy with our room.

We unpacked and cleaned up and went to dinner at Bella Vista. Our dinner was incredibly good. We came back to the room and crashed. We were simply exhausted.

Tuesday, we got up and saved our chairs at the beach at 6:30. Then we went to breakfast. It rained off and on all day. Jamaica night was cancelled because of rain so dinner was in Pallazina.

Wednesday, we got up and saved our chairs then had breakfast at Pallazina. We had the repeaters dinner on the pool deck. 140 people attended. The resort is at 82% capacity.

Thursday, we had dinner at Pallazina.

Friday was the starlight gala.

Saturday, we had a private dinner on the beach. It was wonderful. Tanner was our waiter.

Sunday, we were scheduled to get our covid test at 1:00 but the nurse was 90 minutes late which then ruined our whole last afternoon. We settled up our photo account. We had dinner at Casanova. We came back to the room and packed and waited for our covid results…which never came.

Monday, we had breakfast and had our bags out at 7:30. We went to the office to check out and yet again we still had no covid results. It took about 20 minutes, but we finally got the negative covid paper. We took the 2-hour ride to the airport, checked in…we were upgraded to first class. We then had our cheeseburger at Margaritaville. We had an uneventful trip to Philly, used global entry which was a 5-minute process, picked up our bags and rechecked our bags for STL. Our flight was delayed. We got home about midnight.

It was a lovely trip. We had room A31 which was wonderful. Service was good. I think the resort was more full than it has been in years…even pre covid. We did not experience any differences in service or supplies other than sanitizing hands and wearing one glove at the buffets. Unfortunately, Jamaica night was rained out and moved to Palazina. Otherwise, we ate outside for every meal.

We felt very safe from covid. but we also took steps to remain that way. Our covid test results were checked in Stl at the beginning of the trip....and in Jamaica on our way back home. No one else cared.

Cathy--Thanks for the report. When you have to get up VERY early the next morning, it seems like something always happens, huh?

It used to be that you could pay for an expedited arrival procedure in Mo Bay. Can you still do that? It seems like an awfully long time from when your plane landed until you were leaving the airport.

I noted you getting up early to get a chair on the beach. That doesn't sound appetizing to me. Are there not enough chairs on the beach, or you wanted a particular area?

Glad you enjoyed your trip. You said you really liked your room. What was special about it?

In Jamaica...every resort we have ever stayed in...there is always a a battle for chairs. There are enough chairs...but like in all things Location location location. Do you want beach or pool...do you want an umbrella or a palapa, do you want sun or shade? So to make sure you get what you want...you get up early and put towels on your chairs to "claim" them. It used to be the same way at Orient Beach in SXM until Club o assigned chair tags to their patrons and it held your chair for the duration of your stay.

We have always booked a one bedroom suite in building A or B at san souci. Those rooms were renovated in 2015. They are clean and bright and roomy and the bathroom is amazing. We have never stayed on the third floor and we requested it this time so we would have a little different view. The A and B buildings are also the closest buildings to both beaches and two pools and are also close to the two main restaurants. So we were very pleased that we got the third floor.

Cathy--We never used to worry about trying to reserve chairs, but it's been a while since we have been there.

Thanks for the report. Good to hear that the events are back on. 82% is a good sign.

Carol, there is Club Mobay at the airport. We have used it for the arrival and departure. It helps if airport is busy but if it isn’t you feel like you wasted the money. We don’t do departure much anymore as the “free”food is marginal. We have always had luck with Margaritaville on food and it’s close to the gates.

I just think that is a WHOLE lot of time wasted at the airport, from their report. Especially with another two hours after that, to actually get to the resort. All of that would be very tiring to me, these days.

We have used club mobay before...it isn't worth it to us. Lots of folks really love it.

Carol...It took us over an hour to get through immigration...and we STILL had to wait for bags. Then it took over 30 minutes to get through customs to declare NOTHING. Then it is a 2 hour ride to San souci. It was a very long day.

and on the way home...it was very quick and we had plenty of time to eat at Margaritaville.

Cathy--One wonders why the luggage took so long, after you went through immigration. Is it always that long?

We have been to Jamaica 25 times. Immigration has never taken more than an hour...and our luggage has usually been removed from the carousel by the time we get there. Customs has NEVER taken more than 15 minutes. I have no idea what the problem was.

I will tell you that it was simply amazing how many folks were traveling. This is NOT a criticism. It was refreshing to know that others were able to "escape". The airports were bustling, the planes were full and the resorts was very busy.

Travel is back.

OK, yes, that is good news, that people are feeling ready to travel, finally.

Agreed. We went down to Ft Myers a couple of weeks ago and all airports were full as well as the resort.