SXM 2014 Trip Report Jan 23 to Feb 9
Our 4th trip – we started at 1 wk, then 10 days, 3rd trip was 2 wks and now up to 18 days
My comments are a little random, organized around what we did vs a diary of daily events.
Flew WestJet from Toronto Jan 23, we used the Plaza lounge in Toronto before the flight, easy trip both ways. Customs, luggage, all good. We had 2 weeks and a day booked at La Plage, but spent the first 2 days at the Sonesta Great Bay for a little decompression and to ease into our vacation. We had pre booked our cab ride thru Wilfred Brooks. The ride to the hotel has a small back story. With us in the cab was another couple going to Oyster Pond to catch the boat to St Barts. They were from Mtl, had been traveling for 3 days trying to get to SXM – their initial plans had been to fly to NY that Tuesday, connect to a SXM flight, in an effort to save money. The weather had conspired against them; they got to NY, flights cancelled, eventually routed back to Toronto, they ended up on our Thursday WestJet flight, 3 days lost and they had no idea where their luggage was. When I asked why they hadn’t taken the WJ flight from Mtl on Monday, they didn’t know about it. That Monday Mtl flight is almost always cheaper than my Toronto WJ flight options of Tues / Thurs / Sunday. When I answered their inevitable question about the probable WJ cost from Mtl, even I understood their answer en francais!
Sonesta Great Bay, recently refreshed, we stayed for our 1st 2 nights / 3 days - AI, it was what we wanted to start our vacation. It would be a good choice [with a car] for someone’s 1st time to the island for a week. Wilfred again transferred us from the Great Bay to La Plage.
The LaPLage was in good shape, well cared for and our room had been refreshed with new upholstery and new art on the walls. We took the morning walk our first Tuesday with David thru Beacon Hill to Simpson Bay and back. About an hour and very informative – who knew SXM had a spinach vine. We found passion fruit, cotton, almonds, the spinach vine, large seed pods that could have been used in a rhythm section and little seed pods you could shoot at each other. The gardens and grounds were sprayed at least once and all rooms were sprayed once during the day in our 1st week.
Somehow I had caught a bug for 3 – 4 days, sufficient to say Imodium, Tums and Tylenol were the order of the day. Nothing specific, just lethargic and little appetite, then after 3 days woke up hungry and happy. Several others at La Plage seemed to have similar experiences. No explanation, no bite marks, no food poisoning, never happened before.
Shop and Drop worked like a charm, Jeannie was there with Claire just as we were checking in. Jeannie also brought our SXM privilege card which we used several times.
Rented a car thru AAA, Dede checked us in and out, polite and quick. We were picked up at La Plage and on drop off day, taken back to La Plage. We had a gently used corolla that met our needs.
Sarafina’s, had baguettes from Jeannie plus stopped one morning for coffee [with steamed milk] and croissants and another time later in the day for some quiche to reheat after a day on Orient – excellent.
Wilfred Brooks – we arranged an island tour for ourselves and my sister in law andher husband. Wilfred is a great ambassador of the island and an excellent taxi driver.
Orange Fever, stopped in 3 times, Orange Fever pizza, the mussels, it was all great.
Kakao, stopped in to try the pizza, in the end prefer Orange fever, but a close 2nd. Must admit, much less crowded at Kakao, also more expensive. My plans for a pizza Olympics went awry, but that’s for next year.
Galion, tried it one day, decided it was not for us, nothing specific, just not a fan.
Anse Marcel – sorry, also not for us. We went to the beach, turned left and walked to about the end. New beach bar, quite large, everything in Euro’s. When we stopped for chairs [ comfortable] we were told don’t move the chairs and no picnics. Just past that bar there was another under construction. We stayed for about 3 hrs and then left, the bay felt a little claustrophobic for me, can't really explain.
Mullet, had a great day, very calm. We had stopped in Cupecoy at the Gourmet Marche and bought great baguette sandwiches for $3 US each. You have to get there early for the best selection. Also at Gourmet Marche, found St Martin rose, had it later with assorted cheese and a baguette – lovely. Speaking of cheese, our favorite for the duration was comte.
Went shopping at the Marigot market. Bought lovely French linen tea towels, Kalina jerk sauce, nutmeg – 6 for $3 – some market jewelry, including some red garnet earrings with the stones from the island, or so they say. Watched the fishmonger prepare mahi mahi for buyers and just down from the fish market on the harbor side, an entrepreneur was making and selling ice cream in little cups. Choices were coconut, passion fruit and mango, sweet to tart in that order – they were excellent.
Moulin Fou – one of our favorites, ate there twice, our last night was the Angry Dragon roll and a bottle of rose, lovely.
Dreams – stopped in after we left Anse Marcel. Shared a Tiger roll and a rose with my wife and her sister, great afternoon snack. We’ll be back.
Celine – went on the Friday Fun Sail. It starts from Boca Marina vs Skipjacks due to the causeway. Highly recommend. In addition to Captain Neil, there was Milo and Martina. Nice group on board, the food was excellent. We went counter clockwise, lunch off La Samanna, then anchored off Mullet and went into the lagoon thru the Dutch bridge. The weather was too rough to around the north side, hence the route change. Neil is working on his 2nd boat, a dark blue 62 ft motor cat. The size and speed will allow him to think about expanded tours, maybe a round Anguilla trip plus it fits under the causeway. Neil still had some details to finish and sea trials before starting it up. We’ll be interested in trying it out next year.
Skipjacks somehow became a default stop for a lunch or take out. We discovered take out this yr, Skipjacks, Pineapple Petes, Pizza Pasta [so so] – don’t know why we didn’t think about takeout before – if we weren’t up to a night out, it was a great alternative – a phone call, quick car ride, a light dinner with candles on the balcony with some soft music, the ocean and moon … hmm.
Sonesta Maho, once a week – Saturday? around 3 or 4 pm, they have a group of island drummers, looks like about ages 6 thru late teens. They were very good, colorful costumes and an eclectic conductor.
Friday nights at Maho – 7 to 10? - is a burgeoning street fair with vendors. Bought locally made soap from a vendor – Sent-tee is the brand name, address was in Betty’s Estate St Maarten. We also met Bernadette, left a small help for the dogs. On our taxi tour, we stopped in at Paradise View to see Bernadette again, take in the view, made some small purchases and another small pet donation.
SXM Norm hosted a TTOL get together at the Iguana bar at Oyster Pond. Nice time, great to meet others for the 1st time, thanks to Norm and Betty. Listening to the experiences of the others made us realize at four trips we are veritable newbie’s, but we are trying hard to catch up, but the beauty of it, it’s not a competition, it’s an adventure. Also learned from Bill and Elaine where to park for happy hour at the Yacht Club. Great news, now we know, bad news we never got to the Yacht happy hour, just means it’s higher on the list for next yr. Linda Cocks from Be The Change group gave a brief presentation and donations were graciously given by those present – Thanks SXM Norm.
Rum, brought back Ron Zacapa and El Dorado Single Barrel PM, bought them in Philipsburg and brought them back in our luggage well wrapped, tasting to come.
Driftwood, enjoyed happy hours several days, my wife loved the real fruit mango mojito’s.
Ship Wreck Shops rant – I bring back HR hats and shirts as business gifts and have used their online coupon each yr. This year the coupon was refused twice, once with a story the coupon only worked post regatta, a 2nd time the story was the business was sold and the coupon was no longer valid. Checking the web site when we returned, the coupon is still online, with encouragement to use. I have emailed asking for an explanation, almost 2 wks and no response.
Planes – I think it was Feb 8?, in the mid afternoon an incoming jet pulled up and flew over La Plage with the landing gear up. About 15 minutes later it came around again and landed – Jet Blue I believe. Also several days, jets took off over the ocean vs into the mountain, seemed to happen later in the day.
Going home – 2nd last day we had to check out of our La Plage room, they found us a room at La Terasse across the street for our last night, it was fine, nice room and view. Last morning we quickly packed up, hit the beach, then around 1:15 went to airport to drop our bags – WestJet was open for our 4.55 flight, very quick check in, they advised we should be back by 4 latest – topped up the gas, dropped the car, Dede drove us back at La Plage and we were sitting down for lunch well before 2 pm. We were at the airport about 4 as suggested by WestJet, quick trip through security, bought some sandwiches and water for the plane. Pushed back about 20 minutes late, landed pretty much on time. Shoveled snow the next morning.
Already planning next year – thanks to all from TTOL for all the invaluable info and tips, really helps our trips
John & Bev
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