TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Day 5 on island

Went to La Sucriere for chocolate almond croissants, regular croissants and pain au chocolat. Yummy. No we didn’t eat them all! Went to Orient for beach time. Not crowded. Water was clear of Sarragasum though beach was not . Breezes were perfect. G and T on the patio. Went to Isola. Parking was so changed since last year -a lot of gated parking lots ; no parking on street next to Isola . Red Piano lot is gated. I had to do the valet parking at Hollywood casino. My wife had the fettuccine bolognese with extra meat balls. She loved it. I had the Parmesan crusted Veal Chop which was good. Lost $10 dollars at casino. We are not high rollers.

For future parking at Isola - We went last Monday to eat before "Church on Monday" at Red Piano. Pulled up to the gated lot right across from Isola and the casino. Told the gate attendant we were eating at Isola and he said to park there and opened the gate. No charge. We tipped him when we left. BTW, the band at Red Piano was fantastic. The owner of Pineapple Pete's (can't remember his name) told us to go on Monday. He said it's the best band on the island. I think their name is "What the Funk." All types of music for all ages. Make reservations or get there early.

How about the redone lot for red piano and Peli Deli? What's it take to park there to purchase at Peli Deli?

It was blocked off the first night we tried to go to Red Piano. There was a guard posted there and he said we had to go to the casino and do valet parking. We were tired anyway so gave up. Not sure if they'd let you park there for deli.

When we were there in February Peli Deli had no parking rights & it was even hard to walk to it. I think they are making a sidewalk from Red Piano over but I could be wrong.

Well that's not good.