Just back from our 2nd trip to St. Martin / Orient Beach.
GWV charter out of Boston was on time an uneventful – Left Boston at 5:30 am and was on Orient Beach by 12:30. Car rental from Dollar – I reserved an automatic – they tried to give us one of the small cars – standard with a severly cracked windshield – I wouldn’t take the car, and was provided the next size up (Kia Rio) for no additional charge.
We stayed at Cap Cariabes, used Waikiki lounges – just a few steps from the beach – a nice room with a Kitchennette – we used to cook breakfast a few times. A nice porch with a small dining table – no view.
The weather was fine – one day all clouds, all the other days were a mix of sun & clouds – nice and warm, no rain to speak of.
Beaches:
We spent 4 days on Orient Beach, two days at Happy Bay Beach. One day was cloudy – we did some shopping in Marigot and stopped by briefly at Cupecoy Beach, Baie Rouge, and Sunset Beach Bar. Happy Bay is a great beach – no clothing required. You get there by walking from the far right end (facing the water) of Friar’s Bay Beach – find the path – about a 10 minute walk – no services, just a beautiful secluded beach. The second day we got there at 9:00 and had the beach entirely to ourselves for at least an hour. Never more than 20 people there.
Restaraunts:
Baywatch on Orient Beach is good for an inexpensive breakfast and lunch. We also had lunch at Boo Boo Jams – good ribs. We got a crabmeat filled baguette at a little bakery on the road to the Mt. Vernon Hotel, just $4 – enough for two of us. We ate lunch twice at Friars Bay Beach Cafe – very nice !!
We went to a couple of unique places for dinner – Poulet D’Orleans on the road in Orleans, is a 100+ yr. old Caribbean home – the owner cooks and his children are the waiters – we had a very nice dinner (try the chicken creole) for about $60 for two.
My wife had read about Letoire farm – on the road to Pic Paradise – its an “eco reserve” with a nice deck restaurant serving lunch & dinner – 5 star food for dinner at relatively bargain prices (about $90 for two) – recently written up in Bon Apetit magazine – our best dinner of the week.
We also ate at Le Ballou on the main road just outside of Grand Case – nice French food at a much lower price than the Restaurants in Grand Case. We were the only ones eating there – The grilled lobster was very good, and the best lobster prices we saw.
We ate twice at Talk of Town BBQ in Grand Case – which is inexpensive, always busy – the food is just OK.
We watched the Patriots – Steelers game at Lee’s near the airport – had a fun night.
Can’t wait to go back again – hopefully Jan. 2006 !!!!!
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