I don’t think I am capable of writing a short and sweet trip report so I am making no promises. Don and I were on SXM from 2/24 thru 3/12 and it was our 10th trip. Something new for us – My mother Polly and sister in law Martha joined us for 1 week. Both had an absolute blast and finally figured out why we keep going back.
Trip Down and Back
We fly Delta into SJU, overnight, and then take the first AA flight out the next morning. We use FF tickets for all flights and have just not been able to get them direct into SXM on Delta – no seat availability. No problems on the way down, on the way back we had a long delay in ATL cuz they were missing a flight attendant. In SJU we stayed at the Embassy Suites (using Hilton points) in Ilsa Verde. Nice place, $12 and 10 minute cab ride from the airport and no traffic returning the next morning.
Rental Car
Rented from Tropicana for the umpteenth time. I was not real happy this trip. No one was there to meet us at the airport, knowing island time we waited patiently for 30 minutes and then a very nice security guard let us use his cell phone to call. Well they had left the car at the airport for us to pick up ourselves but did I know this – I think you all can guess that the answer is NO! I appreciate they trust us after all these trips of reserving cars with them but I was real aggravated I had not been informed. Car worked just fine - a slightly used Corolla.
Flamingo Beach Resort
We own week 9 & 10 in a 2 bedroom lockout unit. Ours is the newest building so it is still in good shape. They are working on upgrading the resort – they lost the Gold Crown designation from RCI by .2 – now personally, given the condition of some of the not yet refurbished studio units I am not surprised. We enjoy staying there – meets all of our needs.
The ONLY Bad Thing That Happened
First night on the island we went out to dinner and I got food poisoning. Now I am nurse and let me assure you it was a full blown episode of food poisoning. Almost went to the hospital or someplace to get re-hydrated the next day but decided not to – Don went out and got me Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup and popsicles and Gatorade and I made it thru the next day. I would have felt better, sooner, if I had gotten a liter or 2 of IV fluid but I just didn’t want to get all involved in healthcare on the island. I was pretty much down for the count on my first full day.
Traffic
Compared to last year – a breeze even thru Simpson Bay. At the end of last year I was ready to throw in the towel but this year was a whole different experience. I do want to tell you however that the wait for the Simpson Bay Bridge to close was longer than the wait at the GW Bridge during that morning’s commute. Roads in good shape, far superior to those in Western MA after a winter of snow and ice.
Weather
Arrived in a rainstorm and left on the only cloudy day we experienced for the whole rest of the trip. After hearing stores of the previous 2 weeks we really felt very lucky. It was hot and humid and believe it or no some days had little or no breeze – never had that happen before.
Beaches
Only went to Mullet (where we were slammed by the waves one day) and Orient. As reported Orient has more sand than in the past couple of years but not as much as when we first started going to SXM. The road to Orient via the Orient Beach Resort is pretty ghastly with all the potholes – doesn’t look like much has been done to it since we were there last Nov. Pretty soon the paved road into OB, the butterfly farm and Gallion will be impassable – the combo of potholes and paved roads (?) are pretty deadly.
Random Wind
We did a private charter of the Random Wind with 5 other couples. We’ve done this 4 other times and it keeps getting better. We went out for 8 hours on the Saturday of the Regatta and had a wonderful time with Andre (the captain) and Iris (the first mate). We have already booked for next year.
Shopping
Had to do all of Front St cuz Polly and Martha were with us. First stop was at DK Gems where all of us succumbed to the charms of Deepti and Jeff. Now I did not buy the $38,000 perfectly cut diamond solitaire Deepti thought my finger was crying out for but other purchases made their way onto my charge card. One other store of note is in the Marigot Marina next to Tropicana Restaurant – it is a store that sells Venetian glass jewelry. I found several unusual pieces I just had to have. Venissimo for our wine and the Vie Privee for leather pretty much finished me off credit wise.
Restaurants
For lunch – Belle Epoque, Roies on Mullet (for the ribs), Pineapple Pete’s, and Baywatch. Cannot get enough of Andy’s mussels and beer battered scallops. For dinner, La Marine in Grand Case was quite nice, but not yet at the excellent stage. La Gondola was outstanding, Halsey’s had good food but very slow service, Peg Leg’s filets continue to be outstanding, Pineapple Pete’s was hopping with really good food and service. L”Alabama, Tropicana, and Le Cottage continue to be favorite places for us to dine.
Misc.
1. Grand Marche far better than Rams’s
2. No luck any night at the Blackjack tables although Polly won several hundred at the slots in Hollywood. Dunes Casino not yet opened. Atlantis very busy every night.
3. Seemed like there were fewer ships in port this year
4. Did the Sunset Cruise on the Lambada cuz of Polly and Martha being there. Nice way to spend 90 minutes and get decent pictures.
I am sure I am missing something – but I hope I have painted a picture of another excellent vacation. We are returning in November and I am already counting the days
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