Just getting around to writing our trip report. Home a week and just getting back to normal.

This was our eighth visit to the island and our second shortest. We didn't like that but the family, kids, grandbabies are seeing Mickie in April so we had to give up some concessions.

Last year we got a fantastic deal on tickets on AA but had to leave from Philly. We live in CT and figured we'd drive there but then again we live in New England. In the meantime, Southwest came out with some deals to Phil and that worked for us. In the long run it was a nice savings and we were able to put our miles aside and save them for the next trip. Trip out was uneventful. Change over in SanJuan and arrived in SXM 30 minutes early. Myra from AAA was waiting for us and off we went. We usually get a Rav4 from her but ended up with the Ignis. We were leary about this as we had read all the negative reports on the car but it wasn't all that bad.

Our flight home was an adventure. Left SXM, did our bit in San Juan and boarded the plane. Then the fun began. It seemed as it our flight was the target of a bomb scare. We had to get off, boarding passes only, and leave ALL personal belongings on the plane. The FBI and bomb dogs were called in, the plane was moved away from the terminal and rechecked. Finally, after three hours we were told we could reboard and leave. Our captain was fantastic, he kept us advised of all of the happenings, arranged for snacks and drinks for us while we waited and were all given free headsets on the plane. This delay caused us to miss our flight back to CT and get a room at the airport. Our savings was still to our advantage. I would never hesitate to fly with this captain ever again-he was great. Answered all our questions,
acknowledged us getting back on the plane as well as when we landed.

We own at the Sapphire and was able to get two nights in by using our points and didn't have to change rooms at all. That made is so easy. We hadn't stayed at the Sapphire in about two years since there had been so much negative talk about its upkeep, etc.. Overall I can say we were very happy. The whole place was clean, elevators all in working condition and our room was in great shape. We didn't use the pool or the bar as we like the beach.

It was our plan to go to different beaches but we never made it. Spent all our time at Club O. We had two real bad beach days, windy very windy and rough water and rain. The beach was crowded and we had a problem on two different days getting chairs. We had never been on the island in February, always March, April or the very beginning of May so we have been spoiled. There was a lot of traffic going from one side of the island to the other but we did survive. I would seriously think twice before going in February again.

We enjoy the happy hour at the Greenhouse and always made it a point to stop there after sunning ourselves.

We're on vacation and the only times we ate in our room were for breakfast. We returned to our favorite restaurants even though we swore we would go to new ones. Great meals, at Rics; Peg Leg Pub (TTOL party there and we stayed); TTOL party hosted by the Contessta a Bikini Beach; BayWatch; Zee's, Turtle Pier(great breakfast, nice price and portions); Jimbos; Los Gouchos; Johnny B's; and my all-time favorite-LaGondola. We did try Lee's but found it to be so-so.

Did the Front Street shopping bit but on a much lower scale than usual and found the new boardwalk to be a 150% improvement to the area. With the restrictions in the parking it was so easy to get around.

Now, if we could only find the time and the extra $$ to go back in the summer.