Thanks to all the TTOL members who take the time to offer their tips and reports. Here is my contribution.

Another great trip to Paradise 2006.

January 18th a wet rainy Wednesday morning. We have had five surgeries this year between my self and two daughters. One more coming in February we have to get away!

Time to check out TTOL sponsor CheapCarribean.com to get away...Belair Beach Hotel is available starting Sunday morning...checked the wife's desk calender we juggle a few appointments and we are off in three days!

FLIGHT: United Air got us from NH to Philly and then to SXM without a hitch! Unity was on hand and immediately transported us to see Michael. We have always been happy with Michael this time he had a brand new Sonata with 900 miles waiting for us as well as a home made cd containing “island music”. I added some of the clips to the slide show and video at the end of this report.

HOTEL: We arrived at Belair at 3 PM (www.belairbeach.com) but were told they did not have our name. Apparently CheapCarribean.com never sent them the info until the following day.

No problem we walked into the room and were thrilled with the view, the cleanliness and the spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath suite. Large sliders overlooking the beach on the fourth floor beautiful breezes allowed us to turn off the AC. On the fourth floor we enjoyed almost total privacy. The kitchen was fully equipped and the suite was lacking nothing (well maybe a hot tub would be nice…). We just could not believe our luck! We spent the next couple hours shopping and unpacking.

Next morning the phone rang (it was bad luck calling) Paulina from the front desk had some bad news…we had to move. Apparently they placed us in an owner’s room thinking that RCI had sent us. They gave us a key to check out our new room. This one on the far end and on the second floor was smaller, not as clean and the furniture of a lesser quality. Little portable 13 inch TV rather than the 19 inch smaller space. They insisted it was the same room however. We opened the slider and looked back at several portly men blowing cigar smoke that immediately filled the room. All I could think of is the disappointment in not only emptying the refrigerator and closets and moving to a room where the doors would have to remain closed and we would enjoy little or no privacy.

Back to the front desk for help but they could offer none. The only option they could offer was for us to move three times in order to remain in a nicer room for the bulk of the week. We had stayed in 408 on Sunday and moved to 411 on Monday so it was not a big move in terms of distance. This compromise allowed us to stay until Saturday where we would have to move once again to 309 and then check out the next day. Three moves in one week was not something I would like to repeat! Got good at packing and really packing one day early was not too bad. The entire ordeal cost us about 6 hours of beach time for the week.

NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED: Next morning when I opened the paper I realized our bad luck had one more salvo…due to elections no alcohol will be allowed from 6 PM Thursday through 6 AM Saturday morning! Tourists may drink in their rooms; bars must close and restaurants must cover up their liquor! If you have a boarding pass you may drink at the airport.

The Gingerbread Café on premises was great. We had several meals there and I would say they ranked right up there with any meal we have had on the island. Outstanding breakfasts! Lunch was grouper, ribs, and many other great choices.

Later while speaking with another owner she advised that she owns two weeks in “those little rooms” and keeps them only to trade for other resorts! She keeps eight weeks all total. So watch what end of the hotel you get …hopefully not the side next to Divi.

WEATHER: The weather was very windy but still nice, 80’s in the day and mid to high 70’s at night. The water was so rough that lobsters were hard to find and when you did they were small. Lobster thermidor suffered at Pineapple Pete’s and Pierre apologized for the small crustacean.

FOOD: Peg Leg a former favorite was again a disappointment. I hate to say this but we have never had a bad experience when Jack is there; these disappointments have all been when Jack and Linda were either on vacation or out and about. When Jack and Patricia are there (and Sean) you can’t beat the steaks!

Lidos raised their prices by $1 making a plate of ribs and sides now $8. That’s enough food for at least two meals! You just can’t get a better meal for the money or twice the money.

Le Belle Epoc was again very nice as was Mrs B’s on the Beach and of course Baywatch (margarita shrimp). These three never seem to have a bad day! Sunset beach bar burger was the worst I ever had. Even the cook was surely this place is always up and down. It was however the “DRY” day and no alcohol so it may have dampened the staffs zeal.

Great pizza at Pizza Pasta (their daughter is now running it her boyfriend Orlando has the jet ski concession at Belair) great subs at Simson Bay sub way too.

The best food and most interesting night was at Antoine’s (www.antoinerestaurant.com).
We were seated in the rear of the restaurant and it was hot. The waiter offered to turn the ceiling fan on for us and that made it very comfortable. Funny, the fans were running on one side of the restaurant not this one. As soon as it started a loud Italian woman seated at the table in front of us shouted to the waiter in Italian and ran her hand across her neck (cut throat) indicating that she preferred the fans off and NOW! She was not concerned about all the other tables that were sweltering. Our waiter apologized saying she spends $20,000 a month gaming there and the owner does whatever she demands. It was clear by their loud and rude demeanor that this party of eight does what they want where they want. I guess money talks.

We moved to the cooler beach front table as soon as it cleared and our waiter told us how much he dislikes that woman, and the other waitress and the owner…

The first day I had met a man from Pa who was at staying the Belair with his children and apparently they found Antoine’s just before us. They were seated at a table of maybe 20 including 3 or 4 very well behaved children. The two ladies next to us were not too sure however. They complained it was like McDonalds.

They informed us that our waiter had apparently had a knock down drag out fight with the waitress before we arrived over their table. They had been waiting for the water they ordered and could not get his attention. I got him and the water and they were our friends for the night! She owns eight weeks at the Royal Islander and renting out four weeks gives her the cash to vacation the second four…good deal. It was better when her husband was able to join her he died 16 months earlier.


Our waiter confided in us that he was very upset and had been there eight years and taken advantage of by the owner. He said not only do they work him too hard they keep the 15% gratuity as well! (Now I am wondering if we should just get up and leave). Co-owner Jean Pierre was acting as Maitre‘d, waiter and bartender however so there was apparently a labor shortage.

We ordered and hoped for the best. All was going well and I was looking forward to my crisp duck with brandy cherry sauce when our waiter brought the béarnaise sauce for my steak…I told you he was having a tough night! It was the next tables order.
COMMOTION The food finally arrived and was excellent! We only enjoyed that for a moment when we noticed the large table and children get up to leave. The ladies next to us were now happy…but minutes later the little girl came back in crying and came to the ladies next to us. She cried her Uncle was attacked outside and they are calling the Police.

While watching this we heard a commotion on the beach and a local was out there jumping up and down and screaming the he likes Americans and would not hurt them. This continued until the chef came from the kitchen and slipped him $2 and told him to go away quickly.

Apparently this man is not right and had just been chased by someone accusing him of being a crack head. He sought refuge on the valet seat outside the restaurant. He is a daily visitor there and the usually give him a dollar. Somehow he ended up with one of the restaurants knives and was startled when the man approached to get his car. He jumped up screaming about a white boy sneaking up on him and began swinging the knife saying he was going to cut him!

Now everyone in the restaurant was offering those without rides a ride home. When we left we saw that same guy walking down the streets of Philipsburg scraping a Chinese butcher knife on the brick walk as if to sharpen it. I don’t think we will spend any time walking this town at night anymore.

The waiter told us not to say anything it was not good for tourism. It never made the paper. I spoke with the victim the next day and he said the Police refused to come out and they had to go make a report at the station. He signed what they wrote up (in Dutch!) though he could not read it. He wasn’t hurt and told me in 30 years nothing that exciting ever happened to him before so he did not care.

We saved Chesterfields for the last night since we had heard so much about it recently. It was okay but not even close to the two other alternatives we were thinking of that is La Gondola or Le Escargot. The food was so slow they suggested appetizers while we wait. This just made us wait all the more the next table sat ordered and left while we were still waiting. TIP…if they say order appetizers while you wait it are just to raise the price of the bill. The food was merely okay.
BEST DEAL! Both our bags were overweight on the way down costing me $80! We stopped by 123 and got some great Nike and other designer knock off duffle bags. I would have paid $25 to $40 but they sold for $8 and $10 respectively! They worked great!

OVERALL A TEN! another great vacation and I think that the Belair is an outstanding location (right next to Divi) and as others have said it is a less expensive Divi with better service. The Beach was great here so we only spent one day visiting Dany at Cupecoy. Always the gentleman it is nice to see him each time we return. He had been in Europe on vacation and told us of his trip to Italy.

Thanks again Jack (and Linda) (Of Peg Leg) for the drink offer at the Red Piano but the smoke there is so thick you choke within minutes. Jack we will keep coming back to the Peg Leg we hope to see you both there!

We have been coming to St Martin since 1989 and still love it! Can’t help wishing it was ’89 on the island again though…especially looking at Dawn Beach and Cupecoy. Will be posting the 1989 pictures of Cupecoy soon.

Pet Peeve: Americans who should know better that light up cigars in fine restaurants without any concern about what effect that has on the other diners in the vicinity.

No matter what… these vacations always total rate a “10”. I can’t say that of any other place including our visits to Jamaica, Aruba, or Cancun.

SORRY the Slide show and music works for windows xp users only:


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