TravelTalkOnline Forums Trip Reports (Read Only) SXM Trip Reports and Photos SXM-Trip Report 4/17-4/26

Tuesday April 17th. Out of the house at 6AM for the drive to Boston's Logan Airport (45min). When we got there the lines for check in at USAIR were almost out the door. The week after Easter is a popular week and was for us because I had been able to take advantage of USAIR's $247 round trip fair to SXM. We had a good flight to Philly and on to St Martin landing at about 2:30PM. I could finally breath a sigh of relief when they opened the door and I could smell the warm air blowing in. We had made it we were back for our sixth visit.<br>Having made reservations for the airline at the last minute when it had come time to book our hotel I found that Club Orient was almost sold out and had to settle for only the last four nights of our vacation there. With the help of Jim Ruos, Caribbean Island Travel Service , my wife Joanne and I were able to secure a room at hotel L'Hoste where we had stayed three time before. Jim is a specialist in the Orient Bay area and bailed me out when I thought I could do it all myself. See his add on this board, he or his wife Mary can be your best friend when you need bookings or information.<br>We were met at the airport by a girl from AAA rentals Alain Arnel who took our bags out to a waiting car and drove us to Alain's new rental spot just behind the Pizza Hut outside the airport. In five minutes we were on our way with a late model car in good shape with a great AC and radio. We have used Alain for our rentals for the last four trips and have been very pleased. <br>We made a quick stop at Match for a few staples such as Carib, Dewars and Jim Beam some cheese and crackers and a few bottles of wine. Then it was on to Orient Bay. We both felt that the island looked much cleaner than it has since hurricane Louis back years ago. The roads showed a big improvement also which for some people will be hard to believe.<br>Hotel L'Hoste had not changed except for the addition of a sink, stove and microwave in the room but the surrounding area had certainly been built up in the last 11 months since we were there last. They must have imported labor because I have never seen the locals build that much in that little time. They are to smart for that. You really get the feeling that in time Orient Bay is going to be to crowded for its own good. I was glad that we were going to be moving to the peaceful end of the beach before our stay was up.<br>On the whole we do not go to St Martin for the restaurant scene. By evening we are usually worn out from the day and just want a simple meal and bed. We ate at Papagayo's quite a few nights during our stay because it was where we were and we didn't have to dress up or drive to get there. On Saturday night we had prime rib that fed us for two more meals back at the room. What a hunk of meat! The karoki and dancing on Saturday is a blast also. One place that I have never seen mentioned is the Pasanggrahan Inn on Front street. If you go in from Front street and walk through the lobby they have a nice restaurant on the beach with a $8.95 lunch special that we had for the second year. Very good and an oasis from the hustle of Front street. Our other favorite spot to go is to see Ryan at the Dingy Dock Bar at Captain Olivers. This is the bar where you have to make your own drink. Ryan just puts the bottle and mixer in front of you. At $3.00 a drink ($2.00 happy hour 5-7) I don't know how he stays in business. Along with this they have a Pub type menu that includes BBQ ribs (about a foot long) that I think are the BEST and I think only cost $6.95 with French fries and salad. Joanne's favorite is his cheeseburger. If you should make it down there tell Ryan "Joanne and Pierre" says Hi!<br>The days go fast and on Saturday it was moving day down to Club O. I had gone earlier in the week and checked and was able to move a day sooner than I had booked. This year we had a garden chalet #128 and it was all you could ask for. From our front deck you could look out at the beach and Green Key. As far as Joanne was concerned this was as far as she was going to walk. Why go down the beach with the crowd when you had your own lounge chair, shade, toilet and fridge right there. My only problem with this is I love the water and can't stay dry for long whereas she didn't even get her feet wet this trip. We solved this with her keeping the deck occupied and me spending quality time with her and also the TTOL gang down on the beach. Contessa and crew were always set up down by the Perch along with Steve the painter and his wife Cathy doing body painting. Now here is a racket... where else could you get naked ladies to lay themselves in front of you to become a human canvas. Steve is it true what that one young lady told me that sometimes you do finger painting? <br>The first Wednesday night down at the wine and cheese party at Papagayos I had the pleasure of meeting Bob! one of the fine administrators of this BB, Mr. Brink owner of Club O, and Mr. St Martin (Jack) along with Jim and his wife and may others whose names were lost in the wine. Next time I need to bring a notebook to write down names before I can forget them. How about all the people I met drop me a line saying hi so I can put my list together now that I'm home?<br>Along the way we visited the Ma Dou Dou factory in Cul De Sac and the ZOO which was a lot of fun and I hope the fundraising efforts of TTOL and others help them restore themselves. The place has a lot of potential and when I get my films developed I will post some pictures I took of the animals. We also went to "The Old House" which is on the left just past the entrance to the dirt road down to Club O. Pierre Beauprthuy one of the owners is a descendent of early settlers on the island and gives a tour of this the perfectly preserved main house of the Spring Plantation with its many articles preserved over the years and a collection of rum bottles and labels. A great place to visit when you have had all the beach you can take for the day. The cost is $5.00 a person and they are open every day 9 to 4.<br>All to soon it was Thursday and time to head back to the airport after making reservations at Club O for 2002 (I'm not getting caught next year). I wont go into the miserable trip home with delays arriving in Philly.. running through customs only to sit on the plane on the runway waiting for what seemed an hour to take off for Boston. <br>The countdown begins again......<br> Pierre <br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 4/30/01 03:52 PM.</EM></FONT></P>