First time travel report:

This was my fourth time staying on the Island and the eight time visiting St. Martin.

My wife Eliana and I flew out of Washington Dulles <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />connecting in San Juan. The flight was uneventful. Weather was perfect for the whole trip.

We landed in St. Martin around 2PM no problem with the luggage. (Notice I said luggage, more on that latter). We were picked up by Unity Car Rental and drove to Sharon Harris and got a cell phone.

We stayed at the Dove’s Nest a beautiful apartment house turn into vacation apartments. We had a single apartment with a balcony that over looked Grand Case. You could not ask for a better view. The owners had beer and wine <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />in the refrigerator on our arrival. They were always asking how we were and if we needed anything. The rooms were very clean and well kept. I would recommend the Dove’s Nest to anyone. It is up the hill from the Grand Case Beach Club.

On Sunday we went to Friar’s Bay for the day. We had lunch at the Friar’s Bay Café. The food was very good but on the expensive side.

The main reason going to St. Martin this time was to view some Villas that we are renting next year. (I just retired and we are planning a family and friends reunion) On Monday Marilyn from Villas in Paradise met us on St. Martin. The first two villas we saw were La Provencale a 5 bedroom villa and La Croisette a 4 bedroom villa, both are in Terres Basses with magnificent views. The photos in the brochures do not do the villas justice. La Croisette has a better deck area for outdoor entertainment. La Provencale has a better layout and appears to be a little more updated.

On Tuesday we saw two villas in Orient Beach area Casa Azul a 3 bedroom villa that is being updated with paint and decorations and Filao a 4 bedroom villa on top of the hill. These villas were not as nice as the ones in Terres Basses. You are definitely paying for location here.

We tried to make the TTOL Party at BBB <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/pirate.gif" alt="" /> on October 7, but did not make it in time.

We only tried one new restaurant this time. It was La Main a la Pate, in the Marina at Marigot. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> The calamari was one of the best that I have had. But the Mahi-Mahi was just average, the house wine was okay. Eliana thought the wine was watered down. I am not sure if I would go back to this restaurant.

Now for the fun part. On Wednesday, we packed our rental car in the morning. We had an afternoon flight. We left the Dove’s Nest about 9:45AM and drove to Phillipsburg, to have a late breakfast and get some liquor to take home. We parked on the main road near the Salt Pond about two blocks from the Police Station. The doors were locked and only two beach towels in the backseat. At breakfast Eliana was reading how crime had increased in Phillipsburg and the business community wanted something done. We came back to the car around Noon. The car was locked and appeared to be in the same condition as we had left it. We drove to Sharon Harris’ condo in Simpson Bay. I pulled into the parking spot and was going to have Eliana place the liquor in the suitcases. I open the truck and to my surprise all three suitcases were missing. In the carryon were our Passports and medicine. The truck lock had been punched. The only good thing is that we did not take any jewelry or expensive clothes. The most expensive item was Eliana’s mouth guard which cost about $1,000.00.

We had to drive back to Phillipsburg to make a police report. They would not take it in Simpson Bay. We were not the only ones that day at the police station reporting stuff taken from there car. As a fool I thought that since we had parked on a busy street in the middle of the day we would be okay.

We made it to the airport and had to buy a beach bag and a box to put the liquor in. Our only check baggage was the liquor.

When we got to San Juan, I thought for sure we would have got held up at Immigration. But we had a copy of the police report and our driver’s licenses. We made it to the plane okay. At customs the agent looked at us and asked if the only luggage we had was the liquor and the beach bag. Eliana asked what else do you need for a long weekend. He looked at her and we told him the luggage was stolen he waived us through.

Lessons, learn never leave anything in the trunk that you are not willing to lose. Also get trip insurance, if you are leaving United States, even if you are using FF miles.

We still love the Island and most of the people. I hope they enjoy our dirty underwear. We are looking forward to our next trip, as we are notifying the credit bureaus, the passport office and the pharmacist.