SXM Trip Report

Friday, June 1, 2007 – NJ to PHL – Day Before SXM

And we’re off – to the Microtel Inn & Suites in Philadelphia that is. We’re spending the night before our flight from Philly to SXM to avoid the morning traffic.

What a deal - $109 for one night’s accommodation, continental breakfast, 8 nights of parking and shuttle to the airport.

OK, so our room looks more like a cabin on a cruise ship – small, but clean, a comfy bed and the bathroom was basic, but served it’s purpose.

Day One – Saturday, June 2, 2007 – PHL to SXM

Only 7 minutes on the shuttle to the airport – done checking in for flight 15 minutes later – nice and quick. Seasoned travelers that we are, who would have thought that we BOTH forgot we had water bottles in our carry-ons!

Thanks to complimentary passes from USAirways, we found ourselves in the their club lounge at 7:30, having coffee, sitting on comfortable upholstered chairs, looking out of the floor to ceiling windows on this sunny morning – BUT WAIT! So that’s how they lose luggage – a lone suitcase out there on the cement – someone’s going to be unhappy at baggage claim!

The Flight – Our flight left an hour late – no big deal – we decided that we’d be on “island time” – no worries. No meals included on this flight, but you could buy a sandwich, snack box or fruit assortment for $5 each. The flight was comfortable – no loud talkers or seat back kickers.

Immigration, Baggage Claim, Car Rental and Cell Phone Rental – We breezed through immigration and baggage claim, took the shuttle to Thrifty to get our rental car ($137 for the week). No problem with Thrifty, by the way, and off to Sharon’s to pick up our cell phone – our phone was ready and waiting – $30 for the week which included $15 worth of calling time. $.32 per minute to USA, $.48 per minute to Canada. All incoming calls are free. Incoming and outgoing text messages are free.

The Drive to OBBR – LOTS of traffic on Pondfill Road – better to make a left at the light just before the Salt Pond and go around the back of the pond until that road ends – then make a left and you’re back on track on the way to OBBR – headed towards Oyster Bay/Middle Region.

OBBR Check-In – Went fast – OK, so we decided on a room overlooking Dawn Beach, understanding we’d hear the music from Beau Beau’s. Sort of unpacked. Happy hour and apps at Beau Beau’s and a short walk to Mom & Pops for some needed supplies – Beer, milk and coffee (notice beer is first)!

We’re really tired – drinks on the balcony listening to steel drum music from Beau Beau’s.

FIRST DAY ON SXM = WELCOME TO PARADISE!

Day Two – Sunday, June 3, 2007 –

We wake up to the Caribbean turquoise waters just outside of our bedroom window. A lone worker is raking up the seaweed at the water’s edge on a quiet beach ready to receive her visitors.

After coffee and breakfast on our balcony, we head over to the Westin to see what all the fuss is about. It’s absolutely beautiful. The pool is amazingly uncrowded, and the attendants are putting up the blue cabanas on the beach. Everything is brand new. The lobby has some nice shops and artwork. The casino sparkles and invites us to come back later (it opens at 2:00pm), the OPAL lounge looks sophisticated – at least from what we can see through the smoked glass door.

On our way back to OBBR we explore our neighborhood and discover Captain Oliver’s and Dinghy Dock – we’ll be back. Made it to OBBR just in time for 10:00am Mimosas and Island Orientation at Beau Beau’s. We learn about resort activities and several vendors explain their excursions – we definitely need more than one week!

And now – the reason we’re here – spend the day on the beach. A sunny day contradicts the internet forecast of “cloudy”. We enjoy the gentle swelling of the clear turquoise Dawn beach water. A very short walk to Ms. B’s tent for a guavacolada (my new favorite drink). It’s water, sand, lounge chairs and meeting new friends until lunch at Busby’s. Lunch for 2 = $33 for drinks, BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs – comes with potato salad, French fries rice, lettuce and seasoned tomatoes. Caribs were $.75 from 11:00am – 4:00pm and another guavacolada.

The free guavaberry drink tasting lures us to the pool deck. Vince makes 6 kinds of drinks with different flavored liquors and we taste them all. He also gives us the recipes. The string band “Rhythm Boys” is playing. We’re feelin’ good,

At 5:30 we’re treated to a performance by the extremely talented dance group, The Motion Dance Co.”. My husband watches while in the beautiful “Infinity” pool and I from a pool lounge chair. OMG – these kids (teenagers) are just so unbelievably talented – AND THEY CAN MOVE and change costumes in the blink of an eye. Everyone is cheering and moving!

It’s seafood night at Beau Beau’s – Salmon with white wine sauce, a bottle of wine, and a seat on the deck, and smooth Baby Boomer music by Bob Stone. Our beach friends find us and come bearing gifts. They share their just opened bottle of Merlot and we talk and dance until they shut down Beau Beau’s.

Our first full day spent at OBBR gave fun in the sun new meaning. Time to rest so we’ll be ready for what tomorrow brings.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Day Three – Monday, June 4, 2007 – Orient Beach and Casino Trip

6:30 am – coffee on the balcony – watching the attendant slowly raking the beach again – he knows how to pace himself and does a great job.

The white condos between OBBR and the Westin behind Ms. B’s look close to done. Looks like each unit has it’s own pool. Beyond that are the rocks you have to cross to get to the Westin Beach – no seaweed there.

Wonder if I can get my hubby to wake up early. The plan – Orient Beach and check out Baywatch.

Wish I could take this view home. Oh, I just had a thought – film the view from my balcony and play it at home when I’m having my morning coffee. I knew I should have brought the video camera!

Orient Beach – Only a 15 minute ride. Now here’s the dilemma – the water and the sand are incredible - do we come back here every day?

What a day – we found all those little restaurants on the beach that we missed last time (thanks TTOLers). Baywatch was closed, so we settled in at Mexicano’s. Two lounge chairs, an umbrella, and 2 Margaritas for $10; and if you’re buying lunch there, the $10 is taken off your bill.

Lunch at Mexicano’s was great. Chicken quesadillas for me and fajitas for my husband – with sides of rice or potatos – the portions were generous and we had leftovers to bring back to the resort (they held the leftovers for us until we were ready to leave). Shots of tequila and nachos were included with lunch. We had 2 beers and bottled water and the day cost $40 for everything. Good music was playing too.

The leftovers were our dinner on the balcony with a bottle of wine from Pang’s. I highly recommend Mexicanos for the beach, the food, the service, and the tequila!

Timeshare Presentation – I know, I know – but if we go to a timeshare presentation we get something for free – a day trip, a dinner – you know the score. We meet with two sales reps – one for general info and “the closer”. We stood in solidarity and did not purchase, but learned a few new things about the resort and left with coupons for a free dinner and 10 raffle tickets.

The Welcome Party at OBBR – Good music – dancing, free drinks, free appetizers = FUN!

Between our leftovers from Mexicano’s and the free apps at OBBR, we didn’t have to pay for dinner tonight. That’s good because that’s how we’re rationalizing that it’s no so bad we lost at the casino tonight.

Casino – Oh yeah, we took the “free” bus ride from the resort with our fellow OBBRers – a fun group. More free drinks, free pizza and memory loss as to how many free drinks we actually had today..

THIRD DAY ON SXM = IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS!