Just back so I want to do this while everything is fresh in my mind. At my age in a week I may even forget I went on vacation…LOL.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

FLIGHTS……US Airways (no better no worse than the others). Delayed 2 hours to replace a unit in the cockpit. They had to replace it 3 times before they got it to work. Luckily we had a direct flight out of Boston that only stopped in Charlotte. Anyone using that flight as a connection to somewhere, missed their connection.

CAR…….Kenny’s (who else) Lesley Bruce was there waiting for us even though we were an hour & a half late. He even had our cell phone from Sharon Harris & off we went. Great service as usual. I wouldn’t use anyone else

CELL PHONE…….Sharon Harris. I really love being able to keep in touch. We used to do email but this is soooooo much better. For under $50 for 9 days we had more minutes than we could use.

If we ever stop going to SXM it will be because of the traffic. One and a half hours to go from the airport to the Esmeralda. It has gotten UNBELIEVEABLE !!!

HOTEL……Eighth time at the Esmeralda. I don’t know if it was my imagination or not but the people were even nicer than the other times and the other times they were super nice. Every employee we came in contact with was a walking billboard for “The Friendly Island” I did notice that security is tighter. Two security guards walking the grounds all night. For the first time ever, all 4 couples in our villa used the pool C/O. It used to be rare that anyone used the pools at all never mind C/O but this time the pools were used quite a bit. I figure it was a combination of Coco Beach not having a C/O section anymore & the glass enclosures around to pool cut down on the wind. As usual the grounds were immaculate & the rooms large & spotless.

BEACH…….In MY opinion, Coco Beach will never have a C/O section again so if this is important to you, book some where else. Most of the local people I talked to (and who should know) say it’s Sophie who does not want that section. OK it’s her beach but she should stop saying she is working on a permit. (No such thing according to some people I talked to.) The former C/O section is now a big whole in the ground. Totally washed away by the waves. Coco looked like the Disney boat just landed there. Most kids of any section of the beach & it wasn’t school vacation. They rent those boogie boards & other stuff for kids. That must be the clientle they are going after?
Even BooBoo Jams had nude sunbathers everyday we walked by (average 6 or 7 a day). Never saw that before.
We went to Pedro’s everyday and paid for chairs. (If Sophie doesn’t want us we will go somewhere else). Pedro’s was GREAT. $15 a day got you 2 chairs, and umbrella & two rum punches as well as a free pass to their restrooms. AND they truly welcomed C/O folks even in the restaurant. Please if you care about C/O on Orient Beach, patronize Pedro’s. Support those who support us.
Walking the beach before 9 am is absolutely no problem. Many many people do it.
After 9 and middle of the day people seemed to do it with no problems. I walked a couple of days around 1 or 2 pm and there were a few other people also but you will be in the minority. But the good news is the beach seems to be coming back to "normal" C/O use. Keep close to the waters edge, don't go into the Village & don't be in peoples' faces & things should stay that way.