2016 St. Martin April 2-16

April 2 we got up at 4:00 am to begin our journey. Our flight to Charlotte left at 7:30 am and went without a hitch.
We arrived in Charlotte and walked straightway to the flight to St. Martin. ...boarded the plane and arrived in beautiful sxm at 3:10 pm. We sat on the tarmac waiting for a gate for about 30 minutes. Sxm has installed automated immigration machines but were not using them.

We got our luggage and found triple AAA car rental. We picked up the car and drove to club orient. We had pre ordered groceries from the boutique so upon arrival to our room 165... The groceries were in place. What a lovely feature! Next year I will order even more groceries. Our favorite cat grey greeted us. I brought some cat food from home to feed him until I could go to the grocery store. It was a pleasant surprise to find we now have a television in the room!!!

We unpacked then had dinner with friends at papagayo. We shared the mussels and the steak Oscar.

April 3 Sunday we had breakfast and lunch on the patio. We went to simply grocery store where they were taking $1 for 1 euro....but the shelves were sparkly stocked. We went to the beach...which is the smallest I have ever seen it. There is only one row of chairs which normally has four rows. We went to papagayo for dinner with friends. We both had a salad and French onion soup. There was no entertainment.

April 4 Monday we had breakfast and lunch on the patio. We went to the beach and walked down a good way to see all of the changes that have transpired. There were 8 new building...5 are occupied...but many of the smaller kiosks were still vacant. We had dinner at papagayo. We shared a crab guacamole appetizer that was to die for....and a salad wedge and shrimp creole. All was very good. The entertainment was shine. We came back to the room and watched dancing with the stars.

April 5 Tuesday we had breakfast on the patio and a cheeseburger at papagayo. We attended the managers wine and cheese party. We had spaghetti dinner at a friend’s.

April 6 Wednesday we had breakfast and lunch on the patio. We walked down the beach to buy a couple of pareos at sexy fruit….2 for $25. We had dinner at papagayo. We shared the crab guacamole martini and the filet of sole.

April 7 Thursday we had breakfast on the patio. We shared a club sandwich at papaguyo for lunch. We went to Ti buchon for dinner. I had foie gras and duck…Steve had cod fritters and beef burgundy.

April 8 Friday our 44th anniversary. We had breakfast and lunch on the patio and we went to Sunset café in Grand case beach club for dinner. We had a beautiful sunset. We had a bottle of wine. WE shared escargot…then Steve had sea scallops risotto with arugulas…and I had mussels. We shared crème Brule and coffee with baileys. It was an amazing evening.

April 9 Saturday we had breakfast and lunch on the patio. We ate at papagayo. I had the crab and guacamole appetizer….Steve had the mussels. We shared the salad wedge.

April 10 Sunday we had breakfast on the patio and shared a cheeseburger at papgayo. We went to Sunset Café for dinner. We shared sea scallop gratin….Steve had red snapper and I had foie gras. We shared crème Brule.

April 11 Monday We had breakfast and lunch on the patio and had dinner at papagayo. We shared the crab and guacamole, the lettuce wedge and had French onion soup.

April 12 Tuesday We had breakfast and lunch on the patio. We attended the managers wine and cheese party. We had dinner at a friend’s.

April 13 Wednesday we had breakfast and lunch on the patio and dinner at papagayo. We shared a Caesar salad and fettuccini bolognaise.

April 14 Thursday We had a croissant on the patio and a sandwich for lunch on the patio. We went to Oceans 82 for dinner. Steve has lobster bisque and lobster risotto. I had foie gras and sea scallops with duck carpaccio with foie gras sauce. We shared grand Marnier crème Brule.

April 15 Friday…our last day. We had croissants for breakfast. We had our last cheeseburger in paradise for lunch. We had crab guacamole and a lettuce wedge for dinner.

April 16 …Saturday…we had an almond croissant on the beach. We checked out at 10:30 and headed to the airport. The car return to AAA was flawless. Check in at American was flawless. We had a domino’s pizza and a glass of wine. We have never seen the airport so crowded. Our flight left 90 minutes late. We barely made out connecting flight in Charlotte. We got home about 11:00 pm.

This was a lovely relaxing trip. We made many good memories with friends. Our best meal of the week was at Sunset café…by far. We will return next year.

Thanks for your report.

Very nice and since our days over-lapped I'm glad you experienced the beautiful weather we've enjoyed so far. Belatedly, happy anniversary..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the report! I know that you guys enjoy really good food and I noted that you ate most of the time at Papagayo. How was the food overall?

Simply has not been very well stocked for it seems a couple of months now. Super U in Marigot or Petit Casino in Orient Village are both better choices these days. And Petit Casino does deliver groceries to the Orient Village area also.

I thought the food and the service at papagayo was the best ever.

Ti buchon and oceans 82 were not quite up to par...but still very good.

Sunset cafe was simply the best this trip.

When we were there last June, the service and food at Papagayo were both excellent. Looking forward to being there again in about 6 weeks!

It seems that Papagayo has upped their game in recent years. Good to hear it.

Sounds like a perfectly relaxing trip to Club Orient. Happy 44th anniversary & thanks for sharing.

Hi Cathy and Steve ... nice to see you after almost 10 years. Missed your birthday, but glad we were there for your anniversary. Let's not wait for another 10 years before we see each other again.
Kevin and Jeannette

Thanks for the report. Glad you had a great time and got to enjoy good friends company.

Sounds like a great time to me, especially the crab guacamole appetizer. We'll have to try it next visit

Nice report.....2 weeks sounds nice.

We thought Papagayo was the best ever as well over New Years both in food quality and delivery. We spent 6/10 dinners there and most lunches. We had come to expect a slow dinner, but we think the new wait staff sped it up a bit over the recent retirees. Not too fast ..just no prolonged waits/pauses.

As for off property, we liked Bistrot Caraibes and probably was our best meal on SXM ever. The brothers are great. Ocean 82 was a let down food/service wise after Bistrots.

Kevin...It was great to see you again....I believe the last time we saw you was in 2001....Hope to share lunch with you again!

We have eaten at Bistro Caribes several times over the years. It remains a favorite for many of our friends. When we go to grand case....we prefer to eat on the water side....

We have eaten at many of the restaurants on
Grand Case....we have found that consistency seems to vary year to year.

Our favorite changes every year.

Papagayo has indeed stepped things up. We missed Nancy tremendously....but the new wait staff seems to be filling her shoes quite well.

We have gone 7 nights to 18 nights...and we find that 2 weeks is perfect.

The crab guacamole martini....is excellent!!!! at papagayo!!!!

Thanks for the trip report Cathy! Sounds like you had a wonderful two weeks. We'll be there in 9 wks <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> and also staying at Club O (first time in a mini-suite). You mentioned dining at the Sunset Cafe. Drove by GCBC Resort last summer but couldn't determine where to access and park for the Sunset Cafe...any advice? And lastly, any problems finding a spot under the yellow umbrellas since the beach has narrowed?

When going into Grand case turn to the right and drive down the road until you come to the big white gate across GCBC....pull in and press the button....tell the intercom you have reservations for dinner...the gate will open.



no problems finding chairs on Orient beach.....the beach is narrow by the perch...but opens up closer to papagayo.

New Orient Beach Building's









[image]http://www.pbase.com/cands_vacations/image/163029

Pedro's

Hey Cathy G.
Always love your trip reports. Read all your SXM ones(miss the attire report) what would do if the choice was Club O or San Soucie

I would choose Club o

I have only been to san soucie one time...though we are booked for this November.

Club O speaks to us. We immediately feel at home when we arrive...we immediately begin to relax.

The mini suite feels like a house....we make our own breakfast...and lunch most of the time.
We love our patio.

Sounds like you had a great time. We arrive in a few days and will also enjoy much the same schedule as you did. We too love the meals at Papagayo. I assume they still have the book exchange area. Too bad the beach is so small. Did it seem over crowded most days? Still one of the best beaches in SXM.

The beach was crowded...yes....but then it is always crowded. But I would not say it was OVER crowded.

There were books in our room to use and I assume the book exchange area was still there.

We were very pleased to have a TV in our room.