Posted By: islandgem
Trip Report - 02/26/2019 03:47 AM
FUN IN THE SUN NOV/DEC 2018
This was my first trip back to St. Maarten since Hurricane Irma and also since the death of my husband so it was a very different trip for me. I knew it was something I really had to do and with the support of all my island friends, I booked my trip and began this unknown journey. Just preparing for the trip was not easy and I was very apprehensive of what this trip would actually be like.
My flight on Nov.15 was with WestJet from Ottawa to Toronto and onwards to St. Maarten. Vikki and Neil Whitley were on the same flight so it was nice to see them at the Toronto airport. Familiar faces are important when travelling alone. The flight was good and the arrival at the airport tents worked out fine. There was not a long wait for luggage and Jimmy from Leisure Car Rentals was there promptly to meet me. This was my first-time using Leisure and I am pleased to say the price and service was excellent!
I had chosen Beachside Villas for my 3-week accommodation because I wanted to be right on the water and always felt secure when staying there in the past. I knew this choice may also be difficult since it was a favorite place for my husband and I to stay together. Settling in at first was a little sad to be sure, but after a few days surrounded by friends who were also staying in the villas there, everything seemed more normal. The staff and the new manager there were all so friendly and really care for their guests. The beach was wide and beautiful and the new plane viewing deck was great. The rooms have all been nicely renovated since the hurricane and the A/C now in the main living area was a big asset! The gardens have returned to their beauty and as always everything is neat and tidy throughout the resort. Jeannie had stocked all the groceries which I had ordered from Shop N Drop and it was nice not to have to think about grocery shopping at least for a few days. I also enjoyed viewing amazing sunrises from the villa balcony each morning. This was very surprising since I am not usually an early riser!
I am thankful to my many friends who graciously invited me to several activities during my stay and offered rides on many occasions. It was so nice to not have to go out alone in the evenings. The list is too long to mention but be assured your kindness was very much appreciated.
I enjoyed some wonderful meals at several restaurants and all were good to excellent. Upon my arrival, Bill and Elaine picked me up for a lovely welcome dinner at Bar Code. The drinks and fish and chips were delicious. So great to see you both again! The next night I went to Le Cottage in Grand Case with Linda (jazzgal). We had a wonderful evening there and Cindy and Jeannie joined us. Le Cottage has always been one of my favorite island restaurants and they proved this to be true once again! I chose the meal called “lobster menu” and it was fabulous. The caramel soufflé was a perfect end to the meal!
The toy party at Snoopy’s was the following day, organized by Everything SXM and it was very successful. This was for all the children who had lost everything in the hurricane and all the donated toys helped to brighten their Christmas. I shopped for my toys at a great toy store called Intertoys in Cole Bay and it was a very pleasant experience. The price and selection were good and the staff very helpful. Each person attending brought a bag of toys and enjoyed the evening. Drinks were at a reduced price for a part of the evening and appetizers were supplied by the restaurant. A big thank you to Vikki Whitley and all her helpers for distributing the toys to the children on both sides of the island.
I enjoyed a lovely day on the Enigma C3 with Captain Neil at the helm. This was organized by Karen at Simply SXM and 22 members enjoyed the trip to Anguilla. Neil cooked a fabulous lunch and drinks flowed freely throughout the day. We arrived back at 5:00 PM feeling refreshed after a very nice day on the water. This trip, like all others enjoyed on Neil’s previous 2 boats, was certainly a day to remember!
Many lunches and dinners were enjoyed throughout the trip at the following restaurants, some more than once:
Bar Code, Le Cottage, Snoopy’s, Mark’s Place, The Palms, El Zafiro, Bikini Beach, The Greenhouse, Gutside, Sol e Luna, Abu Ghazi, Yellow Beach, Yvette's, Pineapple Pete’s, Buccaneer, Jules and Sale e Pepe. A lot of delicious meals with great friends and no complaints at all. Breakfast was mostly enjoyed on the balcony of the villa each day. I tried to keep the croissants at bay and cooked nutritious breakfasts several days. I did enjoy breakfast one morning at Jules Bakery, a nice new little find in Jordan Village. The pastries and sandwiches there were very good!
Since I was right on Simpson Bay Beach, some days it was difficult to leave to go to other beaches. I did spend some time at the beach at Mary’s Boon, Kim Sha Beach, Pinel, and of course one of my favorites, Orient Beach. My husband and I spent most of our vacation days on Orient Beach in the past, so it was fitting that I return some of his ashes to this peaceful and beautiful spot. On Sunday Nov.26 a group of our closest friends gathered with me for a celebration of David’s life on Orient and amid rose petals he was returned to the ocean he so loved. He also grew up on the ocean in Canada so this made it even more fitting. Following our little ceremony, we all enjoyed lunch together at Bikini Beach and spent the remainder of the day enjoying the sunshine and sharing many fond memories.
The pool at BSV is very nice and it was fun to spend some time there with other friends who were also staying there. We even managed to have a wine and cheese party one day when Jeannie showed up with delicious bread and cheese and Pat and John supplied the wine. Good fun with good friends!
I attended a lovely roof top terrace party at Brad and Lora’s apartment which was a great evening with several in attendance. They host this party every year wherever they are staying and it is always a special night. Fabulous Feasts did the catering and everything was delicious!
One day I had the privilege of visiting the gallery of the famous island artist, Ruby Bute in Friar’s Bay. I purchased some interesting items for Christmas gifts for family and of course some for myself. Ruby has always been one of my favorite island artists and it was so nice spending time with her at her home. Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Gutside owned by Ruby’s cousin, Richard, and right in the area. Another morning was spent visiting Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary in Belvedere. This is a very interesting spot with over 170 different birds that you can enjoy for as long as you want. The cost is only $10 and that includes birdseed to feed the birds. I miss the butterfly farm which has not returned after the hurricane so this is a nice little replacement.
Two new bars for me this trip was The Hole in the Wall in Maho and Rembrandt Café in Madame Estate. Good music in both and the times I was there the music was supplied by Bobby Baron and Ronnie Santana. Tanja was celebrating her birthday there and it was nice to be invited to join in the celebrations. She and Michael had also just got engaged so that made the Rambrandt Cafe a double celebration! Congratulations to Tanja and Michael! I did not eat at either place, but both do have a food menu.
Most here who have read my trip reports in the past, will remember than we always enjoyed the night life on the Dutch side after the evening activities and dinner. This time, being alone, I was very reluctant to stay out as late as usual. I was a bit apprehensive of driving home alone late at night, so for a few nights I just came back to the villa and spent the rest of the evening there. Then I had a brilliant idea! Since the Dunes Casino was just down the road from the villa, I decided to stop in there on my way home most evenings and that worked out fine since it was less than a 5-minute drive from door to door. I won enough money to purchase a new unlocked phone to use on the island and contribute in other ways to the island economy with the rest. Unfortunately, none of my friends are night hawks like me so this was my only solution. I always tried to be home by midnight instead of my usual 2:00 AM!
Toward the end of my trip there was a TTOL party at Bar Code hosted by Jazzgal. It was very well attended and I met a few new members which was nice. It is a lovely spot for a social of this nature. There is lots of parking and no loud music either so it is easy to have a nice conversation with others. Afterwards, many stayed to enjoy dinner there and to continue socializing. Thanks, Linda, for a very enjoyable evening!
In conclusion, I just want to share a few observations:
The island rebuilding is a work in progress and things are going well on the Dutch side, but the French side is still struggling to make a comeback. It seems the French government and insurance problems are contributing to this. The traffic during the late afternoon and early evening is bad along Airport Road most days. Nobody really knows the reason for this, but it continues and is very frustrating if you are trying to make appointments during that time. Many residents still are living in inadequate conditions with tarps still on their roofs and living without the essentials of life. Hopefully this will not be the case on my next visit. Many new businesses have sprung up since the hurricane and other old favorites have not returned. I really missed DREAMS this time! The roads are full of potholes and you really have to be careful when driving everywhere on the island. I always thought the roads on the French side were better than the Dutch side but that is not the case anymore. The beaches are still beautiful, the people friendly and resilient and the weather is beautiful!
I left the island on a WestJet flight again back to Canada just in time to get ready for Christmas with the family. The check- in went smoothly in the tents even though there were several other flights leaving that day. Just a few days after I left, the airport was opened on a restricted basis, and the tents are no longer required. It was definitely a different vacation for me but with the support and kindness of good friends there, it proved to be a very good trip. I am so glad I made the effort to return to my island paradise and I am already planning a return visit in November 2019!
PS I will try to share some pictures later but since this report was rather late, I wanted to get it posted first.
This was my first trip back to St. Maarten since Hurricane Irma and also since the death of my husband so it was a very different trip for me. I knew it was something I really had to do and with the support of all my island friends, I booked my trip and began this unknown journey. Just preparing for the trip was not easy and I was very apprehensive of what this trip would actually be like.
My flight on Nov.15 was with WestJet from Ottawa to Toronto and onwards to St. Maarten. Vikki and Neil Whitley were on the same flight so it was nice to see them at the Toronto airport. Familiar faces are important when travelling alone. The flight was good and the arrival at the airport tents worked out fine. There was not a long wait for luggage and Jimmy from Leisure Car Rentals was there promptly to meet me. This was my first-time using Leisure and I am pleased to say the price and service was excellent!
I had chosen Beachside Villas for my 3-week accommodation because I wanted to be right on the water and always felt secure when staying there in the past. I knew this choice may also be difficult since it was a favorite place for my husband and I to stay together. Settling in at first was a little sad to be sure, but after a few days surrounded by friends who were also staying in the villas there, everything seemed more normal. The staff and the new manager there were all so friendly and really care for their guests. The beach was wide and beautiful and the new plane viewing deck was great. The rooms have all been nicely renovated since the hurricane and the A/C now in the main living area was a big asset! The gardens have returned to their beauty and as always everything is neat and tidy throughout the resort. Jeannie had stocked all the groceries which I had ordered from Shop N Drop and it was nice not to have to think about grocery shopping at least for a few days. I also enjoyed viewing amazing sunrises from the villa balcony each morning. This was very surprising since I am not usually an early riser!
I am thankful to my many friends who graciously invited me to several activities during my stay and offered rides on many occasions. It was so nice to not have to go out alone in the evenings. The list is too long to mention but be assured your kindness was very much appreciated.
I enjoyed some wonderful meals at several restaurants and all were good to excellent. Upon my arrival, Bill and Elaine picked me up for a lovely welcome dinner at Bar Code. The drinks and fish and chips were delicious. So great to see you both again! The next night I went to Le Cottage in Grand Case with Linda (jazzgal). We had a wonderful evening there and Cindy and Jeannie joined us. Le Cottage has always been one of my favorite island restaurants and they proved this to be true once again! I chose the meal called “lobster menu” and it was fabulous. The caramel soufflé was a perfect end to the meal!
The toy party at Snoopy’s was the following day, organized by Everything SXM and it was very successful. This was for all the children who had lost everything in the hurricane and all the donated toys helped to brighten their Christmas. I shopped for my toys at a great toy store called Intertoys in Cole Bay and it was a very pleasant experience. The price and selection were good and the staff very helpful. Each person attending brought a bag of toys and enjoyed the evening. Drinks were at a reduced price for a part of the evening and appetizers were supplied by the restaurant. A big thank you to Vikki Whitley and all her helpers for distributing the toys to the children on both sides of the island.
I enjoyed a lovely day on the Enigma C3 with Captain Neil at the helm. This was organized by Karen at Simply SXM and 22 members enjoyed the trip to Anguilla. Neil cooked a fabulous lunch and drinks flowed freely throughout the day. We arrived back at 5:00 PM feeling refreshed after a very nice day on the water. This trip, like all others enjoyed on Neil’s previous 2 boats, was certainly a day to remember!
Many lunches and dinners were enjoyed throughout the trip at the following restaurants, some more than once:
Bar Code, Le Cottage, Snoopy’s, Mark’s Place, The Palms, El Zafiro, Bikini Beach, The Greenhouse, Gutside, Sol e Luna, Abu Ghazi, Yellow Beach, Yvette's, Pineapple Pete’s, Buccaneer, Jules and Sale e Pepe. A lot of delicious meals with great friends and no complaints at all. Breakfast was mostly enjoyed on the balcony of the villa each day. I tried to keep the croissants at bay and cooked nutritious breakfasts several days. I did enjoy breakfast one morning at Jules Bakery, a nice new little find in Jordan Village. The pastries and sandwiches there were very good!
Since I was right on Simpson Bay Beach, some days it was difficult to leave to go to other beaches. I did spend some time at the beach at Mary’s Boon, Kim Sha Beach, Pinel, and of course one of my favorites, Orient Beach. My husband and I spent most of our vacation days on Orient Beach in the past, so it was fitting that I return some of his ashes to this peaceful and beautiful spot. On Sunday Nov.26 a group of our closest friends gathered with me for a celebration of David’s life on Orient and amid rose petals he was returned to the ocean he so loved. He also grew up on the ocean in Canada so this made it even more fitting. Following our little ceremony, we all enjoyed lunch together at Bikini Beach and spent the remainder of the day enjoying the sunshine and sharing many fond memories.
The pool at BSV is very nice and it was fun to spend some time there with other friends who were also staying there. We even managed to have a wine and cheese party one day when Jeannie showed up with delicious bread and cheese and Pat and John supplied the wine. Good fun with good friends!
I attended a lovely roof top terrace party at Brad and Lora’s apartment which was a great evening with several in attendance. They host this party every year wherever they are staying and it is always a special night. Fabulous Feasts did the catering and everything was delicious!
One day I had the privilege of visiting the gallery of the famous island artist, Ruby Bute in Friar’s Bay. I purchased some interesting items for Christmas gifts for family and of course some for myself. Ruby has always been one of my favorite island artists and it was so nice spending time with her at her home. Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Gutside owned by Ruby’s cousin, Richard, and right in the area. Another morning was spent visiting Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary in Belvedere. This is a very interesting spot with over 170 different birds that you can enjoy for as long as you want. The cost is only $10 and that includes birdseed to feed the birds. I miss the butterfly farm which has not returned after the hurricane so this is a nice little replacement.
Two new bars for me this trip was The Hole in the Wall in Maho and Rembrandt Café in Madame Estate. Good music in both and the times I was there the music was supplied by Bobby Baron and Ronnie Santana. Tanja was celebrating her birthday there and it was nice to be invited to join in the celebrations. She and Michael had also just got engaged so that made the Rambrandt Cafe a double celebration! Congratulations to Tanja and Michael! I did not eat at either place, but both do have a food menu.
Most here who have read my trip reports in the past, will remember than we always enjoyed the night life on the Dutch side after the evening activities and dinner. This time, being alone, I was very reluctant to stay out as late as usual. I was a bit apprehensive of driving home alone late at night, so for a few nights I just came back to the villa and spent the rest of the evening there. Then I had a brilliant idea! Since the Dunes Casino was just down the road from the villa, I decided to stop in there on my way home most evenings and that worked out fine since it was less than a 5-minute drive from door to door. I won enough money to purchase a new unlocked phone to use on the island and contribute in other ways to the island economy with the rest. Unfortunately, none of my friends are night hawks like me so this was my only solution. I always tried to be home by midnight instead of my usual 2:00 AM!
Toward the end of my trip there was a TTOL party at Bar Code hosted by Jazzgal. It was very well attended and I met a few new members which was nice. It is a lovely spot for a social of this nature. There is lots of parking and no loud music either so it is easy to have a nice conversation with others. Afterwards, many stayed to enjoy dinner there and to continue socializing. Thanks, Linda, for a very enjoyable evening!
In conclusion, I just want to share a few observations:
The island rebuilding is a work in progress and things are going well on the Dutch side, but the French side is still struggling to make a comeback. It seems the French government and insurance problems are contributing to this. The traffic during the late afternoon and early evening is bad along Airport Road most days. Nobody really knows the reason for this, but it continues and is very frustrating if you are trying to make appointments during that time. Many residents still are living in inadequate conditions with tarps still on their roofs and living without the essentials of life. Hopefully this will not be the case on my next visit. Many new businesses have sprung up since the hurricane and other old favorites have not returned. I really missed DREAMS this time! The roads are full of potholes and you really have to be careful when driving everywhere on the island. I always thought the roads on the French side were better than the Dutch side but that is not the case anymore. The beaches are still beautiful, the people friendly and resilient and the weather is beautiful!
I left the island on a WestJet flight again back to Canada just in time to get ready for Christmas with the family. The check- in went smoothly in the tents even though there were several other flights leaving that day. Just a few days after I left, the airport was opened on a restricted basis, and the tents are no longer required. It was definitely a different vacation for me but with the support and kindness of good friends there, it proved to be a very good trip. I am so glad I made the effort to return to my island paradise and I am already planning a return visit in November 2019!
PS I will try to share some pictures later but since this report was rather late, I wanted to get it posted first.
