Posted By: johnhill
Travel to SXM - 01/19/2021 12:47 AM
We left upstate NY yesterday-Sunday 6 AM and through CLT 9:30AM on AA. Trip was a breeze-we had covid tested on Tuesday at 9:37 AM which was 119 hours and 53 minutes prior to the 120 hour rule. I had visited LabCorp prior and they told me the name of the test sites that send the tests directly to them. So we used one of the sites and had our results back in 24 hours. We couldn't check in with AA on line as they have to see the SXM admittance slip and negative test. We also had to show the paperwork in CLT along with passports. The plane had 150 seats and there were about 50 people on the CLT-SXM flight. At SXM we used the air stairs from the plane to the bus and to the arrival area. We showed the arrival paper work and then onto show our passports all within 20 minutes. Met our rental car person at the airport and arrived al La Terrasse 20 minutes later. The building is just about empty and we know of 6 units where our SXM friends would normally stay empty as they cancelled their trips. We had dinner at Winnies Chinese in Maho and there were 4 other people having dinner.
This morning we drove over to Cost U Less in 15 minutes as there was no traffic. Stopped at El Zafiro and as we have found at other locations the crowds are not here this year. Noted that Bavaria German has now become a Mexican restaurant and many shops in Simpson are empty or closed. So if you have travel plans to SXM please keep them the island needs your help. Although not good for the businesses or employees, getting around is pretty easy with few tourists. We did stop in a market Sunday night and 2 locals entered without masks and were told masks are required and they asked them to leave. With few people using the internet in the building the service is great. So far a good start to our annual month.
This morning we drove over to Cost U Less in 15 minutes as there was no traffic. Stopped at El Zafiro and as we have found at other locations the crowds are not here this year. Noted that Bavaria German has now become a Mexican restaurant and many shops in Simpson are empty or closed. So if you have travel plans to SXM please keep them the island needs your help. Although not good for the businesses or employees, getting around is pretty easy with few tourists. We did stop in a market Sunday night and 2 locals entered without masks and were told masks are required and they asked them to leave. With few people using the internet in the building the service is great. So far a good start to our annual month.