We're booked!

It's a happy day. Just finalized all the details involved with returning to our beloved island for 2 weeks in December. Hopefully by then fully vaxed visitors won't have to go through the testing routine (either coming or going) but only time will tell.

This year we will be spending one week at SImpson Bay Resort before we move to Oyster Bay (our home resort) for week 2 and I'm really looking forward to trying out some different restaurants on that side of the island. I will be paying lots of attention to trip reports from y'all between now and then!

We are able to get all the way back to PHX in one day, but it's a long one. Snagged first class on Delta for only $200 more than Comfort Plus, the extra room to try to catch some rest will be most welcome.

Spending the night at JFK in the TWA Hotel on the way down, should be pretty entertaining!

That is awesome, at the TWA I do suggest springing for the runway view. Are you there on island near the first week of December? The balance of cost and comfort as well as the schedule from a distance like yours is a balancing act I know well. Sounds like you did well.
Cheers,
Todd

That's great LeAnn! It's been quite a while since we've seen you two, so I hope our dates overlap somewhat. As to restaurants in the Simpson Bay area, there are plenty of great ones. Our favorite is, of course, The Palms, followed closely by Lal's, and then, in no particular order, Sale e Pepe, and Astra. In Simpson Bay resort itself, La Patrona has decent Mexican food, Juliette's Bistro is good, and Isola for Italian. There's a sports bar/restaurant there too, but I've not been there. We're not fans of the Greenhouse, although others like it. Lee's has moved right across the road from Buccaneer Beach Bar, but that's another we've not yet tried. So many restaurants, so little time.

Congrats! It's always good to have a trip booked!

Doesn't it feel GREAT? (having something like this to look forward to).

Todd, unfortunately runway view wasn't an option (booked with points) but it is going to be dark out then anyway. I'm looking forward to all of the checking out all of the memorabilia as well as the "Connie". We saw the Spruce Goose years ago (Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville - not too far for you to go for a visit!) and find the whole saga of Howard Hughes very interesting.

Georgia, yes it sure has been a long time. Thanks so much for the restaurant ideas. Of that list, Lal's is the only one we have been to before! In recent years we just choose not to drive all the way over at night. Having a week of all those choices close by is going to be great!

OK all you "November people" - we arrive on December 11th and leave on Christmas Eve. Since we now spend our winters in AZ, the weather is just too nice there to leave before later in December. Hope some you are still around by then.

It is great to have this to look forward to,

LeAnn

Hi LeAnn,

I know how you feel. We are booked for 5 weeks, arriving mid-January 2022. We are staying in Pelican Key. Our last trip on the island ended in early February 2020, just as things were starting to ramp up at home. Glad you have found a way back, but too bad we won't be on the island at the same time. I am sure we could find something more interesting than economics to chat about!! LOL!!

This past year was our first time in years and years where we spent a full winter in Toronto. It was fine, although not as brutal as those prairie winters, but we are definitely looking forward to being able to return to the island. I hope by the fall most of the restrictions will start to come down, which will make travel much simpler. Wishing you a safe and uneventful journey and that your connections work smoothly!

Bob

We will miss you two, we depart on the 10th unless flights change and sometimes we hope they do. We will have warmed it up for you however!

You will like TWA regardless of the room but if you get the chance to upgrade I do suggest it. The pool bar is also great to hang out at, not sure the rules there as they have changed several times and probably will a few times before you go but even if it is cold you should go. It is a pretty awesome use of the old TWA terminal.

Cheers!

TWA is fantastic on the rooftop for views. Been there twice and the we didnt opt for runway view but it was awesome regardless. Had some martinis on the roof and there's the heated pool as well. At least dip your toes in.

Had dinner there last week. You'll need reservations if eating in Paris Cafe. Walk inside the entire hotel. A lot of people miss the old TWA corporate desk at the end of one of the walkway tubes. Super nostalgic.

The Connie is still COVID closed.....

We enjoyed seeing the uniforms that were worn over the years and who they were designed by. Funky little sitting areas as well on that level. The whole place is cool, worth exploring a bit.

This has to be a first - excitement over the overnight stay on the way to SXM! Fingers crossed that the Connie will be open by then, but if not it sounds like there is more than enough stuff to see to keep us entertained for our evening. The flight gets in at 7:00ish, so there will be at least a few hours to explore.

LeAnn, we were on the island last month. I will tell you that in ALL the years on the island, we have NEVER had a bad meal at the Greenhouse!! The Prime rib night is amazing, so much so, you need to pre-book your cut!! The HH is great, the "Bang Bang lobster" is amazing!! On the note of the new "Lee's grill" Went there our first night, service was great, drinks plenty, food was amazing!! Half way through dinner, it poured down buckets, they dropped the rain curtains. Cool breeze from that was nice! Lee's is cash only for your information. Breakfast, what can I say, SMYC , has the best breakfast on the Dutch side. The view is amazing, the food is really well put together and fast-hot!! The Bloody Mary, you can't beat anywhere on the Dutch side!! Here's a new place we found, in the Alegra parking lot (down from SSBB) The Sandbar!!!! What a cool place for lunch and drinks! Dinner was really good too! They have live music and plenty of picnic tables with a wonderful staff. No HH yet, but they had a "Sushi" night! It was good for the island tastes!! Get your ticket validated ! The Driftwood is a good place to hang out for drinks, food is good, service is the same! Jordan village, FAT TONY's Fun place, you order your food, they bring it to you, good drinks, music on some nights. Lastly, for now, and I know some people look down there noses at Pineapple Pete's, but I'm tell you, 20 years, Pierre never stops putting out great food, great service great drinks!! Music most nights too!! Side note, we wore our masks entering most places, were not required to keep them on. Brought our own stainless steel straws, most places rinsed them for us before we gave them a good washing at home, Beachside villas!!

Just an FYI....Lee's does take CC's

I guess the night we were there because of the weather, there CC machine was down.

We used credit card at lee's Saturday night.

Well pooh! We leave on December 10

And sadly, we are there pre-Thanksgiving and will miss ALL our island friends this year although we may overlap for 3-4 days with a few. I hope.....

I'm there for the full month of November, plus a few days on both ends.