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Bitter End YC, Scrub Isle or Peter Isle Marinas?
DoubleD
3 hours ago
We will be down for New Years spending about 10 days on a 65' M/Y. We are wondering whether we should spend more time at Bitter End Yacht Club, Scrub Island Resort & Marina or Peter Island. We also have a night at Saba Rock.
Would be interested in any input on where to spend more time - which Marinas offer more things to do on land as far as pools, dining and drink options, beach, locker room and laundry facilities? Also, proximity for day trips.
Thanks!
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Update on arrival process
dfmsml
3 hours ago
Arrived Saturday on American from CLT around 2pm. No jetway but ramp on front door. Walked to arrival hall, crowded around 200 plus.. Processing took about 30-40 minutes with 16-18 terminals. Advanced electronic form worked like a charm with Sxm attendant at every double station for help for those not pre arrival electronic completed which took time. Baggage already taken off conveyor in holding area and off to car rental. Ready for another two weeks in paradise…..dave
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Friday, November 8
jomarc
Yesterday at 12:53 PM
My friend and I took a nice walk through the neighborhood of Grand Case, mostly staying off the main road. It was nice seeing many people sitting on their porches, talking with one another. One cute baby, with a huge smile, waved to us as we walked by.
Today we spent some time showing our friends some of the island. We drove up and over the mountain in Anse Marcel. The views to Pinel and St. Barth’s was very hazy, but the Anguilla and beachside of the island was clear and beautiful.
While in Cul de Sac, we stopped at the Ma Doudou shop for rum and other items. The owner’ daughter was a delight. She was very knowledgeable and helpfulW, allowing us to sample several rum flavors. Most of them were very good. We bought rum, jelly and vanilla.
This morning brought us to the Parrotte Ville Bird Sanctuary. George, the owner, was not working today. We were a little disappointed, but still enjoyed our time feeding the lovely birds. On a sad note, the toucan is no longer at the sanctuary. We were told that someone left two doors open, and he escaped. They are in the process of replacing him with another male Toucan. The admission price is now $15 for adults.
We took a short drive to Orleans and had lunch at Yvette’s, one of our favorite casual dining restaurants. John and I had conch dishes, Jen had the goat stew and Marc had St. Maarten chicken. All delicious meals. The complimentary Johnny cakes and plantains are so good. The owner, Felix, stopped by our table to say hello, and his grandchildren provided us with great service!
On the way back to our accommodations, we drove through the Oyster Pond area and stopped at the Observation Tower. It was hazy out, but the views were still very pretty.
We stayed in for dinner tonight and enjoyed delicious cheeses, meats and fruit (and wine, of course). After several rounds of playing cards, we called it a night.
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Friday, our last day
fabila
Yesterday at 12:46 PM
It’s always bittersweet when the last full day on the island arrives—such a mix of emotions knowing that if you don’t leave, you can’t return. But we made the most of it today!
We were fortunate that our last day was picture-perfect, spent at Orient Bay in front of La Playa beach. As always, the beach service was excellent. I indulged in a killer frozen mojito (perfect for the warm weather) while David opted for a mimosa.
For lunch, we stayed at La Playa and shared shrimp tempura—six large pieces with a tangy sweet chili sauce. Being sushi lovers, we also ordered two rolls to satisfy that craving. Dessert was a warm cookie with ice cream. It was delicious, but definitely a heavy dessert. Terry and Rit were dining at the table next to us so I shared half the cookie with her. Glad we got to see you guys today.
Afterward, we returned to the beach for some more relaxation. The water was warm with moderate waves and a little seaweed, but nothing too bothersome. Perfect for a final swim before heading back.
Later, we stopped by the Yacht Club for a quick goodbye to the staff before heading home to get ready for dinner. We were undecided on where to eat for our last night, but not wanting to drive too far, we chose Fat Tony’s. Unlike our noisy visit on Tuesday, tonight was much quieter with only a handful of people at the bar and tables.
Unfortunately, dinner was a bit of a letdown. I had the two-meat combo (brisket and ribs) with mac & cheese and coleslaw as sides. The mac & cheese was decent, and the coleslaw was good, but the meats were dry. The pork ribs, especially, were tough and drowned in a BBQ sauce that was too tangy for my taste. David wasn’t thrilled with his beef brisket either—it wasn’t terrible, but it lacked the flavor and tenderness we were hoping for. The sandwich bun was also a bit stale, and while the baked beans were zesty, they were the highlight of the meal for him.
We’d rather end on a high note, reflecting on the wonderful memories we made during this trip. It was a perfect mix of quality time together and reconnecting with friends and acquaintances. We look forward to this vacation every year, and it lived up to the magic of past trips. Though we’re sad to leave, it’s time to head back to reality—work, making money, and dreaming of next year’s return. Until then, we’ll enjoy living vicariously through everyone else’s trip reports. Be well, and see you all next year!
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Thursday, November 7
jomarc
Yesterday at 01:37 AM
We took an 8 am walk around Grand Case. Boy, is the traffic crazy around here at this time of day!
Today’s rain forecast was at 100%, but we decided to go to Orient anyway. We rented chairs at Orange Fever and the four of us split a cold bucket of beers for $15.00. Took a walk down to Club Orient, and there was quite a bit of seaweed in the water. That beach area at Orange Fever was perfect. We soaked in the ocean for a couple of hours and headed to Orange Fever for lunch.
Our friends ordered the French Burger and Wahoo Tartare and Marc and I ordered a Pepperoni Pizza and Pineapple Shrimp Salad. We were all happy with our meals, and the service we received from J.C. was great, as always. The skies opened up and it rained for a bit. After lunch we packed up and headed back to our apartment.
The rain finally stopped, and we were able to enjoy plenty of time in the pool.
Our friends wanted ribs, so we headed to the lolo’s for dinner. Cynthia's Talk of the Town did not disappoint. The ribs and potato salad were oh so good!
After dinner we walked over to Java, where the Facebook Food Porn group was dining out. It was great to see and give hugs to several people we knew. After two more drinks in Grand Case, we walked home. Lights were out at 9::30 p.m.
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Arrival November 7th
BillS
11/08/2024 06:51 PM
Arrived on WestJet 2276 from Toronto. Filled out entry form online 6 days prior to arrival. Used Chrome on a a Mac. Got confirmation email once completed. Landed at 2:43, parked at Bravo gate so no air bridge but were able to walk to the terminal, no bus! There were 3 or 4 other flights on the ground however our timing was great, only a few people in line at immigration. Waited less than 5 minutes to get to the e-gate scanner. Scanned our passports, machine takes your photo and all done. Took less than 1 minute. Onto the next gate, stand in the foot prints on the floor, takes a photo to confirm you are cleared and the gate opens and you are off to baggage claim. Baggage took 15-20 minutes to arrive. We were out of the airport in less than 30 minutes. Well done PJIA!
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Thursday - one more day to go
fabila
11/08/2024 11:57 AM
The surf is pretty strong again outside our unit, so I’m skipping the ocean today. Instead, I spent some time reading my book and soaking up the sun on the beach lounger.
David went out on the Rhino Riders scoping out the island from the water while enjoy the thrill and had an absolute blast. He’s really into that kind of adventure.
Since there were four Cruise ships docked today we decided to stay local for lunch and headed over to D’s Beach Bar. We bumped into Linda (a.k.a. Jazz Girl) and also met Bette, one of the admins from the SXM or Bust, along with a few of their friends who were also having lunch. We had a nice chat with Linda before everyone broke off to enjoy their meals.
I went for the Asian chop salad with edamame, wonton chips, and a side of bang-bang sauce and ginger sesame vinegar. It was packed with flavor, and I appreciated that the lettuce wasn’t chopped too finely—I’m not a fan of super chopped salads. I added shrimp, which had a nice blackened spice to them.
David opted for the Panko-crusted fish sandwicho, with spicy remoulade sauce on the side and fries.
After lunch, we headed back to Beachside, where we ran into a few other guests at the pool: WildBill and his wife Pat, as well as Luda and Jim (a.k.a. Snuba).
Pineapple Pete’s has been a staple in SXM since 2003. We first met Pierre that October, not long after he opened, and we were immediately struck by his warm personality and the hearty, reasonably priced meals. After tonight, Pineapple Pete’s is definitely back on our must-visit list. Pierre greeted us with open arms, and despite the long gaps between our visits, he was the first to welcome us by name—truly a reflection of his welcoming nature and the personal touch that keeps us coming back.
Ronnie Santana was playing some nice mellow music. We got a table outside, which was perfect to feel the breeze. We were one of the last tables of the restaurant was packed. Service was very good, our server has been with Pierre for 15 years.
We kicked off with crab Rangoon, stuffed with crab, scallions, and cream cheese, and served with a zesty Thai sauce. David went for his usual—lamb shank, which comes with two tender shanks that practically fall off the bone, garlic mashed potatoes, and a salad. He’s a creature of habit when it comes to this dish. I opted for the lobster Thermidor, with a rich, decadent sauce, onions, and mushrooms stuffed into a 2 lb lobster covered with melted cheese. It was delicious down to the last bite.
Though we were full, I couldn’t resist dessert. The pineapple cheesecake with a coconut crust on mango sauce was light, almost mousse-like, and the perfect end to a fantastic meal. No service charge.[color:#3333FF][/color]
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