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As an occasional cigar smoker (especially on vacation) I try to stay away from people who I might bother. I usually take a walk on the beach or try to stay downwind of the crowd.
However, the most disgusting smell is cigarette smoke. I think it's the paper wrapper, which keeps it smoldering. If I'm around cigarette smokers, I usually join in with a stogie and puff away...and they think it stinks worse than their pack a day fire bomb! Just sayin...

Where do you grab this 20% discount code from? I didn’t see any….

Dudes! Craig at Sxm rentals is the way to go!

A pair of chairs umbrella and a cooler for the week. Wildly cheap.

Did you miss your connection? Best wishes. Enjoy your trip

It is worse than Anegada - I've been to both

Now that I think back, I can't recall that Anegada has a grocery store... so I think that you are right after all!!!

As always, St Martin remains amazing. There have been many changes in the last 10 years or so, and many of us old timers have trouble adjusting to change LOL. As with all change, some of it has been good and some of it not so good. But the beaches and food are still incredible, and the natives wonderfully welcoming. How have you managed to stay away for so long?

CaribLee,
Good question. I think they drove trucks carrying materials across the golf course from the Mullet Bay Beach parking lot, but I'm not sure.

The main reason we brought a cooler was to minimize prep time on the boat. So 5 or 6 main meals seasoned, vacuum packed and ready to cook for the 10 days. Then the other nights are eat out nights. This reduces preparation time also all that is planned in advance so less thinking of what to buy when provisioning. We also bring some special comfort foods. Other items we will get locally.

Hopefully, we can still load up in advance with much of this is delivered to the boat, especially for the rum, water, wine and beer.

Yup...and the Global Entry line is ALWAYS less than 5-6 people vs, the regular customs line which can be HUGE. We are in Aruba at the end of October almost every year

That (pre-clearance) would be a BIG addition to SXM

Three young cats were supposed to travel to Boston this weekend, but unfortunately the escorts have changed their minds. Can any one help?

He has taken on a sort of so so Mick Jagger act I think mostly at hole in the wall. The music is normally good but sometimes just to loud as we also love conversation which is about impossible there at times. If you advertise in that Out and About section in the paper I have notice articles about a lot of folks too. Love seeing the out and about photos.

Awesome. SC beaches are great

Probably until 10pm or so. This website might be worth checking out since you haven't visited in a long time.

https://www.st-martin.org/us/restaurant/les-lolos-de-grand-case/

Spent a couple nights in Prague in 2023. Very nice walkable city. Uber app works very well when you don’t want to walk or wait on bus. Hop on hop off bus (several routes) and a couple different companies. If that interests you research them before you get there as we got the fast sell and paid a little too much for the lesser company. It got us there but backward. Took a daytime river boat which was nice. Cathedral and castle beautiful. We arrived by train so stayed across the street from station easy with luggage. Czech food is probably worst food on planet slice of meat in a pool of lard with mashed potatoes. They couldn’t believe we couldn’t eat it. Research Czech menu items prior to arrival. Several dozen Hari Krishnas parading through the main tourist area tambourines and all singing hari krishna. The police broke them up. Near dinner time, a lot of artists on a ridge across the river.

Overall, glad we went. Avoid the lard dishes.

Yes. What you can't do is go straight to the North Sound from Beef Island.

Mulligan's is a fun hangout..good place for TV sports and a kids playground.Its just down the road from Gene's, just inside Nanny Cay.Food is OK but not close to Gene's IMHO.

I don't know what beach front you like the most, I will say that KKO and LaPlaya have a tractor that cleans the sargassum every morning when necessary!!! If you love sushi, LaPlaya has the best sushi on the island IMHO!!

hi..
Thanks for the tips'! I'll definitely check for senior rates or AAA membership discounts, and I’ll keep an eye out for those hidden taxes. I'll also make sure to check the public transport options instead of worrying about parking.

Manpot, I would love it if such a thing could materialize. That said, I doubt very seriously that it ever will. I'm not even sure it would be reasonable to expect the USVI government to incur significant expense in the interest of easing the travel burden for tourists who intend to spend their $$$ in a neighboring territory. It doesn't seem to me that the USVI government would have much motivation around this initiative, if at all.

I know that many prefer the ferry to flights into EIS. I have had great success with the new AA flights from MIA-EIS. Now if we could just get Delta to commit to flying their A220 fleet into EIS from ATL (as GeorgeC1 suggests), increasing competition on routes from the US, I think most would be better served.

On our most recent trip a few weeks ago, we flew into STT (MCO-STT non-stop) for the first time in years. I was reminded why we went away from this route whenever possible. I spent the entire 45 minutes that we had before the Native Son departure upstairs at the Petite Pump Room filling out online entry requirements for my crew of six via my iPhone on a system that could have been better programmed by my 16 year old. This, of course, was because the new BVI entry portal did not work properly when I attempted to do so from my home PC, 24 hours earlier. After finishing the online process, I hurriedly paid my tab, and headed onto a Native Son ferry that was completely packed, and had to sit downstairs (inside). The trip over was a bit rougher than usual, and the two 20-something young ladies seated in front of my daughter and myself proceeded to go back and forth to the onboard restroom multiple times each due to seasickness. Upon arrival we waited in a long line at Customs & Immigration, where (as usual) no one was interested in processing the non-belongers with any degree of speed or efficiency.

Unfortunately, I'm only able to make it down 1-2 times a year for 10 days at a time. Each day I have on-island is precious to me and my family. When considering the significant cost associated with BVI travel (and chartering) in the first place, the additional cost associated with the AA flights have never seemed more worth it to me. And yes, I have experienced delays in the past when flying EIS-SJU and then onto the US mainland. I guess the bottom line is: different strokes for different folks.

In the end, I consider it a privilege to be able to experience the beauty of the BVI the way we do with my family & friends. We are willing to put up with nearly whatever it takes to do so (reference the COVID entry requirements in May and November of 2021). I too wish that the powers that be would make it easier for all involved, but it really is a "first world" kind of problem.

Beerman, I get back to NOVA for work occasionally. I really miss St. John! We will be there for two weeks on land in the fall.

Cheers, RickG

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On CGB I believe Myett's is staying open,The Sugar Mill closes end of July til Mid October.I'm told Omar's Sandspit will stay open.

Same answer as yesterday: Speedy's.

Good to know about Dive BVI. We use them for day trips and always liked their service.

The club membership is very reasonable for just $50 per person on initial joining you actually get 20% Discount at Omar’s restaurant on the Sandspit at Sopers Hole, you can use that discount off food and drinks which is an incredible deal if you spend some time in the BVI.
We are working on getting all our merch online and online payment for membership very soon, I’ll be posting more details here soon.