Everyone on TTOL was so helpful when I was planning this trip, I wanted to pass on our experience and info to others. We got home late Saturday, feeling it was definitely one of the best vacations ever!
We arrived Saturday 4/14 and Craig from Packlight was there with our chairs, umbrella and phone and Lesley with our car--it was so easy. It wasn't so easy for us to get to Oyster Pond, though, as we never, ever learned the way through Phillipsburg. It started pouring rain while we apparently made wrong decision after wrong decision at the roundabouts and wandered through bad neighborhoods and roads under water. We were so happy when we finally got on a good road with a clear sign(not sure how we did it) and then pulled into Les Balcons. We loved our room, especially the deck, where we sat in the mornings looking over the marina, watching the birds and eating our morning delivery of croissants. The only downside was the bed, which was so hard (not firm) that I took Advil PM at night to allow me to sleep without too much pain. I loved the charming French neighborhood, but ultimately we felt too far away from everything, so next time (!) we'll be looking for something closer to Mullet Bay/Cupecoy/Simpson Bay.
Beaches: We loved Mullet, Friar's, Simpson Bay and Baie Rouge. I walked over to Happy Bay and it was beautiful, but too long of a trek for the comforts of chairs, umbrella and cooler. Orient was fun, especially the people watching, but there was lots of seaweed and it was a little too commercial for us. Our choice of La Playa (for no reason other than we were tired of walking) may not have been the best. Anse Marcal was lovely, but I felt I was intruding at a resort where I wasn't staying.
Food: Mama's Pizza and BZH (both in Oyster Pond) provided delicious pizza; the atmosphere at Calmos Cafe was amazing and the food was good; The Sky's the Limit was cheap and delicious; all-you-could-eat ribs at Ocean Club was a really fun night; Rosie's ribs were our favorite; and an especially big thank you for all the recommendations that sent us to Karakter's--our best meal on the island.
Activities: besides beaches, food and drink, we shopped in Phillipsburg and at the market in Marigot, drove up to Pic du Paradis (where the walk from the car was much longer than the one minute listed on the sign--don't wear flip flops), did a sunset cruise on the Passaat (highly recommend), and visited Maho twice to watch the planes.
One thing: while I listened to all the advice about not leaving anything in the car, we ended up leaving things in the trunk. With our hotel so far away from everything else, it was the only practical solution. We just didn't put anything in there when others could see us. And we kept all our valuables with us--just not towels, chairs, sneakers, etc.
We got to see and do so much! Thanks to everyone for sharing their years of experience in SXM!!
Liz