This is late, sorry but it has been mayhem since coming back. This report is done as thanks to all of you that post reports, and I rarely do not read a report or at least skim over it. This may be long or short depending upon how you look at it, finally found the time to write about it and wanted to give you your moneys worth.
This was our first trip in May and did like the light crowds to go along with everything still open normal hours. The weather was nice for us although we were told that it was more humid than normal, but we did not have to work so no big deal to us. This trip kind of was a soul searching trip, pondering life as we live it and what it would be like if we sold out in the states and made a permanent move to the islands. I am still young, in my 40’s but the old body has taken a beating and I find that when I hit the island all the issues of my old body seem to just go away the day I arrive. Probably not a new concept for many of you but it does make you think about why on many levels. I found particular interest in this trip talking to Neil at BBB as well as other business owners on island, and we came to the decision that now is not the time for us and all that is good with what the island does for us may be lost if we were to live there and create an income (I am not a retire kind of person). So…after research it has been decided that we will continue in our routine of regular trips to gain health and try to live better back home until the day comes that we can spend more time in the islands. Note that of all the people that work/own on the island I talked to, very rarely do any of them spend the time in a beach chair on a beach relaxing. Many are working 6 plus days a week, not that it could not be done differently.
I also would like to note the progression of life and travel that we have gone through. Vacation has been important to MJ and I since we met in Feb of 1984, so there was never a question of if we would travel but what we could afford. We began going to this island in 2002 and were on a pretty tight budget, then we moved onto more trips and continuing with a modest budget so we could afford more trips. Now we are moving into the phase of we can only take so much time off but have the money for more trips so we are living better when we travel. We still have money saving habits that will probably last a life time but there is a definite difference from the way we began our trips to the present, and there is difference we see with those that travel often vs. those that only get that one week of a special trip. I could go off on this tangent for hours. Still jealous of anybody that is there at any given moment, and of those it seems get to go more often than us. We do though realize how lucky we are that we found this place and we are able to make a trip, or several per year. It is a good life.
Flights – PDX to LAX to SXM on AA, worked fairly well. Came back the opposite route and it also worked out well, plenty of time for the connectors but not too much. All was done on Alaska Frequent Flyer Miles which are the easiest for us to deal with. Long flights but they always are for us. Next trip (November) will be on US Air in the big seats to help with the pain of the trip.
Car – Unity, simple and easy as normal. It was an older Corolla that made me think of the “sad little car” in another trip report that we all enjoyed recently. It did the job for us and had no worries.
Lodging – First week, Flamingo (worst check in/check out on island). Studio sized unit in main building, view of parking lot, and a toilet (like a cruise ship with suction) that when flushed was loud as can be. We like the unit, third time there and smallest unit we have had but still liked it. Second week (final five nights) we were at Cap Caraibes on the third floor. AC barely kept up, but we really enjoyed being on Orient and having a view from our room. We enjoyed just walking to our chairs and enjoyed being able to walk back and forth if we needed anything. The front desk people are extremely nice and helpful. We would stay at both places again, and recommend both.
So, we landed, got our car, checked in at Flamingo, put most contents of wallet into the room safe, went and got food/water/beer/cocktail supplies at the Maho Express and lost wallet. Drivers License, favorite credit card (all auto charges in life on this card) and about $200 cash. Chalk it up to being tired from the trip, irritant but not a huge issue and the trip must go on.
Food-
Lal’s – We ate at Lal’s probably four times, enjoying the food, music and company of Lal. Such a bargain for food we really like. Through the trip we had Chicken Tikka, Spinich Chicken, Tikka Masala, Curry Chicken and always sides of rice and Nan. Of course a few cocktails to wash it down. Fantastic.
Baywatch – No real need to elaborate, nothing new to most of you, and if it is new to you then you are the fool that does not go here. I really enjoyed walking from Cap Caraibes in the morning (about 6:30am) to sit and drink coffee and bs with Andy and the others that would show up. Also just nice to sit and watch the beach take shape.
Peg Leg for a happy hour, what a bargain and pretty good food. Shawn says hi.
Bajatzu – Second time here, love the service and atmosphere. Tried the Steak again, and once again it was ok, but I am spoiled. MJ had the seafood lasagna, and wow was that great. Enjoyed the place, went there on a whim when we were in Maho. A whim is usually the deciding force when we are on the island.
Toppers – Thought we would give it a try and it was very good, and the service was also good. Would go back.
Yvettes – Like Toppers, this was a stop because of the TTOL influence. Had to try the place, glad we did, will surely go back.
Gutside – Another place that can claim our business due to TTOL. We actually stopped there on a Monday after a day at Happy Bay and he was closed. Richard saw us and invited us in for a drink, opened the bar up and served us a couple and chatted with us. Went back another day and it was excellent, and as most know he is fun to talk to. Will be back again.
Calmos Café – Barely fit this place in, but we sure enjoy going there. Trying to fit places in is not always easy, but this place is worth the effort.
BBB – Had a lunch there, talked to Neil for a while, always enjoy that. Food is good, not great but good, although the place is tough to beat for a stop along any trip through the Simpson Bay area.
Lido – Bargain for good food to go, $14 gets you several meals.
Fiesta Mexicana – Baywatch was closed, I think this is the name of the place just a bit down. It would be a bargain if you were getting chairs, but the food is so so at best.
Last but not least……
Hidden Forest Café at Lotterie Farm – One lunch and two dinners at Hidden Forest. All was fantastic, most noteworthy from MJ would be the scallops which were fantastic in taste and presentation. Most noteworthy from me was the steak, a filet mignon with portabello mushroom on top served on mashed potato’s. Arguably one of the best steaks I have ever had. Also very reasonable, about $27 per dinner with some very good and reasonably priced wine as well. For lunch the chicken curry wrap is a must.
Sitting at Hidden Forest listening to the soft music along with the sound of all the natural sounds of the location is unmatched. We like being there when the sun sets so you get a bit of time to look around and then enjoy the evening after the sun sets.
Just a little travel tip before going on. We did carry on this trip so we did not bring a soft sided cooler like we normally do. On our first Wednesday while shopping at the Marigot Market at Secret Spot (
www.secretspotsxm.com) we noticed that she kept a “freezer bag” (looks like a bag made out of a space blanket) with food and drink in it. So we picked one up for a whopping $3.50 (sold at Cost u Less as well as Grand Marche) and used it the rest of the trip and it worked great.
Beaches –
Happy Bay – First trip ever there, went back a with the freezer bag with refreshments. Just made ourselves a sand chair and enjoyed. We arrived about 8am and enjoyed the empty beach setting. Others seemed to arrive at 10am and then more around lunch when it was about time for us to leave. Only bad thing was the Rhino riders would show up for a short stint each day.
Orient – Always great. Been there, done it, going back.
Also spent time on the beach at Flamingo near the point, it was uncrowded and easy for the days we wanted to get a bit of beach and do something else.
In the end, we used to rarely eat at the same place twice, and spend time on several beaches. We are now just relaxing more at our regular places and the places that are easy at the time. Changing of times for us, the progression continues.
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