Hi there: just back from a whirlwind week on SXM. Had a great time and thought I would share some highlights from the trip:

Car Rental: Used Advantage Rental car (TTOL Sponsor as well). Very pleased with them. Especially since we lost one of our bags on US Airways coming down and it took us over 1.5 hours to make a claim! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> Cedric was great, and waited for us. We got a Jeep Wrangler for the same price as a smaller soft top. They told us that they had converted all their soft tops. The process was a breeze both picking up and dropping off a week later. Highly recommend!

Hotel: My husband was able to get a special corporate rate at the Westin. The hotel is very big and somewhat impersonal. The staff, however, were great and overall we were pleased. Dawn Beach was pretty rough all week but there was always a lovely breeze. We had a oceanfront room which was large and had all the usual Westin amenities – bathrobes, big bathroom with tub and shower, flat screen TV, mini bar etc. Housekeeping was excellent. The reception area, as many people have remarked, is very un-island with the casino in the lobby. There were a couple of conventions going on as well, so inside the hotel you don’t feel like you are in SXM. As an aside, the hotel has a 24-hour business centre with 2 computers where you can check email. I am not exaggerating when I say that room was constantly in use. Outside, the pool area is very nice and big, with swim up bar and hot tub. But shade is a problem. So I got more sun than I might have wanted. For the most part, we were pretty happy at the Westin.

Restaurants: I really have to thank the people of this board, (especially SXM Norm) for the great advice on restaurants. We had great breakfasts at Mr. Busby’s. and one at Honky Tonk in Phillipsburg. We also can highly recommend Big Fish, Le Planteur (lovely Creole restaurant in Oyster Pond), Fusion in Phillipsburg, Claude Mini Club in Marigot, and Il Nettuno in Grand Case. We had great lunches at Le Ce restaurant at the Radisson and Le Galion in Marigot.

Beach Bars: We really liked Karacters and spent a nice few hours just chilling and drinking a bucket of Amstel Brights. Zen-It in Grand Case is also really nice. We prefer our beach bars on the quiet side. We passed by Sunset Bar, and Buccaneer Beach Bar and they were just too busy and crowded for us. Even Orient Bay didn’t do it for us. Holland House Hotel has a great bar/lounge for people watching.

Activities: We were pretty crazy with what we packed in.

Anguilla: We took the ferry over to Anguilla, rented a car and had a chill day. We thought Gwen’s Reggae Grill was overrated (the setting on Shoal Bay is it’s big plus). We loved the Dune Preserve and think that is the best beach bar on Anguilla.

Saba: We took the Edge II over to Saba and stayed over one night at Juliana’s. Saba is a different world from SXM and I highly recommend the visit. I would advise that you stay at least one night because you can’t really do it justice. We did the hike up Mount Scenery. I honestly don’t know how I did it but it took me 4 hours up and down. We had some very nice meals on Saba. Eden Restaurant and Tropics are both very good. A side word on the Edge itself, the ride over was calm but the ride back was awful. We even had some passengers who had to take the ferry because Winair cancelled flights due to high winds. I tried not eating, and taking Gravol, but eventually I had to give it up! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" />I really have to commend the crew of the Edge II. They are the most solicitious, caring ferry crew I have encountered. They made sure we all kept our dignity while feeling queasy.

Shopping: We also did a shopping day in Phillipsburg and Marigot. I splurged on some sunglasses and hubby bought me a watch and some clothes for himself.

Pinel Island: Unfortunately, we planned for our last day to go to Pinel. When we got there just after 10:30 we saw a few people waiting but nothing happening, more people joined us, and by 11 am, a man drove up and told us that the ferry would not be running that day and the restaurants were closed because of the high winds. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> This may be the first and only time this has happened. So we all had to disperse. The gentleman kindly made up a sign and stapled it to the ticket window. I guess I will save Pinel for the next trip. Our plan b was to spend some time in Grand Case so we enjoyed that.

Random Thoughts: Vehicle traffic was a real doozey. We don’t know how people do it. I guess just stay off the roads between 7 and 9 and 4 to 6. We also had the experience of being caught in “bridge traffic” at Simpson Bay.

We had no safety issues but we didn’t take any chances. The drive back from Marigot to Oyster Pond was not fun at night so we kept our dinners local. We decided to take a taxi to Phillipsburg for our dinner at Fusion and were glad we did. We found everyone to be friendly and helpful.

We went to visit a friend staying at the Radisson. This hotel is the polar opposite of the Westin. It is quiet, low key, and very Caribbean. If it weren’t so isolated, I would seriously consider staying here. The rooms aren’t as nice as the Westin, they are smaller and older (even though they have been refreshed).

Caught a bit of the Heineken Regatta on the Dutch side. It was a beautiful sight to see those sails pass Dawn Beach.

We are already planning our next visit to SXM for 2010. We won’t fly US Airways again and we will get to Pinel. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />