[color:"blue"]Arrival[/color] – [color:"green"]AA[/color] on time – Four straight-faced immigration agents averaged 4 minutes each to give each passenger the once over and passport stamp. By the time we were approved entry our baggage was on the carousel. With light traffic our [color:"green"]Hertz[/color] car got us to Club Orient just short of 13 hours since rising at 3 a.m.

[color:"blue"]Weather[/color] – October is a nice time to visit with less traffic, fewer tourists, lots of beach and no need for dining reservations. Best of all, the water was a pleasant 80 some degrees. Our weather was perfect, although the ever-blowing Trade Winds failed their reputation on two days with very light winds that made it feel warmer than we previously experienced.

[color:"blue"]Hotels[/color] – This was mostly a business event for meetings and inspections with hotel managements. Many hotels close during September to schedule renovations for reopening on October 15. Failure of contractors to meet deadlines resulted in delays at two hotels where alternative accommodations were provided their guests. By the first week of November all Orient Bay hotels will be operating as usual. A quick overview of recent developments…

We stayed at [color:"green"]Club Orient[/color] where the resort is in the process of replacing towels, curtains, and bedspreads, linens and similar soft items. Some maintenance issues were noted in our unit, but fixed promptly with a call to the front office. Two new golf carts are now available for guest rentals around the property at 15 euros a day. The boutique was fully stocked and the Papagayo provided excellent service.

Upgrading of [color:"green"]Hotel L’Hoste[/color] was nearing completion although rooms were unable for inspection due to ongoing work. We were assured of significant enhancements. In the same complex, further improvements continued at [color:"green"]Hotel Palm Court[/color] with a completion of a secure parking area and perimeter fencing hidden by new landscaping. For old-timers, the former Hotel [color:"green"]St. Tropez[/color] that closed two years ago remains in limbo with no obvious activity. The [color:"green"]Caraibes Beach Hotel[/color], previously known as Hotel Cap-Caraibes, under new management is nicely maintained along with a more secure and attractive garden area surrounding the pool.

At [color:"green"]Hotel La Plantation[/color] renovations and general upgrading of the entire facility will be completed for the reopening on October 27. New promotional rates are now available through to December 23. One of the six condos at the [color:"green"]Caribbean Princess[/color] has been upgraded, others to follow. [color:"green"]Green Cay Village[/color] will have a new general manager in the next week for the 10 villas under their control. Like the [color:"green"]Esmeralda[/color] and [color:"green"]Alamanda[/color], all of these properties are in fine condition.

[color:"blue"]Villas & Townhouses[/color] – We inspected the new [color:"green"]Residence de la Plage[/color] apartment that will be available shortly and the [color:"green"]Plage d’Elan[/color] villa owned by our friends. For the winter season, some extraordinary discounts are being offered reflecting concern about the economy and possible excess capacity.

[color:"blue"]Restaurants[/color] – [color:"green"]Spiga[/color] did not disappoint us with our best dinner and with a 1:1 exchange rate was very reasonable for top-quality dining. Although expensive, we also enjoyed a gourmet lunch at [color:"green"]Bacchus[/color] in the Hope Estate. We were disappointed with a new Grand-Case restaurant; the first unsatisfactory meal in over 50 trips to the island – as this may have related to their recent opening, we prefer not to identify. The meal and service at the [color:"green"]Papagayo[/color] were enjoyable and certainly convenient for those staying at Club-O. Most of our dining was self-prepared on this trip as we enjoyed the informality.

[color:"blue"]Bugs[/color] – As on our last October visit, a nearly constant stream of native [color:"orange"]butterflies[/color] known as Great Southern Whites that at times look almost like a snow squall. We did not encounter a single [color:"orange"]mosquito[/color] and only a few [color:"orange"]knats[/color] also called no-seeums on our last day.

[color:"blue"]Economy & Crime[/color] – The effect of the economic downturn was echoed by local comments, light traffic, open beaches. Hotel occupancy appeared about the same for mid-October as last year bolstered by discounts and low airline fares. Restaurants appeared to be most affected with few customers at the time of our visits. Even with the unfavorable exchange rate, we were surprised that the situation appeared less dire than often reported. Our flights via Miami were full in both directions.

[color:"blue"]Departure[/color] – Airport check-in was a breeze as we arrived an hour early aware that our connecting flight to Miami was full. This to take advantage of visiting the [color:"green"]Soualiga Lounge[/color] managed by the airport. For non-business class passengers, the cost of $20 each was pleasant with hors d’oeuvre-style meatballs and desert cakes, coffee, soft drinks and wine, two internet stations, and newspapers that help offset the cost. [color:"green"]AA[/color] departed on time with an announcement by the pilot not to panic, as at take-off our 757 will bank with a hard right just 100 feet over Philipsburg – he was not kidding although it may have been closer to 300 feet over downtown.

...Jim