Here’s a summation of our recently completed trip to St Martin and Orient Beach.
Weather
During the period that we were there, we had a lot of rain <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" /> but mostly at night and some in the early mornings. A lot of folks considered it a “washout” but we were only “washed out” for two of the 20 days that we were there. A couple of mornings we had rain early, but it stopped and we were able to hit the beach around 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon and get in a good three or four hours of “beach time”. So, for us, it certainly WASN’T a washout trip at all.
Travel
All of our flights were on American Airlines. Denver to Dallas to Miami - overnight in the Miami Airport Hotel (both ways) - then on to SXM on the 11:10 AM flight departure the following day. Yes, we could make it in one day from Denver but you wouldn’t arrive SXM until 7:35 PM. Couple that with waiting for luggage, getting the rental car and driving to L’Hoste, and you wouldn’t get to your hotel until perhaps 9:30 or 10:00 PM, and that we don’t want to do. Also, we try to use our American frequent flier miles when we can and you’re limited to what flights are available.
All of our flights went well with a few comments. American is now flying the smaller 737 from Miami into SXM. We don’t like that aircraft nearly as much as the 757’s they used to use. Ditto on the return.
Arrived SXM right on time - in fact a little early at about 2:10 PM. Cleared customs in about 15 minutes - lines weren’t too bad. Didn’t have to wait too long for our luggage and Marius of St Louis Car Rental was there to meet us as usual with a smile and his friendly “SXM greeting”. Over the years, Marius has been wonderful to rent from and this year was no exception. He initially put us in a SUV, which I really didn’t want. But he told us he had a smaller vehicle coming in the next day and that he would switch it out for us in two days. He drove to L’Hoste and switched out the cars as promised and we now had a cute little i10 Hyundai. It was a GREAT little car for the two of us. I noticed a LOT of those i10’s running around SXM - there must have been a large shipment of those vehicles that arrived on SXM recently. The size is “just right” for driving around SXM in my opinion.
On the return trip, Miami was a certified “ZOO” <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" /> to try and get through. Our flight arrived on time. But the walk from the gate to customs reminded me of our morning walks on Orient Beach - couldn’t have been much shorter :>). Didn’t think we’d EVER get to Passport Control. We walked “forever” in one direction (of course, many of the moving walkways were not working) and then made a 180 and walked for another distance back in the direction from which we came before coming to Passport Control. Long, LONG lines at every position. Finally cleared control with no problems and then it was down to get our luggage which was waiting for us since we took so long to get TO and THROUGH Passport Control. Then it was pure chaos trying to get through customs. No lines, just people, elbow to elbow, pushing side to side to try and get to one of the customs positions - what a ZOO. My own opinion is that they ought to just tear down the Miami airport and start again from scratch. I absolutely HATE flying through Miami but don’t have much choice if I’m using FF miles and that’s the only connection available. Overnighted in the airport hotel again and grabbed a flight out back to Denver the next day with no problems. The airport hotel may not be the cheapest in the area but it’s SO convenient not having to catch a taxi to and from the airport. We’ve stayed there before and have no issues with the hotel at all.
Accommodations
I’ve already mentioned the airport hotel and won’t repeat that here. We again stayed at our favorite little hotel, L’Hoste on Orient Beach. We just plain LIKE staying at L’Hoste so we keep coming back year after year. You can’t beat the location convenient to the beach and to Orient Village for small shopping and restaurants. Sarah, Kelly and Diddy at the front desk are ALWAYS just wonderful - attentive to all our needs. The ladies serving breakfast at the pool cabana are likewise, wonderful. No issues at all with the room - clean, spacious, small refrigerator / stove / sink, nice bathroom, comfortable king-sized bed, good A/C, excellent daily maid service - what more can one ask.
Dining
This was NOT a gastronomical <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> trip. We picked up many of our evening meals right around the village. Pizza from Tap 5, a few meals from Safari, etc. Good fresh bread, cheese and pate’ made for a few evening meals also.
We ate at Spicy, one of our all-time favorite restaurants in Grand Case. Sophie was there to greet us and pampered us with service. As always, the food was EXCELLENT and the service, outstanding.
Our stay in SXM wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Sunset Café - not the Sunset Beach Bar mind you, but the Sunset Café, at the Grand Case Beach Club. We’ve always been happy with the meals there and this trip was no exception - and the view of the sunset is fabulous. Sandra, at the bar, is a good friend and it’s always a pleasure to see her. We ate there twice during our stay
A couple of evenings, during our first week at L’Hoste, they had a BBQ around the pool at 6 PM. We dined there twice and the food was excellent. They grilled the BBQ right there by the pool and it was served with a large serving or flavored rice and some excellent cole slaw. Chicken, ribs, etc. all were very good and for $10 per person, couldn’t be beat. Unfortunately, those were the last two days they had the BBQ because they stopped it for low season.
Just loved the wonderful French cheeses and pate’ from US Market. Couple that occasionally, with a loaf of French bread and a nice bottle of French wine and my evening meal works out just fine.
As usual, we ate numerous lunches at Andy & Cheryl’s with friends. I’ve read some of the negative comments about Andy but we’ve never had ANY bad experiences there. Cheryl is always there to greet you with a hug, and Adrian, Judy and Ross are friendly and on their game. Andy, well Andy is just being “Andy”. He’s been nothing but courteous and nice to us over the years we’ve been eating there. Yes, he’s a “character” but I’ve met a LOT of “characters” whom I call “good friends” and Andy is certainly that category. Don’t take him so seriously and you’ll be just fine. I won’t go into details but Andy has helped me out on more than one occasion where he went above and beyond the expected.
We also ate lunch a number of times at Le’String. Their mussels steamed in a white wine and onion sauce and served in a steaming, covered pot is excellent <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />. The French bread dipped into the drippings is a meal in itself. Joan and I always shared one order and it was always plenty. BTW, it COMES with a large order of fries at no additional charge. Oh, they also serve you complimentary flavored rum shots at the end of lunch. Joseph, behind the bar, Leon (I think I’m correct on the name there) and Jean are friendly and efficient and fun to hang with over a beer or lunch.
Other Experiences
Bumped into Peggy (from Peggy & Paul’s cruise) on the beach one day and enjoyed talking with her. Tried to book P&P for a cruise but they were full so it will have to be another time. The trip we made with them last November was awesome and we were looking forward to doing it again this time but it didn’t pan out.
Joni bought a new swimsuit from Luiz (like she needed another :>), but I’ll be the first to tell you I wanted her to get it. Luiz does such a great job with his custom suits. When we picked up the suit, Luiz didn’t think the fit of the top was “just right” and he wouldn’t let Joan take it until he had a chance to “tweak it” for the perfect fit. We picked it up the next day. Joan looks GREAT in it.
We met quite a few “old friends” and met a lot of new ones during our stay <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />. Bob & Sandy from Boston (our early chair buddies at Club O). Mike & Linda (Mike is “gitter” on TTOL). Wayne & his wife, “Louie” from Virginia who are very good friends with Andy - Wayne was instrumental in the construction of Andy & Cheryl’s new place year before last. Our good friends, Bill & Karen from Carolina spent a week at L’Hoste with us and we hung with them most every day. John & Misty and Allen & Molly from Cincinnati & Kentucky - lots of fun with these guys. We finally got to meet “Doctor J” and his wife Debbie and had a BALL with the beach ball races. Larry & Kathy from Virginia were our “chair mates” at Club O for about a week. We also met Paul & Carolyn and their little dog, Lucy, off the boat, Cattitude anchored in the bay. Hey, isn’t this what it’s all about? Renewing old friendships and making new ones. What a GREAT place - Orient Beach and Club O. Friendly, outgoing people who NEVER meet a “stranger” and who welcome you into their group and beach conversations at the drop of a hat - since there‘s not much else for one to drop <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />.
For those of you who may be interested, I’m including a link (below) to our travel page on ShutterFly where I’ve posted a little slide show video entitled “A Walk on Orient Beach”. It’s not professionally done by any means but if you’d care to see it, it’s there. We took one of our morning walks one morning and I had the camera along, from Mount Vernon to Club O, and I snapped some pictures. The pictures are taken looking “in” from the water’s edge so you get the views of Mount Vernon, to Boo Boo Jam, to Palm Beach, to Coco Beach, ……..to Kon Tiki…….to Andy & Cheryl’s…..etc. Hope you enjoy it. When it’s cold and snowy up here this winter, Joni and I will pull out this video and dream about our walks on Orient Beach.
http://jerryjoanopenaccess.shutterfly.com/All the best to ALL of our SXM friends and to those we are yet to meet.
Jerry & Joan <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />
