We have not be to SXM for a land vacation since 2007, due to terrible sickness, etc., even tho we made a one day stop by way of cruise back in 2011 so I will give our observation and/or thoughts of our wonderful trip.

We flew from PHL to CLT to SXM and then SXM back to PHL with some minor issues/weather story, but the airplanes did what they do and I'm here to tell the story, so that takes care of that part.

We stayed at Alamanda Resort, for that is where we started back in 2003 and we wouldn't think of going to another resort by reason of Vincent, Geraldine and other members of the staff are so wonderful and accommodating, who could ask for more; the grounds, rooms and pool area are just beautiful, also the location on Orient Beach with the use of Kakao Beach and Cedric and Nicholas handling the drinks and food, of which I might add are just delicious. As for the Big Man who handles the lounges, etc., he can be rude, and we just commented to ourselves "He is not Phillipe" who was wonderful to deal with.

As for our car rental when we first went to SXM we hooked up with a taxi driver named "marcus" who also rents cars under the firm named Justice Car Rental which is located in Grand Casa, well after our second visit and we knew where we wanted to go we have been dealing with him since, meets us at the Airport, takes us to the gas station in Grand Casa and off we go, at the end reverse the trip. For us he is a wonderful, knowledgeable person and again wouldn't want to deal with another person.

We went Andy and Cheryl's for breakfast on three separate days as we have had done in the past. We are usually up around 7-7:30, etc., walk up or down the beach and then to the restaurant, we got there before 8:00 and saw the sign stating breakfast starts at 8:00, found that to be strange, but anyway we went up in and Cheryl brought us coffee and I brought Andy a New York Post because I knew he cares for that paper, thanked me, then went to sit down for Cheryl to take my order, etc., at this time I said to my wife "where is Adrian and why is it so subdued here", well anyway after the food was delivered I asked Cheryl "is Adrian not with us anymore" and she said "NO", not cold or anything like that, but I decided to leave the subject alone. Well any way for the remaining two times we went there it was the same and to us the atmosphere was not the same as is was the five previous years, live goes on. But for us they have the best American Style breakfast on the beach. By the way each day our bill came out to be about $18-$20 and a 20% service was added to the bill, so I gave George some small extra money. As a matter of fact, besides Barefoot Terrace in Phillipsburg was the only time I saw any service charges added to the bill.

Before I left home I asked about other places for breakfast and Paradise View was mentioned. So on one of the other days we decided to try it, we knew they didn't open until 8:00 so we left our hotel shortly before and got there about 8:05 and a lady mentioned they will be here shortly, well at 8:15 a guy showed up and said "we will be ready in a short while", we said "we will come back later", so we left and never went back, the view is beautiful, but be careful with the parking lot and driving/walking for the potholes you could fall in. After that we decided to try Radisson Hotel, well after mountainous climb up and down we were able to find the hotel restaurant. The grounds and hotel are beautiful, couldn't ask for a better scenery. They serve a breakfast buffet that was more than enough for us. When I went to pay the bill came to $65.00 for two. It was a very expensive experience for us. One and done.

Our other breakfast was at Barefoot Terrace in Phillipsburg for our one day shopping trip, as we have always done that in the past. The view of the cruise ship and surrounding area, for us is just wonderful. In our opinion what they have done to that area since our first trip by way of cruise back in 1993 is just outstanding. Of all the cruise ports we have been to, other than Key West, that one is at the top of our list.

On the four nights that we went out to dinner we stayed in the court yard area behind Alamanda Resort and found everything we wanted and the food was very good, somewhat expensive, but being on vacation that is what we and others do. On the other two nights we went to Grand Casa and had dinner on both occasions at the Talk of the Town, very good and very affordable.

On the last day as it has been our tradition to go to Sunset Beach, watch some airplanes, eat, drink some more and then go to airport. Well this year, as we haven't been there since 2007, we couldn't believe it with the amount of bars and people there, our taxi driver said to us "this not as bad as it can be", well we didn't drink, just got me a new T-Shirt and off to airport. No matter what people think of this Bar from back in time to the present, in our opinion it was always exciting and now I would think it is one of the most profitable places on SXM. And topless girls still drink for free. By the way when we left our airplane took off in the opposite direction, that was a first for us.

So in a summary for us after all these years that we haven't been there, we had wonderful days/weather on the beach, plenty of drinking/food/conversations. But at night time we had difficulty of going out for dinner, and I just don't like driving anymore, not to mention dark roads, potholes and finding parking spaces. So between us it seems a cruise vacation for us meets all of our needs and entertainment venues.


PS, I forgot to mention that at the Airport some of the women personnel who work there need to go to Pleasantry Adjustment School.

Sincerely, Ron and Carla M <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />