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Trip Report (observatons)
#212575
12/31/2019 01:06 AM
12/31/2019 01:06 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 289 Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
PrairieGirl
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 289
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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Having just recently returned from two weeks at OBBR, as a long time owner I am pleased to report that the resort is looking very good after the post-Irma rebuild. Even the landscaping is looking lush! We were also very fortunate that there was only a small amount of sea weed to contend with and the water seemed much easier to enter (the waves were breaking farther offshore). With the destruction and subsequent removal of the Great House plus their affiliation with the Coral Beach Club, OBBR now has more chairs on a much larger section of Dawn Beach. We ate twice at the recently re-opened Big Fish and it is even better than ever! Le Oasis has new ownership and the food was very good there and for the first time we dined at BHZ (I guess I never realized before that they served supper!) which had a very nice atmosphere tucked away behind what you can see from the street with very good food as well. And of coure Quay Ouest didn't dissapoint, but it is so sad to see the remains of Captain Olivers. We really miss Canoa and to a lesser extent, Daniels. The restaurant on-site (Infinity) is much improved from past years. On previous visits we rarely chose to stay and dine on-site. For lunch yes, but rarely supper. Over the (many) years I never found the selections on offer worth the price point asked. On our recent trip, we enjoyed both the breakfast buffet and a three course price fixe dinner at Infinity. Not only did the price seem extremely reasonable at $24.95, the food was well presented and very good. There will be a brunch at Infinity on New Year's Day if those of you on island who didn't over celebrate the night before. menuAs most know, Mr. Busby's was completely destroyed (and has been cleaned up) but the section of it where Island Pizza was is still intact and has turned into a sales office for the Dawn Beach Club "body snatchers". It seems so odd that they are actively selling DBC when absolutely no work is being done on the Westin Hotel itself. The pool was re-done since it is used by DBC and you can see chairs and umbrellas on the beach for their use, but the hotel itself just sits there unoccupied with no sign of any work being done. Kind of reminds me of the old drive through Mullet Bay to get to the Towers for years after Luis. In contrast, the work going on at Royal Palm and the Flamingo is now quite obvious. While we were there the first two weeks of December there was a full two page ad in the Daily Herald looking for a large number of skilled trades (as in 50+ tile layers, 50+ductwork installers, etc.). The Dutch side in general looked better than I was anticipating only two years after Irma and surprisingly, the French side also. They have a long way to go, but at least there were many re-building projects underway, large and small. From all that I had read, I really wasn't expecting to see that level of reconstruction. Perhaps the majority of these projects have only started recently. We were fortunate that the protest only turned unruly the last two days of our trip and we had already been everywhere on the French side that we wanted to drive. I walk over to the observation tower at Bai Lucas every morning and stop for coffee at Bread and Butter on my way back, and experienced no troubles at all. And on another positive note, the interim government signed all of the necessary paperwork to get the funds released to finally start on the reconstruction of the rest of the airport. Right now maybe only about a third of the building is operational. We spent several days on the beach at Karacter and it was extremely relaxing. Their playlist is back to being something similar to when Jorritt was there. The chairs now have pads and are much more comfortable and the menu, while changed is still very satisfying. Great salad options! Walking the beach down to El Zafiro, I was shocked to see the number of chairs all crowded together. Must be a cruise ship beach destination now. Completely spoiled the atmosphere for me, but then while I loved the location, I was never a fan of the food. There was a fair bit of wind for our time on island, and some heavy rain overnight and the last few mornings, but it didn't bother us at all. We had friends along with us this trip who were experiencing Sint Maarten for the first time. When I asked them at the end of the trip what they thought of the island, their response was "We'd come back anytime, everyone here is so nice!. Funny how things go. Our first trip to Sint Maarten was in 1996 on the heels of Luis when the island was in full recovery mode and we felt exactly the same way. And still do!
LeAnn url=https://www.tickerfactory.com] [/url]
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212576
12/31/2019 02:00 AM
12/31/2019 02:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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Nice report. We really wanted to get back to l'Oasis for pizza but the roadblocks in French Quarter prevented it. It's very good - hopefully next trip. Thanks.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212582
12/31/2019 06:42 AM
12/31/2019 06:42 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559
Ohio
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Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had an enjoyable trip.
I find it odd at best that Flamingo/Royal Palm are advertising for that many workers 2+ years post-Irma. Sounds like a lot of work still to be done there and if duct work is not in it would likely indicate interior ceilings & walls are not in yet.
J.D.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: jazzgal]
#212613
12/31/2019 10:53 AM
12/31/2019 10:53 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 289 Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
PrairieGirl
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 289
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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Actually, we enjoyed 2 meals at Big Fish, about a week apart. My husband said that his Chilean Sea Bass with Lemongrass sauce was the best fish meal he had ever had (and he eats LOTS of fish) and our two guests proclaimed it their favourite restaurant of the trip.Both my meals were excellent as well. The only negative was that I felt the chef's dessert special, while creative and delicious was overpriced for what you received. YMMV
LeAnn url=https://www.tickerfactory.com] [/url]
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212615
12/31/2019 11:00 AM
12/31/2019 11:00 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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Thanks so much for the report. Sounds like you have created more SXM fans, in your newbie guests! Glad you had a nice time.
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212622
12/31/2019 11:24 AM
12/31/2019 11:24 AM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132 St Louis, MO
SXMNorm
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
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Thanks for your report and especially for trying and reporting on the restaurants in the Oyster Pond area. Owners of l'Oasis and Bread n Butter are the same, I think.
Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212645
12/31/2019 12:44 PM
12/31/2019 12:44 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654
Brookfield, CT.
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Very nice, LeAnn. So happy your trip went well.
We are fairly recently back from another post-hurricane trip and with each one we marvel at how far they’ve come from the Irma damage.
Except for the Towers, that is. Too many of us long time owners are now ready to write it off as a thing of the past. Hope to see you again on one of our trips in the future. The Passaat is a thing of the past but Miriam and Pieter have another boat and I’m sure their trips are still lovely.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#212675
12/31/2019 04:19 PM
12/31/2019 04:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,320 Vancouver, WA
Todd
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,320
Vancouver, WA
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Glad you had a nice trip, we actually for the first time since Karakter opened did not set foot there or anywhere on Simpson Bay Beach. Glad to hear that Karakter is doing well as I felt it was sliding in previous trips so did not make that a stop this trip. My mistake it seems! Cheers!
I prefer the Isle seat
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: PrairieGirl]
#213129
01/06/2020 09:45 AM
01/06/2020 09:45 AM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 880 Boston, MA
marge
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 880
Boston, MA
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I just wish Karakter wouldn’t put its beach chairs SOOOO close together. There is barely space to move between them.
marge
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: pat]
#213137
01/06/2020 11:10 AM
01/06/2020 11:10 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 836 Harriston
megamania
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 836
Harriston
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Do you know the name of the boat that has replaced the Passat? We really enjoyed our time when we went out with Miriam and Pieter on the Passat. Was sorry to see that it got hit during Irma.
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: megamania]
#213138
01/06/2020 11:14 AM
01/06/2020 11:14 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559
Ohio
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Do you know the name of the boat that has replaced the Passat? We really enjoyed our time when we went out with Miriam and Pieter on the Passat. Was sorry to see that it got hit during Irma.
No1SXM
J.D.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: SXMNorm]
#213153
01/06/2020 02:55 PM
01/06/2020 02:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,412 Rhode Island
RonDon
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,412
Rhode Island
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Thanks for your report and especially for trying and reporting on the restaurants in the Oyster Pond area. Owners of l'Oasis and Bread n Butter are the same, I think.
L"Oasis and Temps Cerice (grand case) were bought by the people who own Sol e Luna. Perhaps they own Bread N Butter as well?
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: panman]
#213194
01/07/2020 06:15 AM
01/07/2020 06:15 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559
Ohio
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Pat....wondering what became of the Passat? Loved their sunset cruise. Thanks. Not Pat but It sank during Irma.
J.D.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#213205
01/07/2020 09:46 AM
01/07/2020 09:46 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654
Brookfield, CT.
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Pat....wondering what became of the Passat? Loved their sunset cruise. Thanks. Not Pat but It sank during Irma. The Passat was an incredibly beautiful boat and a lovely and one of a kind sailing experience for SXM. Her loss due to that b itch, Irma, was truly a heartbreaker. We haven’t done No1SXM yet but I’m betting it will be a great experience, much as was any sail on the Passat.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: pat]
#213210
01/07/2020 10:03 AM
01/07/2020 10:03 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,559
Ohio
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We did a sunset cruise on No1SXM last March and enjoyed it.
J.D.
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Re: Trip Report (observatons)
[Re: panman]
#213261
01/07/2020 05:55 PM
01/07/2020 05:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,898 Portland, OR
jazzgal
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,898
Portland, OR
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Pat....wondering what became of the Passat? Loved their sunset cruise. Thanks. It sunk in the lagoon. I believe a mooring broke during Irma.
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