Wonderful week in paradise once again. Our 9th trip to SBH.

We flew from Boston on USAir via Charlotte, then on the SBH with WinAir. High marks for USAir. With codesharing, you can check bags all the way thru to SBH. Flights were on time and smooth. In St Martin, went thru Transit Gate, thereby avoiding "mess" of Immigration/recheck bags/tax window, etc. Just went thru security to gate.

We stayed at Hotel Le Toiny. Wonderful. Individual private villas with your own PRIVATE plunge pool. We bring a double float to lounge around in.So decadent. They bring breakfast each morning set up on your pool/patio deck. Wonderful service.

Weather: we arrived at the end of that AWFUL 2 week monsoon spell that dumped lots of rain on St MArtin and ST Barts (no damage like in BVIs and USVIs though. There was flash flooding. It cleared Sun pm and the rest of the week was ideal. It was like the Caribbean vomitted all the clouds.

The beaches were wonderful. Favorites were Saline and Gouverneur. Very uncrowded.

Favorite restaurants were Le Gaiac (at Le Toiny), Esprit de Saline, Wall House, and La Gloriette. Great lunches at La Saladerie in Gustavia, La Plage on St Jean Beach.

Great shopping for ladies shoes and handbags at Laurent Effel, Vanny Rum at M'Bolo in Gustavia, cosmetics at Le Ligne St Barth.

Both St Martin and St Barts were the greenest we have ever seen, probably because of all the rain.

Sand Gravity hit hard and lots of Caribs, books, naps, and whatever ensued.

Going home went well. We did the early check in with USAir then the restaurant in the terminal at Princess Julian Airport, wathching all the jumbos land. Then the ZOO of the departure terminal waiting for departure. Plane left 15 min late. We connected in Charlotte. Many people had "tight" connections and USAir did a great job of moving us thru. It only took 20 -25 min from opening the door to thru customs. I think most everyone made their connections. I know the BWI flight was held for some folks. We had opted for the later BOS flight so as not to be "rushed" and had dinner in the airport. Arrived home about midnight exhausted from the trip but refreshed from our week.

Again, high marks to USAir. Checked bags from enty point to final destination both ways (course we had to retrieve for Customs in CLT, but that was no big deal--only had to wait 5-10 min for that).

Already counting the days til we go back....