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Day 1.5 #246355
02/02/2021 05:01 PM
02/02/2021 05:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
J
johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
Started the day off in Cleveland, scraped ice and snow off the windshield at Marriott as we spent the night to get a little extra sleep for the 7am flight to Atl and then to SXM. Flight from Atlanta may have had 30 people on it. Sad

Landed in SXM, there were a couple other flights but I would say we were through lines in about 25 minutes and out the door to meet Michael at Unity for the rental car. Quick trip to his off site location and on the road. Met Melanie at our villa. Nice and friendly. She recently sold Le Pressoir restaurant in Grand Case and says she will buy another restaurant soon but waiting for COVID to run its course. Hung out in the villa for awhile and then off to Grand Case, wanted to get some drinks at Grand Case beach club but it was gated and couldn’t figure out how to get there. If anyone knows the workings of the place let us know as we’d like to catch a sunset there.

Settled at Blue Martini for some pre dinner drinks. We were early and as such wasn’t many there but seemed like a cool place. Our waiter mentioned that they have live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Melanie said the former owner of Calmos operates this restaurant along with one in Orient. After drinks walked around Grand Case to check out the menu boards. Had no intention of eating in Grand Case that night but wanted to preplan. The only restaurant that was really busy was Le Cottage but again it was early.

Walked back to the public parking lot (no one there to “protect our car” for a small fee this time). Drove a short distance to our go to first day dinner at Al Dente. Food superb as always. Got to excited and forgot to take pic before it was half gone. Dana and I both get the chicken Parmesan hers with Alfredo. The only issue we had this year was trying to get our check at the end of our meal. We waited around 40 minutes after our drinks and food were completely gone before we saw our waitress to ask for the check. She went completely awol as other tables came and went. Very frustrating. This is the only restaurant that we’ve always hit twice every year. Probably won’t happen this time.

Great night, took a walk to Happy Bay early morning while wife slept in. Danny increased the size of his bar so there is now tables on both sides. To the left of the bar was pretty much rocks as the waves were beating the shoreline pretty good. Who knows by tomorrow may all be filled in with sand again.

Attached Files 47F1E700-F756-4779-A623-65F4ADE9D246.jpegCA4E896B-CD55-4AE4-B30A-C3D38B555A15.jpeg9D6FB9FB-6118-4747-A9F1-98BA61CE72BC.jpeg
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Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246356
02/02/2021 05:04 PM
02/02/2021 05:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,471
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
thanks for the report and the pictures. The villa looks to be very close to the one we stayed at, above Happy Bay. Lovely area to stay!!


Carol Hill
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246358
02/02/2021 05:08 PM
02/02/2021 05:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
J
johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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Posts: 76
Don’t know why all the pics didn’t show up but will try to add more here

Attached Files C4869D2E-7015-4EFA-A3A5-79C169010130.jpeg851329A6-D023-40FB-B7D1-910AC1070FEF.jpeg15BA8D37-C65D-450A-8E49-272031D9FCD5.jpeg4DB8EA43-D243-47DF-A9EA-F5B17D2EE9B4.jpeg
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246359
02/02/2021 05:11 PM
02/02/2021 05:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Thanks for the report. No excuse for service like you mentioned, especially at a time like this. Glad you made it, enjoy!


J.D.
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: Carol_Hill] #246360
02/02/2021 05:12 PM
02/02/2021 05:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
J
johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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Posts: 76
Carol,
We are right beside it. Canoua was booked so chose this one. Too big for just two of us but it’s very nice.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246363
02/02/2021 06:26 PM
02/02/2021 06:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
What bar in the picture with that white building on the sand?

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246367
02/02/2021 06:44 PM
02/02/2021 06:44 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 122
Trinidad/Houston
Trinigerl Offline
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Trinigerl  Offline
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Trinidad/Houston
That's Danny's beach bar at Happy Bay.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246368
02/02/2021 06:45 PM
02/02/2021 06:45 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,471
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
johndana--Had you stayed at Canoua before? If so, how would you compare it?


Carol Hill
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246371
02/02/2021 07:38 PM
02/02/2021 07:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 656
Maine
SXMbeacher Offline
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SXMbeacher  Offline
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Maine
We love Al Dente also and usually hit it twice. Never had a service problem there though, so that's not good. Have a great trip!



Re: Day 1.5 [Re: Trinigerl] #246372
02/02/2021 07:53 PM
02/02/2021 07:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Auburn, WA
Thanks.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: SXMbeacher] #246374
02/02/2021 09:08 PM
02/02/2021 09:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
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johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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We’ve never had a service issue here before either, just a lot more places we want to try. I’m sure it was just a bad night.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: Carol_Hill] #246375
02/02/2021 09:11 PM
02/02/2021 09:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
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johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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We’ve stayed at Canoua several times and have it reserved again in September. Where we are staying now is nice but too big for just two. This is nicer, but Canoua is more affordable.

Not as big of a deal for us but it does have multiple levels and if steps are a problem this would be an issue.

Last edited by johndana274; 02/02/2021 09:12 PM.
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246384
02/03/2021 07:46 AM
02/03/2021 07:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
There's an intercom button at the gate to GCBC that you can push and they will open the gate for you to go to the restaurant and/or bar. There is also a walkway to the public beach access, and you can take that and then get into the bar and restaurant from the beach. Either way you need to park outside the gate.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246398
02/03/2021 11:35 AM
02/03/2021 11:35 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,471
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
johndana--thanks. Steps are a big problem for me.


Carol Hill
Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246409
02/03/2021 12:47 PM
02/03/2021 12:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 75
Niagara RegionOntario Canada
BeachCouple Offline
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BeachCouple  Offline
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Niagara RegionOntario Canada
We have been to the Grand Case Beach Club restaurant many times, wonderful food. In our opinion .We especially enjoy breakfast there. Marina is a wonderful host, The view is beautiful. We buzz the intercom at the gate and they have always let us drive in to go eat.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: BeachCouple] #246444
02/03/2021 05:53 PM
02/03/2021 05:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 76
J
johndana274 Offline OP
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johndana274  Offline OP
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Posts: 76
Thank you, I thought that might be the case but there was a car behind us and didn’t want to hold them up. We will give it another shot

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: johndana274] #246453
02/03/2021 06:52 PM
02/03/2021 06:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 43
M
MXS Offline
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Would love to see more Happy Bay pix. Danny's Bar is interesting. The area to the left has really washed away. Hope it makes a comeback.

Re: Day 1.5 [Re: GaKaye] #246488
02/04/2021 04:37 AM
02/04/2021 04:37 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content
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jazzgal  Online Content
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Portland, OR
Originally Posted by GaKaye
Either way you need to park outside the gate.


I have not found that to be true. Despite the signs, I have always driven right up to the buzzer and then parked right by the restaurant. They don't even ask why I am there - the gates just open.


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