TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin First three days report October 2021

This is regarding our first three days on island. Due to missing any trip to SXM in 2020, we decided to treat ourselves to two trips to SXM in 2021. We did our regular June trip to Beachside Villas, which was WONDERFUL, as usual. But we decided to do something different this trip, which is a condo on the ocean in Pelican Key, at a complex called Pelican Cove.

It's just past Coral Shores on the ocean, if you know where that is.

I will do a separate note about testing, approval, etc. to keep that out of the actual report.

We booked using AA Frequent Flyer miles, for 10 K miles each way, for flights with assigned seats. We initially booked only 7 days, but wanted to have the option to extend for a day, so booked two one way trips and did end up changing to 8 days from 7. We got up at 3 AM for the 3.5 hour drive to Miami. We park our car at Miami Park N Fly. Price varies, but we paid around $10 a day this trip. It's very convenient. You drive up, hand the keys to the attendant, he gets your bags out of the car for you and hauls them over to the usually waiting shuttle. The shuttle takes you about 5 minutes to Miami airport. On the return, if you don't see a shuttle waiting, call them and they are usually there within about 5 minutes. You hand them your claim check and they call the facility and your car is waiting for you when you arrive back at the facility. Easy, peasy, highly recommended!!!

We arrived at Miami Airport around 7:30 AM for our 10:30 AM flight. On AA, you can't check in online for SXM. In June, 2021, we had over an hour wait in line to check in and almost that amount in security. Thank goodness, this time the check in line was only about 10 minutes max. They checked our EHAS documents in line before the desk and again at the desk. Security was again only maybe 15 minutes tops, so we were obviously way early at the gate. No problem. Our flight left exactly on time, and was almost full, which I was surprised at. Also, there seemed to be many younger people on the flight than normal and possibly a lot of locals. No problem with that, just an observation.

We arrived a few minutes early in SXM and were out of the airport, in our Travel Rental Car car within about 15 minutes, due to being at the beginning of the line. So, we were off to Pelican Cove. Constance the maid was still there cleaning when we arrived, which was good so that she could walk us through things. We headed out to Carrefour to get our groceries. We we back at the unit by 3:30 with said supplies. We had purchased the pre-seasoned ribs at Carrefour to have for dinner so we didn't have to head back out somewhere for dinner.
We took a dip in the pool and watched the sunset, which was a lovely show in a very clear sky.








I'm sorry I didn't make more pictures of Saba and the other islands which were so visible on the horizon. Saba has been gone since then, so hopefully she will reappear!


A snack of cheese and crackers, then an early dinner of ribs and potato chips for dinner and a very early night made a very successful first day!

Friday

Since we had gone to bed so early on Thursday evening, I was up early, and used the time to scope out the kitchen and various features of the condo. We headed over to Super U for some cheap wine and croissants and some condiments, etc we didn't get the day before, since we weren't sure if they would be at the unit or not. Lunch was burgers on the grill and we hung out for the afternoon at the unit.



Around 6:30, we headed out to Puerto Cupecoy, since we read there was live music at Rendevzous Lounge. The plaza was basically empty when we arrived, and we walked around to check out the menus at the various restaurants. We ended up at Mama Pizza and Pasta.



Eric had the ravioli with shrimps and scallops


His meal was from the specials menu



and I got kind of a meat lovers pizza.



Both were excellent although of course I only finished about half of my meal. Leftovers will probably provide snacks on Sunday.

Around 8 PM the music started and the plaza started filling up with a fair number of people. We had a very socially distanced dinner, at the outside of the seating for Pizza Pasta, closest to the plaza. We enjoyed the music and some nice people watching, including a couple of budding Olympic gymnists, using the fountain for their balance beam.

We were back home by around 9:30. Thus endeth another successful day.

Saturday

We had POURING rain around 6 AM on Saturday, which was kind of a bad weather omen for the day. The weather was WEIRD on Saturday, like pea soup all day. It didn't rain at all after we got up, but the weather was weird.



Breakfast was croissants, fruit and cheese. After breakfast, I sent Eric over to Carrefour to hunt for the cooked lobster, but alas, no luck. Otherwise, we had lunch and dinner on the grill and we hung out at the unit all day. We caught up on some much needed down time, napping and reading and just hanging out, at our very comfortable abode.














Thus endeth another very successful day, doing nothing much of anything, and recharging the batteries.

Nice report; sounds like a very relaxing trip so far. Surprised to not see you at BSV!

Nice unit. Like the views

Thanks for the update! The unit looks great, we would love having our own pool to lounge in. I truly wish i was better at posting photos--loved seeing yours! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

Linda--Just trying something new. It is nice to have a totally private pool. Lots more money though!!

TravelHat--I sure wish I had taken more pictures the first day. Hope Saba comes back!!

crsxm--It is a lovely indulgence, having your own pool..

Very nice…….🙂🙂

Nice section. Years ago we stayed at the first unit, 3 bedroom. At that time it was owned by Bobby Valins AKA “Villa Lady”, she sold it since. It was a corner unit with panoramic ocean views. New owners remodeled it and I think it is for rent also.
We really enjoyed the location. Did the same thing, change up to BSV.

Great and do enjoy your vacation.

snuba--we are kind of enjoying being on this end of Simpson Bay for a change.. I have seen pictures of that 3 bedroom in the past. Not sure which unit it is from here, but I think it's off to my left.

Pat and Lesley--thanks

It is the first one on the right, Canadian couple bought it. Next one was owned by American orthopedic surgeon at that time, third one was owned by American couple also. Don’t know after that. But I am talking about 10 years ago.

Is the pool area suitable for a little CO

TravelHat--Yes. Absolutely. Very difficult for anyone onshore to see you. Technically people on boats can see, but that's their problem.

snuba--OK, I guess I'm totally turned around then.

Good for you. Enjoy your self. So what it it cost more. If you don't spend it your beneficiaries will. Enjoy your stay.

Looks like a great vacation. As others stated, surprised to see you away from your beloved BSV...but this place looks pretty awesome too. i got a chuckle seeing the menu at Mama. When i looked at it first, i thought the prices were crazy expensive. the one looks more like a 4, Was going to comment about the ridiculous price of lasagna and most of the other entres, but then realized my mistake. LOL Never have been there, but if it tastes as good as it looks, we will give it a try in March!!! Enjoy your vacation.

Carol, welcome to the world of Sahara dust!

Looks like a great start to a well deserved vacation. Looking forward to the next report. Enjoy!

Elaine--is that what it was on Saturday? We have often been in SXM in June when there was Sahara dust, but nothing like that!! I sure hope we get to see Saba again. Thursday was incredibly clear.

Scuba--yeah, we don't have any kids, so what the h*ll??

Ed--the pizza was really good. We had leftovers for snacking, watching football yesterday.

Leagle--thanks!

We've only seen Saba a few days out of the last few months. Sahara dust worst we've seen.

Well, that sucks. OK.

Helping to keep the storms away, but tough on the eyes and lungs.

http://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/real-time/sal/salmain.php?&prod=split&time=

Yes, I have heard it helps keep the storms away.

The BVI yesterday issued, I think, their first ever air quality alert concerning the Sahara dust.
Below is the website I use for Sahara dust reports:

https://www.myfoxhurricane.com/saharan_dust_car.html

We stay in that unit, Villa Libre. Wonderful place!

Looking forward to your reports Carol.

Possibly have another segment to post tomorrow.

Indi, that unit is not Villa Libre. I would like to know the name though as we have stayed in Pelican Cove a number of times and it is a great location and the pools very private. This is Villa Libre: https://www.vrbo.com/66948

wofan, I believe Indi was responding to my post where I said we stayed at Villa Libre, “Jubelibra” at that time and not the place where Carol was staying.

Sera Bella.

Sera Bella link

Yes, I was responding to your post. Wofan must not have realized that.