Planning to visit early September. Have any closings of restaurants been announced? Just beginning to salivate.

Hello Jerry,

Not sure if we will be crossing paths as because of time share weeks falling late this year we actually will be at RI for week 34 with two extra days at the end from August 26 to September 4.

Long story but we booked air, car and the first week villa without actually checking the dates, RI was nice to switch our week

We have 8 days up in Orient before going down to Maho.
Wife already has list of restaurants that we want to visit that are open before closing
We plan on trying some new restaurants this year based on recommendations from TTOL while about 80 % are the usual
September 1 seems to be the date that most vacations start

We are so looking forward to relaxing and some great meals

Hello!!

Finally getting a chance to get out of SW Florida.

Duties as HOA President have complicated things since Ian whipped thru here. Still have many details before we are whole again.

Probably staying @ RI LaPlage using an RCI trade Sept. 3 - 10. Our other choice if this one becomes unavailable is Belair. Currently trying to pull all details together in the next couple of days. Air, car, condo, and Park/Sleep/Fly in MIA. Looks like we might get a chance to say HELLO in the RI pool.

Hope you are both well.

Hi All,

We are in SXM the last 2 weeks of September. Here is our tentative list for dining. We have no idea which will be closed. Any additions or comments welcomed.

Based on previous experience:
Vesna Taverna - breakfast or dinner
JAX
Sint Maarten Yacht Club - Breakfast or happy hour
Lal's
Chesterfields
Mama Pizza - Porto Cupecoy
Bamboo House - Thursday night jazz
Reveil - breakfast
Le Sucurei - breakfast
Avantika - Happy hour on Friday
Sal & Pepe
Beirut - we are not smokers but we do try the hooka pipe here
The Palms

Some that we have not previously tried:
Mezzaluna
The New Calmos Cafe - recently reopened, want to try this.
Little Jerusalem but it looks interesting.
Emilios -
Cool Heur - Lunch

Jerry--best to make those reservations at Park n Fly ASAP, as they sell out!

Regarding September closings, most Dutch side places stay open regardless. More French side restaurants close than Dutch side restaurants.

we would have been at RI for that we if we didn't mix up our week


Here's some of the restaurants we checked, many on French side since we are up there for 8 days before

Mario's closes August 27

Les Galets in Orient reopens sept 1
Maison Mere Orient closes sept
Le Petite Bistro Orient closes sept
Anse Marcel Beach closes 8.27
Jax will be open 6 days a week
Cupecoy Brasserie open sept
Spaghetti house open
Bistro Caraibes open
Jai's Indian open
L'Atelier Orient reopen sept 7
Amore open
Astrolab closed
Pizza Italy open
L'Auberge Gourmand closed
Emilio's open
Rainbow Beach open
Java Grand Case closed
Roma closes sept 4
Bistronome closed
Le Cottage closed sept
La Villa closed
Orange fever open
Le Piedmont open
Spigga closed
Le Pressoir closed

Bamboo House - Thursday night jazz -- I like this, where else good LIVE music? I always like to dine where there is entertainment...or beachside lunch, cocktails with music! Hey I'm SingBeach! Why do so many restaurants close in September? I would have thought they close in summer, then reopen in fall?!?

You'll have to ask Irma......

September is the worst month for hurricanes, so many restaurant owners leave the island during that time. Summer is always busy with European visitors so they need to stay open.

Just received an email response from IZI. They will be closed for the month of September.

All details complete. I think. RCI trade into LaPlage. Cheapest ever @ 18,000 points for the week. Normally over 100,000 points. Car w/Lesley Bruce. Air from MIA finally dropped a bit. Saved $600 by cutting our trip short by 1 day. Park/Sleep/Fly @ MIA Embassy Suites booked.

Last item is to secure a cat sitter for the week. Most of our friends and neighbors from here in SW Florida are at their summer home up north. Does anyone have experience with using a service like Rover for home visits to feed and care for a pet? There are quite a few in this area listed in their database.

Curious as to what kind of rate you got for the Park/Sleep/Fly package. When I have looked at them in the past, the cost for the parking portion of the stay has been astronomical.

As far as pet sitters, we have been extremely lucky over the years in that respect, as we had family close for a long time and since arriving here in Florida, we have had only two long time pet sitters. If it were ME, I would feel very uncomfortable about using someone just off the internet. I might perhaps contact my vet and ask if they have any of their employees that do pet sitting, or ask them for a recommendation.

The Park/Sleep/Fly package was $206. Room + up to 8 days of parking. Shuttle runs 6:30 a.m. to midnite. I thought that was Ok for an Embassy Suites w/happy hour & breakfast. We have stayed there before when traveling to St. Kitts from ORD.

Our vet does do boarding but we think kitty will be happier in familiar surroundings. None of her employees do this on the side, She suggested Rover and earmarked a couple of trustworthy sitters.

Unfortunately this is "snowbird country". If this was anytime in Nov. - May it would be easy. Owners @ our condo complex normally filter back starting around Halloween and multiply after the 1st of the year. Our immediate neighbors have helped out before but they are home in WI & MD respectively. Recovery from Ian has complicated the issue as many condo units are not yet habitable. Quite a few owners are not returning until next spring when the reconstruction process should be completed.

Jerry--that's not bad. We normally stay about 10-11 days, and the parking has been like $10 a day on top of the hotel.

Oh, for sure, our "kids" stay at home when we go away and they are happier than being boarded. We have never boarded any of ours, except for our first dog, who had to have insulin shots. I am somewhat surprised that the vet didn't have any actual recommendations for specific pet sitters. Best wishes!