FLIGHTS
Our AA non-stop flights from JFK-SXM and the return went without a hitch. Thank goodness there were no snow sotrms on either day.
ACCOMODATIONS
We spent our first week at The Atrium in a 1 bedroom fifth floor oceanview unit compliments of Cheap Caribbean's St. Martin Special, can't beat the price. Had never stayed there before and probably wouldn't have if it hadn't been the only 1 bedroom unit available, but it turned out to be very nice. It's not a property with alot of land and amenities, but since we spend most of our time at different beaches, it was fine for us.
The unit was very clean and had everything we needed in the kitchen and had a beautiful view from the balcony. If you are a pool person, the pool area is very small.
Our second week we had friends come down and join us , so we moved to the Royal Islander to a 2 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom unit on the sixth floor facing the ocean. We rented this through the Royal Islander's homeowners board. A great place to pickup timeshare weeks that people are not going to use or are also looking to sell. We had stayed at the RI last year, so knew we would be happy there. If you don't like to watch planes land and take off, and the noise that goes along
with that, you may not like this property. We love it and never get tired of watching, but they are noisey.
DINING EXPERIENCES
BREAKFAST most of the time was eaten in. We really enjoy
our coffe on the balcony looking at the view. Went to Zee Best to have breakfast twice and went a couple of times to buy croissants to take back to the unit or eat on the way to the beach....love those almond croissants! Good to see Danny again and sure is convenient to have him in Simpson Bay. Had brunch at Hot Tomatoes the day we were leaving and it was our second try at this place. Neither experience was very good. Service is always slow and food is just ok. We always give a place a second chance, but I don't think there will be a third chance here.
LUNCH
BAYWATCH is at the top of the list for us. Good to see Andy and Cheryl, they always make you feel so welcome and like they just saw you last week and not 52 weeks ago. Had alot of laughs and all the food was great, especially the fried
calamari, but don't ask for the marinara sauce alittle hot..wow..it's alot hot! Grouper sandwich was also delicious.
LE PETIT AUBERGE is usually a place we go twice during our stay, but never for lunch before. We were in Marigot so we decided to stop in and make a reservation for dinner and decided to stay and have lunch. We had the most unusual pizza with the crust being the same as they use for their quice. It was quite different and very good accompanied by a great salad.
LE GALION had good chief salads at the beach restaurant, I think it's Pat's. Great salad large enough to share next time and wonderful dressing.
TALOULA MANGOS had lunch there the day we went shopping in Philipsburg. Had a great lunch there last year, but not so great this year. We asked the waitress if they had changed management and she said "no". Service was terrible, and I mean terrible. Had pizza and one was crispy and one was practically raw. Definitely will try someplace else next year.
KANGAROO COURT was recommended to us and we gave it a try. While sitting in their courtyard area I had more bugs etc. fall in my lunch than I care to remember. Also some berry thing landed on my seat and all over my white pants. Needless to say I wasn't happy with that. Food was ok, but need a new place to go during our next shopping trip.
THE MARKETPLACE at Cupecoy provided us with lunch most other days. A baguette and some ham and cheese to go was great for us. They also have the best potato salad and cole slaw which also goes great if you're getting ribs to go from your favorite place.
DINNER
PEG LEG PUB has been our first stop for the last few years and will continue to be...just sorry we ran out of time and didn't get back again. Meal was great and Shawn is always entertaining.
PIZZA PASTA is also a favorite we discovered last year and
made it there twice. Have never had such wonderful bolognese sauce. Wish we could buy some and take it home with us. Maybe we'll have to talk to Ilda next time about bottling it! A great time, great food and very inexpensive. Not a place for lingering over dinner a long time though.
HALSEY'S became a new favorite of ours. Ate there once before our friends joined us and decided we had to go back a second time when they arrived. Nice atmosphere, great food. Had the scallops and shrimp with risotto twice it was that good. Also rack of lamb and beef tenderloin were excellent.
JOHNNY B'S UNDER THE TREE was a first time there. Ate
lobster dinners there the first time. Wasn't crazy about the "butter like" sauce they put on the lobster, but knew we would love the lobster with plain melted butter. Decided to go back 2nd week and just get the lobsters without the sauce on them and take them home and eat with melted butter. They were delicious.
POULET D'ORLEANS was an experience that turned out to be alot of fun. Had read many reports on this place and decided to try them. When we found that there was only one other couple there, we were alittle worried. When they received their food and started to rave, we knew it was ok. We also struck up a good conversation with first timers to SXM and had a really nice evening. We took our friends back the second week, because it's something you just have to show your friends and have them experience it. Tony was a great host and the ribs were fall off the bone wonderful and so was the sauce. Chicken and shrimp scamp style was also great. Can you imagine starting a restaurant on your front porch with 6 tables and be able to make a living in the US?
THE HIDEAWAY at LaVista was on our list last year, but we waited too long and couldn't get a reservations, so we decided to do it as soon as we arrived. It was worth it. The atmosphere is very nice and the food was wonderful. Desserts were to die for, even the chocolate and coconut ice cream was delicious. Service was alittle slow, they definitely needed more help that night with a full house. Will definitely be on our list for next time.
LE PETIT AUBERGE was wonderful. Always enjoy the food, mic mac the dog, Bruno and Francoise the owners. How Francoise does her magic in the kitchen with such a small staff is amazing. Their fixed price menu is always so good.
Had marlin for the first time and enjoyed it very much. Husband had the frog's legs and said they were very good.
Their chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and sauce is to die for.
L'ALABAMA was our last dinner on the island and most definitely the most wonderful. Had skipped going there last year to try some other places in Grand Case, won't skip them again. The ambiance is wonderful, the staff was very attentive. Food was an orgasmic experience! We had either salads or soup, the onion was delicious, entrees shrim, duck, beef tenderlion and monk fish, and desserts...you can't leave desserts out here. With some wines and a few beers our bill was only $189 with a 15% tip already included. What a great
place.
ENTERTAINMENT
THE RED PIANO BAR at the Pelican was the best night out.
Jeff Abbott is some entertainer and we went there twice and enjoyed it very much. You can dance there if you like or just sit back and enjoy this man's talents. One of the only nights we were out past 1AM! We also saw a very nice couple we had met at a TTOL party last fall at Contessa's, but I'm having a senior moment and can't remember their names....if you happen to read this please refresh my memory. So sorry!
CASINOS....hit the one at Port D'Plaisance, Dolphin and Royale, but only HIT at Casino Royale. Made a few bucks to have fun with the rest of the trip.
SHOPPING is entertainment for my girlfriend and I. In fact she had heard me talking about the jewelery shopping for years and seeing my trinkets that they finally decided to come and visit with us last year and returned this year. Now they are hooked also. We leeave the guys on the beach for the day and enjoy ourselves on Front Street, which I must say is greatly improved this year. Now if they get going on the 500 space car parking area I read about, it will make going to Front St. easier.
DK GEMS had a great time with Deepti and also enjoyed talking to Jeff. What nice people they are and what beautiful things they have in their shop. So of course we now own some new bling bling. But thanks to Deepti for making us feel like we were going to "The Oscars""! If I win the Lottery, that will be the 2nd place I go...the 1st will be to a real estate agent in SXM!
Also took our friends to the open air market in Marigot one morning and also to see the fancy mall.
BEACHES
Spent a day at Dawn Beach for the first time and was very nice. Most of the time we were at Orient, our favorite. Also enjoyed Mullet when it was too windy for Orient.
TTOL PARTY would have liked to have gone to one, but when we saw how many people were at the SSBB for Super Bowl, we opted to stay in and watch the game. Hope next time we get to meet more people from TTOL. Did talk to Carol and Eric Hill at Baywatch, but at the time we didn't know who they were.
Well sorry for this realllllllly long report, but could go on and on about what a wonderful time we had again in SXM. My one wish is to get back again before next year...oh well one can dream!