What a trip! This was our 8th time to the island, and our 4th time staying there. 10 days and all were spent on Orient Beach except one at Friars. Weather was perfect. Only about twenty minutes of rain the entire trip. We'll be back in October for a day on our family cruise with the kids and grandma!

Hotel:
We stayed at the Townhouse Menorca #3. It was very nice. Full kitchen and air conditioning in the bedroom. There was also a washing machine that we used often. No dryer, but we hung the close up outside on a rack that they had and they were dry within a few hours. There were a couple of negatives. The living area downstairs had no air conditioning. With the windows open it wasn't really needed, but the bugs were terrible. So we kept the windows closed and sat under the ceiling fan. It wasn't bad, but we'd prefer a/c throughout. The other problem was that the water went out for several hours on two different days. This was no fault of the villa, but it was a pain. I had a medical condition that needed a shower or bath available. We worked it out though. Next year, we're looking to find a villa at orient that has full air conditioning. The guy who gave us our keys mentioned that carribean riviera has a/c throughout, so we'll look into that.

Flights:
We flew American Airlines from Orlando through San Juan. Flight down was fantastic. No delays and got to fly first class from Orlando to San Juan. Flight back was the flight from hell. First we were delayed in St. Maarten for about forty minutes because of the volcanoe in Monsaratte? They had to get extra fuel in case we had to fly around the volcanic ash. After that flight we were running like fools in the San Juan airport with no shoes on trying to catch our flight to Orlando before it leaves. Well, we make it to the flight, and then sat on the plane for three hours because a radar station lost power in the Turks and Caicos. We finally took off about 7 PM and got to Orlando at 10PM. Although I call it the flight from hell, I much rather be delayed for extra fuel than flying through ash and have the planes engines die, and I'd rather sit for three hours in the airplane than flying over the Turks when the radar went down and fly into another plane. I figure if that is the worse that happened on our vacation we did pretty good.

Car:
We used Alain Arnell. We've used him every time. We had a Suzuki Vitara. We always get a jeep. Driving around the island is one of my favorite things about St. Maarten.

Casino:
This was our first time going to the Princess Casino. We are now hooked. It seems so much nicer than the other casinos. They even put the NASCAR race on for us on the big screen. We went here four times. This was also the first time we went to Atlantis. It was really strange because the parking lot was packed, but the casino was empty. I guess the restraunts there do good business. Also went to the casino by the movie theatre with the sports book before we saw Mission Impossible III. Casino and the movie weren't any good.

Beach:
At orient we spent all days but one at La Playa. Ten bucks for chairs, tables, and umbrella. Two of the days we had coupons from St. Maarten Nights magazine and only paid five bucks. We went to Waikiki once and they charged us $19 for the day. We didn't go back. The weather was perfect on Orient. The breeze kept it nice and cool while the sun was nice and hot.
At friars beach we took chairs that the villa had. We really don't care for either of the two restraunts on that beach. The breeze hear was stronger than orient. The sand was blown in our face several times. We only stayed a couple of hours. The water was nice and calm though.

Phone:
Used Sharon Harris. The phone worked great. We had our home number forwarded to our cell from Sharon and got all our calls.

Food:
We don't get to fancy in our restraunt selections. We have a habit of sticking to the same places.

Ric's - We went there about 7 times for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This has been a favorite of ours since the first time we went to the island. Had never had the Etna ice cream until this trip. It was very good.

Greenhouse - We usually go more often, but this time we only went once for dinner. Very good as usual. It was there big Tuesday night party, but my wife wanted to go back to the villa and sleep after we ate. Oh well, maybe next time.

Le Pimment - I'm not sure if I spelled it right, but this a Italian place in orient village. This was the first time we stayed right by the village, and now we will always stay in this same area. It is so cool at night. It feels like you are in Europe, though I've never been. My wife says the Carbanara was the best she's every had. I loved the pizza, although it takes a second to another place yet to be mentioned. We ate here three nights for dinner. The waitress was a sweetheart.

Tap 5 pizza - This pizza got my first place vote. I think we got pizza here for lunch or dinner about four times. The french guys who work there are really nice. They make you feel like you are at home walking to your neighborhood restraunt.

Tap 5 grocery store - I'm putting them in here because I bought breakfast stuff here and made it in the villa about half the time. Baguettes and crossaints were to die for. Fresh every morning.

Peg Leg Pub - Only got to go once this time, but still the best steak we have anywhere. The fancy steak places here at home don't compare. I think Sean should run for Mayor or Governor of the island. He's a celebrity there!!

Le Fish Bar - I had breakfast here once while the wife slept in. Very good. Nice atmosphere.

La Playa - Had lunch here. Very good.

It was a great trip. We cannot wait to get back. The traffic was pretty bad, but if there is anywhere I want to sit in traffic it's St. Maarten.