First trip report. This was our 15th trip (most between 14 - 18 days). This trip was 11 days. Newbie couple with us first week (friends who we‘ve been trying to get to come with us for years). All of us have turned 50 within the last year. Patti’s 50th was the 16th, celebrating her birthday first time on island.

Following is kinda rambling, but here it is.

Flew AA Tampa to SXM through San Juan. Flights uneventful. Arrived sxm 10 minutes early, 1310.
Unity Car Rental waiting for us on arrival. Quick out of airport, paperwork completed and on our way. Rented cell phone from Sharon Harris (first time). Had phone and paperwork ready and was out of office within 5 minutes.

Stopped at Rics for arrival lunch. Something we always do; easy to keep an eye on car full of luggage.
Finished lunch then on to Grande March for provisions, then on to Belair. This was our first time not staying at Divi; other couple used RCI to exchange into Belair (couldn’t get Divi as they had several buildings out of service (being refurbished) and we stayed with them. Belair was ok, clean but kinda dated. 2 bedroom, 2 baths. 2nd bedroom VERY small. Nice balcony the length of the unit overlooking Little Bay and Saba.

As this was other couples first time staying on island., we went everywhere. We usually spend our days at Club O. Did the umbrella/chairs/parking 7 days for price of 5, use in 9 days thing ($100). Wound up there for 4 days during the first week (and everyday the following week). In all of our trips, I had never seen Orient with this much sand (especially in front of Pedro’s), and so few people. All week it was great, we had our choice of chairs (ending up in front of Perch). The weather was spectacular, never a hint of rain (all 11 days), gentle breeze (no sandblasting) and perfect water temperature. Very few people, little to no cruisers and perfect weather. Couldn’t have ordered a better 11 days.

A little hazy first day or two, but haze cleared up and we were able to see Saba, St. Kitts/Nevis and Statia from Little Bay. Very few cruise ships; most days had one or none. First time we have been where that had been so few cruise ships. Think there was 1 day (maybe 2 days) that there were 2 ships in, which also added greatly to the enjoyment of Orient. Just doesn’t get any better.
Mango Colada’s at the Perch. Good to see Willie again, but I gotta tell ya, the guy who works Sunday and Monday (Darren/Darrell ?) blows her away. He had fresh mango’s everyday, and was very liberal using them (and rum) in his drinks!

Wednesday we went to Anguilla. Liked the new a/c’d facilities in Maragot. Smooth trip over and rented car from Connor’s. Usually park at Uncle Ernie’s, but decided to try Gwenn’s based upon what we have read here. Parked rental and walked to Gwenn’s. Was not impressed with view so back to car and on to Uncle Ernie’s. Got chairs and umbrellas and settled in. Nothing against Gwenn’s, we just like the expansive view of beach better at Uncle Ernie’s. For lunch we split cray fish and perch. O/C did same. What can I say. Excellent, as were the rum punches. Asked about JR as we didn’t see his boat. Told he was in Miami having his shoulder looked at (he had surgery last year). Before going back to catch ferry, we toured island. Golf course looked nice, but don’t think I could justify the money to play it. Drove to Anguilla Great House, a favorite of ours, and showed o/c where we saw Jimmy Buffet just down the beach last year (Dunes). O/C loved Anguilla and Shoal Bay East. Upon returning to Maragot, we got our passports stamped by French customs (couldn‘t make it out, except for “Guadalupe”) . That was new.

Food: We’re simple eaters.
Lunches:
Had 2 lunches at Pedro’s. Like being home. Saw Evelyn, and after knowing her all these years, made the connection that her sister is Carol (dealer at PDP), who we have also known for years! Small island! Catching up with Evelyn, she told us that we had just missed Ray by a couple weeks. Too bad. Would have been good to see him.
Me and Lori always split an order of ribs, rice and peas and salad at Pedro‘s. Plenty of food for the two of us. Ribs are excellent.
Had couple lolo lunches in Grand Case. Lori (and o/c) liked ribs at Rib Shack, lotta garlic. I had Shrimp Creole which was excellent. Also went to Sky’s the Limit twice. Lori had ribs (good), I had garlic shrimp (excellent). All those sides, too much to finish. Lolo’s were 1-1. Lolo lunches were $40 for 4 people with drinks. What a deal.
Went to SSBB for burgers. Were good and o/c had a great time watching planes land and take off.
Went to Ric’s again (love the Taco Salad). Good to see Liz (actually heard her laugh before seeing her); even though it’s been a couple years now, just not the same without Cathy (and Ric). Rics is also for sale.

Dinner: Mark’s Place twice. Good food, lots of it. Snapper, Ribs, Veal Parm, Seafood Pasta. All excellent.
Lee’s twice, our favorite (and now other couple’s too). First time everybody had snapper except Lori who had the wahoo. Everything excellent, and a lot of food. Let Patti decide on dinner for her birthday, and she choose to go back to Lee’s. Again, everybody had Red Snapper except wife, she had ribs (which she loves at Lee’s). Again, everything excellent. Waiter brought us some kind of chocolate dessert for Patti’s birthday that we all split. Very good.
Green House is a must for us. Good to see Chris, but missed Conan (he was in St. Thomas).
Jimbo’s is also a must (went twice). I love the Chicken Quesadilla. O/C had Taco Sampler and Chicken Quesadilla. Loved it. Lori liked Burrito first time, but wasn’t crazy about the goat-cheese Quesadilla second time.
BBB was new for us, and we loved it. Lori enjoyed pizza so much we went back a second, then third time. Hamburger was best I’ve had on island. We will be back. Again.

Most nights we went to casino’s. Was crushed when we went to PDP and the craps table was closed, said it had been for several weeks. My favorite place in the world to play craps (Carol was born to work on a craps table!). Oh well. Went to Casino Royal and played craps. Went 4 nights and we (and o/c) wound up winning $500-$600 each. Carol who? Just kidding. Then we would go to Great Bay to play a little 21 before calling it a night(s). Wound up winning couple hundred there over the 11 days. We like casino at Great Bay. Convenient (on the way home to Belair/Divi) and good people. On a sad not, Hugo (the casino waiter) passed away.
Went back to PDP on Thursday night for No Limit Hold’emTourney. 45 entrants, $50 buy in, unlimited re-buys until break (2 hours) . Blinds increased every 15-20 minutes. My buddy Nick (after a re-buy or 2) was knocked out. I made it through break (on original $50). Played really well but got knocked out on tough beat (I flopped a wheel, went all in. Other player called with pocket 3’s. Had 3 of a kind and caught a full house on the river). Made him the chip leader (could have been me) Ouch. Did I mention $1800 for first place? Oh well, had a great time playing. Got to talk to Carol for a while and we had a laugh about knowing her and Evelyn all these years and didn’t realize they were sisters. PDP is by far our favorite casino. Clean, bright, well lit. Good people. Just open the damn craps table………..

O/C went on Rhino Riders out of Pineapple Pete’s one morning. They said they had a blast. Through the lagoon, around Maragot and up to Creole Rock for snorkeling. 2 hours. They loved it.
All of us walked up Fort at Divi one morning. Great views of Great Bay and other islands.
All of us walked up Fort in Maragot. Beautiful views of city and Anguilla.

Saturday came and we dropped o/c off at airport. They had only previously been to sxm 1 day on a cruise and were not impressed. By the time we were dropping them off, they were converts!

Wife and I then went to check in at Divi for 4 days. We love Divi, the location, property, beach, people, everything about it. Ah, we were home! We got to the room, and WOW! This was our first stay in a refurbished room, and it was beautiful! We were also upgraded from a studio to a 1 bedroom/2 bath and it was huge (over 1000 sf)! Besides king size bed, bedroom had 2 sitting areas (1 with couch and tv, other side had 2 chairs and table). 2 sliding type doors separated bedroom from other room. Other room had large dining area (table for 6), sitting area (couch and tv) and beautiful, big kitchen complete with washer/dryer. Separate patio and chairs off of each room. Ground floor unit, Little Bay side. Divi property is in as fine of shape as we’ve ever seen it.

Couple observations. Traffic was pretty much non-existant! Like the weather, it was the best we have ever seen! We were all over the island (multiple times) and the only traffic we had was about 10 minutes to get through Maragot one afternoon. Unlike most past trips, traffic never factored into our decision-making. We went where we wanted when we wanted to go. It was great.

We did get caught up in the immigration sweep/protest in French Quarter. Took us about 15 minutes to navigate our way out of there. Never felt threatened, but a little uneasy. Outside of that, was very alert to our surroundings (as always) and never felt uncomfortable anywhere, nor did we hear of or experience any crime related issues. Noticed many more police cars riding around on Dutch side. Noticed several jewelry stores on Front Street with private security.

Flight home through San Juan uneventful.

After going several times in January and most often late June/early July, we have found our new time of year to go.