Mary & I stayed at Club Orient, but reinspected all of our hotels and villas at Orient Beach + a couple of new ones. Most notable, island was quieter than normal for Oct, but certainly not dead (to our liking). The distribution of sand at Orient Beach was as never before .. totally gone at Pedros & Kontiki; that fronting Club-O much narrower (still lots of sand tho); and beyond Kontiki to Mt Vernon .. a wide beach. Construction ongoing back from beach between Kontiki and Bikini including 4-star hotel (Alamanda Resort) to open (?) April 2002. Island very green with lots of showers, but no significant storms this season. Crime situation appears to be well under control. Both French and Dutch now have active environmental agencies .. including on the Fr side recycling programs (including junk cars!!!). And finally for classical music folks, a 24 hr a day radio station 104.80 on FM (from Raleigh-Durham public radio).<br><br>Hotels in fine shape, few cancellations due to event of Sept 11 + economic situation, but fewer than usual winter bookings tho most preferred rooms already sold out for peak winter periods. No major mgmt changes except at the Sunrise Hotel where Christian has been replaced by Noelle as Gen Mgr. Sunrise and L'Hoste will have new furnishings this month. A new 3-bedroom villa at French Cul-de-Sac will open before end of year .. will be super value and next to Le Pinel restaurant. While we have not handled any Dutch-side properties for many years, we inspected a beautiful one on hill top near Dawn Beach in gated community .. good value and available for this Christmas.<br><br>This was a low-key trip & didn't take in our usual tour of great restaurants. Most meals prepared in our chalet with help of groceries at Club-O and Le Bounty. Le Bounty (Grand-Case open 7 days/wk 8:30-8:30 .. really splended choices of gourmet foods .. and with free delivery). Also ow a new, small grocery off the dual roadway next to St Tropez/L'Hoste (L'Arabe due Coin open 7 days a wk betw 7 am & 9 pm). Besides Papagago, we ate at Le Piccolos (new menu comprised of 3 dozen appetizers and salads that can be combined into a full meal - very fine). Also good meal at new Le Pinel in the same area .. by end of month, they will serve 3 meals daily (except Weds). As Le Pinel, these restaurants are relatively inexpensive - good value.<br><br>AA flights on time, one flight over-booked. Check-in and security a bit of hassle, but necessary .. do allow absolute minimum of 2 hours for departures from SXM (3 hrs stated by all airlines). <br><br>Jim<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 11/3/01 04:36 PM.</EM></FONT></P>