Trip Report - Jan. 11 - 21.

This is our 15th trip to SXM. We feel very comfortable here. It is like coming home. For the fifth time we stayed at Beachside Villas. Rented a car from Empress, who gave us 2 free beach chairs, cooler, and umbrella.

Landed about 3 pm., got car, stopped at market, changed to SXM clothes and relaxed til dinner. Our go-to first dinner is usually Bavaria. Good, reasonably priced food.

Monday - drove around the island to see what was new. Stopped at Barnacles for lunch because Kalli is from our hometown. Food was good, but service was slow. Dinner was at Fig's. Nice, different menu. Owner is always very personable and talks to each guest.

Tuesday - took the Eagle Quality Time all-day sail. Weather was intermittent rain in the a.m., but cleared up for the rest of the afternoon. Seas were a bit rough. Great group of people on board. Had dinner at Le Moulin Fou. It was delicious.

Wednesday - used our free chairs at Mullet beach. Brought our own sandwiches and put them and drinks in the cooler and we were good to go. Tried a new restaurant - Culgini. Was good and they even had a singer playing keyboard.

Thursday - met friends and spent the day on Pinel Island. Too tired to go out to dinner, so just had snacks for dinner.

Friday - Had breakfast at Green Monkey. $10 for a big American breakfast. It was recommended by people we met on Pinel. Went into Phillipsburg for the day. Shopping and people watching. Had dinner at Chesterfields. Good lobster.

Saturday - picked up friends at the airport and took them to their timeshare at Dawn Beach Club. Had lunch at the Yacht Club and watched the yachts squeeze through the bridge canal.Dinner at Jimbos. Way too much food!

Sunday - picked up friends at Dawn Beach and since it was their first time on the island, gave them a tour. Stopped at Sun Goddess on Orient for lunch. Very nice restaurant.
Went all around the island and returned by 6 p.m. Dinner was at home.

Monday - spent day at Beachside. Dinner at Oceans82 in Gran Case. Oceans used to be Fish Pot. Dinner was very good and service was excellent.

Tuesday - Back to Mullet for the day. Tried another new restaurant - Fusion. Different menu but a nice experience. They used to be in Phillipsburg.

Wednesday - Yacht Club for breakfast and then return to the snow in Philadelphia.

Can't wait til next year.

Enjoyed hearing about your vacation. Thank you for taking the time to do a report.

Sounds great, how much to get to pinel? Where do you go to get there?
thanks for any suggestion. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Going home to snow - just doesn't seem fair! Thanks for the trip report, I always enjoy seeing how other spend their time on SXM.

Nice trip report. Makes us yearn to be back there. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for writing!

Thanks for the report.

I "edited" your report to put spacing between the days so it would be easier to read.

After many visits over many years, we finally tried Bavaria last year and will be going back.

Thanks for the report. Where is Green monkey ?

The Green Monkey is the small restaurant at the Ocean Club - the same place under a different ownership that used to do the all you could eat ribs that was so well received here in the past, and for all I know, they may still do the rib night.

They feature a full American breakfast but when we were there they didn't open until 8 or 8:30 - a little on the late side for us. We went once and it was fine but for the same price or less we had very good breakfasts at the Tortuga at Royal Islander and a view of ocean while we ate. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Sounds like a very nice selection of restaurants!

There's a ferry that runs out of French Cul de Sac during the day for about $10-15 per person round trip. The road to Cul de Sac splits off at the roundabout between Orient Bay and Grand Case. That road will take you straight to the ferry dock, where there is plenty of parking.

If you are more adventurous, you could rent kayaks or stand up paddleboards from Caribbean Paddling right there at the dock and paddle over. Baie du Cul de Sac is well protected and very calm (and beautiful).

Enjoyed reading about your trip. What style of chairs did you get. Reclining beach chairs or the folding lounge chairs? Pretty good deal if they included all that in the car rental.

Thanks for taking time to post and enjoyable report. Certainly visited all parts.

Thank very much for the information. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />