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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: vacanakey]
#13726
01/26/2011 06:26 PM
01/26/2011 06:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 397 Boston, Ma
lobstaroll123
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 397
Boston, Ma
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On our first trip in 93, it was our 20 anniversary. We did so much in the 9 nine we were there, that in the 14 times later we have not done very much. We did a snorkel trip, a dinner cruise on Simpson Lagoon, horse back riding, a 17 course Indonesian meal. In the last 14, we have taken a day trip to St. Bart's and Anguilla, and a dinner cruise out of Pelican Marina. Rest of years have been renting a villa, eating at different restaurants on OB for lunch and dinners in Grand Case with the exception of Mario's in Sandy Ground, Mark's at the roundabout in Phillipsburg, and Captain Oliver's. This year, 12 days, as I am now retired, and more food, drink, sand gravity, and breakfasts in the villa by the pool. We feel so fortunate that we have found our Paradise. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: sxmcpl]
#13733
01/26/2011 11:38 PM
01/26/2011 11:38 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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We took our first trip in February, 1996, and the island still had a fair amount of damage left from Hurricane Luis. (We didn't realize how terrible it had been when we booked the trip.) We stayed at Belair, and were dismayed to find that there was a large dredger in Little Bay, busy pumping sand back onto the beach! Our kids were 5 & 6 and we had hoped to spend lots of time at the resort hanging out on the beach. It turned out we had an even better time exploring the rest of the island, managing to see almost every beach on the map! We did the day trip to Prickly Pear, which we still enjoy doing, and had several great meals at Marina Royale, another favorite place of ours. By the end of the trip, we'd fallen in love with SXM and bought a timeshare at Divi, despite all the damaged buildings. We've returned almost every year since, and will be back in March. Our oldest daughter is now in college, and is still willing to spend spring break with the family, as long as it's on SXM! She is bringing a friend along who's returning for a second year because they had such a good time last year.
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Re: Memories of your first trip
#13736
01/27/2011 11:15 AM
01/27/2011 11:15 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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I shopped at Marshalls too, in '86, it was a great find as even in '86 most of the shops were extremely expensive. I used to do a jog over on the east side and there was hardly anything there. There was just an open area just south of the Coralita Beach Motel, where they were always outside playing bocce ball. It was very quiet with next to no traffic and you'd hardly see a soul, maybe a couple fisherman as you got close to French Quarter. I wish I could remember some of the names of the home improvement places back then. There was one in downtown Phillipsburg on the east side where the owner hung out sitting on a counter. They said he had 50 kids. I think it might have been "Pro" something or other. Back then you couldn't get things on St Maarten like you can now.
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: vacanakey]
#13737
01/27/2011 11:24 AM
01/27/2011 11:24 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I really enjoyed this post. Moral in my case: you can lead a MARE to the water, but only she will decide 'if and 'when' she'll drink!
2007 Arrived on cruise ship. Took a taxi Island tour with last stop at OB. Wife didn’t get out of taxi at OB, but I took some wonderfully colorful pictures of the beach and umbrellas looking north from Pedro’s. We got back to the ship and she says,”that was great. We ought to come back and spend some more time here”. We’ve been doing the FL to Hawaii hop for twenty years. Stored that quote.
2008 I arranged a Mystery trip to SXM in late May for a week, stayed at L’hoste. She doesn’t walk distances too well, needed to be ‘on the beach’ with a pool. L’hoste is perfect. After first day on the ‘french’ beach she fell right in with the ‘french’ atmosphere. We met another FL couple who were staying at L’hoste and frequenting CO. I saw the early morning walkers and decided ‘I can do that’, joined the parade initially with trepidation. After the third day they invited us to join them at CO: I opt’d to go, and wife opt’d to stay at L’hoste. She’s ‘found heaven’ on L’hoste beach, didn’t need to go farther. I joined them one other time and wife didn’t. We did do diner with them a couple of times, Mark’s and Lee’s.
2009 Opt’d for ten days this time. Got wife to CO by giving her a beachside massage at the ‘local resort’ spa for her birthday. I had one also, so that gave her an hour on the south end of the beach to sit in the calm warm waters by herself watching the activities around Papagayo. At her request we went back to L’hoste for the rest of the day. Four days later she asks if I’m planning to go back to CO. A firm YES and she says she’ll come with me. I enjoyed the CO c/o experience and she enjoyed the ‘french’ beach experience under the ‘yellow’ umbrellas. She found a few friendly people to chat with while doing her water aerobics.
2010 Another ten days at L’hoste in May. Her first request on the first morning on the beach, ‘no massages’ they leave bruises since I’m taking meds, but if you want to go to CO I’ll go along’. RIGHT after breakfast we’re driving to the CO parking lot. I enjoy the c/o and she the ‘french’ experience. Day two is shopping. Day three she meets me on the beach after my walk and a few swims and ‘do you want to go to CO after breakfast’. By ten we are doing another day two. Day five, I’ve done the daily walk to both ends of the beach and had a few swims, people still enjoying the walking, and she comes out before about 8:30 and sits on a lounge beside me and says: ‘a penny for your thoughts’. My response ‘it’s time to lose the bottoms’. In a huff she goes for her swim leaving me worried about how the rest of the day will turn out. I hear my name being called from the water and she’s waving her bottoms at me. She comes out and says ‘you want to go for a short walk’? A quarter mile later we turn around and walk back and we’re both wearing our smiles. Later in the day we pick up and go to CO. I’m getting the front row chairs set and the umbrella in the right place and my stuff settled and I look around. No wife, but I see her in the water already, AND the bottoms are on the chair. We both enjoyed CO’s c/o experience for that day and one other before we had to leave. Second time she even spent over an hour sitting on a floating dock chatting with another Bostonian. The accents are a dead giveaway.
The moral: you can lead a Mare to water, but ONLY SHE will decide ‘if’ and ‘when’ she’ll drink.
2011 Opt’ing for two weeks in at May. Can’t wait to see how much water will be drunk this year.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Memories of your first trip
#13738
01/27/2011 12:33 PM
01/27/2011 12:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,233 Albany, Oregon
SteveandDeb
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,233
Albany, Oregon
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There are so many wonderful memories of our first trip. Many "firsts" for us!
Bert & Jill at The Oasis Bar & Grill at The Ocean Club introduced us to Rum Jumbie on our first night... we were hooked!
Jewelry shopping in Maho and having Neil (RIP) serve us Rum Jumbie while we shopped!
Clothing Optional sun bathing... and swimming in the ocean!
Grand Case Beach Club's chairs with the flag... just raise the flag and the handsome young french guy running down to bring what ever your heart desires.
Going to the Marigot outdoor market. When we were finished we walked out to the parking area and had a heck of a time finding OUR white Toyota Corolla in the sea of white Toyota Corollas! LOL
Drinking for free at the sunset Beach Bar while watching the planes land at PJIA.
"Fine wine? Hell, I'm like well tequila. Only... deeper." ~~ Steve & Deb
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: glo]
#13739
01/27/2011 12:45 PM
01/27/2011 12:45 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 286 Limerick,Pa.now Clermont, FL
ronandcarla
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 286
Limerick,Pa.now Clermont, FL
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We discovered SXM by way of cruise stop back in 1999 and on the 3 occaisons we were there it was cloudy and threatening of rain, so we just walked along Front Street, finally after another cruise the weather was beautiful and we ventured over to Orient Beach and after staying along the beach all day my wife and I decided this would be a great vacation for us, minus other family members. So in the year 2003 (I think) I went on line and found a new hotel called Alamanda Resort that was in its inaugural year so we booked a week for the 2nd week of January. When we got there late in the afternoon after checking in we went down to the beach and it was deserted and we both looked at each other and said "did we make a mistake by coming here", for we are use to vacationing in O/C MD during the summer when there are all kinds of people late in the afternoon. Well anyway later that night after hiring a taxi service, who became our personal driver for the rest of the week and took us to all the favorite places to eat and all the tourist attractions we just fell in love with the island. We had gone back the following years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 on the same week and same hotel and whether it be the staff at the hotel or the friends we had made in the restaurants every time was better than the previous trips. My wife got seriously ill in the year 2008 and we have not been back since. This coming February we are going on the Oasis of the Seas and one of the stops will be SXM and we are hoping to get over to Orient Beach and visit the hotel and the friends we have made there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: vacanakey]
#13740
01/27/2011 01:23 PM
01/27/2011 01:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,118 Hightstown, NJ
24travel
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,118
Hightstown, NJ
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First trip in 1983. Stayed at Divi, walked over the hill to P-Burg. Did some shopping, visiting casino's and eating at a few restaurants. Rented a car, went to Orient Beach, dropped shorts and enjoyed the sun and fun. Had a few "funny' experiences, but not for posting. Had a great time, OB wasn't developed except for a burger shack and some tent shops. Went back several times. Totally different now. Spent time in Grand Case and Marigot. Had our anniversary dinner on the balcony overlooking the harbor at La Vie En Rose. Great meal and great time with my honey. Tried a few other islands over the years, no comparision. Wish we had returned instead of experiencing other islands. Haven't found any that can compare with SXM.
Time is passing, no better place to watch it go by than in St. Martin !
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: AlanB]
#13742
01/27/2011 02:07 PM
01/27/2011 02:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763 Chicago area & St-Martin
ChiTownHarry
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763
Chicago area & St-Martin
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Our first trip was in 2003. I had researched the island and was intriguied with the idea of two countries splitting such a small island. I decided that we would rather stay on the French side rather than the Dutch. Registered for TTOL in January that year. We went in February. We stayed at Alizea in Mount Vernon based upon recommendations we found online on TripAdvisor, TTOL, and other sites. Most of the recommendations were authored by 'Contessa'. We arrived on a Saturday and checked in and were told there was a party that night at the hotel. We went to dinner in Grand Case and when we returned, the party was in full swing. It was a TTOL party hosted by Contessa. It is there we met Contessa and Sword, LeeLee and Big Tom, Patti (Sungoddess) and others who we still are friends with today. Photos from our trip are at: 2003 photos We loved the island so much that on our next trip, we bought a condo at Les Balcons. We have been going to the island twice a year since then.
--ChiTownHarry
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: glo]
#13748
01/27/2011 05:53 PM
01/27/2011 05:53 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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First trip was in 1982. Honeymoon at Mullet Bay. At that time almost all our time was in resort, didn't really know there was life beyond there. As the trips continued , we explored other parts of the Dutch side. It was quite different in those days. Remember one time when we got lost exploring and wound up close to an ominous looking bull. Thank God we could run in those days. After Luis finally discovered the French side and it was like discovering a new paraside on one small island. We continue to go , about 25-30 trips, last one this past December.
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Re: Memories of your first trip
[Re: vacanakey]
#13750
01/27/2011 08:16 PM
01/27/2011 08:16 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Our firsttrip to SXM was in 1978....we stayed at the Caravanseri when it was a small hotel with a delightful bar on the promentory over the water. We took a hotel shuttle every evening to Muttlet Bay to their casino , where men were expected to wear jackets....the streets in Marigot were dirt roads and the water lapped right up against the sea wall in front of La Vie en Rose...NO PARKING LOT! Some of the best restaurants were in Marigot fronting the water...Le Poisson D'or...one of my all time favorites. Claud's Mini Club had the best buffet then too....old timer. Orient Beach had no facilities....just the rib shack ....allin all some good memories.....Island has changed...for the better? Some things....some not!
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