TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin A late Trip Report

Apologies for a very late trip report. The days blend together while we’re there and even more so after a month, so this report will be generalized instead of a day by day description. This was our third visit to SXM in three consecutive years. We have traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean but like most of you, St. Maarten/St. Martin has quickly become our favourite.

We visited from July 1 - 15th this year. We flew WestJet from YYZ and the plane had only had one empty seat. That’s great news for the island but they just need more flights coming in when the airport can handle them and when more accommodations become available. The staff at the airport did a remarkably great job processing our plane with all the bad cards they’ve been dealt. Lesley was waiting for us and had us on our way, literally within minutes.

We were a little apprehensive about seeing the island post Irma but that quickly changed as we saw the cup as “half full”. Yes, the island has a distance to go but in the same breath, the island has made huge strides in a relatively short period of time. The people are proud of their comeback as they should be.

The villa we rent in the Happy Bay Community sustained very little damage and has been totally repaired. Other than the loss of vegetation, we didn’t notice any lasting damage. We bought our groceries at Super U and our favourite brands of alcohol and wine at Booze It Up.

We are really boring and don’t explore the island too much. We finally made it to Philipsburg for our first time in our three years. We walked the boardwalk and were quickly on our way. I noticed many businesses when driving around the island that have been discussed here. We stopped at the market in Marigot to pick up t-shirts at The Secret Spot. While driving around the island, we made stops at Orient Beach and Anse Marcel.

We are mostly beach people and spent most of our beach days at Happy Bay since it’s walking distance. There were only about 6-10 people on the beach most days. The Gendarmes were partying at Happy Bay the first two days we were there. Each of those days there were approximately 30 Gendarmes in front of Danny’s with E-Bikes, jet skis, stand up paddle boards etc at their disposal. They were celebrating the end of their time on the island before they switched out at the end of the month. I asked Danny about nude sunbathing while they were there. He said it was still okay at each end of the beach. Other beaches we visited were Cupecoy and Baie Rouge.

We ate all but two breakfasts at the villa. We dined at La Villa three times, L’Auberge Gourmande twice and Bistrot Caraibes once. Christophe at La Villa told us that Le Cottage would be opening in 10 days (which it did) and Le Pressoir would be opening in 30 days (which it hasn’t???). We also ate at the lolos about three times and the rest of the meals were cooked at the villa. We had a brush with greatness one of the nights at L’Auberge. While dining on the veranda, my wife immediately recognized Sir Roland Richardson and his wife enter the restaurant. I’m not nearly as refined and wouldn’t have known who he was. I think dogs around a poker table is good art...lol. Pascal confirmed her sighting and took her to their table to introduce her to them. They pulled up a seat for my wife and she talked to them for awhile. Much of the art inside L’Auberge is Sir Roland’s work. They couldn’t have been more inviting. At that time, much of his art was being displayed at the hospital due to damage at his studio. One of our visits at La Villa, we dined with our taxi driver and his wife, our booking agent’s partner and our villa owner and his family. They all have done us favours in the past and it was great evening of fellowship.

We had a sunset massage at our villa one evening by A Touch of Handz which was done professionally. They were very friendly and spent some time with us afterwards. The champagne and cake that they brought was unexpected but appreciated.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Beryl made an appearance while we were there. It was nothing more than a few early morning showers, cloudy all day and windy. The post traumatic stress is very evident and understandable among the locals due to Irma. The people are rightfully spooked by each storm. The island is definitely in need of rain. We had probably less than a quarter inch of rain our entire two weeks. The day Beryl arrived, my wife had an appointment at Tijon in Grand Case to reorder a previously made fragrance and to make a new one. Milli was there and we were told that John was in the hospital in the States. Apparently all is well now with John but we recently learned that Milli has now left Tijon and the island.

Departure at the airport was okay considering the challenges. We arrived almost three hours ahead of time and did not experience long lines. It was a Sunday and the departure holding area quickly became VERY crowded as the day progressed. When we arrived there was available seating but that quickly changed. We gave up our seats to an elderly couple and had to stand the rest of the time. I’ll be honest and say I got a little grumpy as tweens, teens and very young adults sat on their butts with phone in hand as much older patrons were forced to stand. Back in the day, my parents would have cuffed me in the side of the head if I didn’t give up my seat...lol.

The pictures below are Grand Case (from Mont Choisy), sunset and rainbow from villa, massage set up and Happy Bay.

We couldn’t have been more glad that we returned. The island is alive and ready for you! Everyone was extremely grateful for those who have returned. If you’re on the fence about returning, toss those fears aside and book your travel!

Nice report. Its a shame some parents don't instill values. I'm in my 70s and I'll still give up my seat to anybody in need. Times have changed to some and these uninformed teens will become parents themselves with no social skills and values to pass on.

Very nice report and photos. If that's boring, I'll gladly join in. I'm glad to hear Secret Spot is back. My wife usually gets a handbag and/or jewelry. I get a tee shirt. And I'm okay with that. Thanks for sharing.

This is a very nice report; an enjoyable read. Your pictures are lovely as well.

thanks very much for posting and for the pictures! Glad you returned and that you enjoyed it!

Thanks for the informative trip report. Do you recall the name(s) of your masseuse(s)?

SXMMD - one was the owner Brian and I can’t remember his assistant’s name. She’s not on his website.

Thanks for a nice report. Sounds like a good time.

Thanks for reliving your trip and for the pics.

Thanks for this useful update.

Great report I lost count the number of times we have been there and will be going back next year and feel soooooo bad what happened to the friendly island....one way to help is to visit and spend money

Here’s a photo of Happy Bay in July last year and this year.

Which one is this years? Top or bottom?

Scuba...this year in on the bottom.

Here’s a few more random photos. A beach gravity pic, north and south ends of Happy Bay, the rocks at HB, looking southwest over top of Friars Bay and looking southeast at La Savane region.

Thanks

Thanks for the pics. Astounding, the difference in the vegetation from last year to this year, and how dry the hills look this year..