TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Trip report

Returned Saturday from 2 glorious weeks. Used Walgreens ID Now test outgoing which qualifies as a PCR 120 hour test. It is a PCR with rapid results, not a rapid test. Tested 9:30 am Tuesday May 4th, results by 10:30 am Tuesday, EHAS approval by 12:30 pm (wife) and 3:30 pm (me) Tuesday all for a Saturday May 8th 8:30 am JFK Jet Blue departure. All pressure was off! Arrived SXM with only one United plane at terminal and we were directed to the far right side directly in front of the immigration entrance! Down ramp and into terminal with no bus! United folks almost done. They stamp your EHAS approval and send you to immigration agents. Done in roughly 5 minutes. Baggage came several minutes after our arrival at the carousel and we were out the door to meet Lesley Bruce with our brand new red Toyota Corolla. At Mary’s Boon maybe 30 minutes after touchdown. On a Saturday, no less! We flew Saturday for the first time in our lives to avoid canceled or changed flights.

Carrefors in Cole Bay for our groceries and Sylvain Periera at Select Wines in Orange Grove, Cole Bay for our wine line up for 2 weeks. Sylvain is a true sommelier and will direct you to some of the best French wines based upon your budget. He also owns Le Champagne next door for great lunches.

Weather lovely with spotty rain here and there. No lost days to rain. No sargassum on Simpson Bay beach until Thursday May 20th and it was all washed up onto beach by Friday morning. Breakfasts at MB or Cafe Atlantico each day. Lunch was dinner leftovers or Atlantico sandwiches or Captains Rib Shack ribs/chicken/wings at table outside our room. Love the Rib Shack! Johnny cakes too!

Dinner line up: MB first night, Bistrot Caraibes twice, once for Mother’s Day lobster thermidor (best on island), Yvette’s in Orleans (twice, say hello to Corinthia! Lovely lady!), L’Auberge Gourmande (3 times, love this place!), Shiv Shakti, La Villa (twice, love JC and Cedric!), Emilio’s (first time, lovely ambiance, huge, well spaced tables), Pizza Del Sol.

Our days are all for the beach so in that respect, we are terribly boring. But we treasure our vacations as down time and totally relax.

Exit COVID test was at Medwork above Avantika in Simpson Bay. Appointment made online (Medcare.aw) for rapid Antigen test on Thursday morning 5/20 at 8:20 and 8:30 am. $70 each. Arrived at 8:10. Out the door at 8:15 for breakfast. No wait. Results emailed by 9:30 am. Flight was 1:30 pm 5/22 Saturday JB to JFK. SXM Airport quiet because it was early. Terminal 5 at JFK empty. Walked right up to immigration, claimed luggage and out the door within 30 minutes.

So we add our take - GO! Do not hesitate. Wear your mask everywhere because it is what we do now. Who cares? We feel safer that way. No masks on the beach and mask comes off when you sit down to eat. Wait staff all masked everywhere. We loved and cherished our 2 weeks and have already put a deposit down on October.

Thanks for the report. Sounds totally drama free--great!! Again, Medwork seems to do a great job.

How was the main drag in Grand Case? Is it FINALLY repaired?

Very nice and thank you for sharing your experiences. We were there last month and our trip was also about relaxing so I get what you are saying.

We haven’t done breakfasts at the Boon in years but now that you’ve mentioned it, will have to do so next trip. In the way distant past it was a treat to do breakfast there and I’m betting it still is based on the very pleasant dinner we had there last trip.

Carol- the top end of Grand Case Blvd as you come around the curve is still choppy down to Pressoir. After Pressoir, re-paved and smooth but the free lot was always full and the pay lot chained shut. Fortunately, the restaurateurs offer valet parking.

Pat- as we understand, the restaurant is privately owned now. The Full Breakfast is $9.00 and you get 2 eggs any style, bacon, sausage or ham and toast with one coffee and one refill only. My wife loves the banana pancakes but they are $9.00 with nothing included. One cup of coffee $3.00 with no refills. We were the only ones there the mornings we ate there. Enjoyed Cafe Atlantico better but one cup of coffee there too.

Thanks and good to hear that you Folks repeat clients had a great time. Stay safe.

How was your stay at Mary’s Boon? I will be staying there in November for the first time.

We flew home yesterday on the 3:10 Delta flight. Airport had us queued up outside, limiting the number of folks indoors. Took about 90 minutes from Thrifty drop off to our gate. Covid test results reporting greatly slowed the process. Flight nearly full to ATL. Once landed the passport control/immigration line in Atlanta was long and daunting. Fifty minutes plus to get to security.
Customs and Border Patrol tracks wait times if you’re curious.
awt.cbp.gov

Sounds like a fabulous vacation beachman1957.

Thank you for your excellent service once again, Lesley. See you in October!

Mary’s Boon is a lovely, quaint hotel spotlessly clean and well run. The rooms are not elegant but the beds, decor and location are all perfect. Fun to watch the commercial airliners take off over the hotel. We’ve stayed there I think 5 times already and we have already reserved our room for October. We stay there 2 weeks each time.

Sounds like a perfect way to let "sand gravity" set in for two weeks!! I swear two weeks isn't enough, so many places to try out!! We stayed at "MB's" years ago. It was priced really reasonably!! Then Mark and Karla sold it, prices jumped up a lot. It was right around that time we found Beachside Villa's down Simpson bay beach. I heard that Mark and Karla bought it back. Thanks for posting!!

Beachman1957 sent you a PM.