TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Just do it…..

So I know it’s only been a few months since we were last there but I am getting so excited. In just four short weeks we will return to our most favorite place in the world - Beachside Villas in sweet St. Maarten. Can’t wait to see all our friends and favorite island spots again and enjoy the things we’ve come to love over almost our fifty years.

My best suggestion to all who contemplate - JUST DO IT! Life is short and you never know what tomorrow May bring. 🙂🙂

Good luck!

Your last line is such good advice and we sort of followed it this year. When we got back from our Spring visit this year we took a little time to settle into our home life and it wasn't long before we planned and locked up next Springs visit. Then after a month or two we thought that it was to long to wait for our return so we booked a 2 week trip this Dec to fill in the gap and now the wait is closer and we feel better.

So glad that you seem to be able to work out your trip! Enjoy!

Hey Pat, we will join you at BSV in 5 weeks. Hopefully all the usual guest for November will be there too. Can’t wait.
Sent you PM.

I leave in four weeks and one day, arriving in four weeks and two days. I am particularly looking forward to this trip because, due to catching COVID after arriving in June, I did so little on that trip. It felt almost like a wasted trip, and I intend to make up for that this time around. Hoping to see you and John, Pat, as we will be there at the same time.

You deserve this one for sure after your last trip. Speaking of covid, we have our covid shot number 5 scheduled for week from tomorrow. Got the flu shot today. Not taking any chances.

What are things like on the island at the end of October, beginning of November? We've never been this time of year.

We enjoy it then although we generally see a bit of rain at night. We usually go early to mid November and thoroughly enjoy it then. Island is usually green and lush since it’s the tail end of ‘H’ season with traffic beingless than April when we always go. The restaurants are getting geared up for the season. It’s my second most favorite time of year to be there. So sorry but No clue about October.

I also got my flu shot today. I've heard/read that if you have had Covid, you need to wait four to six months after having it to have third booster; otherwise, booster is much less effective. Consequently, I'll get my third booster after I'm back in December.

We’ll be on island in November too. It’s the first time that I get to celebrate my birthday on the island.

Can’t wait to see dear friends and meet new ones too! 😊♥️

JUST DO IT is great advice Pat. We have dear friends that cannot join us this trip due to a serious illness. Life is short, and Marc and I plan to live it up as best as we can.

We got the flu shot yesterday and will get our 5th Covid shot on Monday (3 weeks before our flight). My Doctor said there’s an uptick in Covid cases in our area right now, but the illness is not as severe as last year. We’re not taking any chances.

Got my third booster (the bivalent) on Friday. Same day my husband tested positive for COVID! 🙀

It's going to be a fun time at BSV.

Leona--Yikes!! When are you due to leave??

Keep us updated.

I'm so sorry, Leona. Is this going to affect your trip?

I like the life is short philosophy. I’m heading down in January if all goes well and was debating whether to use Delta miles to upgrade to first class or use the miles to go to Europe or some place. I finally said what the heck and bought the first class to SXM. Life is short and getting shorter. That said I’m going to see how long I can do without a rental car.

Tim,

Even if we never used it, I can’t imagine being on island wheel-less. I don’t think in all our many trips we’ve ever tried it. Good luck and enjoy…and enjoy those big and more comfy up-front seats with their perks……..🙂🙂

Leona,

Sure do hope Andre is doing okay. Will keep my fingers crossed that his is a very mild case with a very rapid recovery. 🙂🙂

A long time friend of mine has always said "If I don't fly first class, after I die my kids will". That was good enough for me to have me fly FC when i can.

We’ll be there next month also (Nov 10-24) at BSV! Can’t wait. We get our 3rd boosters (bivalent) tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

It’s looks like it is going to be a lot of TTOLers at BSV in November. It’s going to be fun!

I'll be down November 19 through December 3. Convinced a lot of family and friends to join me for Thanksgiving. It was my late wife's favorite place to be.

So very sorry for your loss. Enjoy your SXM time and the memories you’ve accumulated over the years. 🙂🙂

Pat,

I’m going to try going sans rental car for the first couple weeks or so. I’ll probably end up disliking it and eventually rent one. I can walk to El Zafiro and the Driftwood and then take a taxi if I go further afield. I’m going to contact Wilfred to see if he can put me in touch with a driver near Maho.

Tim,

Would that I could convince my DH to stay more than 2+ weeks…..😊😊

When we were there in April we used a taxi driver recommended by the people at BSV. He picked us up outside our door at BSV, drove us to P’berg and the reverse to get us home again. He was prompt, pleasant and priced very reasonably. I think I have his business card and if I can find it I’ll end you the inf0 jic you need a plan B.

We don’t always use the car but we do like having it jic we decide we want to.

On my last 2 visits, I started using the local mini busses and taxis to places not serviced by the busses. It was fine.

Tasha and I will be rolling into BSV November 26th. Hope to see those still there!

We still will be there till December 1st. I am sure will bump at the pool

Pat, who did you use for a cab??? With all the restaurants opening back up in GC, we would love to treat ourselves to dinner, but don't want the hassle of running into the Gendarmerie!! I don't think I want to experience the french jail cell LOL!!! it's going to be a party on the pool deck at BSV!!!

His name escapes me but it was someone who BSV uses regularly for their guests. Emanuel or Vicki set it up for us. The driver was on time and upon dropping us off he gave us his cell number to call him for pick-up. I think it was $40.00 US r/t plus a gratuity. I don’t know what taxi rates are down there but it seemed reasonable for the convenience of door to door to door service.

Thank you Pat that’s definitely a reasonable rate.

Pat--that was to P'burg, not to Grand Case? GC I think would be more..

Yes, Carol. It was $40.00 r/t to Front Street and pick up at a time of our choosing on Back Street. We wanted to see and say HEY! to all our friends at Caribbean Gems and then do lunch at The French Touch on Old Street. Makes for an expensive lunch when all in but we still thought it reasonable, all things in consideration. And it saved us a lot of walking.

I’m sorry I can’t imagine the price for transpo to GC.

Took your advice, Pat and decided to "just do it"

We had already booked at BSV for March but the "just do it" came by adding 3 nights at GCBC. At our ages and with the health problems we've had we thought we may not ever get to GCBC again. And this answers Coulor1's post about driving at night to Grand Case. I doubt the gendarmes will stop us if we stagger back from dinner this way.

Good for you, Rosemary and Don. Life is short! GCBC, much like BSV, books up fast so grab it while you can. And enjoy it as you surely will.

Do to circumstances beyond our control we had to make late changes to our Nov. trip soon come and sadly, BSV was totally booked so we had to book a few days elsewhere. Happily we were able to secure other accommodations.

It was suggested we just cancel and reschedule for another time but thankfully, we were easily able to make other arrangements and as I originally said, we “just did it!!” You just never know what’s in store down the road. 😊😊