TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Friday, our last day

It’s always bittersweet when the last full day on the island arrives—such a mix of emotions knowing that if you don’t leave, you can’t return. But we made the most of it today!

We were fortunate that our last day was picture-perfect, spent at Orient Bay in front of La Playa beach. As always, the beach service was excellent. I indulged in a killer frozen mojito (perfect for the warm weather) while David opted for a mimosa.

For lunch, we stayed at La Playa and shared shrimp tempura—six large pieces with a tangy sweet chili sauce. Being sushi lovers, we also ordered two rolls to satisfy that craving. Dessert was a warm cookie with ice cream. It was delicious, but definitely a heavy dessert. Terry and Rit were dining at the table next to us so I shared half the cookie with her. Glad we got to see you guys today.

Afterward, we returned to the beach for some more relaxation. The water was warm with moderate waves and a little seaweed, but nothing too bothersome. Perfect for a final swim before heading back.

Later, we stopped by the Yacht Club for a quick goodbye to the staff before heading home to get ready for dinner. We were undecided on where to eat for our last night, but not wanting to drive too far, we chose Fat Tony’s. Unlike our noisy visit on Tuesday, tonight was much quieter with only a handful of people at the bar and tables.

Unfortunately, dinner was a bit of a letdown. I had the two-meat combo (brisket and ribs) with mac & cheese and coleslaw as sides. The mac & cheese was decent, and the coleslaw was good, but the meats were dry. The pork ribs, especially, were tough and drowned in a BBQ sauce that was too tangy for my taste. David wasn’t thrilled with his beef brisket either—it wasn’t terrible, but it lacked the flavor and tenderness we were hoping for. The sandwich bun was also a bit stale, and while the baked beans were zesty, they were the highlight of the meal for him.

We’d rather end on a high note, reflecting on the wonderful memories we made during this trip. It was a perfect mix of quality time together and reconnecting with friends and acquaintances. We look forward to this vacation every year, and it lived up to the magic of past trips. Though we’re sad to leave, it’s time to head back to reality—work, making money, and dreaming of next year’s return. Until then, we’ll enjoy living vicariously through everyone else’s trip reports. Be well, and see you all next year!

What a wonderful vacation you had! I've really enjoyed reading your posts, Louise.

Wishing you and David an uneventful and safe trip home.

Thank you for taking the time to share so much about your trip and what is going on in Sxm. Your food reviews open up more choices too us.We arrive in 9 days and will need to stop at la playa after all your praise and photos. Safe travels.

Safe and easy travels home.

Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. Safe travels home!

I have enjoyed reading all your reports and sounds like a great vacation.It seems you did not participate in the usual Halloween festivities this year. I always looked forward to seeing your great costumes. Travel home safely!

It’s just not the same anymore, Elizabeth. We’ve lost interest in the Red Piano, and there doesn’t seem to be any good parties for people our age anymore. It was fun while it lasted, but I think we’ve had our 14 years of dressing up and going out for Halloween.

Having enjoyed each of your daily reports, a simple thank you seems scarcely enough. I wish you safe travels and smooth flights along with a sincere thank you for your time and effort. 🙂🙂.

Thank you for all your great reports and pictures. You do a wonderful job. And how delightful to FINALLY meet in person! Thank you for dropping by our table.

Enjoyed your reports, thank you for taking the time to share! Hope your travels home went well.

Likewise, Linda, enjoy the rest of your trip. I’ve been watching Ann’s posts.

Louise--I assume you arrived home OK?

Yes, Carol. Thanks for asking.

Thank you all for your kind well wishes! We made it home safe and sound.

We grabbed a quick lunch at the yacht club—enjoyed a Bloody Mary and shared a steak wrap with fries. The steak was super tender, paired with onions, two types of peppers, and melted mozzarella.

Our flight was smooth, with just a short delay before departure, which the pilot quickly made up. We did have to wait on the tarmac for about 30 minutes due to a minor issue with the plane, but the pilot kept us comfortable by turning off the seatbelt sign and letting us use the restrooms while we waited to disembark.

To our surprise, there was no one in the immigration lines at 7:30pm on a Saturday night! We breezed through in about five minutes.

Sounds like a pretty painless trip home. ...except of course, for the fact that you were leaving Paradise!

What a pleasant surprise to meet you at BSV!!! That was so nice of you to take a chance that we would be "home" that day!!! It was so nice to catch up!! We'll be back in the spring. Hope to see you then!!

The beach guys are Martin, Axel and Bastien, Ask for Alexandra at the restaurant. High season you will need to make a reservation !!! Everything is SUPERB!!!