Trip Report 2-10-07 thru 2-17-07 Janet & Doug – Blaine, Mn
Temp was -9 when we left on Sat. morning. Changed planes in Chicago and had to wait on ground 2 hours for maintenance people to close cowling on one engine that they had raised to check something. Cold had frozen up the struts holding up the cowling.
Got to SXM about 5:00pm.
Car Rental: Reserved a car online with National Car, purchased insurance at same time.
When we arrived they were out of cars and ushered us to Paradise (booth next door) and said they would honor same rate. Paradise did honor rate but tried hard to sell insurance both at counter and at pickup location. Other than that NO PROBLEM with rental car. The little bugger even went air born when I forgot about a speed bump coming back from French side at Oyster Pond.
Resort: We rented a studio timeshare from an owner at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. The room faced the ocean and was just great. Service for broken air conditioner was prompt. Liked OBBR a lot. Wife wants to purchase there. Clean, activities, laundromat, little store, a couple of restaurants and bars, great pool, next to dawn beach, felt secure and safe. Older crowd for the most part (just like me). On the quieter side of the island.
Beaubu’s on site was great. Good value on food and drink. Good ribs.
Dawn beach was nice. Mr Busby’s on the beach had great food (ribs, burgers, grilled shrimp) and good afternoon special on beer. Ate breakfast there one morning also (it was ok). Never tried Mrs B’s. Snorkeled some at beach. It was ok.
Also ate at Tabba Khady – very good food. I had grilled tuna and Janet had a pork dish. Ate at LePlanteur and that was good also – the pork medallions there are almost the same as at Tabba Khady and I had scallops (yum).
Janet bought ceramic plates from the little shop around the corner and up the road from Tabba Khady – nice place.
We went over to the casino at Westin. Also ate breakfast buffet there one morning ($22) and that was good although a little expensive. Not much in the way of signs telling you where to turn off of main road for Westin or OBBR.
Back and forth to Orient Beach a couple of times. Saw a large group of Harleys (39) doing a ride who had stopped at one of the bars one day. Another time we went to BooBooJam. Kind of like that place. Got some chairs on the beach, ate burgers and fries and had a couple of beers. That end of the beach is a lot less busy. It was quite full when we arrived but then a bus load of people left (cruise ship I think) and we almost had the place to ourselves.
Went to Grand Case for Tuesday night street party. Always fun. Ate at Il Nettuno – Great food but seemed very expensive once they converted euro to dollars. I had pasta with mussels, shrimp, calamari, lobster (yum). Got lost coming back from Grand Case and ended up driving thru Middle Region after dark.
For Valentines day we had 6:30 reservations at LeSantal in Sandy Ground on the other side of the island. Traffic was horrible. We were late but they held our place for us on such a busy night. Had chateubriand for two (wonderful), french onion soup (nice presentation but so so in taste department), and a chocolate soufflé which was wonderful. It was $$$ but we expected that.
Ate at LEscargot in Philipsburg on Friday night and saw the show there. A fixed price limited menu for the show. Best duck ala orange I’ve ever had. The show was good and again $$$. Make reservations.
Went on a 3 island snorkeling cruise which left from the docks just outside of OBBR. Had a great time. Includes a stop at one island for a mud bath.
Also went on sunset cruise on Lord Schefield out of Phillipsburg. It was nice but the seating on the ship was not comfortable. They served bbq ribs, cheese & crackers, cheese & bread and all you wanted to drink. Sat and had a beer at Chesterfields while waiting for cruise. I enjoyed that. Might stop back there again some time.
Went to Casino Royal one night. Parking is horrible. Janet enjoyed the slots there.
Had breakfast one morning at Zee Best in Simpson bay. It was good but I think I liked the food at the Marigot location better. On the way out of town we had breakfast at Turtle Pier. Yuk. They were out of fruit and the food was not great. Won’t go back there.
