TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Arrived Saturday for 29th time

Arrived on Saturday(our 29th annual trip to SXM) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />, noticed what appeared to be passport reading machines still covered in plastic at airport, Also some flights still passed out the "entry forms" ours (American ) did not. Customs agent just asked flight number, indicated count of individuals with tick mark on a plain piece of paper and stamped passport. Flight arrived at 3pm local - thru customs, picked up bags, got rental car, filled out paperwork and in our unit at SBRM by 4! Out to new Carrefors in Cole Bay for groceries for our two week stay. Had dinner at Byblos (mediterrean food - next to Jimbo's which was mobbed). Sunday am went in to Pburg and attended mass at St. Martin of Tours. Met local friends we have made through the years - tearful reunions. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />Next Sunday after church, will get together with them for breakfast. Had breakfast at Chesterfields (used to have our traditional at Holland House - but as of last year were limiting Sunday breakfast only to their guests. Spent afternoon at pool in SBRM and dinner at IZI. Today will meet more local friends at lunch in Green House. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Isn't wonderful to reconnect with friends in SXM. We have about 60 days to go and can't wait to catch up with friends and make new ones.

jrr1148 someone told us that since the attack in France that TSA was asking for TWO photo ID; passport & another. Did you find that to be true?

29th annual visit? That's pretty impressive. That means you must be at least 40 years old. Looks like your first visit was when our first visit was - 1987 - if my math still works. Isn't it amazing how much things have changed?

Some for the better, some worse. Like everywhere I suppose. I can never remember whether our first was 1986 or 1987 so I usually just say "a long time ago. Guess I better update to "around 30". Did go more than once a couple years.
Some on this board have many more so they must be more than 40!

Our first was on a cruise ship in 1989. After many cruise stops there we started staying in 1999 and every year there after.

Forty-three years this year and better than half of those years we went twice a year but I couldn't give a real count on the overall number of trips and weeks spent there. And with all that said, I'm still always amazed at the things I don't know and the areas I still haven't seen. But we're not giving up yet, for sure!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Hey, my friend, it sounds like you are definitely in the lead for most visits!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Nah, I'm sure there are many who have been going longer and/or more frequently than us. Actually, Kim and Ken may have logged more actual individual trips than us as its not at all unusual for her to head down 3-4 trips a year. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

RE: TSA have Global Entry which includes TSA pre-check. Only showed passport.

Our first trip in 1984. Bought a pre-construction timeshare at Pelican (SBRM) in March of that year while on an AA 4day/3nite special which included accomodation at Cupecoy. Returned that year for construction update (free week as part of purchase deal). Returned every year since <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />-except for an exchange to visit Spain, two years when economically impossible due to both of us downsized at work, and once at the last minute because of severe illness. Met our close local friends at lolos in Grand Case ten years ago <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />. Expanded our list of local friends about four years ago during church services and invited Pastor and parishoners to our house in Illinois for pre-Thanksgiving Feast <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />when we learned they were visiting nearby for a meeting. See them also each year we are down here <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />. And yes we are way over our 40's - married 44 years <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> and both have retired to Tellico Village in East Tennessee. At our unit in SBRM until March 4.

Pre-check is not a guarantee with Global Entry. It's stated that way on the Global Entry application and web site.

Our first trip in 1987 was also an AA special - but for a week. Of course when we landed, we could not get a rental car. Our taxi took us to the booked hotel, and the hotel was full, so the fun began to find a place to stay. Somehow (I don't remember how) we ended up at a hotel near Pburg and got our rental car the next day.

Kind of hard to describe what it was like discovering the island by car, but I think we did a decent job.

while nothing is really "guaranteed", if you are enrolled in GE, you're also enrolled in Pre-check, which means you're eligible for it

This is from the Pre-check Application website:
Trusted Traveler Groups
If you belong to one of the trusted traveler groups listed below, you do not need to apply to the program.(Pre-Check)

Members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS programs. To learn more, visit dhs.gov/tt.

Pre-Check Website

Agree. Have used many times, never a problem except when pre-check area was closed due to late flight.