We arrived Saturday after getting off a transatlantic cruise in Barbados and overnighting on a concrete bench at the airport ( it was outside departures ahead of our 5.30am flight via POS and not bad - a giant fan kept us cool and the skeeters away.)
We spent two nights at the Simpson Bay resort - not bad although the woman server in the sports bar was unbelievably rude to customers and her fellow staff - before moving into a beach rental just down from the Horny Toad.
Our first impressions are exceptionally positive.
We have grown tired of the poor attitude among hospitality staff in islands like Barbados and Antigua which are very rundown outside the resorts. Local food is stodgy, expensive and with poor choice.
It's totally the opposite on SM - they actually seem to appreciate tourists and what we have seen so far of restaurants and choices is very good.
The beach is fantastic - low key developments, some building work on newer places and a couple of great beach bars. Pristine clear waters. And clean.
We have found our perfect bar with great margaritas - Dinghy Dock's happy hour is fantastic.
Good potent skinny margaritas made with their own lime mix and not some over-sweet catering variety. Three of those plus two Coronas for 20 bucks gets my vote every day - including this historic one 😉
Excellent HH food - great wings and fish dip in particular - and great staff in Jamelia and Ash.
We also like the fact that unusually the music is kept low key and not at ear-splitting volume.
It is our perfect holiday drinking spot.
We managed the long airport perimeter walk to watch some planes land then continued round to Maho calling in at SXM Cigars to pick up some stogies. Fantastic selection. Good prices. Knowledgeable owner.
Then continued walking around the airport to Dinghy Dock for a well-earned livener.
On reflection perhaps a little optimistic for a 70-year-old with dodgy knees but the much younger Mrs Nobby kept an eye on me.
And that so far is that - we plan a bus trip north at the weekend but at the moment the beach and our apartment's pool are a big draw.
The weather is great - high 20s but cooling down rapidly in the evening.
Any more suggestions for good happy hours at this end of the beach much appreciated.