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Welcome Leo & Barby mahokid 1 hour ago Welcome back

Hopefully good flight and arriving to a great day.

Tuesday invitation for light appetizers and pizza and wine and maybe something else from bona mamma depending on thier specials of the day

Touch base
We can chat or email

If already have plans we are flexible but trying to chill out after our first 3 big meals out

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Astrolab mahokid 8 hours ago Running on a few hours of sleep, Astrolab has been our traditional first night of celebrating our anniversary.

Almost all the tables around the pool we're filled and we were shown to our table which had a small floral arrangement and flowers added to our silverware holder.
They continue to make our first night special.

It is always nice to see the same servers and I now prefer a night without the live entertainment which hasn't always been that good.

Service is attentive and at a preferred relaxed pace.

Astrolab offers a 66 euro 3 course prix fix as well as a la carte.

While I went prix fix, my ldc chose two courses knowing we can not eat like we used to.

Appertifs included a proper aperol spritz and a glass of sancere which showed its wonderful flavors once warmed up the glass in my hands.

The smoked salmon with "pearls" of something were served in a puff pastry.
A great start to awaken our palates.

My wife started out with a tuna tar tar in coconut milk.
My duo of excellent foie gras came pan seared and with a "pate"
I enjoyed a half bottle of sauterne to compliment this dish saving the remaining for dessert.

Portion size were just right.

Entrees included sea bass with saffron rice in a sancere cream sauce as well as a triggerfish with mashed and a basil sauce.

The portions were perfect for our diminishing appetites and wr still our finished half our dinners.
I enjoyed a glass of chablis with my fish.
B
It is so nice to be able to enjoy a nice glass of wine with each course and only 12 euros

Sucks getting crappie wine by the glass in the states at the cost of the whole bottle.

We shared the warm chocolate cake a la monde with an anniversary candle with the rest of the sauterne.

I respectfully asked for no complimentary champagne which they would have served after dessert.

One thing I noticed was how well all guests were dressed and relaxed at the pace of dinner

Working in a resort town back home, most guests are extremely casual and definitely don't understand a two hour dinner.
My boss would go crazy over a two hour turn of the table.

Astrolab really is a beautiful hidden gem and got our vacation off to a wonderful start.

Appologies as remaining pictures will not download

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Arrived mahokid Yesterday at 11:24 PM Like most from northern east coast, start day with 2 am wake up for early flight out of Philadelphia

Plane delayed over an hour once we were aboard because of something about couldn't fill one side of plane with fuel.
With a tight connection American Airlines rebooked us on the later flight out of Miami

With a later arrival we breezed through the Airport only to have a new wait for the random customs scanning at the end just before exiting.
Something new yo us.

20 minutes from airport to Orient where we are renting Neptune for the third year. Our property manager Magali left us our key under the mat as requested and returned shortly later when we noticed our safe key was missing.
Her service is always appreciated.
Love the rental for the off season price.
4 cans of bug spray on the counter and fridge stock with some beers, bottle of rose and a large water to get started
Rental has everything else you could image in all the drawers and shelves

Unpacked and food shopping at Super U.
No fresh baked breads at all in the back.

800 pm reservations at Astrolab which we have made our first night tradition

Report to follow if not too sleepy or depending on how many glasses of wine on 3 hours sleep

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Le Taitu restaurant RonDon 08/21/2026 02:06 PM I'd heard a rumor that this restaurant sold. Can anyone confirm this? We love this place and wondered if sold is it the same.

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Dec Trip. bran 08/21/2026 01:09 PM Booked last night for 17 nights this December. Quite a few years since we have travelled to SXM as have been going there and Anguilla since the early 80's. Last time didn't have to form fill in advance but see plenty of threads on this here and hopefully not too complicated. Wife passed last year so it will be bitter-sweet(going down 40 plus year memory lane stuff which does concern me a bit) but a friend of hers has agreed to come along for part of the trip and basically make sure I'm ok as could not do this on my own plus nice to have company when eating. Always used to stay in the Terres Basses area and my usual villa not available so looking at Mirabelle, Giselle, Mongoose Run to Bamboo and even Jacaranda. First two/three are over the top with plenty of room and extra bedrooms that don't really need, down to more practical and certainly less pricey, but life is short and like my privacy and therefore at times have to pay for this if really worthwhile, so if some here know from experience any of these villas sure appreciate a heads-up. I don't much care for the old Caribbean dark brown furniture with bright tile bathroom look, more french and modern contemporary within Terrres Basses.

Do remember the kids steeplpan bands playing in 2019 I think in Maho around Dec 15th and so look forward to that again. Plus of course the restaurants and seeing all the changes including the airport, which perhaps has greatly improved. Note that over the years so many mention the Rendezvous Jazz on a Sunday and don't think I ever have been, so will give that a go plus any recs for where Soca, Ska, Carnival or Steel band might be played? First time in many years not going business class. Wow, the prices have sure jumped in 6 years and using Miles which I got for 20K return and 35K for my friend(due to different times)plus taxes and paid for better seating. Can't complain. Onwards. Cheers.

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IT's A PARTY!!! Colour1 08/21/2026 12:20 PM It’s a PARTY!!!
Leo Lotfi Boub ( managing director of Catch 21) and I am pleased to invite everyone from this forum to Catch 21 for a meet and greet on October 28th from 5:00 to 7:00 (if we run overtime, no worries) for great drinks at Happy hour prices and FREE apps!! Please sign up by leaving your full name on this thread. Name tags will be given out!!! You will love this new restaurant located in Port De Plaisanace!!! We’re looking forward to meeting everyone!!

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Olga's Fancy Alternative(s) CaptnAndy 08/19/2026 11:32 PM Just looking a availability at Olga's Fancy for March, and disappointed they were sold and closed!

We have had crew members stay a Olga's, Mafolie and Emerald Beach over the past several years.

What other hotel/B&B etc do you recommend for a night or 2 before or after a charter to the BVI?

Thanks, Andy

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JVD vs SXM Update Dirk Lovelace 08/18/2026 09:05 PM Tried to post a reply in the thread I started and says disabled so here is the update: Update we pulled the trigger on a cheap flight out of CLT-SXM via Jet Blue for $445. We will go back to JVD next year. I do get its a world apart and will miss the rustic vibes of Jost. This past June we stayed in a villa I rented off VRBO and we ran out of water. Had to pump out of the secondary cistern into the primary cistern and then had pump problems spent the evening working on it with the plumber while my wife was supervised at Foxy's with some of my local friends. Went back to get her and she had been bitten by the firewater. Always a good story on Jost!

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JVD every year something different this year Dirk Lovelace 08/17/2026 08:20 PM Hi Everyone,

My wife and I go to JVD every year on island and have met so many people who we are friends with to the point where we are invited to school functions and know lots of the locals and we are going back this year...maybe. I keep hearing how cool SXM is and it seems worlds apart from JVD. We love the shabbiness of Jost but feel we are in a rut. Need to make some decisions quick as I have found cheap flights to EIS and SXM. The food and scene looks great on SXM with beuatiful beaches. Any perspective from anyone who has done both and pros/cons? Thanks in advance.

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