The dollar sucks! Caribtraveler's trip to St. Martin et St. Barthelemy

I always, always look foward to your trip reports. They are fantastic to read and see pictures, weither the place is liked or not!

So where are your thoughts for the next trip?

Really nice report, caribtraveler. I loved all the photos of the beaches and the food. We were on St. Barths two years ago and it is the one place my husband would love to return to.

OMG, I could not agree more with your thoughts/report! Having been to SXM 3 times, the last and FINAL time last year....Things have changed. We did experience great food in Grand Case.
St. Barts....liked it. Very $$$, if you let it be and with the euro being what it is now, it adds up fast. The roads are an adventure, that's for sure.
Great report. Thanks for posting.

Our thoughts for the next trip....Burned out after 3 years to St. Kitts and Nevis...Love those islands, but development makes me want to change my mind...Nevis is still wonderful!
This summer we are taking a break from the Caribbean after trips to Hilton Head and Las Vegas...I have to take a class to recerify my teaching license, so we will spend a lot of time at our river place. I can't wait to see where other folks are going!

iw, If you think St.Kitts has changed you need to visit this website about future development -wwwchristopharbour.com

Another excellent report! Thank you so much for posting. I always love reading your reports and looking at your photos.

Clap Clap! Great trip report as always. Sounded like a fantastic trip. I wish you many more.

Great pics and good info. I am sure that French tourists don't tip. Why should we then? Seriously, I wouldn't especially with the lousy dollar. I know, they expect American tourists to tip but if your in an island like St. Barts where not too many Americans go, dont tip. Save that 15% percent.

Thanks everyone.

Blamona: Next trip is in June. Someone gets to be spoiled by his grandparents and my husband and I get to spend some alone time in Staniel Cay in the Bahamas.

iw: I can't imagine not reading your latest trip report about cramming 3 islands in one swoop! - We might also give the Caribbean a break next year. I'll turn 40. We'll celebrate 10 years of marriage. So we think we might want to go somewhere different... maybe Europe? or French Polynesia? We'll see and hopefully the dollar will have recovered by then!

travelme: Someone told me that while in St. Martin. I just couldn't bring myself to not tip though.

Enjoyed your trip report, especially since we were in St. Martin (we stayed at Le Petit Hotel in Grand Case) the first week of March, and ate at many of the same restaurants you visited (La California, L'Escapade, and Bistrot Caraibes, as well as the lolos). And cheesy though it may be, I just love Sunset Beach Bar.

It's funny, but after our honeymoon in St. Martin almost 19 years ago, we swore we'd never go back. The crowds, the congestion, the commercialism, etc. -- not for us. But when we returned last year for various reasons, we were pleasantly surprised. A lot of that had to do with choosing carefully where we stayed -- almost exclusively in Grand Case, without venturing far beyond except by sailboat (which really provides a different perspective). So a few days in Grand Case this year, after a longer stay in Anguilla, was a natural.

I don't know that I would go back to SXM except for a long weekend in Grand Case, because we prefer more seclusion, but I now know to never say never.

What were your dates? Maybe we crossed paths? (Here's my report: http://islandtime.homestead.com/anguilla0801.html).

Nadine
I always enjoy your trip reports, especially your shots of the food

Always reading a report of an island I have not been to, especially from a trusted source!!

It looks a little too busy for us there (esp. that beach shot that had lounge chairs lined up for what looked like a mile!!) But we have friends who have a condo for 3 weeks every year and love it there.

Your little guy just keeps growing and growing!!
Jeenn

I know when it is part of your culture its hard not to tip. However, given the value of the dollar, I would try to step out of my comfort zone on this one.
French Polynesia is so beautiful but it must be outrageously expensive these days. We were there in 2001 and 2002 and now we are forever spoiled. Nothing has come close to Moorea and Huahine. I will go back someday but unfortunately, it won't be in the near future.

Nadine, thanks again for a great trip report and pictures. Unfortunately, I could not read all of it because the pictures were on top of at least a third of the print. Is this something with my computer or anyone else have the same problem? You guys are the cutest family and I've enjoyed seeing Patrick sprout over the years . He is one lucky child to be able to travel so much.

Brenandg: How weird. It shows fine on my computer as well as my husband's computer at work last night. Anyone else, please let me know if you have that problem.

Jeena: He'll be as tall as me in 2 years and he's only 6!!

Callaloo: We missed each other by a week I think. I did read your trip report before we left and commented on it. It gave me hope that we'd enjoy the island despite some of our misgivings. Our hotel choice turned out to be a great choice for us as well. We also looked at Le Petit Hotel but ended up with L'Esplanade because of the pools (for our son). Same owners I think? I wanted to kick myself for not going with the pizza like you at La California since my mussels were so awful.

Travelme: I want to be forever spoiled so maybe it'll be worst the outrage expense (don't tell my husband I said that).

I meant WORTH the OUTRAGEOUS expense.

caribtraveler: You made me laugh! I know...3 islands at one time is ridiculous! IMHO, but being a teacher....we take it as it comes!
Marion, when she chimed in, thought I was crazy...She might be right.
Where is that Prozac when you need it? LOL...no prescription, yet.
Oh, 40 is easy! Just experienced that fun day last month. DH is 42 today!!!! Yeah for him. 40 is the new 20? I think that's why Botox was invented, myself....

Nevisian....The development....How do you feel about that? Sure, it is good for the economy there, but...Not sure and the taxi drivers were not, as well. I love those islands and we looked at building a house on Nevis, but picked a river close to home. May have to sell that and build on Nevis!

Acually there are a few small hotels that are reasonable. You can also eat at small local restaurants at ok prices. The French Polynesian islands are fantastic and there is a vibe there that I have't seen anywhere else. The first time we did a cruise and that was really cost effective. It was only for a week which was a tease so we returned the following year and stayed two weeks. Oh God, now I want to really go back just thinking about it.

I'm so jealous-Staniel Cay is high on my list-I want to go with you!

I can't wait for that trip report-your son will love the swimming pigs.

As for French Poly-were you going to take your son? That's about the only place my daughter wouldn't like, she'd be bored like crazy. There is nothing there but honeymooners, couples, and of course, gorgeous stunning scenery.
Keep us in your though process.

My hubby is turning 40-he wants Provo (he's obssessed with it) or a National's game in Chicago. I'm still waiting for my 40th great trip, and that was 5 years ago!

I was holding out for Maldives.

Thanks, that's a great report, and a very pleasing format.

I was in Sint Maarten in February (staying on the Dutch side) and took a Voyager ferry to St. Barths as a day trip -- you are right about the expense. We had beers at Do Brazil, but ate at the small strip of stores/restaurants near the Eden Rock, and spent $30 per person for salad and sandwich.

Oh, I have to renew the passport....My dad may be sent to Austria and Italy for business and I can tag along. Might have a trip report for that one. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh, welcome back! I was away for the weekend and didn't see your response right away. Fantastic trip report, as always! I'm just sorry that y'all didn't love St. Martin, but even so, a mezzo-mezzo trip to the Caribbean is always better than a week at home.

I can't believe how big Patrick is getting! Like someone else posted, I feel like I've watched him grow up through your photos.

Can you tell me a little bit about how your formatted your trip report? Do you use a template? Or do you just design and format it all yourself?

I look forward to reading about your next "hot date" trip to Staniel Cay. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with *those* beaches!

Thank you for your great trip report - we are leaving for St. Martin on Thurdsay! I'll post upon our return.

iw - the salt pond will make a wonderful protected harbor where there really aren't any such facilities. It will change the salt marsh environment greatly. It’s probably something the USA wouldn’t allow. The turkey leg of the island is pretty desolate so development will only be a plus. HOWEVER... We're talking high rollers and big money here. Rumor has it that the Getty family has already purchased three of the prime lots facing Nevis. Mind you, it’s a rumor and rumors have legs down here. St. Kitts is still affordable. My thought is that this is a step to exclusivity that the island economy needs to carefully balance. The dry leg of the island will have to have desalinization water plants to handle these developments. Another golf course will make three for the island federation. Whoppee. Dredging the salt pond and building a man made island for housing and a harbour for the people who can afford it may or may not be enticing to the tourists who are staying at the Marriott. St. Martin seems to do o.k. in this area. I can only hope for St. Kitts to be as democratic. Development is hitting Nevis too. Soccer World Sports or some such Euro entity has purchased the ocean front property next to the Four Seasons on Pinney’s Beach (which is why Sunshine’s and Golden Rock beach facilities had to move). They are supposed to be building very expensive overpriced homes for the athletic elite of Europe. Whatever. That seems to be limiting your market! These are big developments that will take decades to complete. The Four Seasons is still building private villas and is scheduled to start on hotel site row houses this year (along the 4th fairway). That has only been in development for 14 years? If you’ve seen the development at Porte Zante you know that St. Kitts is building a new downtown shopping district for visitors. To me, it’s another St. Thomas. I prefer the Circus. Progress I guess. A lot has changed in the last 10 years. These are still the best islands to visit. I hope it stays that way.

Blamona: Staniel Cay is just my husband and me. Next year's plans are just prelim thoughts. French Polynesia is probably just a dream.

Hi Emily. I use Homestead SiteBuilder. The front page of the web site is from a template. The other pages with all the trip reports are blank pages that I just designed the way I wanted to (the colors, the font, etc..).
And yes being in the Caribbean is always better than being home. We had a good time. Our hardest decisions were which beach and which restaurant to go to every day. Who can really complain?!

Iowamom: Have a GREAT trip.