iw

I have decided to break down our trip into 3 parts since we visited SKB, Nevis and SXM. So, forgive me if I am being too wordy, but I have soooo enjoyed the details in other people's reports. Skip ahead to those that interest you and pass by those that don't pertain to you.

Read on:

Left RDU and flew into Miami and on to SKB. Very uneventful flight. Long line at customs. SKB agents take their jobs seriously!! Got to the Marriott and it was a very smooth check-in. I had requested an ocean front or view as we had last year, but it was a full house and we were "up-graded" to an Executive suite. Hah! Wow! We had a pool view and a slight view of the ocean, but this room was better than my appt. at VT! It had a bedroom with a king bed, chair/ottoman and armoire with tv/ bath with a bidet/ corner huge whirlpool tub/ marble shower/double vanity and onto a galley kitchen with stove/dishwasher/full fridge/ washer/dryer/ironing board room/den with sofa, 2 chairs/ ottoman/dining table/another amoire with tv and a balcony with tables and chairs. I did not complain!! Off to the ocean!!
Thurs. dinner was at Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack. Very cool and laid back!! You get your own drinks from the bar....very good prices. $2 Caribs and $3 wine. Oh boy! Get your own menu, place your own order and sit back while it is being cooked and delivered! Sit at picnic tables outside by the ocean...on Thurs., they have their infamous bonfire and the "Sultan" walks on fire, eats fire and dances, followed by him coming around with a bucket to collect tips...be prepared. The food was excellent. DH had the best ribs I have ever tasted and my jerk chicken was excellent. I had so many sides, I left 1/2 my plate and I was starved....a lof of food for $26USD. Off to casino and to roulette, which I ususally love....HUNH> lost and had to go console myself at the lobby bar with a mango margarita. Foolishly went back to the casino. HUNH...off to bed!!!
We spent Friday at Turtle Beach...always a favorite. Good food, cool place to lime. The roade getting there is twisty and turning, but a great photo op. The service is great...you can eat, drink and hang on the beach until you are ready to go. We had a cab driver who delivered us and agreed to pick us up several hours later....$20 each way from the Marriott. The t-shirts are of great quality!!
Dinner that night at Marshalls...a must. Yes, it is $$, but everything else is, too. You are eating poolside and the service is superb, as is the food. The view is the best! Back to casino...will I ever learn????? We did meet Prime Minister Douglas, thanks to Julianne, a Marriott employee, and he was gracious man! Very cool.
Saturday found us taking an island tour with Vincent Joseph of VJ's taxi service. He is sooo nice and informative. His kids are in college in Florida and he is/was an agricutlural engineer in ther sugar industry on St. Kitts, which is now no-longer...the plant was shut down about a year ago which means that over 1,000 people are sadly, unemployed...hence...VJ's taxi service. He is one smart dude ready to serve and is willing to take the time to talk and take your picture! Nice guy!!!!Lunch at Marriott//ok...Dinner at Bobsy's....ok...and I heard the same opinion from 2 other families that ate there the same night. |Skip it!

iw

Oops..forgot Sunday...We just hung out at the pool/beach and saved ourselves for Serendipity! YUMMY! The food is awesome and the service is excellent. It's located downtown. I forgot the taxi price...maybe around $10. We had seafood....hardly any of our dinners with drinks/food/appetizer and tip were under $100. I am sure it can be done. Good news ....up at casino in roulette....bad news/////didn't break even. GROAN! Stay tuned for the Nevis/St. Martin reports!!

Thoughts on returning to SKB for a 2nd visit: loved it...noticed homeless people at the docks while waiting for ferry to Nevis....policemen are carrying guns now due to more gun play on the island(according to cab drivers)....We felt totally safe...a beautiful island....gracious people... Marriott service was even better this year!!!! Especially, if they know you are returning...they hug you! Weren't bothered by people on beach trying to sell stuff!! Love it!!!!

Ps. Met Liz's sis at the shop at the Marriott. Fun in the Sun, I believe.... She was sooo helpful and nice!!

iw

Sorry for all of the errors that I am now noticing. But, please feel free to respond, as this was our 2nd trip to the island.

owa

Thanks for the trip report! I have not had the chance to visit any of these islands, but I sure am interested and hope to do so some day. The way you write makes me more eager. I'm anxious to read more and no, you aren't giving us too much detail! Thanks again, Owa

caribtraveler

Thanks for the trip report! St. Kitts is on the possibility list for us in April '07.
Lucky you with the executive suite! So were there any conventions at the Marriott while you were there? That's one of the things mentioned a lot in TA reviews....which is a bit of a turn off for me. And how did you feel about the size of the resort? And how was the Marriott beach while you were there? Was the water calm or rough? Looking forward to the rest of your report.

ejcrowe

Thanks for the trip report, and way to go on that suite upgrade! Looking forward to the rest of your report.

iw

Thanks for the response. Yes, there was a convention of some sort while we were there. I love this resort. Yes, it is big, but the service is excellent. We were never bothered by crowds. We met some fantastic people. The beaches on St. Kitts are so-so. We prefer Orient Beach in St. Martin for beauty, but the beach is very big at the Marriott. The water can be on the rough side. It was calm at Turtle Beach. Personally, I like St. Kitts and Nevis for the kind people and there is so much to see and do. It is not as developed as SXM and Aruba, so that is what I most enjoy. If you are not into big resorts, we did visit Ottley's Plantation and spoke with someone who was staying there. It is beautiful and they shuttle you to the beach for free. Well, hah, I'm sure it's included in the price. I didn't see a room there, but it was a gorgeous property. That was a stop that we made with Vincent Joseph.

Boonie

lw - do you have a contact number and/or
email address for Vincent Joseph? May
need it this fall. Thanks.

iw

Hi, Vincent's # is 869-465-4131, cell is 869-662-2277 and e-mail is [email protected]. Just learned that all of our rolls of film were exposed at the store....no pics. groan!!!!!

skbfan

Great Trip Report! It certainly made me homesick.

BTW, my sister's store at the Marriott is called Just in the Sun.

caribtraveler

iw: Thank you for replying to my questions.

skbfan: Hi. What does your sister's store carry?

iw

Ok....confused....skbfan, is your sister's store near Liz's sis, or did I mix up the person who gave the info before our trip about the store at the Marriott? Sorry to be so uninformed. I'd like to give accurrate info. Thanks.

iw

caribtraveler...I believe I made a mistake on the store at the Marriott....it is probably skbfans sis's...if so, it has really cool resort wear which is perfect for the island. There is nice jewelry and hats, suits, stuff for men, also....really neat stuff. The colors were beautiful. There is another store with dressier clothes,a jewelry store, a liquor store and a general store that has snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, some clothing, books and magazines.

skbfan

Sorry for the confusion. This is Liz (AKA SKBFAN), and my sister Kathy's store in the Marriott is called Just in the Sun.