CaribbeanSoul
SBH Insider
Arrived via SBC on Friday 5/22 on the 4:30 flight. Our flight in CLT was delayed so we missed the 3:15 flight. Booked a backup flight on Winair which wasn't needed due to the work of SBC and moving passengers on the later flight onto the earlier flight as they were in SXM and ready to go! We used Vincent VIP services for the trans through SXM which was especially helpful on this trip with the flight delay/change. Highly recommend his services!
We rented through Odile at Gumbs for the first time in a while. No issues with the covertible Mini which is our choice of transportation on the island. Highly recommend it as well but everyone already knows this! Our villa rental agency concierge, Helene, met us and took us up to our amazing villa above Eden Roc, Nikki Beach, St Jean beach and the airstrip. The villa is very nice but shows its age in some areas.... but a perfect home base for us centrally located versus our typical Le Toiny or Vitet villas. The view is captivating and iconic!
We did our usual trip to L’Oasis Marche Express to provision for a day or two and Le Bouchon for beers and pizzas to go. They have totally upped their game on the pizza level over the past few years!
Woke up to a beautiful Saturday which we spent enjoying the view and various libations from our well stocked refrigerator and Soggy Dollar Radio filling the pool area with music! A perfect start to the trip! Dinner that night was at La Casina and we were seated at a great table and had a nice dinner! We shared tuna tartare, my wife had pesto pasta with shrimp and I ordered a salad with eggplant. Everything was really on point, especially the tuna tartare.
Sunday is Nikki Beach day for us (early service). I know there are detractors, but every single time, the food, service and vibe are on point! My wife calls it the “happiest place on earth” and I have zero arguments. The sashimi plate is the best! We both ordered salads for our main. No complaints! We did some take away at La Casina that night since we are literally 3 minutes away. The pizzas are very good as are most of the pasta dishes that are easy to take back to the villa.
Monday, we had reservations at the Spa Sisley at Hotel Chris for massages. Our favorite spa in the Caribbean, without question! Treat yourself to a deep tissue massage that you will never forget. Words of advice! Said “hi” to Jackson on our way out with a cocktail and off to the villa for day at the pool. I’m the resident cabana boy and I love what I do.
Yesterday we decided to hit NAO after a morning and early afternoon at the villa pool. We haven’t been in a few trips, but we really had a nice time with great service and great sushi related plates. We probably won’t return for awhile but it’s nice to break up the routine. The dragon roll my wife ordered was the star of the party! The evening brought us to L’Esprit for the first time in a few years. It was a miss for us the last time but tonight I understood why it remains a forum favorite. The price fixe menu was diverse and everything we ordered was f’n delicious! We had tuna tartare, razor clams, pork tenderloin and the seared tuna. The desserts (a rarity for us), also delicious!
Today we decided to have a pool morning/early afternoon and then go down to Gypsea which we have not been back to in several years. A nice late lunch! Great table, great service and everything we ordered was amazing! We were very impressed with the entire experience! I hit the beach for a dip…...best little stretch of bean on the island IMHO! Going back tomorrow for an earlier lunch and some champagne on the beach with a couple of towels beforehand. It’s our anniversary and heading to MAMO for dinner tomorrow night!
That’s the mid trip wrap! Weather has been nice. Intermittent showers and a little breezy on the beaches, but overall, no complaints! Thanks for reading and to steal a line from one of my forum friends…...see you on the beach! Some random photos below.
We rented through Odile at Gumbs for the first time in a while. No issues with the covertible Mini which is our choice of transportation on the island. Highly recommend it as well but everyone already knows this! Our villa rental agency concierge, Helene, met us and took us up to our amazing villa above Eden Roc, Nikki Beach, St Jean beach and the airstrip. The villa is very nice but shows its age in some areas.... but a perfect home base for us centrally located versus our typical Le Toiny or Vitet villas. The view is captivating and iconic!
We did our usual trip to L’Oasis Marche Express to provision for a day or two and Le Bouchon for beers and pizzas to go. They have totally upped their game on the pizza level over the past few years!
Woke up to a beautiful Saturday which we spent enjoying the view and various libations from our well stocked refrigerator and Soggy Dollar Radio filling the pool area with music! A perfect start to the trip! Dinner that night was at La Casina and we were seated at a great table and had a nice dinner! We shared tuna tartare, my wife had pesto pasta with shrimp and I ordered a salad with eggplant. Everything was really on point, especially the tuna tartare.
Sunday is Nikki Beach day for us (early service). I know there are detractors, but every single time, the food, service and vibe are on point! My wife calls it the “happiest place on earth” and I have zero arguments. The sashimi plate is the best! We both ordered salads for our main. No complaints! We did some take away at La Casina that night since we are literally 3 minutes away. The pizzas are very good as are most of the pasta dishes that are easy to take back to the villa.
Monday, we had reservations at the Spa Sisley at Hotel Chris for massages. Our favorite spa in the Caribbean, without question! Treat yourself to a deep tissue massage that you will never forget. Words of advice! Said “hi” to Jackson on our way out with a cocktail and off to the villa for day at the pool. I’m the resident cabana boy and I love what I do.
Yesterday we decided to hit NAO after a morning and early afternoon at the villa pool. We haven’t been in a few trips, but we really had a nice time with great service and great sushi related plates. We probably won’t return for awhile but it’s nice to break up the routine. The dragon roll my wife ordered was the star of the party! The evening brought us to L’Esprit for the first time in a few years. It was a miss for us the last time but tonight I understood why it remains a forum favorite. The price fixe menu was diverse and everything we ordered was f’n delicious! We had tuna tartare, razor clams, pork tenderloin and the seared tuna. The desserts (a rarity for us), also delicious!
Today we decided to have a pool morning/early afternoon and then go down to Gypsea which we have not been back to in several years. A nice late lunch! Great table, great service and everything we ordered was amazing! We were very impressed with the entire experience! I hit the beach for a dip…...best little stretch of bean on the island IMHO! Going back tomorrow for an earlier lunch and some champagne on the beach with a couple of towels beforehand. It’s our anniversary and heading to MAMO for dinner tomorrow night!
That’s the mid trip wrap! Weather has been nice. Intermittent showers and a little breezy on the beaches, but overall, no complaints! Thanks for reading and to steal a line from one of my forum friends…...see you on the beach! Some random photos below.
Attachments
Last edited:
