Pre-Trip Report

[cec1]

They will spray if requested, but we haven’t run across a racket. Essential weapon.

We’ve offered a “racquet“ at villacec for as long as I remember them being available. A relatively small expense to a villa landlord. I’d recommend that you simply note to the villa rental agent / landlord that you would like one in the villa. (If there’s any resistance , find another source for your special, not expensive living time in island time.)

 

[jamiem4]

La Cave du Port Franc also offers discounts to those who establish an account with them. I’ve had one for several years.

Yes! They sure do! We just use the Bottle folks for the everyday bulk wine LOL…

 

[cassidain]

Who plays the game, when boarding your flight to SXM, of guessing which passengers are staying in St. Martin and which are connecting to St. Barth ?

 

[elgreaux]

Who plays the game, when boarding your flight to SXM, of guessing which passengers are staying in St. Martin and which are connecting to St. Barth ?

you can usually tell by the clothes and luggage n'est-ce pas ?

 

[cassidain]

you can usually tell by the clothes and luggage n'est-ce pas ?

Très snob

 

[amyb]

Was finishing my packing when I realized I had not packed our electric moustique swatter. Whew. That was a close one

Good catch!

 

[cassidain]

SXM is the Carnival Cruise of airports.
Without Vincent, a complete disaster.

 

[elgreaux]

Très snob

Sometimes it's just a SBH baseball cap or a LouLou's Marine tote bag....good clues as to someone's destination...

 

[erikb923]

Who plays the game, when boarding your flight to SXM, of guessing which passengers are staying in St. Martin and which are connecting to St. Barth ?

Normally the largest fake....jewel's?

 

[PeterLynn]

Last visit, we upgraded to business class (mostly for the "free" baggage) and assumed "we" were all headed to SBH. Group across the aisle and behind us were repeat SXM visitors and had never been to SBH, so while fun, be cautious judging books by their cover.

 

[erikb923]

Last visit, we upgraded to business class (mostly for the "free" baggage) and assumed "we" were all headed to SBH. Group across the aisle and behind us were repeat SXM visitors and had never been to SBH, so while fun, be cautious judging books by their cover.

Without a doubt, I guess the way to avoid the SXM people is fly Tradewind or private. As someone who combines SXM with SBH for the trip, this is an interesting post! Both have positives and negatives, with many more positives! Although last November 2 of us were on the Tradewind flight to SJU since the other couple didn't arrive, so we flew private I guess?

 

[amyb]

Without a doubt, I guess the way to avoid the SXM people is fly Tradewind or private. As someone who combines SXM with SBH for the trip, this is an interesting post! Both have positives and negatives, with many more positives! Although last November 2 of us were on the Tradewind flight to SJU since the other couple didn't arrive, so we flew private I guess?

Well played

 

[PeterLynn]

Without a doubt, I guess the way to avoid the SXM people is fly Tradewind or private. As someone who combines SXM with SBH for the trip, this is an interesting post! Both have positives and negatives, with many more positives! Although last November 2 of us were on the Tradewind flight to SJU since the other couple didn't arrive, so we flew private I guess?

Flew Tradewind post Irma for several visits and loved it. First flight we ever took was also "private" as we were the only ones. Unfortunately, the ticket prices have since more than doubled, so it's back to SXM. Fortunately, SBC lessens the pain (Winair, not so much).

 

[Risa]

Who plays the game, when boarding your flight to SXM, of guessing which passengers are staying in St. Martin and which are connecting to St. Barth ?

Always.

 

[cassidain]

Can’t extol PIV’s virtues enough. Getting from the parked airplane at SXM, down the air stairs, to a bus and crammed in like sardines, (all passenger classes made as one) we were on our own. But once inside the terminal and presenting ourselves to Vincent’s agent at the transfer information desk all obstacles were smoothed out, and we were whisked thru private security and past the unwashed throngs in the great hall and ushered onto our original Winair flight, even though we arrived too late for scheduled boarding (due to 1. AA mechanical delays 2. SXM ATC sending us into holding pattern for 30 minutes before landing) and that there were scores of Winair passengers from delayed earlier flights (no winds and from wrong direction for SBH) hungry to get on any plane they could.
Of course, our checked bags didn’t make our 4pm Winair flight, but another of Vincent’s agents spotted us at SBH airport upon arrival, quizzed us on a couple of particulars, and showed up in our Vitet driveway at 5:45 with our bags !!!
Damn they’re good !

 

[cassidain]

First dinner of the trip at le nouveau Grain de Sel.
Sorry no photos (dead tired from travel delay trauma) but the space and, especially, the platings are photo worthy.
We arrived shortly after 7:00 and calm reigned. But by 8:15 every table was taken and they were jammin’. A lively, casual atmosphere. Largely local crowd.
The space is the same as before, with the good parts retained and the shoddy parts made stylish.
Service was nicely attentive and of sufficient numbers to make a good show even during the onslaught.
The cuisine is creative and satisfying. And pretty. There’s a woman’s touch in all of this I suspect ???
Just first visit, but a winner so far.

 

[Tiffany]

Can’t extol PIV’s virtues enough. Getting from the parked airplane at SXM, down the air stairs, to a bus and crammed in like sardines, (all passenger classes made as one) we were on our own. But once inside the terminal and presenting ourselves to Vincent’s agent at the transfer information desk all obstacles were smoothed out, and we were whisked thru private security and past the unwashed throngs in the great hall and ushered onto our original Winair flight, even though we arrived too late for scheduled boarding (due to 1. AA mechanical delays 2. SXM ATC sending us into holding pattern for 30 minutes before landing) and that there were scores of Winair passengers from delayed earlier flights (no winds and from wrong direction for SBH) hungry to get on any plane they could.
Of course, our checked bags didn’t make our 4pm Winair flight, but another of Vincent’s agents spotted us at SBH airport upon arrival, quizzed us on a couple of particulars, and showed up in our Vitet driveway at 5:45 with our bags !!!
Damn they’re good !

That happened to us on 1/24 landing in SXM. Thank goodness for Vincent!

 

[cec1]

Can’t extol PIV’s virtues enough. Getting from the parked airplane at SXM, down the air stairs, to a bus and crammed in like sardines, (all passenger classes made as one) we were on our own. But once inside the terminal and presenting ourselves to Vincent’s agent at the transfer information desk all obstacles were smoothed out, and we were whisked thru private security and past the unwashed throngs in the great hall and ushered onto our original Winair flight, even though we arrived too late for scheduled boarding (due to 1. AA mechanical delays 2. SXM ATC sending us into holding pattern for 30 minutes before landing) and that there were scores of Winair passengers from delayed earlier flights (no winds and from wrong direction for SBH) hungry to get on any plane they could.
Of course, our checked bags didn’t make our 4pm Winair flight, but another of Vincent’s agents spotted us at SBH airport upon arrival, quizzed us on a couple of particulars, and showed up in our Vitet driveway at 5:45 with our bags !!!
Damn they’re good !

You got it in spades! Happy to know that you now can exhale & relax!

 

[erikb923]

Flew Tradewind post Irma for several visits and loved it. First flight we ever took was also "private" as we were the only ones. Unfortunately, the ticket prices have since more than doubled, so it's back to SXM. Fortunately, SBC lessens the pain (Winair, not so much).

Yes although the funny thing about flying out of PHL is that the first class tickets to SJU plus Tradewind flights is similar price to flying to SXM with SBC/Winair. Sometimes we will fly down EWR-SXM on United and always fly home SBH-SJU-PHL. The early or late flights seems to still offer decent pricing on Tradewind. Also the SXM airport is quite improved even if people here think it's a third world country!

 

[cassidain]

Wondering if it’s gauche to bring mosquito racket to mass
Asking for a friend