Caribbean 2025

 Caribbean 2025

January-February 2025
(Look for current updates)
Brief Itinerary
(full detail itinerary following brief itinerary)

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Previous Year

view of a plane landing at the airport over Maho beach

Jan 25  Sat	Flight BOI (Boise) to ORD (Chicago)
Jan 25-26 Sat-Sun	Over Night in Chicago
Jan 26 Sun	Flight ORD to SXM (Sint Maarten)
Jan 26-Feb 16 Sun-Sun	Sint Maarten
Feb 14 Fri	Flight SXM to NWR (Newark) to ORD
Feb 14-15 Fri-Sat	Over Night in Chicago
Feb 15 Sat	Flight ORD to BOI

Full Detail Itinerary by Day

Day #1	Jan 25 Sat	Flight BOI to ORD via DEN(Denver) Got off my flight in Denver 13 minutes before my flight to ORD was schedule to depart.  I was at the very end of the A concourse, ran to the Train (at center of A), train to the B concourse , luckily the gate for ORD was only a few gates from the center train.  I ran to the gate got there 2 minutes after the scheduled departure and they let me on, wow I was fully expecting to just talk to them about the next flight. As a standby person I made the first flights I was shooting for so fantastic. Susie (my girl friend) who has tickets to fly.  Was delayed out of Boise by 3.5 hours which then delayed her out of  Denver.  So she got to Chicago after Midnight.  I was in by noon and I took the Train to Rosemont (suburb of Chicago) went for lunch  to Crust brewing my go to place.  Came back to the Hilton ORD and took a nap.  Met Susie after midnight in the airport.  I fully expected that the person flying standby would be the late one not the one with tickets.
Day #2	Jan 26 Sun	Up early for a 8:45 flight, so not too early. Susie has tickets and there is a seat for me on the same flight so fantastic!  We are not sitting together, but not a big deal as Susie is really good at sleeping on a plane, so we can all be jealous of her having that ability ☺. The new system and entry form to the Island is not perfected yet and it took a long time to get through customs (much longer then years past).  Taxi to town was $20 so not bad. We checked into Alicia's Inn (my go to place on the island).  We are staying 3 weeks so they gave us a great rate of $80 per night.  It is a nice room only a block and 1/2 off the beach.  The staff is over the top nice and friendly!
Day #3	Jan 27 Mon	We both slept in (11 hours of sleep) and got caught up on our sleep. We then toured around the boardwalk and the beach in Philipsburg, Sint Maartin.
Day #4	Jan 28 Tuesday	We visited with the owners (Marcel (little bastard) and Steve (big bastard) the other owner) of the Big Bastard restaurant and bar on the beach, he remembers my name, very impressive. Then Dinner at the Green House my go to restaurant on Sint Maartin.  Quincy our waiter remembered me from years past and even remember my name, wow a skill I don't have, we make a short evening of it because still a little tired from travelling.  Coconut Chicken for dinner very good. Coffee and snacks at the Coffee Lounge, my go to Chai Tea latte place, Coffee for Susie and we share a Panini with gouda cheese and Avocado, very good.  Got a lounger and umbrella on the beach ($15 dollars for two) and relax for the afternoon.  Then back to the Green House for Happy Hour and dinner.  Did Bang Bang Shrimp for dinner. Rainbows just before sunset Sunset - the day come to a great end.
Day #5	Jan 29 Wednesday	Breakfast at Le Cafe a French restaurant and bakery. Rent beach chairs where the boardwalk ends and lounge and play in the ocean, another lazy day.  Booked our dive trip for the future $80 dollars each.  Chicken Fettuccini for dinner at the Green House. Another Great Sunset
Day #6	Jan 30 Thursday	Island bus (which is only 2 dollars) to Maho beach to watch the people on the beach  and the surf was high.  Tortuga Restaurant for a light breakfast and then returned after some touring the area, back at Tortuga for drinks.  They even had Ginger Beer which was excellent.  City bus back making it a short day.  Off to dinner.  Great sunset.  Philly cheese steak sandwich for dinner at the Green House Restaurant very good.  Scuba diving tomorrow, can even see a plane coming in, beyond the gardens. Susie and Bill enjoying the Sunset - again. Sunsets are always good and different  Fireworks for the sailing regatta that is in the bay tonight.  They leave for another port tomorrow.  Got to talk with one sailor, he said he was on the best kind of boat, one that belonged to a friend - gets to sail without the boat upkeep.
Day  #7	Jan 31 Friday	Scuba diving today, so we stopped by early just to check about our dive later in the day, they seem to be having some issues, one of their dive boats was being repossessed, but not the one we are going to take.  Took the Sea dragon boat with captain Nick, dive masters Sam and Dagmar.  Diving and little bay, with several other people, one lady that had not dove in 7-8, she did really good.  Another person was in an intro to scuba session, he was a little panicked about diving,  the water was rough, wind and the visibility as pretty bad there was also quite a bit of underwater surge, so it is understandable.  Susie did great, I had trouble clearing my ears, but finally got to the bottom.  But a little while into the dive got motion sickness and had to surface.  A 23 minutes dive even it I had to cut it short.  Dagmar was fantastic and stayed with me all the way back to the boat.  It was still a good experience. On the dive boat headed to Little Bay Leaving Philipsburg Another sunset Moon rise from the Green House Restaurant At the Green House for dinner (again)(and Happy Hour Drinks ☺) Pull pork sandwich, very good
Day #8	Feb 1 Saturday	When to the French Touch and met JP the owner, supper nice French Gentleman.  Fruit and Chai Tea.  Walked around did some shopping for a new visor for the one Susie had lost somewhere on the trip.  No cruise ships today so lots of places closed, rented beach chairs and umbrellas at our usual Spot at the end of the board walk for $15 and swim in the ocean and were very lazy.    Back to our Hotel for a short nap (from a busy day ☺)  Off to the Green House for dinner (most of the places in town shut down in the evening after the cruise ship people are all back to their ships)  The boardwalk is very empty and a nice time for  a walk.  Dinner was the Bang Bang Chicken Wrap, all the food has been great. Great Bay - Philipsburg Another moon rise at the Green House Restaurant
Day #9	Feb 2 Sunday	Sleep in very late and had Breakfast/Lunch at the OMG Delicious restaurant. I had the Yogurt parfait, Susie having the Salmon bagel.  Beach chair, Umbrellas, Beers and swimming the ocean.  An afternoon nap and then off to dinner at the Green House. Lazy, Lazy. Coconut Chicken and the happy hour drinks,  I am working my way through the menu of  tropical umbrella drinks. A view of Buddha on the beach One of the big events of the day sunset followed by Happy Hour.
Day #10	Feb 3 Monday	An Eagle Tours, "Quality Time" Catamaran cruise boat with Captain Tim, Tamara and Alessandro around the island.  Open Bar, snacks, and a great lunch with deserts Stopping for a swim at Long beach, snorkeled at Creole rock and swim/snorkeled at Tintamarre island.  Sails up for the rest of the way around the island, what a great day with a wonderful crew.  Had to hustle to get to the Green House in time for Happy Hour, two for one drinks - and important part of our day 😁.  We had Nachos because we did not need very much after the great cruise food. Another great day comes to an end. i A great Day on a tour around the island Nachos and happy hour at the Green House again.
Day #11	Feb 4 Tuesday	A hair cut today, it is something that is fun to do while traveling. La Cafe French Cafe and Bakery had the ham sandwich. Amsterdam store and bought Gouda Cheese - Very Good! Layed on Beach. Happy Hour at Green House Restaurant Greek Salad for dinner
Day #12	Feb 5 Wednesday	Bus to the Rain Forest Adventure Chair lift to the top of the Mountain for spectacular views Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos, at where else then the Green House Restaurant - Big surprise huh 😀
Day #13	Feb 6 Thursday	Breakfast at the OMG Delicious Restaurant Avocado Toast and Fruit Crapes Rented chairs from AJ at the end of the board walk Drank beers on the beach with a dip in the ocean. Afternoon nap before happy hour and Fettuccine an the Green house restaurant
Day #14	Feb 7 Friday	Le Cafe for Tea and coffee, Croissant,  blue berry muffin. Took the island bus to the Parotte Ville Bird Park.   It was great fun. Got a Taxi back with Daniel for only $10 right to our hotel  Went shopping for the first time and bought a T-shirt and some license  plates with Names on them.  And "Retired" for my license plate. Green House happy hour and walked to the Holland House (one of the other places that is open in the evening) for dinner, but they were full so back to the Green House for Chicken Tenders and Potato skins.
Day #15	Feb 8 Saturday Z	The French Touch for Breakfast JP is the owner/waiter Fresh Orange Juice, Veggie Sandwich that was very good.  Walked the board walk ducking into the Lay Back Beach bar and Grill to avoid some rain and have some beers.  Snacks and rest in the room.  And getting the blog up to date, I was a week or more behind. Happy hour at Green House  Dinner at Holland House  Iron skillet chicken  Curry Dinner
Day #16	Feb 9 Sunday	Breakfast at OMG Delcious Yogurt fruit bowl and begal  Beers at the Lay Back  Beach chairs and umbrella from AJ at the end of the boardwalk
Day #17	Feb 10 Monday	Orient Bay via the island local bus. Bus to French Quarter changed buses another bus to Orient Bay, short walk to the Good Morning french bakery and restaurant.  Wonderful breakfast, of course, the French always do food excellently.  Then walked the beach to the Pirates Hideout (my favorite bar) rented chairs, umbrella and it came with 2 drinks for $20.  It was nice but very windy.  And we proceeded to do nothing 😁 for the day.  Buses back to Philipsburg at 5 the traffic was kinda slow during rush hour.  But it doesn't matter because we are laid back.  Pink Pearl for a great dinner and Sunset.
Day #18	Feb 11 Tuesday	Rented A Taxi tour, Fantastic Taxi with Daniel, he did a fantastic job just like his taxi name said. Toured the Southern coast, Marigot (the capital of French state), Grand Case, and the North Coast.  Did an almost complete circle of the island, toured mainly the French side. Daniel our wonderful guide  French bakery in Morigot Fort Louis was a highlight of the tour. Friar's beach  Dinner at the Bold Budda and had a Cosmo drink, and wonderful food.
Day #19 Day #20 Day #21 Day #22	Feb 12 Wednesday Feb 13 Thursday Feb 14 Friday Feb 15 Saturday	Breakfast at Le Cafe, great sandwich and pastries.  Walk the beach, beach chairs at end of boardwalk with AJ chairs.  4 ships in Port today so lots of people.  Green House and had their Green House burger, very good.  A very relaxing day. Packing Day The French Touch Talk with JP Tried to lay on at AJ chairs  Rain kept us run to the Lay Back Bar He went went by "Smile" because he said his name was hard to pronounce. Dinner at the Bold Budda, I tried a dirty martini, ok but preferred the Cosmo.  Fish tacos, chicken tacos, tofu satays.