Checkout was 11am, but our flight didn’t leave til 4. The best thing about travel within the Western hemisphere is shorter flights, and less time zone changes. That last one is key with kids – 6 hours time difference to Europe messes up everyone’s sleep schedules and leads to some grumpy travelers, Mom and Dad included.
Hair braiding at Kids Club
Thanks to the afternoon flight, we were able to squeeze in some last minute food and fun at the resort. As soon as she opened her eyes this morning, #1BigSister requested more time at the Kids Club. I was happy to accommodate the request as it gave me some uninterrupted time to pack.
Last minute photo quest
The extra time this morning also gave Ale and I another chance to take photos near the water. I’d tried a few times throughout the trip, but time of day really determines the right light, and we hadn’t quite found it yet.
Our flight left 1.5 hours late, so it’s a good thing Amir opted for the 3 hour layover rather than the 45 minute connection in Miami. Back to the grind tomorrow – but I’m pretty motivated. My last shift before our trip, I had a big save which refilled my cup. Not a bad start to 2024.
Last day here – we had motivated intentions to hit the other side of the island via taxi, but the kids won. They loved what they saw at Kids’ Club yesterday and demanded a return visit.
Kids’ Club Schedule at Sonesta Maho
I started the morning taking everyone to breakfast. Second day in a row – 3:1 ratio at a buffet – do not recommend. But if you have to do it, here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: get a table within eyeshot of the buffet
Step 2: bribe two eldest for good behavior
Step 3: get a plate for the youngest – she needs to be distracted eating while you leave the table to help the other two
Step 4: whisk eldest kids through buffet lines while keeping an eye on youngest at table
Step 5: beg waitress for juices (ain’t nobody got enough hands for getting them on the buffet line)
Step 6: sneak away to grab plate for yourself
Step 7: abandon your plate secondary to embarrassment/hunger analysis when youngest two start screaming
#winning
Thank goodness for pizza 24/7
After feeding everyone, I headed to Kids Club to drop off the #1Bigs and take #1Little to the pool. We had some fun, but since she still has ZERO swimming ability and 100% sink capacity, this ex-lifeguard was NEVER relaxed. It was only when Amir showed up a bit later that I was able to breathe (and drink).
After a long day at the pool, we made a plan to eat dinner but then divide and conquer. The Bigs had their hearts set on movie night at the kids club. Ale took #1LittleSister for a bit while Amir and I enjoyed an evening cocktail by the water. Would you believe my husband, Egyptian lover of all things olive, gin and cocktails, had never before had a gin martini until tonight???? WHAT?
While the days here are going well, the nights are a bit painful. Between me snoring and keeping Amir awake, little people crawling into our bed and some less than fluffy pillows… this isn’t the best sleep we’ve ever had. Thankfully the days are exhausting, so you have no choice but to crash when your head hits that stiff pillow.
Today we ate all three meals at the buffet here at Sonesta Maho. The food is delicious, with a wide variety of local dishes as well as guaranteed to please toddler favorites like chicken nuggets and pizza. Last night we marveled at how they seem to have gotten a hold of the supplier for McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets which, if you’ve had them, you know are very distinct. And no where except McDonalds. And apparently Sonesta Maho.
Enjoying the finer things in life
This trip is a bit different than our usual adventures. This is not intended to be an exploratory mission of the island, rather a slow down and easy fun. We’ve gotten to know the pool, waterslides and swim up bar in great detail, but I don’t have too much to share on local culture and society. I started to feel guilty for like a half second and then remembered just how hard we work, and that the kids are perfectly happy eating pizza and ice cream at the same place every day. And I’ve yet to hear a complaint about the endless “slushies.”
Nap time
Right now we’re looking at July for a two week trip. Iceland and a France are on the menu for consideration thanks to reasonable fares on Icelandic Air.
The sandpit at Kids Club
Mid afternoon we did make a new discovery – hidden behind the lush greenery by the pool is the kids club. Suited for ages 3-11, it’s a two story indoor/outdoor facility with art, legos, a two-story indoor slide, beanbag chairs, Xbox stations and an entire playground outside. It’s closed off from the rest of the resort and surprisingly quiet. We dropped the two oldest off for an hour to enjoy some independence for all. Amir felt guilty – I was kicking myself for only discovering the place at the end of the trip. The kids want to go back tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll cave.
Ooof. This will be a short one. I’m sitting on our balcony listening to the steel drum band play Bruno Mars. I probably enjoyed the fruity drinks too much today.
Piña colada fan
Just after we made our hotel reservations, I went online and booked a Catamaran snorkeling adventure. We met the bus at 0845 and landed at the dock at 0920. Our tour wasn’t leaving until 1000, so we chatted with nearby friends and explored a few shops.
Waiting for the boat
The catamaran has a max of 60 – we were pushing 51. The start was a little bumpy – delayed by the late arrival of some cruise ship passengers from Wonder of the Sea.
We stopped at two snorkeling spots, plus two beach spots. Lunch was impressive. I thought the tuna and hand and cheese sandwiches were the meal, but they turned out to be just an apperatife when the chef surfaced with grilled pork ribs and chicken with curry sauce.
Exhaustion on the way back
Tomorrow is a big “?” We might rent a car and explore – we might hang at the resort and do the usual. The latter sounds fairly appealing right now, but I’m also exhausted.
We didn’t have to say bye to any blue skies as it was blue skies all day long. By popular demand, we of course spent the morning at the pool, but for the afternoon tackled #2 on the must-do list with a little watching of some BIG airplanes.
I can’t help thinking about my dad. He loved the water and boats. He hated sand. The house he and my mom retired to was perfect. No sand, great views of Little Creek Amphibious Base and the traffic that special waterway offers. Binoculars and a telescope – he spent his last days slowly. Slowly watching the amazing things moving around him. Ships, helicopters, toddlers, political unrest. This place is his speed.
Photo credit: Amir Louka
The airport at Maho Beach is technically the Princess Juliana International Airport, ranked by The History Channel as the 4th Most Dangerous Airport in the World. The runway is relatively short, starting just after the sand and ending just before some mountain elevations. It was first used as a military landing strip by the United States during WWII and opened in 1944 as a commercial airport open to public travel. At present, the entire airport operates out of makeshift tents that feel more like a state fair setup than a trustworthy aviation operation – but that’s just due to a huge renovation project that commenced in 1994 combined with the setbacks of Hurricane Irma (Cat 5) that struck the island in 2017.
Waterside table at Sunset Bar and Grill
When we approached the Sunset Bar and Grill, we were a bit worried about the size of the crowd and our ability to secure a table and food prior to multiple toddler meltdowns. By some stroke of luck, we walked up, asked for a table for six, and were taken to a high top with the best view in the joint.
The largest plane that lands here – Airbus A330
Despite being crazy crowded, the restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine except with new technology. Our waiter greeted us promptly, took our drink and food orders on an iPad, and returned within 15 minutes with frozen fruity fun for all.
I forgot to take any photos of my fish tacos – I ate them too quickly. The tuna tartare is worth trying, and the tortilla chips and guacamole were solid (verified by Ale, legit Mexican pedigree).
We stuck around until 3pm, awaiting the arrival of an Air France flight from Paris. The plane is an Airbus A330, the largest aircraft that currently lands at Princess Juliana. Amir downloaded an air tracker app – perhaps the sister app to his helicopter app he uses to track aeromedical flights – and was able to provide a realtime countdown to its arrival.
Airbus A330 landing at Princess Juliana Airport
After the aerospectating, we split up. Me and the littles went back to the room for some naps and downtime, Amir and #1BigSister for some beach time, and Ale for some free time to decompress. No big plans tonight as tomorrow we have an early start for a catamaran and snorkeling trip to a nearby island.
TeamLouka 