10 Hours Of Travel For Paradise

Our flight left Reagan/National at a little after 7 AM. We were out the door by 4:45. It was a pleasure driving on the normally traffic-filled roads around DC that are usually bumper-to-bumper. We were off the GW Parkway an hour later at which I lost track of the time remaining. Instead of realizing we didn't need to check-in two hours early, I took the first parking choice and grabbed a daily parking ticket. The same daily parking lot with $20/day maximums. Eight days at $20 = a lot of cash upon exit. Damnit. It was a complete brainfart by not choosing the economy parking, also called long-term in most cities, but I didn't want to risk missing the flight under any circumstance.

So long rush hour traffic!

We made (I ran) our way to the check-in like I did for the B and T Crowd's family trip to California in 1994 when I had to hold the flight. Unlike that time, there was zero need to rush, but my stubborn one-track mind was in control. Our early arrival presented the option to upgrade to first-class for $90/each. In one of our few vacation splurges we went with it and boy was it nice. I enjoyed two continental breakfasts and plenty of drinks. It was our first time in first class and now we're spoiled. The legroom, silverware, table cloths, and free headphones were the tip of the iceberg.

Almost three hours later we landed in Miami. After a brief layover and 3.5-hour flight we were on our way to St. Lucia. We had just walked in from the tarmac before it poured at which point we were told St. Lucia's rainy season began in June. Just what we wanted to hear. After customs and claiming our bag we searched for our van. Thanks to numerous TripAdvisor.com reviews we were prepared for the trip starting with the airport. Several people offer to cart your bags to your van, but the walk is all of 30 feet through two doors. We blew'em off as Tripadvisor suggested and I felt like the smartest guy in the room.

A rainbow to start your honeymoon is a good sign.

We got in the Sandals Grande van and were on our way, leery of the mountainous, curvy roads ahead, in addition to the unnatural left-side of the road driving. I had my Dramamine so I had no worries. A girl next to me wasn't doing so well so I offered her some, after all I didn't want the eventual alternative. We checked-in and enjoyed some champagne and cool towels. Our honeymoon grande luxury oceanfront suite was great!

So inviting....

Dual sinks? I'm sold.

We were starving so we ate at the closest restaurant to us, a London style pub with okay food. A few reviews suggested bland food and this seemed to reinforce it, but in the end, the food was very good at all other restaurants. We never returned to the pub. After a walk on the pier we were beat and turned in for the night.