This was our 16th trip to San Pedro and we have stayed at The Phoenix every single time because it is just that darn good. I have not written a review of The Phoenix in many years, so I thought I would try to point out some things that are new or not mentioned frequently. I will start by saying, as others have before me, that ALL the staff are amazing. They will set up your transportation to San Pedro, reserve your golf cart, make dinner reservations, and answer last minute panicked questions about the on-line immigration form. (One form per family, by the way.) Pamela Simmons is a terrific manager and we consider her part of our family. We ate two lunches and two dinners at Red Ginger. The food somehow gets better every year. The cheeseburgers for lunch were enormous and delicious. We usually avoid beef on the island since there is so much tasty seafood, but this was a top ten burger for sure. The fish tacos were also flaky, fresh, and delicious (and big enough for two). The dinner menu is also impressive. Of course, the mojitos at the pool bar are not to be missed. For $8 USD they are also a steal. I should note that The Phoenix installed elevators in each building a few years ago. It seems like every year when we come back they have improved something. As someone who has arthritis, I deeply appreciate that they have added several new grab bars to the infinity pool. A small addition but a very thoughtful one. We also booked a private snorkel/sail excursion with Captain Steve and No Rush through The Phoenix. Absolutely worth every penny. Captain Steve even explained why he installed a kitchen on the cat to make it easier and more comfortable for his guests. What can I possibly add about the expansive suites? We stayed in a suite half the size in St. Lucia earlier this year that was over double the cost. You will not find a better suite in the Caribbean without spending big bucks. What I really like is that even though the suite already has just about everything you could possibly want, The Phoenix staff will stock it with other items upon request. We asked for a scale and a drip coffee maker (hubby drinks A LOT of coffee) and these items were provided with no problems. The pools (there is a tiered infinity pool and a lap pool) are cleaned thoroughly early every morning. I like to swim laps as part of my early morning workout, and I swear the pool guys made sure to have the lap pool cleaned by 7:30 so that I could get my laps in. The nearby Paradise Villas dock and The Palapa dock are decent places to snorkel if you have your own equipment. We went around 8:30 each day (we of course avoid using the Palapa dock when it is actually open for meals). We like the Palapa dock because there are huge wooden stairs that extend deep into the water that make it super easy to exit the water (again, darn arthritis....). The Paradise Villas dock has a metal ladder that I struggle to climb (but can enter the water with ease). Just be very careful o
