Does Wyndham own any properties on either side of SXM? A friend is trying to find an exchange.

Yes, I'm sure you're right there. A lot of people who own timeshares there probably are happy to not have the noise.

Well, count me as one who sees it as a positive. We own at SBR for eight weeks, including Regatta week. I love the Regatta and patronize AquaMania's watchboats every year. But the noise on Saturday and Sunday nights from the giant speakers coming across Simpson Bay is not tolerable. On Sunday the party doesn't end until at least 3 am. I have a neighbor who has tried sleepiing in her bathtub to muffle the noise. So I say if PDP wants the parties for two straight nights, they can have it.

I received an email saying that they were not going to re-open. Has the property been sold? Torn down? Anyone know anything? The place was worn out and pretty run down but so convenient and the owners were so helpful. It was a great place to stay on the 1st night coming in to rest up after a day of travel and on the last night before heading home. Great little bar and decent restaurant. I'll miss my stopovers there.

I do not remember when we last went to Dawn - it has been at least a few years - but we have gone almost every year to Oyster Pond to take a snorkel trip with Capt Alan. When last at Oyster Pond to snorkel with Capt Alan in February (off ship - have not done land vacation there this year for first time in a long time), I think that we could have walked through ruins of Mr. Busby's to beach - but we did not do that and I am not sure what was there at the time. I am wondering if there now (or maybe in February too) is fencing up that pretty much blocks off beach access across both beach halves of Dawn.

Dawn beach has always been like that. And if you do find a parking spot, some nasty person comes and chases you off. We avoid it.

There have been a couple reports on Cruise Critic that Dawn Beach is so closed off that there is no easy public access from the land side. One cruiser said that they took a taxi there but could not figure out how to get to beach. I do not know about the accuracy of these reports.

Although I recognize that it is not really funny, it made me laugh to see that the Parliamentary meeting to rant against Dutch interference and the need for independence was cut short by GEBE.

What were the crowds like last year?

I would say it's EASIER for the Regatta organizers, but otherwise, I totally agree.

The report said total country blackout so that must mean the Dutch side. That's probably what sxmsammy meant.

Thank you so much for everyone's feedback. Feel much better now! As we have not been there since 2009, any recommendations on where to go and what to see that may be new or different since then would be appreciated. Thank you all!