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Dawn Beach/Westin #36689
01/28/2015 07:30 AM
01/28/2015 07:30 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline OP
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kish  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,764
Quebec
There was a letter to the editor in yesterday's Herald, complaining about the continued harassment of non guests who want to sit on the beach either with thier own chairs or on towels. Apparently the security guards are very abusive and agressive, forceing people to move almost onto the rocks and right in front of the sewer/runoff drainage pipe. The Westin now have their beach chairs spread the whole length of the beach even though they are never used by their guests. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

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Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36690
01/28/2015 09:09 AM
01/28/2015 09:09 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline
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SXMNorm  Offline
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Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Just ANOTHER in the list of abuses, lies, broken promises from this place.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: SXMNorm] #36691
01/28/2015 10:15 AM
01/28/2015 10:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 40
MI.
R
richupm Offline
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richupm  Offline
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Posts: 40
MI.
What would happen if someone was there with a camcorder and taped the harassment. Could get interesting.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: richupm] #36692
01/28/2015 10:40 AM
01/28/2015 10:40 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
SXMWendell Offline
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SXMWendell  Offline
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Posts: 7,376
Nothing

SXM??? Wendell

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36693
01/28/2015 12:29 PM
01/28/2015 12:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Unfortunately it's not in the online version, but there is a story on the front page of the DH today about this.


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: richupm] #36694
01/28/2015 02:44 PM
01/28/2015 02:44 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline OP
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kish  Offline OP
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Quebec
That is what the writer of the letter suggested... tape a confrontaiton with the security personel. There is a large article in today's Herald concerning this subject.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36695
01/29/2015 10:36 AM
01/29/2015 10:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: Carol_Hill] #36696
01/29/2015 12:44 PM
01/29/2015 12:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
And the Westin got the 2nd best award for best Hotel. Go figure how that happened if the locals are the ones voting.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: SXMScubaman] #36697
01/29/2015 01:17 PM
01/29/2015 01:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
I would say that most of the votes are probably NOT locals, on that particular question anyway.


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: Carol_Hill] #36698
01/29/2015 01:53 PM
01/29/2015 01:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
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RonDon  Online Content
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Rhode Island
Maybe people should ban together and stage a "sit-in" on this beach, like a flash mob. Wonder how the security guard (s) would handle that.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36699
01/29/2015 02:34 PM
01/29/2015 02:34 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 671
Albany, New York
W
WWII Offline
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Posts: 671
Albany, New York
Quote
RonDon said:
Maybe people should ban together and stage a "sit-in" on this beach, like a flash mob. Wonder how the security guard (s) would handle that.


That would be interesting to see. Should make a good utube video.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36700
01/29/2015 04:17 PM
01/29/2015 04:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
SXMWendell Offline
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SXMWendell  Offline
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Posts: 7,376
That is a good idea.

SXM??? Wendell

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36701
01/29/2015 04:23 PM
01/29/2015 04:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 102
G
genio67 Offline
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While I agree with the sentiment, doesn't it seem unfair to put this on the security guard just doing his job when it's the decision makers who should be made to feel uncomfortable. Not exactly sure who or what that would like but just a thought.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: genio67] #36702
01/29/2015 04:39 PM
01/29/2015 04:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
You have an excellent point there. Wonder what would happen if someone tried to picket at the front entrance of the hotel?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: genio67] #36703
01/29/2015 05:19 PM
01/29/2015 05:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,553
Manhattan
W
weeks5051 Offline
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Manhattan
It's perfectly fair to the security guards. The security guards would simply go to their superiors and report the problem. The ball would then be in the management's court. One thing the hotel would not want is a "situation" that they cannot win.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36704
01/29/2015 05:33 PM
01/29/2015 05:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,613
originally Long Island, NY/now...
irish1223 Offline
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originally Long Island, NY/now...
I really dislike the Westin and wouldn't stay there if they were the last hotel on the island. JMHO <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />


Robin & Ed

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: genio67] #36705
01/29/2015 07:51 PM
01/29/2015 07:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,956
DC Area and sliding southward
dane Offline
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dane  Offline
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Posts: 1,956
DC Area and sliding southward
If the accounts given are true, IMO it is beyond the Security Guard's job to remove umbrellas, harass beachgoers, etc. Their job is to protect the safety and property of the Westin and its guests. If they feel someone is trespassing, they should call the police to deal with it since that is a criminal matter. I doubt the Westin would want to involve the police, though, since they can't prevent use of the beach.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36706
01/29/2015 07:53 PM
01/29/2015 07:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,955
NH
SandyandBill Offline
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SandyandBill  Offline
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NH
Although the article states the directive allows them use of the beach 14 meters from the high water line, it appears there is no clarification as to whether that use is exclusive to the hotel. And unless I'm missing something, the water line defines depth of the beach but no mention of width.

I was looking at the Sunset Beach web cam and unless it's an optical illusion, it looked like their umbrellas were covering about a third of the beach at Maho. There was hardly walking room on the dry sand never mind tossing a random towel down.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: SandyandBill] #36707
01/29/2015 08:40 PM
01/29/2015 08:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
Dirty Jersey
gd1147 Offline
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gd1147  Offline
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Dirty Jersey
I am not sure on the laws down there, but when I know I am in the right I would to ask them to call the police.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: gd1147] #36708
01/29/2015 08:59 PM
01/29/2015 08:59 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,955
NH
SandyandBill Offline
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SandyandBill  Offline
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NH
Totally agree. It was my understanding all the beaches are public...period. The guard quoted in the article appeared to translate the usage rights as exclusive to the hotel and thus denying access to the general public. My additional question is there any limitation to the hotel's usage rights with respect to the width of the beach which would prohibit them putting their umbrellas on every square inch of the beach.

Last edited by SandyandBill; 01/29/2015 09:03 PM.
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: SandyandBill] #36709
01/29/2015 11:25 PM
01/29/2015 11:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374
San Diego
BarleyMan Offline
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BarleyMan  Offline
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Posts: 374
San Diego
In many places I have visited, the hotels can control access down to the high water line. But 14 meters (44 feet)from the high water line is a pretty long distance.


[Linked Image]
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: BarleyMan] #36710
01/30/2015 08:19 AM
01/30/2015 08:19 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
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RonDon  Online Content
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Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
When we 1st visited the island we were told by a travel agent that all beaches were open to the public, that no one could stop you. I never saw anything in writing; however, we were never forbidden entry to any beach. First visit to Dawn we placed our towels off to the side of chairs. Ate at the rib hut there. Back then (1980) it was the most beautiful place with lots of colorful fish swimming at our legs. Then the Westin moved in. Now very little if any parking, ruined beach and harassment tom the hotel. No more beauty.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36711
01/30/2015 09:19 AM
01/30/2015 09:19 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 184
Michigan/Newfoundland/Canada
S
Sandysnow Offline
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Posts: 184
Michigan/Newfoundland/Canada
We always were sure that there had to be access provided to any beach & that they were all open to the public. In past years we used to take our small cooler, towel & picnic lunch to the beach @ luxurious Lasamma & nobody said a word altho we got "looks" from the guests! Fun times!

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36712
01/30/2015 10:25 AM
01/30/2015 10:25 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
According to a story in the Daily Herald today, the Westin has changed it's tune.

Of course, there remains the problem of nowhere to park..


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36713
01/30/2015 03:42 PM
01/30/2015 03:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline OP
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kish  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
The rib place was Scavangers! When we first stayed at Princess Heights our view was the pond near the beach and green shrubbery. We loved to watch the cows and goats come down the road to drink from the pond. Siiigh!

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36714
01/30/2015 04:22 PM
01/30/2015 04:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Or Ms. B's. She had a rib place there also, but possibly not in 1980, not sure when Ms. B's started there.


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: Carol_Hill] #36715
01/30/2015 05:15 PM
01/30/2015 05:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline OP
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kish  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,764
Quebec
could have been in the 80's. We didn't start coming until early 90's and there was only Scavangers on that part of Dawn beach. Mrs. B's was near Mr. Busby at that time.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36716
01/30/2015 05:19 PM
01/30/2015 05:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Ms. B's always was further down the beach. The other poster said "rib shack" and I always associated Ms. B's with ribs.


Carol Hill
Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: kish] #36717
01/31/2015 09:21 AM
01/31/2015 09:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
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RonDon  Online Content
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Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
Quote
kish said:
The rib place was Scavangers! Siiigh!


Could have been. I think I remember looking up from water's edge and seeing a hotel sign ..... I wondered how one would get to that hotel. That road to Dawn was soooo bad!

Next to the place cooking food was a lady weaving hats & baskets. This was possibly 80 or 81 since our first trip to SXM was 1979 and that time we never left P'Burg except for an island bus tour.

Re: Dawn Beach/Westin [Re: RonDon] #36718
01/31/2015 05:12 PM
01/31/2015 05:12 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 60
D
dawnbeachette Offline
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Kish is right, Scavengers was on the beach of what is now the Westin!!Never heard of Scavengers referred to as a "rib shack"...but we sure did sell a lot of ribs!! Our group was harassed back in November after Gonzalo when we put up an umbrella as there was no shade on the beach...3 sets of security confronted us. Hopefully with the bad publicity they will lighten up!!


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