Saturday night and the big move is behind us. We gave up being penthouse princes and princesses and we've morphed into beachside babies........

We were up and crankin' early this morning in anticipation of moving from the Towers to Beachhside Villas on Simpson Bay. And to all you wonderful people who shared your thoughts and experiences regarding this property, you were oh, so very right and then some. I absolutely love it here. But what's not to love, right? No glamour. No glitz. But beachside at its best.

But first, we did a temporary baggage hold at the Towers and went out to the pool until my beloved's alarm clock went off and then we headed up to Porto Cupecoy where we enjoyed lunch at Rendevous. Today we both had.....big surprise - Cesar Salads with shrimp and plain old fashioned iced tea. Simply delicious and so much so, we were content to sit and people watch for a bit. It's such a lovely environment up there and the trade winds were blowing through the courtyard but enough if that. Back to the Towers to say our final good-byes to the staff there. They have treated us wonderfully over the whole two weeks we were here. John had already met Bob Craig from Packlite at the appointed time - 10:39 in the morning and had gotten our beach umbrellas for the short time we're at BSV. So everything loaded into the car and we were off to our new home at the beach.

First issue was getting through the gate at Beachside since we didn't know the code for it but mission accomplished thanks to a staff member opening it for us. We got all checked in but our room wasn't quite ready but no worries. We were perfectly content to sit out by the pool and wait it out.

For those who have never been here, your suite has a locked entry that brings you into an open atrium area with a dining table and a BBQ grill and then through the sliders and into the main portion of the unit. Since we were only two, we wouldn't be using the rear bedroom but we do have access to that bath along with the main bath off the master bedroom area. The living room opens into the kitchen on one side and through more sliders out to the rear patio and your own steps down to the beach. The kitchen is fully equipped with basically anything/everything you could possibly need and they even stock the fridge with a few cold beers and a big bottle of cold water. The decor is typically Caribbean quaint and done in beachside colors - all I hoped for and more. The scents and the sounds coupled with the breezes make this a wonderful place to be in. And DH is absolutely loving being this close to the airport runway and able to watch the planes come and go.

We unpacked and before we knew it, it was time to shower and dress for a most important date - we were meeting the Cannegieters and the Casses for dinner at Chesterfields. What a good time we had sharing news and family updates along with sharing stories of the island back in the day and discussing the changes we've all seen and experienced. And we even got to meet Brett Cass, Bob and Lyns son and business partner and his fiancé before they headed off to the reggae night at Carnival Village along with the burning of MoMo there as well. Thank you all for sharing the evening with us - it was such a nice time being with all of you.

So now we're just returned at BSV and as I'm sitting here writing I'm listening to the pounding waves and the crashing surf just outside our deck. It doesn't get much better than this. Life is truly good, My Friends. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the story of another lovely day! Enjoy your time at Beachside!

Ssshhhh Pat! Don't give away too many secrets about the lovely, old Caribbean feel of BSV.

We all knew you'd love it!

Enjoy. Sweet dreams. Thank you friend for your writings.

Thanks.

Pat, glad you're enjoying BSV. I've been staying there twice a year since Mullet Bay was destroyed. That became my new home in SXM. As much as I miss the good ole days of Mullet, we couldn't have asked for a better replacement than BSV. Enjoy!!

Glad the move went smooth. Sounds like a great group for dinner.

Bonjour Pat,
When we were driving back home last evening we couldn't figure out if it was MOMO burning or the dump, I'm sure you saw the blazing fire on your way back to BSV.
It was great seeing everyone, always funny stories being told, makes for a fun evening.
Bon voyage guys, we'll see you both in November! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Kiss.gif" alt="" />

And I stand seriously corrected regarding the fire we witnessed last night. Not being able to get too close (not that we wanted to.....) we assumed it was MoMo burning but even then, we thought it was huge and particularly so considering even a controlled burning of something like that in the particularly dry state the island is experiencing would be so potentially dangerous. I guess, had we rolled our windows down, we would have known the difference. Who knew!

We experienced one of the dump fires another trip a few years ago. Yikes! This trip has been quite an assault on ones sense of smell - first the Sahara Sands clogging our sinuses and now the acrid odor of burning garbage. I'm glad the breezes are strong here and it's only an occasional whiff where we are.

And to you, King MoMo, I offer my most humble apologies for thinking you caused all that nastiness ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

we enjoyed seeing you and John and Bob and Lyn for dinner. and yes, pat, it was and is the dump burning. :-(

......yet again! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Not trying to put Craig out of business but just so you know there is a shed beside Unit 2 that has beach umbrellas and floaters for use by the guests.

Was unaware as this is a first visit for us but oh, well. He's a nice guy and for the price of our short term rental it's no problem. As it turns out, weather wise, I doubt we'll be doing a lot of beaching here anyway. The waves and surf here are wonderful to look at and listen to, but way too strong for me to venture into. But it sure was great being lulled off to lalaland while hearing them in the background. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

It is nice you are getting to enjoy other nice places to stay on the island. I know you love The Towers, but variety is the spice of life! Being right on the beach is hard to beat. Enjoy your last few days!

Hey, that's my fault, I told her to use Craig, but I have not seen any umbrellas available there?? I almost NEVER see anyone out front at BSV with umbrellas, other than us. What kind of umbrellas do they have?

pat--that's my bad, I certainly wasn't aware of it either. I often just sit on the beach under the umbrella and never go in the water, but that's just me.

Barbara and Pat,

It seemed like every Wednesday morning I'd see the dump smoke from my balcony at Divi. Most trips were in mid March and then 3 in late April when my teenage granddaughter would come with.
This year in March, there was no smoke and I figured the practice had finally stopped. Guess not.

So happy that you are enjoying BSV.

As far as umbrellas, we also rented from Craig, but did see one umbrella in the storage shed. All the years we have been going, this is the first time we saw one. But it's good for noodles, we have both borrowed and left new ones. I think there are coolers also.

I see the beach hasn't calmed down for swimming. How is the sand, did it repair the little cliffs yet? Which Villa are you in? The water seemed to come right up to ours a couple of nights. It would be the only one with wet sand in the morning.
For atmosphere, I don't think any beat BSV.

We already have our next reservation! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

OK, I feel better now! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> I knew that they had noodles there and in the past, had some styrofoam coolers. I never really worried about noodles and I wasn't impressed with the coolers I saw there, so we've also just rented a cooler from Craig, one with a totally flat top, so we can use it as a beachside table.

Elizabeth,

I do love my aerie at the Towers and nothing I've enjoyed so far has all that it has to have caused ME to love it for so long. But at the same time, we do and have long enjoyed other areas in this general part of the Caribbean, be they on island or at many of the near islands as well. The only negative I can find about BSV is the sounds of the surf can become positively mind deadening and totally addicting to the point you don't want to move or do anything that will cause you to break the trance.

Terry,

We are in villa #14' right next to the pool, should be choose to venture that far. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
The seaweed is still coming in and one of the staff is out raking and bagging as we speak.
The sand cliffs are, if anything, only growing larger with the occasional path down to the water's edge.

Carol,

It was nice to meet Bob/Craig and his appointment times - 10:59 pick up and 9:01 drop off - crack me up. We've spent some time with Marv when she came down to unlock our safe (which I think we inadvertently locked by mistake in the first place.....) and we met and spoke with Sharon, our maid, who explained the inner workings of the TV here and what the purpose of each of the three different remotes was all about. Who knew we'd need all three? And how great the maids come in and do their thing so early?!

And to all, I really am loving it here and will only be sorry our stay won't be longer this year but in honesty, I think if we were to stay any longer in this wonderful paradise called St. Maarten, our brains would totally turn to mushroom soup!! But then, there's always future years and trips to look forward to, and I truly do 'get' why all who stay speak so glowingly of this property. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I think there is a definite method to Craig's madness, as people on vacation often have 'approximate' times in mind, so he tries to make people be on time, which I commend him, if he's able to accomplish it! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Nope. it's worse then ever. The hill is getting higher and higher

Doug,

Barbara is not exagerating one iota. The garbage hill has grown to the point that it truly does rival the surrounding hills these days. A few years ago when we were here and I'm thinking it was in April, too, we awoke to a God-awful smell in our suite. I had gone to bed with all the sliders and windows open as is our habit, and apparently the landfill had self-ignited overnight. I actually called B that trip to see if there was a terrible property fire on her side of the mountain because the stench was so intolerable and the lingering smoke made the sky even more gray than the Sahara sands of this trip.

For the sake of all who live here and for the benefit of their health now and in the future, Country St. Maarten has got to take the bull by the horns and do something to fix this nightmare and potential powder keg before its major economy source falls victim to it, too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Where is this dump site located ? Don't think I recall seeing it ...Thanks

The surf pounding addiction has no cure, but if you have to have an addiction , it is one of the best in my books! Is John a happy camper there too?

funny, it must depend on the time of year, as the surf is normally pretty calm when we are there in June.

you never saw it? have you ever been to Philipsburg? You couldn't miss it!LOL
It is the highest point in Philipsburg, right in the middle of the salt pond.

Too late! I'm already considering a booking.

No problem! Just don't go in June, otherwise, I won't be able to get a room! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

So glad you like it Pat. I have great photos showing the entrance and atrium and also photos of the villa but I can no longer insert images into the posts from Photobucket.

John is loving it just as much as I do and I just about have to yell at him to get him to come in off the porch.

That said, if you're someone that needs the glitz and the glamour, and the chrome and marble, it's possible you might not be happy here. But as far as I'm concerned, BSV is Caribbean quaint and they have thought of just about everything you could possibly want (well, within reason, that is..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />) and provided it all in a beachside setting. I think a first-timer to the area or someone really hung up on AI might have a few issues, but if you're an independent traveler able to go with the flow, you would love this place.

And for those wondering, we've come every April for a very long time and we've NEVER experienced the surf and waves like we've consistently seen them this year in this part of the island. It's been bizarre, but a good kind of bizarre IMHO.

We feel the same way about Beachside Villas. It is comfortable in a Caribbean quaint setting with magnificent ocean views. The iguanas enjoyed the Atrium when we were there so we had to be careful not to capture one on the BBQ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We were unaware until last December that umbrellas and such were available. One of the staff mentioned the shed and we had a nice umbrella for our two week stay. They are the two piece kind of umbrella that you can push the base into the sand before attaching the top.

Barbara and Pat,
I noticed it was much higher this year than last year. Since I didn't see the usual early morning smoke, I figured that was the reason. Since they are still burning and it's growing at an increasing rate, appears the problem will only worsen.
That mound is largely the secondary effect of pushing tourism so hard. More ship piers, airport expansion, more hotels / time-shares will only make matters worse.