Happy Bay & Friar's Bay

We're looking at visiting Happy and Friar's Bay while we're in SXM over the next 2 weeks. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
This would be a first for us. Can anyone tell us a few things about these beaches, such as: any beach food, chair rentals, parking and ease to get to. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Thanks. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Friar's has two restaurants; I've only had experience with the Friar's Bay Beach Café, which we love. It is not inexpensive, and they accept cash only, no credit cards. Chairs are free if you eat at their restaurant; they do charge a small amount if you want cushions for the chairs. The beach is a bit rocky at the entrance to the water; the stones are smooth, but if you have sensitive feet as I do, they may be a problem for you.

There is a Restaurant at Friars bay and chairs are available, but we have never frequented it. (We brought our own cooler & Back packs.) Happy bay is very nice, but you do have to hike from Friars bay to get it. The path is not marked but it is well worn ( up a hill and through a farm field to get to it. ) I highly recommend you wear hiking shoes or hiking sandals for the trek. (I believe there is a road that leads part of the way to Happy bay, but we have not used it....

My wife and I visited Happy Bay last year in May. We parked at Friars and walked the marked path as others have described.

The was a nice man there named Danny at a small beach shack that had drinks and he cooked lunch for us consisting of ribs, rice, potato salad, and plantains. The food was very good and Danny is a great guy and a pleasure to talk to.

No chair rentals. We brought towels and sat in the sand under some shade. The beach was beautiful and the water was warm, clear, and not rough at all. We stayed for 3-4 hours.

You can look on Trip Advisor for reviews of Happy Beach and get more information.

If you are visiting Friar's - make sure you don't go after some heavy rains as they dredge the beach and empty the pond with God knows what in it - into the water. We actually got stuck at FBBC last year because the divide was so wide we couldn't get around it (at least 10 feet wide and 7-8 feet deep) and the brown water was gushing out into the ocean. We had parked by Kalli's and had to pay $20 to get someone from FBBC to drive us over to our car!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
It was always our favorite beach for over 25 years but unfortunately, not anymore. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

We went to FB yesterday-the road is terrible-not sure it's worth it anymore.Can't believe that cars don't get flat tires because of the poor road conditions-Mullet Bay parking lot is the same-the governments on both sides don't seem to care re keeping up beach access roads. Considering tourism is their biggest industry you'd think this would be more of a priority to them-wouldn't even cost that much to do but then tourists don't vote.

We used to enjoy Happy Bay, but the increase of the number of "bushwackers" has made the experience there much more unpleasant. 2 incidents in 1 week with these individuals 2 years ago was enough. We now stick to Orient Beach and don't regret Happy Bay one bit.

The roads are on private property so the government has no obligation to fix them.

So who owns these roads? Don't they feel any responsibility to maintain them?

Thanks gang. Based on the very informative string of comments, it looks like we'll be taking a pass on visiting either of these beaches. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />
Your great information saved us from wasting our time (or worse)! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Please send money to the owners of these roads to show your support.

SXM??? Wendell

I have been to HB many times and probably go there at least 5-6 times over our 2 weeks period. I can say that I have not seen any of the bush people in the last two years...I think the cow population has taken their place.

..and, yes, the road is ridiculous and seems to be getting worse but...if you enjoy something it should be worth the effort.

I've seen them every single time we've been there and more than one each time...We just ignored them!

IMO, you get what you get. Happy Bay (and other less populated beaches where nudity is tolerated) has local bushwackers and I've seen a tourist engaging in similar activities there.

I've seen locals and tourists acting inappropriately at Orient Beach. The last time I was there (OB), I confronted a tourist taking photographs.

I don't let these isolated bozos ruin my trip. Happy Bay has always been and will continue to be a part of our SXM experience.

You may be short-changing yourself. There's no guarantee the gulley will be at Friar's Bay or that it will be impassable if it is. If you drive carefully, you can avoid the pot holes en route. Personally, I think Friar's Bay Beach Café (?) Club (?) is not to be missed. I had one of the best meals of my trip there last June.

Tough to ignore when one ends up sitting 10ft away from you .... and wouldn't take NO for an answer.
The only thing he understood was the tire iron I grabbed in the trunk after he followed us all the way to the parking lot in Friar's.
Went to talk to the Gendarmes in Grand Case (French is my native language) and after I described him, they told me they know him but unless they catch him on the act, they're virtually nothing they can do about it. Really???

I agree. No evidence of any recent "gully" this trip and when we went two years ago the passage had just been dug and was a couple-few feet in depth..but...it was very easy to walk on the shore to get by it. It seems to fill with sand rather quickly and is more of a flush than a event occurring over multiple days....

I should add that it makes no sense to me that it even happens...sacrificing the water quality of a great beach so a contaminated pond can empty...but, that's another issue

bonz1946, You are missing a real treat. Happy Bay is AWESOME!!!! It is a must go although I would wait to walk in and out with others. You will be glad you went. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Friars bay is our must go to beach when on island. I agree the road could use repair but it's passable. Just have to go slow and be mindful of the potholes. As mentioned, there are two beach bars. I can't comment on Kali's, since we went a long time ago and the review would not be current/fair. We frequent fbbc and while the prices are higher than the typical beach bar, I feel the quality justifies the cost. We particularly enjoy fbbc because of the consistent quality of food and service, the water is calm, love the view of Anguilla, no beach purveyors pushing goods, the donkey watching, ... IMO it's worth a visit at least once and judge for yourself if it fits your taste.

Friars Bay is one of our go-to beaches when multiple cruise ships are in port. Spending the day at FBBC is delightful.

I believe we intentionally maintain "bush wackers" and don't maintain road access to those places only to make sure they don't become over crowded and populated.... and that the few who make the legitimate effort to try and survive it, really enjoy the caribbean spirit of both.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Good answer! Good answer! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Love it!

These are 2 of our must see beaches. We own on St. Maarten and travel back a couple of times each year. These are 2 great beaches you should not miss.

Take the road to Friars very slowly and you will be fine. As far as the bushwackers go, I have always ignored them and they haven't bothered me, whether they were locals or tourists.

Relax and enjoy the Caribbean Life.

BTW it's -30 Celsius with the wind chill in Toronto today!

We loved the experience for almost 10 years until 2 years ago when we made a visit and sat at Danny's and ate lunch with an older couple who were visiting from Germany. They told us they were robbed and assaulted a few days before on the walk to the beach. Didn't have a good answer when I asked them why they came back again, but after hearing their story and reading stories like it here, we finally decided there were too many other great beaches to visit to chance having something happen to us on our excursion to the beach. We loved the place, but life will continue for us without our couple of trips to Happy Bay each year.

Unfortunately, I have to ditto that comment.

Was at Happy bay on the 27th of February. We had a nice lunch at Danny's stand and then enjoyed the beach for a couple of hours. There were probably less than 30 people on the beach with 50/50 mix of CO/textiles and not a single 'bushwhacker' in site. My wife and I were there on the day plequerre mentions (above) and it was really a bummer. It took me two years to get my wife to go back! We walked over from Friar's because I couldn't find the turn-off right outside of Grand Case. The hike was fine and really only takes about 5-10 minutes.