Status of Westin, Friers and Happy Bay

Can anyone give me an update on the Westin Dawn Beach Hotel. We used to enjoy staying there but have not seen any information on their status.

Also, what is the status of Friers and Happy Bay? Is there any vegetation on the beach. We spent quite a few enjoyable days under the shade of the big tree in the middle of the beach there.

Thank you for your responses.

Happy Bay lost a lot of vegetation. Take a look at the picture in my trip report here.

The sand at Friar's is much rockier than it used to be.

Thank you for the update.

Linda--I wondered about Friars, compared to previous years. We had not been there in YEARS and while we just ate lunch, I thought at this time, it would be pretty difficult to get into the water unless you have water shoes because of all the rocks. Of course we were only on the FBBC end. Not sure about the other end. Did you go down there?

I spent days at both ends. While I do have water shoes, I didn't go in the water either day. The formerly-Kali end might have been slightly less rocky.

OK thanks.

We didn't notice many more rocks than usual. We went there after they cancelled the ferry going over to Pinel because of all the seaweed around the dock in Cul D Sac. Enjoyed our time there. Just be aware they don't take credit cards and the exchange rate was rather high. Much more than the going rate.

Yes, I was surprised they didn't take credit cards. I'm not sure if that was always the case or not. I didn't pay any attention to what the exchange rate was.

If I remember right they quoted 1.25. Food wasn't the best either.

Isn't 1.25 about the official rate?

No. It's been hovering around 1.16 for months.

Carol. I have this on my favorites for any currency.
https://www.x-rates.com/calculator/?from=EUR&to=USD&amount=1

1.16 to 1.17 lately. Hasn't been near 1.25 for some time.

OK, I really don't pay that much attention to it.

Then it's changed since you were there. I will have a picture in my third week's report that shows a significant rock/pebble accumulation. I agree that the food wasn't that great.

I took a picture also of the rocks, which maybe I'll get posted one of these days! Regarding the food, we had an order of chicken spring rolls that was da bomb! Eric had a really good chicken sandwich with goat cheese. I had a croque monsieur which I did not enjoy, as I thought the bread was very soggy. I had never had it before, so I didn't know whether they did a good job with it or not.

That's what I had, and no, they didn't.

OK, like I said, I'd never had one before, so I didn't know how it was supposed to come out..

Well all the times before we have always had rocks so I didn't notice any difference.

Columbia Sussex has still not announced what will happen with their Westin St. Maarten Resort. We have reported previously that the issue there, as in many other places, is insurance -- they're waiting for the money they are owed to act, and I don't expect them to formally announce anything until they have the $ to actually get going.

I also had the Crogue Monsieur sandwich there and thought it was very strange. Use to get this at the Croissantery? and it was delicious.

Ok, I thought that certainly it couldn't have been made correctly. If so, couldn't imagine what all the hype has been about, over the years!

So the Westin is currently closed?

Yes according to their website.
"Important Notice about Hurricane Irma
The resort is closed until future notice."

Yes, definitely closed ever since the hurricane. We didn't head over that way, but a local friend says that they are working on repairing the damage.

100% closed; Dawn Beach had an 18 foot storm surge, sustained 185 mph winds, and gusts to 240 mph.

I used to stay in a first floor apartment at the Great House, the big apartment building between OBBR and CBC. Water washed away my entire apartment and everything in it, waves were crashing into the second floor, and the third floor was destroyed because most of the roof was ripped off. Anyone staying on Dawn beach was lucky to escape alive. The Westin has many millions of dollars in damage and business interruption on top of that.

Has anybody seen any tweets from the guy who was tweeting from the westin. At first it started like a Dan Rather in a rain slicker post from a run of the mill hurricane in Key Biscayne and they quickly go from joking to serious as they were all moved into a stairwell at the westin and he said he was atheist and needed people to pray for him.

Anybody know the twitter handle im thinking about?

He might no think so, but it would be interesting to hear more from that experience.

I remember seeing it at the time, yes. You might be able to google it and find it.

I still follow him, as he is a hoot when out and about in London.

Alex Woolfall
@woolfallalex

Thats it, thanks.

Here’s some pics of Happy Bay taken today for the OP. There is very little shade available. The first couple of photos are taken from above Happy Bay and the rest are right on the beach. I hope this helps.

Thanks for the pictures. I think 'very little' shade translates into 'zero'. Does the place you are staying provide beach umbrellas?

Carol, I see four beach umbrellas here but we don’t use them. We relish the sun after those long Canadian winters. At quick glance all look to be in good shape.

OK, thanks. I live in Florida, so I hide from the sun! Dany rents chairs and umbrellas, or just chairs, or neither?

Dany has never had umbrellas before now. Probably people brought them to the beach if some were seen.

OK, I didn't know, I was just asking. He does rent chairs though?

He did. Now, I can't say. The couple of time's I've passed by on a boat he was not there.

OK thanks.

Yes Danny has plastic loungers. No pads. $5 each. I use them every visit. Danny is there every day now. Even he was shocked that they were there and intact after that damn Irma.

We were literally the only two people on Happy Bay all day. Danny stuck it out all day and will be there tomorrow too....even with two big soccer games on the schedule.

Ok, thanks.

Some Gendarme training exercises on Happy Bay this morning.

Due to the time of your post, I guess they didn't surprise any naked sunbathers!!