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Trip report - the good #286752
07/28/2022 05:06 PM
07/28/2022 05:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 24
Arkansas, USA
D
diver67 Offline OP
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diver67  Offline OP
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Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 24
Arkansas, USA
Quick trip report for you (Tuesday, July 19 thru Wednesday, July 27). Great visit this year. Our eighth (but two-year gap – last was 2019). Weather was perfect and beautiful every day.

Beachside Villas
Our third stay here. Perfect. Staff was great, rooms were great. Every day, the beach was near perfect. It was wide, absolutely zero seaweed, and mostly disserted. First half of visit, no one else really at the place but us. Last half, there were about 6 or so new cars – so fuller by the end of our stay. Noticed just how many unique flowers are on the property. And noticed one flower closes up at dusk. Beautiful.

Clud O Beach and Perch
Was here Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Only clear seaweed day was Wednesday. More on that in next post. Perch staff and food were great. Most days we shared the rib plate which was perfect. Each day I counted about 50-60 folks (about 25-30 couples). Never full – but about 2/3s of chairs put out. Always about 4 or so couples there using there now chairs or blankets.

Took a hike to the end of the point past the old restaurant with 3 new friends to see the blow hole over there. Nice hike and very cool to see the point that is basically made of old limestone and reef.

The feral donkeys came two of our days. Really pretty and tame. You could pet them. The only bad part was that some people were quick to start grabbing cameras when they came which made others, including us, uncomfortable.

Friday shopping
Wife needed break from beach so went to Phillipsburg to shop. Didn’t get anything. Not really for us.

Sunday Dive
Did a two-tank scuba dive Sunday with Ocean Extreme out of Simpson Bay. They did a great job and one good selling point is that the boat ride is like only 5-minutes. We dove a small reef and then a sunken cargo container ship just off Beachside Villas. Reefs are small here and not as 'alive' but we saw sharks and turtles and rays. And the dive master taught me how to blow bubble rings.

Food
Ate in room mostly from things we made and bought at Carrefour. Did eat out twice, first day and last, at Sunset. One of my wife’s favorites for the view. And Saturday night at Buccaneer’s to hear music and see beach fire. BBQ chicken pizza was really good.

Most mornings went to the Zee Best bakery. Everything absolutely great. Did notice a few workers are much more terse and 'get it over with' than the lady, that I think, was the owner or boss. I could joke and compliment her and she would brighten up and converse back. The others wanted to get us in and out in a hurry - like we were bothering them. But, you never know and everyone is different, I just keep going and being cheerful. Hoping it was good for them too. But wow, there stuff is so good.


Really great trip. The clean up and rebuilding were very obvious to us this time. Huge improvements (except airport still the same - but supposed to be up and going by 2023). Did not see any sunken boats and lots of work done on sides of road.

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Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286757
07/28/2022 08:31 PM
07/28/2022 08:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed your time at Beachside, although it is hard not to! smile It is constantly surprising to me, how empty Beachside often is in the summer. Considering the prices, it really is surprising.

I think we have finally found someone who eats in at Beachside more than we do! grin For us, that is a lot of being able of being able to relax.

Thanks again for the report. Any pictures??


Carol Hill
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286762
07/28/2022 10:16 PM
07/28/2022 10:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
We eat in often during our 4 week stay. Can't take restaurant food every night with all the added sodium that goes along with most restaurant food.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286770
07/29/2022 05:34 AM
07/29/2022 05:34 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
I like this formate trip report!! Nicely done. Question "We dove a small reef and then a sunken cargo container ship just off Beachside Villas." Are you talking about "DaBoat" that was hung up on the rocks in front of BSV and EL Zafiro? There hasn't been much talk about this in a while. It was still there when we were at BSV in April. Thanks for sharing your time on the island! Yeah BSV is very special!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286776
07/29/2022 08:39 AM
07/29/2022 08:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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S
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA

Last edited by SXMBND; 07/29/2022 08:44 AM.
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: SXMBND] #286777
07/29/2022 08:53 AM
07/29/2022 08:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
SXMBND--yeah, I saw that a while ago. I am surprised, as I thought only #11 was privately owned.


Carol Hill
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286778
07/29/2022 08:59 AM
07/29/2022 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
#3 & #5 are both currently on the market and owned by the Mascarins.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: SXMBND] #286779
07/29/2022 09:07 AM
07/29/2022 09:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Huh. OK.


Carol Hill
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286780
07/29/2022 09:07 AM
07/29/2022 09:07 AM
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 24
Arkansas, USA
D
diver67 Offline OP
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diver67  Offline OP
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Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 24
Arkansas, USA
Thank you all for the feedback. Yes - we also have always been surprised at the low numbers at Beachside in July. The view and sounds truly take you away. Loved the new showers (since last we were there.)

On the diving, no we did not dive the big ship stuck in the rocks. It is still there and doesn't really move with the waves. I assume it is wedged in pretty tight. And I would not even snorkel there, the pounding waves by rocks and steel would be scary.

We dove Turtle Reef and the wreck was the Carib Cargo.

I do have a few pics. I will see if I know how to get a few up.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286782
07/29/2022 09:12 AM
07/29/2022 09:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
diver--I'm not certain if all the showers have been replaced or not, but the one in #13 was, for sure. We appreciated it also. We used to always shower in the second bathroom, but actually used the shower in the master this time. It definitely did make for a more comfortable shower in the morning, with the a/c on.


Carol Hill
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286788
07/29/2022 10:22 AM
07/29/2022 10:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Nice that you got to dive Carib Cargo. One of my favorite dive sites for Micro Photography. Have over 30 dives on that site and always enjoyed each one.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: Carol_Hill] #286820
07/30/2022 12:32 PM
07/30/2022 12:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Correction........that was #4 &#5.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286821
07/30/2022 12:37 PM
07/30/2022 12:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: SXMBND] #286835
07/31/2022 01:47 PM
07/31/2022 01:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Maria_and_Steve  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Wow, I had no idea those places were that expensive!

And with the HOA and insurance, geeze.

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #286836
07/31/2022 02:26 PM
07/31/2022 02:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Maria--Seriously??? Have you looked at prices in SXM recently??


Carol Hill
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286837
07/31/2022 02:30 PM
07/31/2022 02:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
pony600 Offline
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pony600  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
Wow, beautiful! Too bad I didn't win the Mega Millions!


[Linked Image]



If life hands you a lemon, just squeeze it on a lobster!
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: Carol_Hill] #286840
07/31/2022 04:14 PM
07/31/2022 04:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Maria_and_Steve  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Two bedroom/2 bath for nearly $800,000, plus $8,400 per year HOA, plus $4,200/year is pretty outrageous, at least by our standards in expensive Colorado!

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: diver67] #286841
07/31/2022 04:40 PM
07/31/2022 04:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
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boucharda  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
Definitely up there price wise....

Re: Trip report - the good [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #286844
07/31/2022 05:29 PM
07/31/2022 05:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
The HOA on the Unit 5 listing is $1500 / month. Not sure which one is correct.
Can't beat the location......


EDIT:
They have adjusted the listing to have Unit 5 to match Unit 4 @ $700/ month.

Last edited by SXMBND; 07/31/2022 05:35 PM.
Re: Trip report - the good [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #286849
07/31/2022 07:51 PM
07/31/2022 07:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
The price for what something costs in Colorado--or anywhere else in the world-- is totally irrelevant to cost in SXM..


Carol Hill

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