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El zafiro

Posted By: DICKG

El zafiro - 10/16/2023 01:58 PM

I have seen tha the restaurant at the property that was El Zafiro has opened is there any hope the the Boutique hotel will open , This location is such a beautiful place
Posted By: Kennys

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 02:04 PM

The Hotel is also opened.
Posted By: foreversxm

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 02:12 PM

I think it opened about a month or so ago by some off island people from St Thomas. Typical beach bar nothing fancy but is a good location , when we went not a lot of breeze maybe from being in a corner but I am sure that changes daily. Nice menu. I thought the little guesthouse ( about 6 or so rooms when we stayed) had already opened even though I heard the landowner already is having some legal issues over the beach bar on property. I think it was just last year she evicted El Zafrio. That spot hasn't had much good luck, hopefully this time it will be better. Simpson Bay is a great spot.
Posted By: pat

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 02:49 PM

The hotel is definitely open but I have no additional info on it. We stayed there once when we extended our trip and needed a few extra nights that BSV didn’t have and we enjoyed ourselves there but it was definitely NOT up to the standard if BSV.

I have only heard positive reviews re the restaurant and I’m still hoping to hear they will soon be offering breakfasts.

The only negative I’ve heard (negative in my opinion anyway) is they may soon offer a cruise ship package but that may or may not happen.
Posted By: bdeeley

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:00 PM

The small hotel and the beach bar are managed by separate entities.

CocoVaa resort - website

Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill sxm - website facebook
Posted By: MotownTim

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:15 PM

Gosh Pat. Hope you are wrong about the cruise ship thing.
Posted By: bdeeley

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:15 PM

Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill also now has 2 live webcams. 1 of the cameras faces the water and their restaurant seating and the other camera faces the airport. Link below.


Dinghy's BB&G - link to webcams


** There are also direct links to each camera that provide a time lapsed feature that is pretty cool. I can provide if there is interest.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:24 PM

Thanks for the link.
Posted By: Whale Tail

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:29 PM

Thanks bdeeley for the link. Never enough webcams.
Posted By: pat

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by MotownTim
Gosh Pat. Hope you are wrong about the cruise ship thing.


Truthfully, Tim, I hope I’m wrong, too, but I believe I read it either here or on FB in a response from someone closely involved with Dinghy’s. Just a little blurb that they ‘hoped’ to add cruise ship day tripper tours IN THE FUTURE. It probably won’t have much bearing on us but it would certainly change the character of the beach and so much for quiet and peaceful days at the beach, not to mention what it will do to the parking there.

Or - it might just be one more island rumor run amok!! Hope to get some first hand info soon.
Posted By: bdeeley

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:40 PM

Pat,

ScottW included that information in his trip report from last week. See below.


Originally Posted by ScottW
Trip report- 9/30-10/11

You can’t beat the convenience of Dinghy’s Bar. Drinks are good and we enjoyed our lunches. We particularly liked the fish tacos. Everyone there is very friendly.
I did overhear a waiter telling someone that they will be catering to the cruise ships in the future, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out.

Scott & Betsy
Posted By: pat

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 03:51 PM

Once again, Brian, thank you for being on it. I didn’t bother looking for the quote since I couldn’t recall where I saw it in the first place.

If they go ahead with their plans to do cruisers, I get it but that doesn’t mean we have to like it and hopefully they may post a schedule for cruise days. Those buses will add some more confusion to transiting the area along Maho Beach. I have no issue and fully understand the need for the additional revenue but it will be a different place if it happens.
Posted By: MotownTim

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 04:12 PM

Pat. Maybe it’s not the organized bus thing with the hundred’s of cruisers and just the occasional cruiser that finds their way to that beach. But you’re right about it being a different place. The food and service may suffer as well as the ambiance. I guess we will see.
Posted By: jazzgal

Re: El zafiro - 10/16/2023 06:01 PM

Looks like lots of sargassum in the water.
Posted By: foreversxm

Re: El zafiro - 10/17/2023 12:02 AM

Let's hope they DONOT allow busses of Cruise ship day visitors! I remember when Zafiro did it and it just over ran the area with people and one reason we stopped going there. I think for $20 you got a beach chair and drink and the bus ride over. Between that and the loud music it was not a good mix for the neighborhood but unfortunately some tenants don't care about how obnoxious it gets for others. Does not hurt to speak up, it might help lead them in a better direction.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: El zafiro - 10/17/2023 12:14 AM

Thanks for the link to those webcams! probably will be spending lots of time watching them!
Posted By: bdeeley

Re: El zafiro - 10/17/2023 12:25 AM

You are quite welcome. Below are the direct links to the individual cameras with features such as time lapse, local weather, full screen etc..



SXM airport & runway - view from Dinghy BB&G Observation Deck

view of Beacon Hill Beach from Dinghy's BB&G
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: El zafiro - 10/17/2023 12:27 AM

Maybe but the all mighty dollar is stronger than words sometimes. 20pp 40 a couple will add up especially if they pop for food and drinks.
Posted By: Colour1

Re: El zafiro - 10/19/2023 11:24 AM

You heard right Pat, they are looking for that extra money from the cruisers!!! What that means on those day, we can check the schedule that if we have to shop, leave early from BSV and be back before the buses clog up White Sands road. The other thing, we need to be prepared for loud music until 3pm!! When ELZ was there and had the cruisers there they would walk the beach, some stopped to ask me if I lived there.(unit#1) BSV does look a lot a like a condo. That's what I thought YEARS ago. So I do my best salesmen for Tracy and the Mascarins! As of right now, checking the schedule, there isn't many ships coming in from now to the end of November!
Posted By: foreversxm

Re: El zafiro - 10/19/2023 02:45 PM

OH NO. I remember it was a ZOO the last time El Zafiro allowed cruise ship people to take over the area, just horrible. I might say don't worry about something you can't to anything about like others say. But I certainly can do something by not spending my more at dingy beach and go someplace a lot better or peaceful like Buccaneers, Marys Boon or Karakter which are long established local business and not just off Island new people looking to make a quick buck and disrupt neighborhood. Personally I don't think they will last that long as that property has always had issues. Its a nice spot at times but still lots of nicer beach bars on SXM , I guess time will tell. IMO. All about the money to some.
Posted By: ruralcarrier

Re: El zafiro - 10/19/2023 05:46 PM

Buccaneer brings in cruisers by the busload for loungers, meals and drinks on the beach. We see them setting up from the Atrium and have talked to management at BBB who have confirmed this.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: El zafiro - 10/19/2023 05:59 PM

That whole stretch of beach from BBB towards Royal Palm is a big cruisers destination.
Posted By: ruralcarrier

Re: El zafiro - 10/19/2023 07:14 PM

Correct. Depending on the number of ships, there may be just a few or there may be several buses that bring them in. They are usually gone by mid-afternoon. I don't frequent Kim Sha much but it can be entertaining to watch from The Atrium.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: El zafiro - 10/20/2023 01:46 PM

Tried to look at the webcams this morning. The beach one is there, but camera lens appears to have salt on it, so very hazy. Couldn't get the other one to come up.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: El zafiro - 10/21/2023 01:01 PM

Beach webcam again still appears to be live, not much wave action. However, as before, salt on the lens, so difficult to see well.

Maho Beach cam looks just cloudy, but the island cam looks to have rain showers.
Posted By: SXMScubaman

Re: El zafiro - 10/21/2023 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
Beach webcam again still appears to be live, not much wave action. However, as before, salt on the lens, so difficult to see well.

Maho Beach cam looks just cloudy, but the island cam looks to have rain showers.

Maybe the forecasted heavy rains will clean the lens. 🤞
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