Beaches?!

[SDA1125]

Thanks for the information - gtaylor :)

 

\

[Karysa]

Can you walk from Karakter to Sunset Bar on Maho? On google maps there seems to be some roads at the end of Simpson Bay Beach.

thanks!

 

I have done this. Took us 30 minutes each way. Google maps is most likely better at directions than me so I won't even attempt instructions but 15 minutes was by beach and 15 minutes was through residential areas and along the side road by the airport runway.

[Mtltraveller]

Thank you Karysa! Really appreciate your time and help!

[gtaylor]

I have done this. Took us 30 minutes each way. Google maps is most likely better at directions than me so I won't even attempt instructions but 15 minutes was by beach and 15 minutes was through residential areas and along the side road by the airport runway.

Karysa, when you did this, did you cut through the Beachside Villas property, which is the first one you reach headed towards Maho, to get to White Sands Road?

 

When we were staying there we walked down past Karakter to Mary's Boon and back, but didn't try to walk past BSV on our return.

 

This Google Earth shot makes it appear that it would be difficult to do so (without getting wet), at least on the day that this shot was taken.

 

Sunset/Maho Beach to the left, Karakter to the right.

 

(click)

 

The reason that I bring this up is that BSV has just installed a security gate at the entrance from the end of White Sands Road, and from the picture I saw I don't see a pedestrian exit without opening the gate with the access code keypad.

 

gary

[Karysa]

Karysa, when you did this, did you cut through the Beachside Villas property, which is the first one you reach headed towards Maho, to get to White Sands Road?

 

When we were staying there we walked down past Karakter to Mary's Boon and back, but didn't try to walk past BSV on our return.

 

This Google Earth shot makes it appear that it would be difficult to do so (without getting wet), at least on the day that this shot was taken.

 

Sunset/Maho Beach to the left, Karakter to the right.

 

(click)

 

The reason that I bring this up is that BSV has just installed a security gate at the entrance from the end of White Sands Road, and from the picture I saw I don't see a pedestrian exit without opening the gate with the access code keypad.

 

gary

 

 

Hi Gary. From Karakter we just walked the beach until we reached the concrete stairs that were basically right in front of us. There is a beautiful small white condo building to the immediate left as you are climbing up the stairs. This was 100% public access at least it was last summer. No gates, no signs and the look that it is regularly used leads me to believe that this is the case. At the top of the stairs it is clearly a residential neighbourhood but I am not sure of the names of the roads that we walked on Gary. I should have taken notes. I will next time. I do believe that we started walking to our right after climbing the stairs and walking the very short concrete path to the road.

 

 

PS : Gary, do you remember the large sandy area at the end of Simpson Bay beach where Yoga is practiced? The Beach is very wide there before making the sharp turn to the left where the point is and the beach turns into a rocky shoreline and the buildings are not on the beach but up on the small cliff. The stairs are directly after the "yoga" area which is on your right and before the beach takes a turn to the left and becomes a rocky shoreline ( at least that's what the shoreline looked like in July of 2013). I hope this helps. :)

Edited December 13, 2013 by Karysa

[gtaylor]

Hi Gary. From Karakter we just walked the beach until we reached the concrete stairs that were basically right in front of us. There is a beautiful small white condo building to the immediate left as you are climbing up the stairs. This was 100% public access at least it was last summer. No gates, no signs and the look that it is regularly used leads me to believe that this is the case. At the top of the stairs it is clearly a residential neighbourhood but I am not sure of the names of the roads that we walked on Gary. I should have taken notes. I will next time. I do believe that we started walking to our right after climbing the stairs and walking the very short concrete path to the road.

 

 

PS : Gary, do you remember the large sandy area at the end of Simpson Bay beach where Yoga is practiced? The Beach is very wide there before making the sharp turn to the left where the point is and the beach turns into a rocky shoreline and the buildings are not on the beach but up on the small cliff. The stairs are directly after the "yoga" area which is on your right and before the beach takes a turn to the left and becomes a rocky shoreline ( at least that's what the shoreline looked like in July of 2013). I hope this helps. :)

Yes, we know those concrete steps. We've seen them from the top.

 

My question was about being able to pass BeachSide Villas on the beach without having to get wet. The Google shot I linked to showed it as improbable.

 

I think that the Yoga area that you mention is at the new Tahoma bar. I believe that they offer yoga classes and training there.

 

It's between the BSV and your steps.

 

If you've walked in that Beacon Hill area, did you ever venture out to the tip of land? There were the remnents of what appears to have been a nice villa, wiped clean by a hurricane?

 

gary

[Karysa]

Yes, we know those concrete steps. We've seen them from the top.

 

My question was about being able to pass BeachSide Villas on the beach without having to get wet. The Google shot I linked to showed it as improbable.

 

I think that the Yoga area that you mention is at the new Tahoma bar. I believe that they offer yoga classes and training there.

 

It's between the BSV and your steps.

 

If you've walked in that Beacon Hill area, did you ever venture out to the tip of land? There were the remnents of what appears to have been a nice villa, wiped clean by a hurricane?

 

gary

 

We walked on the beach. No issue what so ever. Simple easy beach walk from Karakter straight down to those concrete stairs. We did this walk the last week of July this past year.

 

We have been out on the outcrop area at Beacon Hill. It's quiet, no beach but lovely views.

[Karysa]

I just did a search and found my original post on our walk from Simpson Bay Beach to the Sunset Bar and Grill at Maho Beach. Here are the directions that I gave then. Walk to the right from Karakter and take the concrete stairs to the top. Once you come to the street turn right and walk about 200 yards. At the end of the road make a left and in about 10 minutes you will reach the Sunset Bar and Grill. Hope this helps:)

[shortchange1969]

Gregor..did you have to arrange for the taxi driver to come back and pick you up at a certain time at Le Galion or since the road is now paved there are taxi's waiting to take you back to the pier or into town?

[Newbcruiser1]

I just thought I would post an update!

 

We ended up visiting Karakter Beach when we were in port on Dec 16th. The taxi ride was $9pp each way, and was shared with others going shopping in Philipsburg who got out first, and to one of the casinos who were dropped off after us. Our taxi driver didn't know exactly where it was and had to ask on the way (she knew it was near Mary's Boon but not how to get in) but she made it.

 

It was a little bit sketchy" arriving through the back road, especially since they were JUST opening, however once we got through to the front, it was beautiful. They were great about placing the umbrellas wherever we needed them, and there was no charge for them or the chairs, however we did of course purchase food and drinks, and we tipped the man who set them all up.

 

Unfortunately the waves were huge! Not sure if it was just the day we were there (it was raining on and off too), or if that's normal there, but we couldn't really go in the water. A couple others who are strong swimmers did brave it though and seemed to be having fun.

 

The thing that made our day was the friendliness of the employees and the fact that it was not crowded AT ALL! We could pick up all of our stuff from the beach and run to the restaurant area when it was raining without worrying about losing our seats, because there were plenty of others.

 

The food was really good, as were the drinks, despite being a bit pricey - it balanced out the fact that we didn't have to pay for the chairs though.

 

When we were dropped off, we asked the taxi driver to come back for us at 2:15 so we could beat the rush and traffic back to port. She was there right on schedule, and we did hit some traffic so I was glad to have left when we did. This is a place you definitely have to make taxi arrangements because of the "back road" set-up - you won't just see any taxis sitting or passing by. I'm sure if you don't make arrangements, the staff could call one for you as well.

 

Overall we loved our day there (would have loved it more if it hadn't rained!) and would definitely go back, however due to the roughness of the water, I think I would try Le Galion next time (prepared for the fact that it might be full of kids).

[Karysa]

I just thought I would post an update!

 

We ended up visiting Karakter Beach when we were in port on Dec 16th. The taxi ride was $9pp each way, and was shared with others going shopping in Philipsburg who got out first, and to one of the casinos who were dropped off after us. Our taxi driver didn't know exactly where it was and had to ask on the way (she knew it was near Mary's Boon but not how to get in) but she made it.

 

It was a little bit sketchy" arriving through the back road, especially since they were JUST opening, however once we got through to the front, it was beautiful. They were great about placing the umbrellas wherever we needed them, and there was no charge for them or the chairs, however we did of course purchase food and drinks, and we tipped the man who set them all up.

 

Unfortunately the waves were huge! Not sure if it was just the day we were there (it was raining on and off too), or if that's normal there, but we couldn't really go in the water. A couple others who are strong swimmers did brave it though and seemed to be having fun.

 

The thing that made our day was the friendliness of the employees and the fact that it was not crowded AT ALL! We could pick up all of our stuff from the beach and run to the restaurant area when it was raining without worrying about losing our seats, because there were plenty of others.

 

The food was really good, as were the drinks, despite being a bit pricey - it balanced out the fact that we didn't have to pay for the chairs though.

 

When we were dropped off, we asked the taxi driver to come back for us at 2:15 so we could beat the rush and traffic back to port. She was there right on schedule, and we did hit some traffic so I was glad to have left when we did. This is a place you definitely have to make taxi arrangements because of the "back road" set-up - you won't just see any taxis sitting or passing by. I'm sure if you don't make arrangements, the staff could call one for you as well.

 

Overall we loved our day there (would have loved it more if it hadn't rained!) and would definitely go back, however due to the roughness of the water, I think I would try Le Galion next time (prepared for the fact that it might be full of kids).

 

I have been to Simpson Bay beach many times now at various times of the year except the fall and although there have been rolling waves there at times we have always been able to go in the water. Sometimes we spend our time in the water riding the waves but it has never been what I would consider choppy or rough. You said that it was raining of and on so perhaps there was bad weather in the area. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[Newbcruiser1]

Karysa, I agree it was likely an off day. It also doesn't help that I'm a non-swimmer! ;)

 

Thanks for your help and advice pre-cruise! It was very helpful!

[Karysa]

Karysa, I agree it was likely an off day. It also doesn't help that I'm a non-swimmer! ;)

 

Thanks for your help and advice pre-cruise! It was very helpful!

 

You are welcome. You will love Le Galion because it is calm and shallow, but no Karater beach bar there:(!

I really hope that you had better weather at your other ports.:)

[Newbcruiser1]

We did - a hundred times better weather everywhere else! :)

[4Tacos]

Well I've read through all the posts about the beaches in this thread and I think I've decided to visit Le Galion beach. There is 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children. It sounds like a nice beach for the kids. We are in port 7am-5pm so it is going to be a long day. Should we visit the beach in the morning and head back for shopping in the afternoon? Also, I kept reading references to bridges and traffic and what time to head back. What should I know? We are not doing any excursions, just want to sit on the beach and let the kids play. Hopefully it will be a nice day. Will there be taxi's waiting to take people back to the ships or should I make arrangements with our driver on the way out? Any other suggestions? We will be there in February.

[mdxter]

test

Edited January 5, 2014 by mdxter
testing posting pics

[Karysa]

Well I've read through all the posts about the beaches in this thread and I think I've decided to visit Le Galion beach. There is 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children. It sounds like a nice beach for the kids. We are in port 7am-5pm so it is going to be a long day. Should we visit the beach in the morning and head back for shopping in the afternoon? Also, I kept reading references to bridges and traffic and what time to head back. What should I know? We are not doing any excursions, just want to sit on the beach and let the kids play. Hopefully it will be a nice day. Will there be taxi's waiting to take people back to the ships or should I make arrangements with our driver on the way out? Any other suggestions? We will be there in February.

 

You may want to wait and plan to arrive at the beach around 9 a.m.. You can ask your driver to pick you up at a certain time and if they don't show up then have the folks at the restaurant call one for you. Traffic/bridges are not an issue form Le Galion.