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No sand at Maho Beach


OHCruisin
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I don't know if this has already been posted. A search did not turn up anything. Meant to put this out there as soon as I returned from Oasis. We went over to Maho to watch the planes. Unfortunately, there is no longer a beach! TS Davey, or one of the tropical storms, wiped out the beach. All that's there now are mounds of boulders, preventing the road from sliding into the ocean.

 

Sunset Bar is still there and you can watch the planes from there, but if you want to get right under them, you would have to scramble over the boulders, and I'm not even sure you would be allowed.

 

I can't imagine anyone would want to try to hold the fence while a plane takes off; fly over the road and onto rocks. Deadly.

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I don't know if this has already been posted. A search did not turn up anything. Meant to put this out there as soon as I returned from Oasis. We went over to Maho to watch the planes. Unfortunately, there is no longer a beach! TS Davey, or one of the tropical storms, wiped out the beach. All that's there now are mounds of boulders, preventing the road from sliding into the ocean.

 

Sunset Bar is still there and you can watch the planes from there, but if you want to get right under them, you would have to scramble over the boulders, and I'm not even sure you would be allowed.

 

I can't imagine anyone would want to try to hold the fence while a plane takes off; fly over the road and onto rocks. Deadly.

 

Bummer....DH and I were just talking last night how on our next trip to St Maarten we'd like to just spend the day there. Our cruise isn't till 2017 so maybe they will have the beach back by then. Thanks for the report, will keep watching.

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Bummer....DH and I were just talking last night how on our next trip to St Maarten we'd like to just spend the day there. Our cruise isn't till 2017 so maybe they will have the beach back by then. Thanks for the report, will keep watching.

 

They replace the sand at Maho beach almost every year. Last time we visited, the sand trucks were dumping sand all day long.

 

And then one of them accidentally dumped his load in the entry lane of that little 2 lane divided road over to the bar. It created a huge back up of people, cars and cabs trying to get over to the bar. Fortunately, we were on our way back to the ship. :)

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Bummer....DH and I were just talking last night how on our next trip to St Maarten we'd like to just spend the day there. Our cruise isn't till 2017 so maybe they will have the beach back by then. Thanks for the report, will keep watching.

 

We're planning a cruise for Jan. 2017. Hope there is a beach to go to there as well!

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I will be departing on the Oasis in 2 days, with a stop in St. Martin. We will be renting an ATV and will pass right by there and I will report back and may take pics too for y'all. Since we are renting and ATV, as we have done in the past, we will visit multiple destinations around the island. For the folks who make an entire excursion out of only going to Maho, I am sure that they will appreciate your thread so they can adjust their plans.

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Unfortunately, Maho is not a very good beach and certainly you would not want to plan to spend your entire day there.

 

I was thinking this but was hesitant to say this until I read your comment. I will just agree with you.

 

If you took the aspect of the airport away, I feel it would be an incredibly disappointing destination. :o

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Bummer....DH and I were just talking last night how on our next trip to St Maarten we'd like to just spend the day there. Our cruise isn't till 2017 so maybe they will have the beach back by then. Thanks for the report, will keep watching.

 

Not to worry, you DH will love the bar

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=242774&d=1345492871

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When I was there in August in talking with the locals it was no big deal to them. Most said what the ocean takes the ocean gives back.

There were still lots of people the on the beach and in the water

 

That's what we were told. The change in seasonal weather patterns brings the sand back by December.

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I have had this experience a few times. I have been trying to check out the webcam at Sunset Bar at Maho but it is offline and has been for a bit.

 

I was there in Feb and in April...lots of and to sit on the beach and my sister was there in May with plenty of beach.

 

I too about this time of year have experienced all the rocks on previous visits. Agree not the best of the beautiful St Maarten beaches to spend the day on a beach chair. Mullet Bay walking distance away is a good choice first then walk to watch some planes arrive.

 

Interested in this info as we will be there in St Maarten in October. Thanks for posting as I was not sure of the beach coniditions

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When I was there in August in talking with the locals it was no big deal to them. Most said what the ocean takes the ocean gives back.

There were still lots of people the on the beach and in the water

 

Yeah we were there in October 2012 and the taxi driver told us the same thing. every other time we have been there it was May or June. There was still sand. It does come back in later in the year.

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We went there in October 2010 as a stop on our tour with Bernard's Tours. The beach was like that back then also but all we were going there for was to see the planes and to grab a bite to eat as we already spent time at Orient Beach. Myself and others that were there stood on a median on the road (Between the beach and the runway) where the planes come right over your head to take pictures and videos since we couldn't go down to the beach! :cool:

Edited by bigque
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We spent 10 minutes at Maho Beach & that was probably 7 minutes longer than we needed. I really don't see the attraction, 1 bar, shady looking casino parking lot, falling down buildings, a busy road & a bunch of rocks with planes flying overhead.

 

To each there own.:confused:

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OK, I'll take the bait....

 

We spent our entire day there in early August. Beach was there then. Got chairs and umbrellas right near Sunset Bar and Grill. The water was wonderful, not very crowded. Lunch at the Sunset was excellent, and the planes are fun to watch. Just grabbed a cab at the port, for $9/pp had a nice ride over with a great driver who gave us a semi-tour along the way.

 

I'm not interested in sitting in the sun, so this is a great place for us. All 6 of us enjoyed it thoroughly and i suspect we'll go back next time we are there.

 

mac_tlc

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Have gone to Maho a few times and sometimes there was a beach other times they sent it out to get cleaned and just rocks. Still nice to relax at Sunset, grab a table with friends and watch the planes and surf. Great food, fun watching people ignore the warning signs and getting sand blasted from the jet wash then say OH! that's why you should not stand here.

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