Dawn beach...

[Irishgal27]

We have group of 10 and we are looking for a nice relaxed beach with good prices on food and drinks....I have heard great things about Dawn Beach and thought it might be cheaper and more relaxing than Orient????? Does anyone have some recent information for me?? I would really appreciate any info...ty:D

[celticd1]

We visited Dawn Beach last week and really enjoyed it. There is one bar/restaurant, Mr. Busby's. I can't comment on the prices however as we did not order any food. DH had Carib beer at 2 for $3.00 but those were the only drinks we ordered. The beach was quiet, especially compared to Orient. We rented 2 chairs and an umbrella for $15. The beach area we swam at was not rocky but there are rock formations on either side of the beach. It was very wavy, not calm but still nice for wading and swimming.

 

Hope this helps! :)

[gtaylor]

Mr. Busby's had Carib for $.75 from 11 - 4:00, and then everything for $1.50 until 6:00.

(click)

 

More photos over in my PhotoBucket.

[scapel]

We have group of 10 and we are looking for a nice relaxed beach with good prices on food and drinks....I have heard great things about Dawn Beach and thought it might be cheaper and more relaxing than Orient????? Does anyone have some recent information for me?? I would really appreciate any info...ty:D

I think Dawn Beach would fit you just fine. Mr. Busby's pictures are exactly as I remember it. Went through the hotel comples to the left and took some pictures. They were in construction upgrade when I was there. It is very nice also.

My pictures are not as good as Mr. Busby's so won't post them.

[Irishgal27]

Loved the pictures of the place, it looks just our speed. How much would it be to take a Cab there from port and what time does it open 10am??? :o

[scapel]

Loved the pictures of the place, it looks just our speed. How much would it be to take a Cab there from port and what time does it open 10am??? :o

 

Don't know what time it opens, but whatever time you get there it is for you. I'm sure the guy will come around to collect for the chairs and umbrellas and the place will open for drinks at a good time.

I think it is about a 15 min cab ride. Less then Orient Beach.

[Bilbo5121]

We have pretty much made up our mind to go to Dawn Beach for the day, Question for anyone thats been there , is there a place to shower at the beach , or Mr. Busbys , or the Westin for that matter, just get salt off is all ...My Wife asked so I ask....lol

[gracie65]

Are there any trampolines etc. in the water?

[gtaylor]

We have pretty much made up our mind to go to Dawn Beach for the day, Question for anyone thats been there , is there a place to shower at the beach , or Mr. Busbys , or the Westin for that matter, just get salt off is all ...My Wife asked so I ask....lol

When Ms. B's was still serving food on Dawn Beach they had a toilet and (outdoor) shower for customers. The restaurant has closed, but I understand that they still rent chairs. There MAY still be a shower available there, or perhaps elsewhere on the beach, but I can't personally speak for one now.

 

gary

[Bilbo5121]

Thanks Gary, I emailed Mr. Busby's and he emailed me back that they have restrooms, but no shower but the resort has an outdoor shower about 100ft down the beach that is usable......thanks Bilbo

[Bilbo5121]

Thanks Gary, I emailed Mr. Busby's and he emailed me back that they have restrooms, but no shower but the resort has an outdoor shower about 100ft down the beach that is usable......thanks Bilbo

sorry about double post....Bilbo

[gtaylor]

That's probably at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort, right next door.

 

Mr. Busby's is just off the left side of this map of the resort.

 

gary

[monijohn]

We will be on St Maarten , shortly. From boards, sounds like place we would like to spend some hours. We love snorkeling and are relatively experienced. However wind and high surf tend to discourage us. Anyone have info on the snorkeling experience at Dawn, including how's the reef and marine life. Others in our group will prabably hang out on beach and sit in the water. How good for that stuff? Thanks for the previous postings, hopefully someone can add to their inputs. Thanks John

[KAPPHX]

The reef at Dawn Beach, at least at the Westin end, is for the most part dead, and IME snorkeling was below average unless you get out a good ways from shore. Can't really speak to snorkeling at the other end of the beach. There can be some decent-sized waves (at least by Caribbean standards) some days, so snorkeling can be tough. Great beach though.

[barbaraanne]

Can you arrange with your original driver to pick you up, or are taxis available there?

 

thanks!

[caribsun]

Can you arrange with your original driver to pick you up, or are taxis available there?

 

thanks!

 

When we went to Dawn Beach and there was a gentleman who greeted us and escorted us to the beach and set us up with chairs. He asked us what time we would like to leave and he would arrange transportation. At the designated time he came down to the beach to inform us that our cab arrived to take us back.

[monijohn]

Hope not too inappropriate to keep this thread open. Got a great reply, still want more input. Dawn sounds great but would like hear more on rating of the snorkeling, for everything else it's great. Thanks you guys. JOHN

[Irish90Cruiser]

Hope not too inappropriate to keep this thread open. Got a great reply, still want more input. Dawn sounds great but would like hear more on rating of the snorkeling, for everything else it's great. Thanks you guys. JOHN

We were just there last week. It was a nice beach. We love to snorkel and had brought our gear with us but didn't bother trying. There is a reef to the left side of the beach and I saw a few people out there trying to do it but the surf if just way too rough. Unless you get an extremely calm day, this is a better place to enjoy the wave action. A few people had their boogie boards out and it was a blast playing out in the surf.

[gracie65]

Hope not too inappropriate to keep this thread open. Got a great reply, still want more input. Dawn sounds great but would like hear more on rating of the snorkeling, for everything else it's great. Thanks you guys. JOHN

 

John, I'm from North Myrtle Beach, when are you cruising? I was just in your fair city yesterday for a field trip my son had with school. Went to Drayton Hall & downtown.

I too was having trouble deciding where to go. Last time we were there we used Bernard & had a great day. I wanted more beach time this trip but after researching on this board I decided to go with him again. I may get an hour or so less at the beach but he will take the worry out of my day as far as getting where when. We mainly want to go to Orient Beach & Maho to see the planes. He did say that if others in the group made the same kind or request he would put us all together. I've never been to Dawn Beach. I really wanted a beach with some Water trampolines & such as we will have our 9 year old son. Other then Great Bay it sounds like Orient is the only one that has the water trampolines.

[monijohn]

We are almost there. Leaving Miami on the 14th of March, St Martin on the 17th. Still might do Dawn beach even if snorkeling is not the greatest, sounds like nice place to hang out. We are tending to think of finding a tour from the dock, and maybe leaving us at Dawn Beach. then taxi back to the ship. We visit the Grand Strand often. Our next door neighbor has rental properties in Garden City/Surfside area. John

[gracie65]

We are almost there. Leaving Miami on the 14th of March, St Martin on the 17th. Still might do Dawn beach even if snorkeling is not the greatest, sounds like nice place to hang out. We are tending to think of finding a tour from the dock, and maybe leaving us at Dawn Beach. then taxi back to the ship. We visit the Grand Strand often. Our next door neighbor has rental properties in Garden City/Surfside area. John

 

Hope you have a great time, come back & post what you ended up doing. I'm in North Myrtle Beach, don't get to Garden City too often. I have a sis-in-law that lives in Long Point at Mt Pleasant.

Have agreat time!!!!