St. Martin - Dawn Beach

[tlt]

Anyone been to Dawn Beach on St. Martin? How's the snorkeling? Any restaurants/food/drinks nearby?

 

[prymsu]

I was expecting better snorkeling, and the water was rough the day we were there. It is a beatiful beach though. It was quick and easy to get to. My son got a bad case of sea lice though...so i had wished we would have tried something else.

 

[tlt]

OUCH!!! Sorry to hear about the Sea Lice...could you see them?...did you happen to have on that Sea Safe that I keep reading about on these boards? I have read great things about Dawn Beach until your post...wonder if we should try a different beach? Thanks for your input.

 

[prymsu]

also, just because we had a bad experience doesn't mean that you shouldn't give it a try.

I think the sea lice thing comes and goes. the water was pretty rough that day, so maybe it was just a bad day to do that beach. I had also chosen that beach because i had read so many good reviews on this board...Do a poll to get the most feedback...

 

[trishy]

We had a great time at Dawn Beach. We went in July - don't know if it makes a difference with the sea lice thing - sounds gross! I'll have to research that before we go. The taxi ride was quick - great for kids - and they will pick you up when you're done - just give them a time to return. The waves were a little frightful for little kids, but they had rental floatable "rings" (or you could bring your own and blow it up on the beach if you don't mind the "lightheadedness" afterward ) They charged about $10/adult which included chair w/umbrella, an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, and the privilege of having a barrage of peddlers selling everything from bracelets to skirts to baskets for your convenient shopping needs Seriously, they weren't too pushy and at the time we went, the snorkeling was pretty nice near the rocky points (either side) One guy brought an underwater camera (looked like really nice equipment) and had a blast out there - lots to look at. There's a restaurant at the beach, a snack bar, and rental equipment. A good place for a first time. Next time we're going further North, though - just to experience something new .

 

[RellingTwin]

Dawn Beach was one of the highlights of our trip. We walked off the ship, got in a cab (cost 22.00 for 2 adults 2 kids) and were there in 15 min. 2 beach chairs with umbrella was 12.00.Beach was great with small waves. We had our snorkel stuff with us but did not snorkel. I have been told the surf changes depending on the winds/tides ect. There is a small resturant right there selling .99 beer! We brought food from room service and juice and soda/beer from the supply we brought on board, so I can not comment on the food at the rest. although, it SMELLED Wonderful!Venders did offer items for sale but were not pushy. I had forgotten beach towels from the ship and asked the first vender if she had any beach towels. She said someone would be by in awhile with towels, and she was correct. I bought two very nice towels for 10.00 each.
I would go again!

 

[mikeymars]

We went to Dawn while onthe 3/23 Magic cruise, taking our children (daughter 8, son 5).

The positives:

- Short (10 minute) taxi ride. Taxis readily available to return to ship all day. Don't underrate the importance of "short' cab ride while on St. Maarten - an excursion to Dawn can allow you to spend 4-5 hours at the beach and still have substantive time to shop back in town before re-boarding (that's what we did). Our dinner partners went all the way up to a certain better-known (and much further away) beach on the French side and as a result had little time to shop when they returned.
- Off the beaten path, not crammed with day cruise visitors like certain other better known beaches in St. Maarten/Martin. Was never crowded the morning and early afternoon we were there.
- Simple but decent, affordable food readily available right at the beach. Eating yards away from the surf was fun.
- Nice umbrellas and chairs readily available to rent for only $12.
- Child friendly. No nudity whatsoever and moderate surf that didn't frighten the kids.
- Not built up like a lot of other beaches on the island.

The so-sos:

- If you are a certified diver/experienced snorkeler (I am), the supposedly "great "snorkeling is highly overrated (St. Martin is not a particularly popular destination among divers, and now I know why). Limited reefs and sea life. There was stuff to see, but nothing particularly rare or exciting. Also, the water was somewhat choppy the Tuesday we were there (have been told this happens often) which stirred up the sand making the water somewhat silty and hence limiting the view.
- The beach is pretty, but the dry, relatively barren hills behind it aren't. Ergo, if you are looking for textbook tropical beach beauty (e.g. palm surrounded) wait for St. Thomas and go to St. John.

The negatives:

- None really. If you are looking for a convenient, uncrowded beach with some surf to play in while in St. Maarten, this may be your best ticket.