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Travel Ideas Beaches Happy Days at Happy Bay - Quiet and private beach in St. Martin/Sint Maarten
Travel Ideas Beaches Happy Days at Happy Bay - Quiet and private beach in St. Martin/Sint Maarten
Happy Days at Happy Bay - Quiet and private beach in St. Martin/Sint Maarten
Description
There are many many great beaches in St. Martin/Sint Maarten and one of my favourites is Happy Bay. Not all that well known, very quiet and never busy – although not that easily accessible either. Getting there involves making your way to Friar’s Bay and then taking a 10-15 minute hike up and down a footpath through the underbrush. Keep in mind that this beach is frequented by nudists. Until recently there were no vendors, but now drinks, bbq chicken and ribs can be bought at a reasonable price with one vendor that set-up shop there. Recently, I’ve heard that one can now rent lounge chairs – I hope that doesn’t mean it’s getting more and more popular and therefore more crowded – may come down to the time of year you go – peak season vs. low season.
The last few years we started renting a car and we were usually met at the airport by our car rep and car. Let me tell you, it’s so wonderful to hop in a car and drive to your hotel and get there before the bus load of tourists do – avoiding that long check-in line is well worth it and you’re there so much faster too. Also many hotels are not located within walking distance to attractions such as downtown Phillipburg, so having a car is very handy. Lucky’s car rental is pretty good and reasonable (about $170ish U.S./week for a Corolla type vehicle).
Assuming that no lounge chairs can be rented there, I would suggest a visit to Ace Hardware to purchase a lounge chair (about 20 or 25 bucks) to take with you to the beach. Unfortunately this means you’ll have to haul it back if you revisit the beach more than once, which is what we do. We also fill a portable cooler with ice, beer and water, stop by the supermarket and get some cheese and bread for our snack. Yeah, we have to haul it, but it’s worth it.
On our last day there we just leave our lounge chairs there – no doubt they get taken and used by others there – pay it forward I guess. You can try to return to the store – think we were lucky one year and got a refund on them (like new) or sell to someone there.
The only thing I would say not to do is to wait until its dark before you leave. Seems like individuals show up there (usually locals) from nowhere when it’s getting late/dark. And besides, you wouldn’t want to be on that trail to get back when it’s dark anyway.
Enjoy
The last few years we started renting a car and we were usually met at the airport by our car rep and car. Let me tell you, it’s so wonderful to hop in a car and drive to your hotel and get there before the bus load of tourists do – avoiding that long check-in line is well worth it and you’re there so much faster too. Also many hotels are not located within walking distance to attractions such as downtown Phillipburg, so having a car is very handy. Lucky’s car rental is pretty good and reasonable (about $170ish U.S./week for a Corolla type vehicle).
Assuming that no lounge chairs can be rented there, I would suggest a visit to Ace Hardware to purchase a lounge chair (about 20 or 25 bucks) to take with you to the beach. Unfortunately this means you’ll have to haul it back if you revisit the beach more than once, which is what we do. We also fill a portable cooler with ice, beer and water, stop by the supermarket and get some cheese and bread for our snack. Yeah, we have to haul it, but it’s worth it.
On our last day there we just leave our lounge chairs there – no doubt they get taken and used by others there – pay it forward I guess. You can try to return to the store – think we were lucky one year and got a refund on them (like new) or sell to someone there.
The only thing I would say not to do is to wait until its dark before you leave. Seems like individuals show up there (usually locals) from nowhere when it’s getting late/dark. And besides, you wouldn’t want to be on that trail to get back when it’s dark anyway.
Enjoy
Owner
City/Region
Happy Bay, St. Martin/Sint Maarten
Your Name
Jacqueline
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