TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin PIctures of renovation at Beachside Villas

Now, with the renovations, WOW!!! What they did was to cover in the atrium and install skylights and lights, and move the dining table out there.


And they took out the windows between the kitchen and the atrium, so it's a totally open space and installed a countertop there, so you can set stuff there, between the kitchen and the now, dining room. AND there is now air conditioning in the living room!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> The end result is that it looks SO much bigger inside and it's so much more comfortable inside when it's warm, like now.



We had a great trip down, weather has been beautiful since we got here. Life is good!!!!

Nice <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Glad to hear all is good. We got to see one of the remodeled units while we were there in April and it was lovely and very spacious. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Great. AC in the living room is the best! My request has become a reality! Are all the units renovated now or still just a few? Enjoy your time there and Happy Anniversary!

The units were lovely Pat! We will miss having the grill next to the kitchen as well as the breeze coming in thru the atrium. We are not AC people so the ocean breezes are all we needed and it was great to have air coming in thru the open area. I understand that when it rained some folks had trouble with the wet tile so understand the change! I am a fresh air kind of girl so it will be a different experience for us! SO glad that there is still just a tv in the living room! Hope that doesn't change!!

There are only two or three units which are not finished. Marvlen says that all should be done by around August/September this year.

Honestly, if you like fresh breezes, there is no reason to not have them! We have always left the front door open when we are here during the day and it has been no different this time. The breezes through the unit are exactly the same as before. But now, one has the OPTION for a/c. Again, as far as TV in the bedrooms, as far as I know, there are no plans to have TV in the bedrooms. Even if there were, can't understand how that would be a bad thing? Regardless, now one can sit in the living room at night and watch TV in the a/c, which is a good thing! And the renovations just make the units feel so much bigger and the pass-through from the kitchen to the dining room is wonderful.

Carol,
Where is the grill now?

It's out on the back deck by the ocean. Worked great for our burgers for lunch!!!

K thanks. Not too windy I guess.
Good they still have them.
i

Certainly not too windy today. It is right up against the wall of the next door unit, so wind is blocked from the side. I would have been very upset if the grills were gone! For us, anyway, since they know that we grill out a lot, the grill was on the deck when we got here. Supposedly, they may store them in the atrium, if they aren't being used, but I don't know.

Grills right up against the walls of the units are dangerous. You must have 7-8 ft on three sides for safety. The space above must also not be covered. This info comes directly from the fire department. Perhaps they need to think about that. Not good to see all those renovated units go up in smoke!

I could be having a senior moment but I thought the exterior walls at BSV were concrete. If not, I don't think there's any way they have the room on those porches to meet 7 to 8 foot clearance requirements. But I'm sure they've taken all this into consideration.

We would be with Laurel and totally in agreement about the breezes being our preference over airco unless there were no breezes at all. I hate the closed in feeling and that's why we love our high unit at the Towers - as there's no need to shut the sliders at night and we are able to take full advantage of the wonderful breezes. I think we only had the airco running the day we arrived while unpacking and the evening before we left while we were packing up again. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yes, the walls are concrete. Regarding air conditioning, we live in Florida and we live in air conditioning year round. And again, if you want the breezes, just keep the front and back doors open.

I have to try this place. Looking forward to your photos. Thanks.

Been too lazy to take any pictures so far, except at dinner last night. Will definitely have to take some pictures today, as Saba, she be there!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> The a/c in the main room works REALLY well. It's a bigger unit than the ones in the bedroom.

Enjoy your vacation, Carol & Eric. David and I will be spending 10 glorious days there at our usual time.

Carol, how long are you there?

From your description of the renovation and the fact there is now a/c in the living room, I wish I hadn't booked our additional nights at The Summit. Part of that decision was the a/c issue while watching tv. And I for one don't mind a tv in bedroom...I can wake up and watch news, or fall asleep watching the World Series in October.

We will go home before you arrive, unfortunately. If your reservation is cancellable, you could check to see if they have space here. Normally they don't do shorter stays, but this late, they might have room. You could check. I was going to take pictures of the unit today, but I guess the maids are off today. Maybe I'll get off my lazy hiney and pick up a bit and take some pictures..

OUTSTANDING weather today.

As far as TV in the bedroom, I asked Marvlyn and she said no on that. We don't have a TV in the bedroom at home, so don't miss it here, since we can watch at night in the a/c. Today we have the doors wide open as usual, as there is a lovely breeze.

You guys will love the renovations, Louise! It just seems so much bigger inside and the a/c works really well in the living room.

You know what's funny? We don't have a bedroom tv at home either! Lol
But there's a loft outside the bedroom with one. 3 in the house is enough!

We have 3 at home also, even though it's a small house.

Carol, enjoy your vacation.
The units are beautiful! They did such a great job.

I like to keep the doors open and experience the breezes, but it will be so nice to have it when needed!!
(Nice to keep it off to save on the costs for BSV. We try to do that with towel use, etc. Just a thought. Don't anyone yell. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />)

Too lazy for pictures----I will remember that in November! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Just kidding---enjoy every moment!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We are having a lovely time so far!!
We do that too, basically only switch out one towel a day and the a/c is off now. I took some pictures before, just have to look at them and see which ones to post..

Happy anniversary Carol & Eric! Best spot on Earth to celebrate everything!
Lynn & John <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! I think so!!

Happy anniversary too.

Deisy &
wendell

Thanks guys! Love ya!

Hi Carol, glad you ended up with a "new" unit. I knew you'd love the new look. Enjoy!!!

Yes, Marv says there are only three units not finished now. I know that 10 is not done and they are working on 12 now. Not sure which other unit is not finished. I think it's 3,4 or 5.

Carol, I don't want to sound like Debby downer, but with taking out the door from the veranda to the living room. You can't leave the front door open for the fresh air to come through without letting the bugs and the four legged guys in to the house. Yes, Drew did an amazing job, no doubt about that. We were in Mike's unit #12 back in April. We had the doors open. In October/November Louise will love this. I'll go out on the deck. I just pray that newbies will remember shut off the A/C before heading out for the day! And or leave it off during the day, help keep costs down. Hopefully Drew will see that this is happening and install screen doors on the inside of the units.

David-We have always left the front door open and no screens pulled on the door to the atrium. This trip has been no different. Not sure which 'four legged guys' you're talking about? I've got to assume that if people leave the a/c on and leave, that the maids will turn it off when they come in. I do worry that the prices will necessarily have to go up, but it is amazing to me, how much bigger the place is, and how much more usable space there is now! And a/c in the evening to watch TV is just great!

The funny thing about A/C for us is that we keep ours at 78 both here at home and on the island. Often when we come back to our unit after a day at the beach, it's on 55 because the maid was hot while she was in there, and knocked it down to the frostbite setting. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Just put some pictures in this post. Enjoy!

I don't think Louise would be to happy to share the living room with the likes of lil lizards and Iguana's!!! October-Nov can be muggy/buggy, sometimes. The breeze helps that when were are on "our" beach going in-out. As I said, all and all it looks great!!!

Iguanas I don't care for, but little lizards, we have ALL over at home. Iguanas, if they see them, the staff gets rid of them.. As far as bugs so far this trip, it has been pretty breezy, so no bugs to speak of.

Little Lizards eat mosquitos!
All over the place here also. More when it
rains.
irina

OK, I knew there was a reason why I am fond of the little guys!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Great photos. We are going to book a trip soon, so this place is definitely on the list .

Let me know if you have any questions.