TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin BSV- umbrellas

I will be staying at Beachside Villas in a couple of weeks. I noticed in photos there are no umbrellas on the beach so I contacted them and they said they Might have some in pool shed but I could also contact packlight (which I have used before for chairs and umbrellas) . Packlight responded that BSV does not have umbrellas because it is too windy on that beach and he would not rent any because the wind would destroy? I have stayed at El Zifiro before and have been to Karakters and both have umbrellas? I know lots of people on here stay at BSV and will know. Is this beach too windy for umbrellas?

thanks in advance

All beaches has wind and Sun , hence umbrella are always needed .

I am sure it is an expense that try to limit because these good umbrellas are not cheap and probably hard to keep from disappearing and I don't think BSV has the staff to manage that. Maybe go to Cost you Less when you arrive and get a cheap one for yourself. But yes all the normal Hotels and Beach Bars on Simpson Bay have umbrellas for their guest to use and normally without any wind issues.

Wow. I would have assumed they would have them for their guests. Not acceptable in my book for a beach side place not to furnish umbrellas.

BSV does not have umbrellas. We have rented from Craig in the past. I know he was having difficulty last year getting umbrellas. Guess he has a new policy.

If it gets too hot I go up to the deck for a short break or you can walk down to the pool where there is shade under the gazebo structure.

There are days at any beach on the island where it can be windy.

Louise--yes, we have always rented from Craig in the past, for use at Beachside. That is odd, that he says he doesn't have them. Wind is not any worse at BSV than anywhere else. I think he just doesn't rent them now.

LaVista rents them out along with beach loungers.

"Hi Patty.

Thanks for the email. I must be honest and let you know that the umbrellas will not survive the winds at BSV. They have loungers at BSV but do not have umbrellas there because of the winds. They got tired of replacing umbrellas.

I sometimes get requests from BSV guests for umbrellas only. I know when I get this request, it means they are going to use the BSV loungers but since BSV has no umbrellas, they need to rent one. My experience has been that the umbrellas cannot stand up to the wind in that location, and then I have an unhappy client and a broken umbrella, as that is the windiest beach on sxm.
Regards.
Craig."

This was his message to me. I am reading that he does not want to rent umbrellas.
Thanks everyone for responses . Is there a store near BSV that I could purchase an umbrella? I am very Fair skinned and burn easily and prone to sun poisoning.

Also a fair-skinned and once upon a time natural blonde, on most beaches the need for an umbrella goes without saying but it’s been my experience at BSV over many trips that between regular applications of sun block, the rear covered porch of our unit, the gazebo like structure at the pool and the area of shade in front of the rear porch I’ve never had the need for an umbrella at BSV.

I’ve seen them there on occasion but I think most guests have the same experience. Should you really need one the suggestion to pick one up at Cost U Less or Ace is your best bet. And it does get very breezy there so beware that even though you might not feel it at first, by the time you do that sunburn can be debilitating.

Also, if you do get your own umbrella please make certain it is really well secured in the sand as I’ve personally seen near implement of a beach goer by someone’s fly away umbrella. 🙂🙂

I also tried to rent from Craig for our recent trip to Beachside. He told me the same thing. He does not allow them to be used on that beach. I could have still rented from him and used them elsewhere.
Scott

Part of the routine when we get there (SXM and BSV) provisions and to the Ace on Bush Road to grab an umbrella. They have some nice ones with the screw in sand auger that stay put. We make sure to put enough tilt on it so the wind is pushing down on the canopy, not getting up under it etc. Haven't broken one yet on that beach, knock on wood.

We has stayed at BSV before. It does seems sort funny that a beachfront property would not offer at least beach chairs and umbrellas to its guests. Of course it's another expense they want to avoid. But another reason book somewhere if you need regular amenities like , housekeeping, a pool, restaurant and bar, a generator when the power goes off and it does often, a water back up, good TV, nighttime security is a must or someone to call on property if something breaks, etc etc. You do miss them until you need them. We sometimes we like the little guesthouses or airbnb properties but they just don't offer things we like to have. BSV has a good following so obviously they know to expect and can deal with it.

I don’t understand your response especially since you said you stayed there? They do offer beach chairs. Each unit has four beach lounge chairs on the sand directly in front of your unit, as well as to 2,lounge chairs with cushions on your deck. There are also many lounge chairs around the pool.

We are repeat guests since 2008 sometimes twice a year. Power had never gone out while we’ve been there. Vicki lives on-site so there is help 24/7, there is a pool, big tv with many channels. Daily housekeeping is only recently upon request otherwise it was daily. It’s my understanding you can still request daily cleaning. There is a security guard who walks the beach and in the garden all night long into the wee hours.

Two sets of chairs and chairs on the pool deck.

I was basically saying that I would think when staying at a beachfront property I would think beach chairs and one umbrellas go together. Yes I remember the beach chairs but not an umbrella for the beach which is ok with us. A few times ago when we stayed there was after a small storm and the surf was still washing against the building so no beach for a chair so we hung by the little pool. Again not saying BSV doesn't have the amenities you mentioned , we just like a few more just in case and the power does go off everywhere on the Island from time to time. Just last week GEBE was load shedding in the Beach Hill Area and everyone lost. power unless they had a generator. Again not a problem but nice to be prepared in case it drags on into the night.

BSV tries to cover all the bases even to providing a lantern in the event of a power outage.. we have never lost power and had the opportunity to use it but nice they try to be so proactive.
Re the umbrella, I get the complaint but it’s really a non-issue for most of us given the options but we can all see things differently.. Given all management does provide, the lack of an umbrella doesn’t upset me but if it did I’d just pick one up myself and leave it in the closet by the pool upon departure.

Well said Pat , thanks my Dear and see you wonderful couple soon to have a nice hangout at the new CocoVVA lol. Not fancy but cool . Hope they by then they have their credit card machine in work.

BSV have a lot of loyal following, including us, so the people must be pretty satisfied with the amenities and service they provide, otherwise we wouldn't be going there time after time. Just try to get a reservation there in April or November.
There were a couple of umbrellas in the pool shed last November.

Yes there was at least one umbrella in the shed a few weeks ago.

We only lost power for 30 minutes once (in the morning) during a 3 week stay. Think it was a planned load shedding thing.