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White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill

Photo gallery for White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill

On the beach, sun loungers, beach towels
TV, DVD player, books, video library
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4101 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor Space

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill

White Sands Retreat (aka “Bowie Place”) is a private 2 bedroom 1 bathroom home just 75 yards from Simpson Bay Beach on Dutch Sint Maarten. Located in a gated neighborhood of other private homes where your privacy is assured. It can be rented as one bedroom (up to 2 guests) or as two bedrooms (2 to 4 guests). Rates are adjusted for NUMBER OF BEDROOMS requested. You are renting the exclusive and private use of the entire property.

COVID-19 update - The property is cleaned and disinfected each week and between guest arrivals and departures. Complementary disinfecting wipes are supplied for your use as needed. As you are staying is a private single family home you are safe distanced from others not in your personal rental group. There are NO common walkways, stairs, parking or group area that you will share. This is NOT a condo, resort or time share project.

The spacious cottage is equipped with modern appliances. All stays INCLUDE free on-site WiFi and internet access. The property features a one minute walk to the beautiful two mile long pristine Simpson Bay beach, off street parking and an local caretaker. This spectacular beach has no ocean undertow, gentle waves for swimming and soft pearl white sand. You can walk the entire length of our beach and visit the small beach cafes and restaurants.

You can stay in or go out and enjoy all the island activities that are nearby like world class restaurants, night clubs, beach bars and casinos.

You are booking directly with the owner, so our rates are extremely low for beach side accommodations. If requesting stay for more than 3 guests (two bedrooms) the forth guest is FREE (you must request a rate quote at time of booking to get the discount.)

Accommodation details:

Two private bedrooms with queen size beds and choice of firm or plush mattress. Each bright and airy bedroom has individual controlled air conditioning, dresser with mirror, closet, personal room safe and share a full bath with large walk-in shower. Both are supplied with fresh towels and all linens.

There is an air conditioned full size living room with Satellite TV, DVD/ Blue Ray player, movie selections and stereo. The dinning room seats six at a casual round table with tropical inspired designer place settings.

The kitchen has granite countertops and a full size gas range & oven, microwave, dishwasher and full size refrigerator with automatic ice maker. There is a full supply of pots & pans, designer plates, glasses, tableware, cooking utensils, as well as toaster, blender and drip coffee maker.

The back deck is partially covered and has an additional table and chairs. For the outdoor chief there is a stainless steel two burner Webber gas BBQ grill. The front porch is a great place to sip your morning coffee or enjoy your end of day cocktail.

Property manager

Gary Bowie

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (limited availability)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Safe

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,087 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

House
White Sands Retreat Beachside at Beacon Hill
White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill Simpson Bay

About the neighborhood

Map
Beacon Hill, Sint Maarten

What's nearby

  • Simpson Bay Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Maho Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Casino Royale - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Mullet Bay Beach - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Flamingo Beach - 8 min drive - 6.4 km

Getting around

  • Princess Juliana Intl. Airport (SXM) - 9 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Sunset Bar & Grill - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Palms Restaurant - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Tortuga Beach Cafe - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Ocean Terrace Restaurant - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Driftwood Bar - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill located?

Nestled on the beach, this Simpson Bay vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Simpson Bay Beach and Maho Beach. Burgeaux Bay Beach and Maho Bay are also within 10 minutes.

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White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 31 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leanna K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay
We would stay here again if we were to return. We loved the location, enjoyed watching the planes landing and taking off from the front porch, not a noise problem. The property had everything one needed for our stay, washing machine was a bonus as was having everything one needed for the beach. Communication with the owner was great. Walking distance to the Maho Beach area was great, close to bars, restaurants and shopping. We have not a bad word to say about this stay. I hope he will also give us a good review as renters! Thank you Gary
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Chao-Hsin

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Five minutes walk to the beach. Nice little house.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pamela R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Time
Gary is a great host, all the comforts of home. This is our 2nd stay at Bowie Place, wouldn't consider staying anywhere else. Great location, clean, comfortable, well equipped and spacious.
Stayed 35 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tanya V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent vacation
It was beautiful time. Everything was grate. Definitely we would like come back to Gary's place next year. Thank you Gary!
Stayed 18 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doug W., Sidney BC Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location for a beach vacation
Good value for the money. Near the airport but the planes are quiet over night. Great beach in walking distance. If you are looking for a quiet get away from the party atmosphere of Sint Maarten this it. The property is a bit dated but quite livable. Lots of space. Good AC.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jack T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another Great 8 Night Stay!
As always "The Bowie House" was a great vacation. Lowest price and just 50 yards to a beautiful beach! What more could you want. Oh, there's a small boutique hotel next door that will let you use their chaise lounges / umbrellas all day if you buy drinks or Lunch from them! What more could you ask for!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

John K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great beach access
Modest home-but friendly neighborhood with wonderful beach access. Would have liked to have lock box code earlier to avoid problems with phone.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Joseph Z.

Love Simpson Bay!
The house was just as advertised. It was a pleasure to deal with Gary, his caretaker Ash was there if needed,(he wasn't). We loved it so much we are taking the same weeks next year! Thanks for the use of your home and I can't wait for next year!

8/10 Good

Gale W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We will do it again
We really enjoyed our stay It was nice to have a place of our own. Don't expect a luxuries home. It is a older home and well lived in. Comfortable. We were a litte disappointed that the beach bar near took over the whole beach. We will still comeback to here. By the way, no hot tub.
Stayed 21 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Debbie M.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication
Bowie Getaway
We enjoyed our stay immensely, the BBQ was a treat for condo tenants. The beach was close by and so much calmer than our normal beach retreats. We found everything we needed and close to the Maho area. We also used your recommendation for the rental car, no problems. We did find extra effort with the door locks so hope all was closed when we left! Deb
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephen A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Feb. & March stay
Stayed for 3 weeks. Very clean and bright. Housekeeper came in each week to clean & do laundry. Beach is 50 yds away. Car rental 50 yds away. Maho beach & supermarket 15mins walk away. A bit close to the airport runway.
Stayed 63 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Pamela R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Time
Spacious, comfortable, clean, well equipped and private. Gary (owner) and Neil (caretaker) are very responsive and made sure everything was in order before and during our stay. Although this property is literally across the street from the airport, it is surprisingly quiet. Neil checked on us regularly to make sure everything was ok and he's a great resource. My sister and I felt very safe. Thanks Gary and Neil for making our vacation a fantastic one. Will not hesitate to stay at White Sands again.
Stayed 22 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Timothy C., St Johns, FL

Great Location!
We stayed at Gary's house in Simpson Bay in Feb 2019 and were very satisfied with our visit. We had 2 adults and 2 kids and there was plenty of space to stretch out and relax. The house was clean and well appointed. There is a washer, and numerous clothes lines outside to dry everything, which was very efficient with the sun and constant trade winds blowing off the ocean. Ash, who lives next door, is also the caretaker of the property and we really enjoyed talking to him. He is very attentive and friendly, and it was a pleasure to talk sailboats with him. Highly recommended home!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tracy V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best kept secret on Simpson Bay Beach
What a perfect place to stay. Bowie's place was within a 5 minute walk to the pristine beach on Simpson Bay, and walking distance to Maho Market, Sunset Beach bar, the Boat bar (to just name a few), even 2 casinos should you so choose. The house was the perfect size for the 3 of us, with all the amenities needed to allow us to cook and manage our vacation like being at home (coffee pot, French press, blender, microwave, toaster oven, washing machine and more!). It was easy to get checked in, and any questions I had were answered promptly by the owner and grounds keeper. There were safes in both rooms allowing us to keep everything secure, and the gated property kept our rental car safe as well. The air units managed our evenings with lovely cool air in a short amount of time. It was truly a perfect place for our family. Thank you Gary and Neal.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming Perfectly Located Bowie's Place
What a fantastic choice ! For starters it was a pleasure communicating with Gary from 'consideration to commitment'. It didn't take long for us to make the decision especially with specific needs we had concerning a friend who may or may not have been able to join us. His recommendations were on point starting with AAA car rental. We loved the location, very easy to find and within walking distance to a private quiet beach that made for beautiful photos and quiet evenings. We felt safe walking even on late nights and early mornings before sunrise. Oh and the neighbors were also pleasant ! Also within walking to eat and the Maho beach experience. Upon arriving, we knew we were going to love it ! The name says it all. Our dog and best friend is Bowie and that drew us in also. The home had everything we needed and more. The AC worked fantastic ! So much so, we kept it very low in the common area and I can't say enough about having individual air units in each bedrooms ! Our best friend loves to freeze but we like to acclimate to the average air temp. Coming from the US and needing to travel as light as possible to bring our dive gear, it was nice to have all the beach necessities available like coolers, pool/beach toys, chairs, etc. I LOVED watching the planes take off during the day, but night times were very quiet. We have a friend of many years who lives in Philipsburg that we hope to visit again and we would love to come back and stay at Bowie's Place if he'll have us ~
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Manuel

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
El lugar es inigualable, tranquilo y cerca de la playa. Es espectacular la propiedad, cómoda y acogedora. Se siente como en casa y dan ganas de cuidarla.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

John I., Urbandale, iowa

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice roomy older house near Simpson Bay.
Enjoyed staying. Place was clean, roomy, had all kitchen and home amenities. Appreciated the coolers, beach chairs, and umbrella. There were many windows that could be opened for air. We walked all of Simpson Bay each morning. The bay is a 100 yards to the beach. The planes are extremely noisy during the day but didn't bother our sleeping. I'd stay there again for this price point. A lot of room.
Stayed 15 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brad N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay
We spent a week here and loved it! Great central location. Safe area and great beach. We used their beach chairs daily at the beach 100 ft. Away. Neil the caretaker was a great help. Planes are interesting to hear and watch and maho is a short walk.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

2/10 Terrible

Christine B., Algonac, Michigan USA

Bowie’s Place
The place was close to a beautiful beach. Beach chairs, coolers, and towels are supplied. The sunrises are awesome. There is a restaurant a couple doors over, which was nice. The maintenance person, Ash, was very helpful to get us a rental car, etc. The planes are close, but you get used to them.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2019

6/10 Okay

Susan Z.

Location, location, location
I rented White Sands for my 2 sons and their girlfriends who decided to come down to SXM while my husband and I were on the island. The location is the best part... literally steps to the ocean and beach. My kids took their morning coffee and watched the sunrise, were able to easily walk down the beach to El Zafiro and Karakters. The neighborhood was quiet and safe.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Debby P.

Clean, comfortable and cozy.
Conveniently located near the airport, beach and the Maho entertainment area. It is very clean, comfortable and nicely appointed. Front Porch is a plane watchers paradise and is in the shade most of the day. We were required to vacate our previous accommodations and Mr. Bowie, very graciously accommodated our need to transfer our possessions and most importantly the refrigerated food items at a time prior to check in. Thank You !
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Home away from home
We loved our stay at white sands. Ash the caretaker was a fountain of help. The kitchen was equipped well. We may have been close to airport runway but it was really fun to see and hear all the different planes. The planes did not fly all night. Being steps from the long expanse of beach was great. If you come to the Island take the time to visit with the people who lived through the hurricane. We heard some great and frightening stories.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Sunil T.

Had a wonderful time
We really had a wonderful time at this place. It was exactly as Gary had described it in the VRBO description. A bungalow style 2 bedroom house. Location is just a couple of minutes walk from Simpson Bay with very easy access to the beach and 5-10 minutes walk from Maho beach. About 15 minutes from the airport. The area is very residential and felt very safe, we walked all over at all times including at night. We even befriended some of the neighbors. House was clean and had no maintenance issues. The availability of the beach chairs, beach towels, and the beach umbrella was very useful as we could take them in our rental car whenever we went to a beach away from the house. Mr. Ash, who is the person that looks after the house lives next door over the back wall of the property so you just have to shout over the wall for anything. He was kind and helpful to give us a brief introduction to the house and the area when we first arrived. A few minor issues, the router had to be placed by a window facing a certain direction to get wi-fi. Something that was figured by Gary's friend who came to see why the internet was not working. There were a few mosquitos in the house, not a big issue but a minor annoyance. The TV had only two channels available and both were not English. Again not a huge problem, but it would have been nice to get an English channel such as CNN or a local English channel, just to get the news of the day. One bathroom might be an issue for a large party. The property is right by the airport runway, so be ready for aircraft noise. We did not mind it, but some might. In addition, Gary gave us one extra day without charging for it because of airline scheduling issues. His and Ash's responses to any of our questions were prompt and effective. So, will we come back? Most definitely yes. Thank you, Gary and Ash.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

kylee t.

LOVE St.Maarten!
We stayed in Dec of 2014 and were lucky enough to find this great little spot. It was steps to what felt like our own private beach, the house was great and felt like home and had great entertainment and restaurants just a walk away! Also very happy we ended up on dutch side. We will be back to St. Maarten!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jo Ann M.

Fantastic Gem!
We stayed at Bowie place for 3 weeks in December 2014 and had a fabulous time. Gary, the owner was very easy to deal with when booking and was very helpful answering any questions we had. Located in a quiet residential area of Beacon Hill steps from the calm beach at the far end on Simpson Bay beach. The rental had all the amenities we could ask for and was spotless. Bbq, washer, oven, microwave and all utensils were provided. There was nothing we looked for that this place didn't have. The beds were comfortable and beach chairs, coolers, noodles, were provided as well. If you are new to St Maarten an extensive guest reference book is provided. The close proximity to the airport runway was fun watching the jets taking off and landing. The noise was not problematic as the jets stopped by 9:00pm and didn't start until 9:00am the next morning. There are ample fans to keep you cool and we did not need the A/C at all. Ash the groundskeeper was was a superb host and was more than accommodating but respected our privacy at the same time. The neighbours are very friendly and we felt right at home and very safe. Although Maho is within walking distance a car is recommended at night or if you want to venture away from Beacon Hill. We spent early mornings on the porch after a short walk to Maho or down the long beach. Our "beach days" cost next to nothing as everything was provided. A picnic lunch also was a cost savings. At night we either BBQ'd or went out to dinner. We didn't feel like hotel guests rather like someone let us use their vacation property which was perfect. Home away from home. We will definitely be back.