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White Sands Retreat - Beachside at Beacon Hill

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Simpson Bay Beach. Two mile long white sand beach.
From the front gate to Simpson Bay Beach is just 50 yards.
Living room sofa.
Living room Satellite TV & chairs.
Guest manual located on living room table.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4101.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Beacon Hill, Sint Maarten
  • Simpson Bay Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Maho Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Mullet Bay Beach
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Philipsburg (SXM-Princess Juliana Intl.)
    ‪9 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Blue Rose Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Pink Rose Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

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
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Rental rate is based upon number of bedrooms rented not just the number of guests. If 2 adults rent as 2 bedrooms there will be an 2nd bedroom add on.
If rented at 1 bedroom rate the 2nd bedroom is locked out. You are renting the exclusive use of the property. The 2nd bedroom is not rented to anyone.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that 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 that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Simpson Bay

Located in Simpson Bay, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Maho Beach and Mullet Bay Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Beacon Hill, Sint Maarten

What's nearby

  • Simpson Bay Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Dunes Casino - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Maho Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Mullet Bay Beach - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Flamingo Beach - 8 min drive - 6.4 km

Getting around

  • Philipsburg (SXM-Princess Juliana Intl.) - 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?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

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

Nestled on the beach, this Simpson Bay holiday 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.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 33 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leona W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bowie Place

We enjoyed our stay. We really appreciated the extras like the barbeque, beach chairs, etc. We had an issue with the internet but the owner was right on it. The location and beach were great.
Stayed 11 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Gale W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

do it again

This property fits our needs perfectly
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bowie Place

We had an amazing time! We will definitely be back again. LOVED being about to grill and cone and go easily. Plane watching was so fun at D’s bar
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brad H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bowie Place Beacon Hill

The house was the right size for us. Plenty of room for three people. Location on Beacon Hill is fantastic for walking to Maho to see the landings, but also Simpson Bay beach access is no more than 150 feet. Gary provided chairs and umbrellas for the beach, also a small cooler. We were temporary locals and close to D's, which is a good beach bar.The whole thing was perfect for our needs, including off-street parking.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location near beach

We were very happy with our stay. The house was steps away from the beach at Simpson Bay. This was a wonderful sandy beach with warm blue water. As you step onto the beach you find D's Beach Bar where there were always beach chairs available and you can rent umbrellas or cabanas. The house is located in Beacon Hill and is only about a 15 minute walk to the famous Maho Beach where the planes fly over and the surrounding restaurants, bars, and grocery store. The house was exactly as described, clean, spacious and had everything you could need for your stay. The owner had great communication right from the start and provided all the information we needed. I also contacted the local contact twice by WhatsApp while we were there and he was very responsive and helpful. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfectly equipped house

We have stayed at many VRBOs and this was the best equipped. From beach chairs, towels and umbrella to kitchen supplies including coffee filters, cooking oil and plastic wrap. Ice maker in the freezer. Loved having morning coffee on the back deck and evening cocktails on the front porch. Didn’t even mind the noise from the airport (actually enjoyed it haha). A/C was wonderful and worked very quickly. Short walk to beach and D’s beach bar which is great. I would recommend a shower caddy and a smart tv. Communication with host was good. Information binder was very useful.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

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

6/10 Okay

Amanda S.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Bowie Place

Stayed for a week at Bowie Place- Check in was a breeze, and location was wonderful! ( though if you’re looking for quiet, note this is RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIRPORT.) however it is within walking distance to popular spots such as Maho, sunset beach bar, and a secluded little beach with Dinghy’s Bar ( excellent food and daily happy hour!)The downside to this property- the listing states that there is a hot tub and spa ( this was not true) we also had an issue with the cleanliness of the place. Upon arrival we had to go to the store to buy cleaning supplies, toilet paper and paper towels. The towels left in the house were very “Crunchy” and required washing.Overall our stay was great- the island is beautiful. And I would highly recommend Spices of India in Maho!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

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

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

About the host

Hosted by Gary Bowie

Host profile image
Have lived in Florida for 47 years now and traveled to St. Maarten over the last 30 years.

Why they chose this property

After traveling throughout the Caribbean since the early '80s I found St. Maarten to be the best location. I have owed multiple timeshares but sold them all off and bought this home. So much better to truly own a vacation home. Will retire here someday.

What makes this property unique

Besides all the island has to offer, and all the beach has to offer and all the friendly locals. It can just be the best thing to sit on the front porch with a glass of wine in the evening and listen to the distant soft sound of the waves on the beach. Priceless.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests