I think you have to pay a lot more than that for privacy in Minnesota.

There are some private lakes, but you won't get them for $1000 night.

We always thought Lake Baikal, Russia was the largest/deepest fresh water lake in the world?! {:>"<]

deepest, but Lake Superior is the largest in area

Gary- Baikal is largest in volume of water/deepest. Holte is right, Superior is largest in surface area. However, neither is good for swimming unless you'd like a dandy case of hypothermia. Think numb toes in 20 minutes or less in water that only goes to your knees.

But, in the States the high water mark is the legal standard. Everyone knows it. In the west you can only restrict access on a river if it's non-navigable, meaning not deep enough to float a boat. I don't know what they do in Caledonia where the couple in question is from, but here it doesn't matter how much you paid to be anywhere, privacy or not, it's public access. Culturally, I can easily see how a US couple might have done the same thing and come up with the same argument. It's a US branded hotel in a country with the same maritime standards.

As for our lakes, 99.5% have grass growing right up to water's edge. There isn't a beach, so then you can restrict access to solid ground. You can't do anything about a boat parked one foot of of your property/hard ground. Annoying, but you just have to build your bridge and move on.

Hilton Moorea requires a sign out of beach gear including beach towels when checking out. Otherwise, there is a $100 charge.
BTW, if you spend $30 for a cheeseburger for lunch, a dip in the ocean should be gratis, no towel or lounge chair included of course.

The Hilton/Sheraton has required a sign out on gear for a number of years but during each of my stays, I have not had to sign out gear just as often as I have - depends on the staff attending to those areas. Either way, I don't think loss of towels or gear was the motivating factor for the Hilton's decision. I believe the Hilton saw that a number of potential guests were opting to stay in competing properties/pensions and then were coming on property to access hotel amenities, beach and water. Best of both worlds as it may be. People have been recommended to do so for years on all of the FP forums.

In an ideal world, no one should be allowed to build or buy beach frontage - it should all be public access but, unfortunately that is not the world we live in. I just returned from Grand Cayman and it was great to see all of the public beach access available around the island. Even next to the major hotels, there was almost always a public access path to allow you to enjoy the beach and water throughout the island. I stayed in a private home so this was wonderful for us. Many of the restaurants even have ladders to provide snorkeling and dive access to some of the reef locations. It would be great if FP did the same thing but the hotels and private land owners fence and wall off their properties and prevent trespassers from accessing. If the hotels are expected to provide access then landowners should also be required to do the same - after all, how can anyone own the beach and ocean. If there was more public access to beach and lagoon I don't think there would ever be an issue. Until then...

Ia Orana IBAH! Love the Caymans...so far for us to go though.

Re Hilton: We just returned and there was an automatic charge for beach equipment on our invoice for $100. It was removed by the staff at the "beach shack" (where one gets beach towels, snorkel gear, kayaks, etc) by swipping our hotel cards when we returned our towels before checking out. The rules are more closely and consistently followed now.

Do agree with your post above....good points made.

Hi Vai - I loved the Caymans as well and very close to home for me - just a 1 hour flight from Miami. Great for a family and a kitchen is mandatory for me right now with the little ones. The water is very nice and shore snorkeling everywhere. In spots I could almost imagine I was looking at a lagoon in FP - ALMOST. Anyway, it's as close as I'll get for a little while - may go back to Hawaii next year. I'm getting out of touch with the current changes in FP so I don't come around as often as I used to. I hope all is well with you guys.

I think I wrote that before... La loi littorale = coast line law , does stipulate 5 meters from high tide mark inland is public, everywhere. Unfortunately no one abides by that and FP police does not really get involved, but just so you know that legally they can not refuse access...LOL

In Moorea a study was done about the walls put up around private properties, however with the changes in the government and majors, no one seems to have a long term "urban" planning of a sort to keep the island open towards the ocean and more friendly to the touriste eyes, which is a real shame. In the late 70's and 80's the whole waterfront around the island was open...

Hi again Ryan. Do you still have your aol address?