The Divi Little Bay Beach Resort

[stefyo]

Anyone been here before?

I found this excursion:


For guests not wishing to make the trek to the French side of the island, here is a great option right on Dutch St Maarten's Great Bay. The Divi Little Bay Beach Resort is located on a private peninsula between two beautiful bays, minutes from the Caribbean's best shopping and dining, but feeling worlds apart. After you make your way around the bay, check in with the beach staff for your day on the resort's private beach.
Your day at the beach includes one beach chair per person, one umbrella for every two guests, an included snorkel tour for each guest and the rental of a paddle board or kayak for 60 minutes for every two guests.
Not included in the tour price, but available for rental are rafts, noodles, Hobie Cat sailboats and waverunners. Easy currents make swimming perfect for all ages, while snorkelers and divers delight in the marine life surrounding the peninsula's edge. A cafe and bar overlooking the beach are also available for dining or a tropical libation.
Upon arrival, you will want to sign up for your included snorkel tour departing the resort at either 10:00am or 1:30pm (local time). The tour is by boat, lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours and leaves right from the beach at the resort. Depending on the weather and sea conditions that day, your captain will head for the best snorkeling spots, usually along Simpson or Mullet Bay. Your snorkeling tour includes gear and usually two stops are made for snorkeling. Tour returns to the resort.
So that guests can plan their own time at the beach, transfers are not included in the tour so guests can come or go when they wish. It is guests responsibility to make their way back to the cruise pier in time for their ship's sailing.




Anyone know how far it is from the cruise port??

[gtaylor]

It's right across the bay.


(click)

As little as $4 per person taxi ride away.



gary

[Jiffymom]

Hmmmm seem to be missing some info. Price

[stefyo]

the excursion is $97 each, but I am trying to figure out if we can go there on our own....anyone know???

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by stefyo

the excursion is $97 each, but I am trying to figure out if we can go there on our own....anyone know???

A taxi is all you need. Gary provided you the link for prices. I think that it is fine for an hour or two but it is not a beach that I would choose for a full beach day.

[Jiffymom]

Sounds nice. My choice there or Pinel

[jennmaybe]

Originally Posted by Karysa

A taxi is all you need. Gary provided you the link for prices. I think that it is fine for an hour or two but it is not a beach that I would choose for a full beach day.

Why do you say that? It looks beautiful in all the pics I've seen. Is it dirty somewhere or something?

[gtaylor]

Divi Little Bay beach is fine, but it's just a beach.

It is man-made/augmented, and it's just a beach.

There are so many other choices on the island that I can't recommend this beach as a destination.

If you decide to go there, it will be fine, but I believe that you would be missing out.


(cliick)

gary

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by gtaylor

Divi Little Bay beach is fine, but it's just a beach.

It is man-made/augmented, and it's just a beach.

There are so many other choices on the island that I can't recommend this beach as a destination.

If you decide to go there, it will be fine, but I believe that you would be missing out.


(cliick)

gary

I agree and will add a story that happened last year. We met 2 ladies from the Netherlands that were staying at their friend's villa in the hills above Little Bay. We met them at Maho Beach and offered to take them with us as we were going beach hopping that day. We took them to Mullet, Long, Rouge, Grand Case and Orient. They told us later that week that they were sad going back to Little Bay ( the only beach that they could walk to from the Villa) after they discovered Mullet, Long and Orient. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, it is close to port and a good beach to add to another activity but it is not my choice for a beach day on an island which such beautiful beaches.

[jennmaybe]

Originally Posted by gtaylor

Divi Little Bay beach is fine, but it's just a beach.

It is man-made/augmented, and it's just a beach.

There are so many other choices on the island that I can't recommend this beach as a destination.

If you decide to go there, it will be fine, but I believe that you would be missing out.


(cliick)

gary

Originally Posted by Karysa

I agree and will add a story that happened last year. We met 2 ladies from the Netherlands that were staying at their friend's villa in the hills above Little Bay. We met them at Maho Beach and offered to take them with us as we were going beach hopping that day. We took them to Mullet, Long, Rouge, Grand Case and Orient. They told us later that week that they were sad going back to Little Bay ( the only beach that they could walk to from the Villa) after they discovered Mullet, Long and Orient. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, it is close to port and a good beach to add to another activity but it is not my choice for a beach day on an island which such beautiful beaches.

What other beach would you guys recommend? We went to Orient last time and it's ok. I was not as impressed as others have been. We have no interest in Maho (still do not understand the obsession people have with planes going right over their heads) We get that at Myrtle Beach.

We just want to do a beach day in St. Maarten and somewhere that is a pretty easy taxi ride. What do you guys suggest?

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by jennmaybe

What other beach would you guys recommend? We went to Orient last time and it's ok. I was not as impressed as others have been. We have no interest in Maho (still do not understand the obsession people have with planes going right over their heads) We get that at Myrtle Beach.

We just want to do a beach day in St. Maarten and somewhere that is a pretty easy taxi ride. What do you guys suggest?

Mullet Bay beach is the beach past Maho and it is a beauty. It is easy to get a taxi to and if the driver does not come back for you it is not the problem like it could be at Long or Friars because you can walk to the Maho entertainment district in 5 minutes. With hotels, restaurants a casino or 2 there will be no problem finding a taxi. Now you do have to allow for plenty of time for the return as that side of the island is notorious for traffic delays.

LeGalion would be my other suggestion. If the driver does not come back for you simply walk to the main road and flag down a taxi going to or from Orient beach.

To me it is the possibility of being stranded at the CuldeSac that sways me from suggesting Pinel Island for a cruise stop unless you rent a car. Unlike Mullet and LeGalion, the CuldeSac area is just not near a well traveled main road where taxis often travel.

[jennmaybe]

Originally Posted by Karysa

Mullet Bay beach is the beach past Maho and it is a beauty. It is easy to get a taxi to and if the driver does not come back for you it is not the problem like it could be at Long or Friars because you can walk to the Maho entertainment district in 5 minutes. With hotels, restaurants a casino or 2 there will be no problem finding a taxi. Now you do have to allow for plenty of time for the return as that side of the island is notorious for traffic delays.

LeGalion would be my other suggestion. If the driver does not come back for you simply walk to the main road and flag down a taxi going to or from Orient beach.

To me it is the possibility of being stranded at the CuldeSac that sways me from suggesting Pinel Island for a cruise stop unless you rent a car. Unlike Mullet and LeGalion, the CuldeSac area is just not near a well traveled main road where taxis often travel.

Great info! Thanks!! I will check these beaches out!

[SunseekerJulie]

BF and I are looking for a good CO beach. Everyone says Orient but some of these threads say it is just so-so. Looking a the perfect day, you know, not too crowded, throw on a little cover up, cruise up to the bar for a quick drink then right back to the beach

~ Jules ~

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by SunseekerJulie

BF and I are looking for a good CO beach. Everyone says Orient but some of these threads say it is just so-so. Looking a the perfect day, you know, not too crowded, throw on a little cover up, cruise up to the bar for a quick drink then right back to the beach

~ Jules ~

The only official c/o beach on the island is the c/o section of Orient. You will find food and drinks and restrooms there. IMHO that end of the beach is the nicest.
Happy Bay is a 15 minute walk from Friars Bay and it is a beautiful beach and it is not unusual to see people without clothes on that beach but it is not an official c/o beach. If you rent a car and the driver limits the alcohol to a couple of drinks then it is an option. Usually there is a guy selling food, drinks and renting chairs but I have only been once and there was not washroom facilities then but that was 3 years ago I think.

When I have visited Orient in March the beach has always been fantastic. In the summer I find that it can have seagrass coming in and that takes away from the beauty of the beach to me but calling Orient a "so-so" beach I don't think that I would ever go that far.

[SunseekerJulie]

Originally Posted by Karysa

The only official c/o beach on the island is the c/o section of Orient. You will find food and drinks and restrooms there. IMHO that end of the beach is the nicest.
Happy Bay is a 15 minute walk from Friars Bay and it is a beautiful beach and it is not unusual to see people without clothes on that beach but it is not an official c/o beach. If you rent a car and the driver limits the alcohol to a couple of drinks then it is an option. Usually there is a guy selling food, drinks and renting chairs but I have only been once and there was not washroom facilities then but that was 3 years ago I think.

When I have visited Orient in March the beach has always been fantastic. In the summer I find that it can have seagrass coming in and that takes away from the beauty of the beach to me but calling Orient a "so-so" beach I don't think that I would ever go that far.

Thanks Karysa! I just found out there are a ton of other ships in port the same days as ours so now, finding a nice quiet CO place is even more important LOL.

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by SunseekerJulie

Thanks Karysa! I just found out there are a ton of other ships in port the same days as ours so now, finding a nice quiet CO place is even more important LOL.

Happy Bay is remote. You need to go to Friars and hike in or there is the way that we went to Happy Bay. We were staying at the Grand Case Beach Club and they have a boat and will shuttle people for a fee to Happy Bay or Marigot. You could get in touch with Monica or Seb at Creole Rock watersports and see if this would be an option. The path from Friars to Happy use to be a spot that had some robberies but I have not read about one here or on another St. Martin website for years now. I personally would trust the folks at Creole rock watersports to pick me up over a taxi driver but that may be just me. It would be more expensive to get to Happy Bay via Creole Rock watersports because the taxi will cost more than going to Friars and you also have a boat fare as well. Again, this is not an official c/o beach as the only one is the section at Orient.

Here is the website: www.snorkel-trips-sxm.com/

[gtaylor]

There is a book, Happy Bay, that is based on THIS Happy Bay and experiences in St. Martin / St. Maarten.

It's available on Amazon and elsewhere.

The author, T. Stelma, has created a very well done slideshow documenting the hiking trail from Friar's over to Happy Bay. It is posted at YouTube.

gary

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by gtaylor

There is a book, Happy Bay, that is based on THIS Happy Bay and experiences in St. Martin / St. Maarten.

It's available on Amazon and elsewhere.

The author, T. Stelma, has created a very well done slideshow documenting the hiking trail from Friar's over to Happy Bay. It is posted at YouTube.

gary

Gary do you know if the Happy Bay book is sold on the island? I will be there next week and would be interested in possibly picking a copy up.
Thanks

[gtaylor]

I don't know for certain, but I would check at the Shipwreck Shops and at Van Dorp.

gary

[Karysa]

Originally Posted by gtaylor

I don't know for certain, but I would check at the Shipwreck Shops and at Van Dorp.

gary

Thanks a lot.