missygirl1 Posted October 6, 2010 #1 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Is the Sonesta Great Bay resort worth the 25pp day pass or is it better to just take the water taxi for 6pp to Great bay and do your own thing?? Anyone done the day pass thing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 6, 2010 #2 Share Posted October 6, 2010 What's included in the day pass? gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missygirl1 Posted October 6, 2010 Author #3 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Day pass for 25pp includes 2 drinks, lunch(buffet), use of lounge chairs, pools and some watersports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 7, 2010 #4 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Just one more question -- does that include transportation? gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missygirl1 Posted October 7, 2010 Author #5 Share Posted October 7, 2010 No that does not include transportation, but the website says they can provide transportation from the ship for 8.pp if you want.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 7, 2010 #6 Share Posted October 7, 2010 OK. The $8 pp is the standard taxi rate to the Sonesta/Divi area. I can't recommend anyone going into the water of Great Bay because I have serious (researched) problems with the probability of pollution in the bay. That would be anywhere along Great Bay Beach and at the Sonesta Great Bay Resort. If you're ok with just the pool there, then ok. If you're ok with just sunning on the beach anywhere along Great Bay, then ok. As you state, you could take the Water Taxi downtown for $6 pp. Actually, you could walk it in 20 minutes or so, each way. The beach is at the heart of Philipsburg. There are many options for beach chair rentals and cheap drinks along the beach, but I can't price them as we don't go there. Some great choices for lunch there in downtown Philipsburg, as well. I can recommend if you're interested. But I wouldn't go into the water anywhere there. OK, $25 pp plus $8 pp for the transportation, so we're looking at $66. What else could we get for that? Taxi to Orient for two, round trip (wait for the taxi to fill) = $24. Let's stay at Orange Fever Chair, umbrella and first drink of choice, $7 pp x 2 = $14 Hamburger, fries, salad, $8 pp x 2 = $16 Additional Beer and a rum punch $2 + $4 = $6 I think that totals to $60. It's not just the money, and I'm just trying to illustrate that it doesn't have to be expensive to visit Orient. Orient Beach is an experience not to be missed. I'd recommend it in any event, but in this case it looks like you could save enough for another round of drinks. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny tallentire Posted October 7, 2010 #7 Share Posted October 7, 2010 hi was wondering what water sports are available on orient beach any info much appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missygirl1 Posted October 7, 2010 Author #8 Share Posted October 7, 2010 OK. The $8 pp is the standard taxi rate to the Sonesta/Divi area. I can't recommend anyone going into the water of Great Bay because I have serious (researched) problems with the probability of pollution in the bay. That would be anywhere along Great Bay Beach and at the Sonesta Great Bay Resort. If you're ok with just the pool there, then ok. If you're ok with just sunning on the beach anywhere along Great Bay, then ok. As you state, you could take the Water Taxi downtown for $6 pp. Actually, you could walk it in 20 minutes or so, each way. The beach is at the heart of Philipsburg. There are many options for beach chair rentals and cheap drinks along the beach, but I can't price them as we don't go there. Some great choices for lunch there in downtown Philipsburg, as well. I can recommend if you're interested. But I wouldn't go into the water anywhere there. OK, $25 pp plus $8 pp for the transportation, so we're looking at $66. What else could we get for that? Taxi to Orient for two, round trip (wait for the taxi to fill) = $24. Let's stay at Orange Fever Chair, umbrella and first drink of choice, $7 pp x 2 = $14 Hamburger, fries, salad, $8 pp x 2 = $16 Additional Beer and a rum punch $2 + $4 = $6 I think that totals to $60. It's not just the money, and I'm just trying to illustrate that it doesn't have to be expensive to visit Orient. Orient Beach is an experience not to be missed. I'd recommend it in any event, but in this case it looks like you could save enough for another round of drinks. gary Gary Thank you so much for the details. We have a group of 8 and I am "kinda" in charge of the details on the islands and this has really helped ALOT!!! I thought I had read somewhere else about the water quality at Sonesta Great Bay and that would be a real bummer if we did not even feel comfortable walking in the water or doing any watersports. I think we will do exactly what you recommend and go to Orient in the am and maybe Maho in the afternoon for a bit. Is "Orange Fever" a good place to hang out at Orient??? Again..thanks for the great details!! Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke gs Daddy Posted October 7, 2010 #9 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Is this area the more modest as in just a topless area or fully naked ? It looks great however, I do not want to take my DS where there will be fully naked people. Please no snide comments. He is my DS and we will raise him the way we want to. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonder3035 Posted October 8, 2010 #10 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Gary - I've read a little about the water quality at Great Bay as well. Have you read anything about Little Bay? We have a room reserved at Divi Little Bay to use as a day pass. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 8, 2010 #11 Share Posted October 8, 2010 GaryThank you so much for the details. We have a group of 8 and I am "kinda" in charge of the details on the islands and this has really helped ALOT!!! I thought I had read somewhere else about the water quality at Sonesta Great Bay and that would be a real bummer if we did not even feel comfortable walking in the water or doing any watersports. I think we will do exactly what you recommend and go to Orient in the am and maybe Maho in the afternoon for a bit. Is "Orange Fever" a good place to hang out at Orient??? Again..thanks for the great details!! Linda Orange Fever is at the top of my list for our next visit, but don't feel constrained. It was just an example. I highly recommend you walk a bit and pick a spot that suits your tastes. You can always wander over to a different spot for lunch if you wish. You'll notice pretty quickly when you cross into the high-rent district. :) I thought that I had included these photos from last year in my original message, but didn't. Here they are: (click) gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 8, 2010 #12 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Is this area the more modest as in just a topless area or fully naked ?It looks great however, I do not want to take my DS where there will be fully naked people. Please no snide comments. He is my DS and we will raise him the way we want to. Thanks. If you're referring to the beach bar(s) I referenced, yes, you will probably see toplessness there, or anywhere along Orient, but 99.9% of the full nudity is confined to the area south of Pedro's, which is nearer the right hand end of the beach when facing the water. There's even a line of rocks out into the water marking the line of demarcation. That said, the standard taxi drop is at Pedro's, and as you get out there if you look to the south, towards the Club Orient sign, you will probably be able to see some fully nude beach goers. (ckick) gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavteam Posted October 11, 2010 #13 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I emailed Sonesta Great Bay and got this response - Unfortunately, you heard incorrectly, we do not offer day passes to our resort. Our resort is for the guest of the resort only. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missygirl1 Posted October 11, 2010 Author #14 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I emailed Sonesta Great Bay and got this response - Unfortunately, you heard incorrectly, we do not offer day passes to our resort. Our resort is for the guest of the resort only. :-( Maybe you have to go through Island Marketing. That is what my plan was. I had contacted them via email and they replied right away that there was space available for the day pass to Sonesta Great Bay. We have since decided to do something else. Here is the website for Island Marketing in St Maarten. http://www.stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/StMaartenBeachBreak.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHARTWICK Posted December 8, 2010 #15 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Maybe you have to go through Island Marketing. That is what my plan was. I had contacted them via email and they replied right away that there was space available for the day pass to Sonesta Great Bay. We have since decided to do something else. Here is the website for Island Marketing in St Maarten.http://www.stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/StMaartenBeachBreak.htm That's a different resort. Sonesta Great Bay isn't the one near the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted December 9, 2010 #16 Share Posted December 9, 2010 That's a different resort. Sonesta Great Bay isn't the one near the airport. I've been trying to figure out which resort your're referring to as "That's a different resort". But, yes, you're correct that Sonesta Great Bay is not near the airport. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHARTWICK Posted December 9, 2010 #17 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I was referring to the resort day pass that is booked through Island Marketing. That resort is not near the airport. The Sonesta resort near the airport does not sell day passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar y Sol Posted December 21, 2010 #18 Share Posted December 21, 2010 If you're referring to the beach bar(s) I referenced, yes, you will probably see toplessness there, or anywhere along Orient, but 99.9% of the full nudity is confined to the area south of Pedro's, which is nearer the right hand end of the beach when facing the water. There's even a line of rocks out into the water marking the line of demarcation. That said, the standard taxi drop is at Pedro's, and as you get out there if you look to the south, towards the Club Orient sign, you will probably be able to see some fully nude beach goers. (ckick) gary Hello! You seem to be very knowledgeable about the beaches in St. Maarten. I, too, will be arriving in early January and thought, until now, that my family and I would just spend the day at the beach near the port. After reading this thread however I am having second thoughts. My only problem is we are a family of 6 with an 89 year old grandma. Will Pedro's be unaccessible to us? We have a walker (not a wheelchair). The nudity part doesn't bother us. Thanks for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted December 21, 2010 #19 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Hello! You seem to be very knowledgeable about the beaches in St. Maarten. I, too, will be arriving in early January and thought, until now, that my family and I would just spend the day at the beach near the port. After reading this thread however I am having second thoughts. My only problem is we are a family of 6 with an 89 year old grandma. Will Pedro's be unaccessible to us? We have a walker (not a wheelchair). The nudity part doesn't bother us. Thanks for your reply. The taxi should be able to drop you off literally a few feet away from an entrance to Pedro's, and then it would be just a couple of short steps into the place. (click) They have chairs and umbrellas to rent immediately in front, on the beach. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redridinghood Posted January 25, 2011 #20 Share Posted January 25, 2011 we went to sonesta great bay resort recently. Took a cab into town from the ship and walked along to beach to the resort. We asked the security guy where to get the passes and he said we could use the facilities for free and to just pay for drinks, so we did! We didn't go in the sea, just used the lovely infinity pool and had a great day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted October 24, 2011 #21 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Maybe you have to go through Island Marketing. That is what my plan was. I had contacted them via email and they replied right away that there was space available for the day pass to Sonesta Great Bay. We have since decided to do something else. Here is the website for Island Marketing in St Maarten.http://www.stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/StMaartenBeachBreak.htm If use of the pool is included that would be ideal-- we will contact them--really want a nice calm place for lunch & a swim (in the pool) & where we could walk back into town if we wanted to... thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted October 24, 2011 #22 Share Posted October 24, 2011 hcat, Note that the post that you reference is over a year old. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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