Shopping advice please

Hi All,

Will be in St. Maarten in September and looking for help.

We HATE wasting too much time shopping around when we could be on a beach somewhere.

Can someone help with a few simple questions:

1) We are looking for new sunglasses (ie Oakley, Maui Jim, etc) - where is a good place to get them?

2) When looking for touristy stuff any recommendations that might be cheaper than others (ie if you walk an extra block past the dock or something). French part or Dutch part for deals?

3) Is shopping better here or St. Thomas (specifically for alcohol, watches or as mentioned above sunglasses).

4) Not so much shopping related but looking for a relaxing place on Orient Beach where I can get some cheap beer/food and have a good time.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Andrew

3) For everything that we've shopped for in the Caribbean in the last 20+ years, from Booze to Diamonds to a Tablecloth, St. Maarten has been much cheaper,