Guienevere_Arianette Posted November 27, 2007 #1 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I'm a bit confused by the posts, so a little clarification would be great for this slow poke behind the screen :o Is is true that Orient Beach (I checked the website) does not have restaurants/bars/showers/anything unless you buy a day pass to Club Orient Hotel? From what I understand, that's what the site says, but I read other posts that seemed to suggest that to the left of Orient Beach, away from the nudists, there are bars/restaurants. Which is it? I'm looking for a pretty beach to laze away the day; I'd like to rent an umbrella, buy some drinks, eat some lunch, and enjoy the sun. Is this a good place to set up camp? Thanks so much for the help :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyinMA Posted November 27, 2007 #2 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I love this pic that someone posted before to show what is available where: http://home.carolina.rr.com/photos2005/LargeOrientPanorama.htm I'm planning to have a taxi drop us by the Pirate and finding a homebase from there. BTW - that big picture has links to other places as well. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shungirl Posted November 27, 2007 #3 Share Posted November 27, 2007 We went to Pirate Beach Bar and Grill in May, and are going back there in a week and a half on our next cruise. The food was awesome, and the beach was beautiful!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaroni Posted November 27, 2007 #4 Share Posted November 27, 2007 How crowded was it??? Was it lounge to lounge people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGC Posted November 27, 2007 #5 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I'm a bit confused by the posts, so a little clarification would be great for this slow poke behind the screen :o Is is true that Orient Beach (I checked the website) does not have restaurants/bars/showers/anything unless you buy a day pass to Club Orient Hotel? From what I understand, that's what the site says, but I read other posts that seemed to suggest that to the left of Orient Beach, away from the nudists, there are bars/restaurants. Which is it? Thanks so much for the help :) I'm not sure which website you looked at... Orient Beach is a public beach. Club Orient is a naturalist resort at one far end of Orient Beach. There are quite a few hotels and restaurants along the rest of the beach. You don't need a day pass to Club Orient (or to any of the other hotels) to enjoy Orient Beach, including the beach immediately in front of Club Orient. You would need a day pass to use Club Orient's facilities. You also are expected to rent whatever lounge chair you select in front of any of the restaurants (you can't just pick one and sit in it for free, so once you've chosen where to sit, you'll probably be there all day). You can sit on the sand for free. Personally, I prefer to set up at either La Playa or Waikiki. Both will rent you a chair and umbrella, and will serve drinks and food (I had one of the best fish dishes EVER at Waikiki last December!). How busy it is will depend on how many cruise ships are in port. And as you can see from the aerial photo, there aren't wall-to-wall chairs everywhere, there are sections that aren't populated yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurs Fans Posted November 27, 2007 #6 Share Posted November 27, 2007 The Pirate is great! We were there in July.... great food, drinks and service!! You can not go wrong at that place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britt23 Posted November 28, 2007 #7 Share Posted November 28, 2007 We'll be going to Orient Beach for the first time next week. I've read so many posts but can't find anything about locker rentals. Just not sure where I will keep valuables (Credit Cards, cash, etc.) if I swim or rent a jet ski. Any suggestions? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kal Posted November 28, 2007 #8 Share Posted November 28, 2007 There are a few lockers at Bikini Beach: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted November 28, 2007 #9 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Don't miss the opportunity to skinny-dip at Club Orient. Just use lots of sunscreen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtaylor Posted November 28, 2007 #10 Share Posted November 28, 2007 There are a few lockers at Bikini Beach: My version of that same shot, but close up: (click) Sign reads $2/hour, $5/day. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kal Posted November 29, 2007 #11 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Locker signs, locker signs.....they're like ants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donyb Posted December 1, 2007 #12 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks for all the info on this thread. My sister and I will be in St. Maarten in Jan. and have been there several times but usually do the water taxi and find a spot on the beach at the harbor. We want to do something different this time. Orient Beach looks great and I've been there once but only on a short taxi sightseeing tour. My question: neither of us can sit for hours in the sun (been there, done that lots when we were young, baby oil and iodine galore!) so what facilities specifically offer lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent? It looks like maybe Pirate Beach but are there others? We also like the water so maybe a shower to wash off the salt would be an extra but not absolutely necessary. Available cold drinks would really be great! If you've been there and know who might have these things (umbrellas on the beach mandatory...don't care if people are clothed or not), please post and we'll take a taxi directly to that place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kal Posted December 1, 2007 #13 Share Posted December 1, 2007 All the beach bars offer lounges and umbrellas for rent. You can adjust the umbrellas to shade the entire lounge. If you want more shade you can go into any of the open air bars and have something to drink. Just ask the taxi driver to take you to Pedros. Then just walk to the left as you face the beach and look for a beach bar you like. The difference is price for chairs, food, nature of beach attendant, wave action, proximity to shower/bathroom, how crowded the area is, and type of people you would be sitting next to. (If you want to be near herds of cruisers, walk down to Bikini Beach). It's all a matter of personal preferences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donyb Posted December 1, 2007 #14 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks Kal. That's the info I wanted.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunchasers64 Posted December 1, 2007 #15 Share Posted December 1, 2007 FYI. It's not just Club Orient that's a "naturalist" beach. We saw topless/nudes all along the whole beach. We planted at Bikini, and I couldn't resist joining the "topless club". :eek: The whole beach was crowded, but not wall-to-wall loungers. I'd definitely go there again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachchick Posted December 2, 2007 #16 Share Posted December 2, 2007 FYI. It's not just Club Orient that's a "naturalist" beach. We saw topless/nudes all along the whole beach. We planted at Bikini, and I couldn't resist joining the "topless club". :eek: The whole beach was crowded, but not wall-to-wall loungers. I'd definitely go there again. I'm not surprised you saw plenty of toplessness because topless sunbathing (in the usual French custom) is allowed along the entire length of the beach and on all beaches on the French side of the island (as well as a few on the Dutch side). How nice that you joined the topless ladies. It's really delightful, isn't it? Especially swimming in the nice bouyant salt water.;) I am a tad surprised that you saw a lot of full nudity because there has been quite a bit of controversy lately over the local gendarmes (sp?) patrolling to ensure that fully nude folks stay down at the CO end of the beach. This had been enacted partly to mollify those cruise visitors who seem to think that it's okay to insist that another country change its customs to suit the cruise pax. Of course those same cruise pax would have a fit if visitors to their country did something similar.:rolleyes: Perhaps saner voices prevailed and the citizens decided that they would not change to suit tourists. Anyway, glad you had a terrific time.:D We love Orient too. DonyB: We like the Pedro's-Baywatch, etc. area of the beach. It's close to CO, which is nice; the water in that area is great for swimming; there are several food/drink/lounge/umbrella choices. beachchick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunchasers64 Posted December 4, 2007 #17 Share Posted December 4, 2007 I'm not surprised you saw plenty of toplessness because topless sunbathing (in the usual French custom) is allowed along the entire length of the beach and on all beaches on the French side of the island (as well as a few on the Dutch side). How nice that you joined the topless ladies. It's really delightful, isn't it? Especially swimming in the nice bouyant salt water.;) I am a tad surprised that you saw a lot of full nudity because there has been quite a bit of controversy lately over the local gendarmes (sp?) patrolling to ensure that fully nude folks stay down at the CO end of the beach. This had been enacted partly to mollify those cruise visitors who seem to think that it's okay to insist that another country change its customs to suit the cruise pax. Of course those same cruise pax would have a fit if visitors to their country did something similar.:rolleyes: Perhaps saner voices prevailed and the citizens decided that they would not change to suit tourists. Anyway, glad you had a terrific time.:D We love Orient too. DonyB: We like the Pedro's-Baywatch, etc. area of the beach. It's close to CO, which is nice; the water in that area is great for swimming; there are several food/drink/lounge/umbrella choices. beachchick Buoyancy is a beautiful thing. LOL I REALLY enjoyed it. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted December 4, 2007 #18 Share Posted December 4, 2007 It's a beautiful day on Orient Beach as I write this. Orient has something for everyone. There is very little or no full nudity outside of Club Orient during the mid day hours. So don't worry about the kids. But you should try skinny dipping at ClubO I'm sure you will like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurs Fans Posted December 5, 2007 #19 Share Posted December 5, 2007 It is truly a sad day when the people of St. Maarten alter their morals of topless or nude sunbathing because we Americans are rude enough to complain of their behaviour in their own country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurs Fans Posted December 5, 2007 #20 Share Posted December 5, 2007 It is truly a sad day when the people of St. Maarten alter their morals of topless or nude sunbathing because we Americans are rude enough to complain of their behaviour in their own country. (Sorry for the double post.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RzrLens Posted December 6, 2007 #21 Share Posted December 6, 2007 We'll be going to Orient Beach for the first time next week. I've read so many posts but can't find anything about locker rentals. Just not sure where I will keep valuables (Credit Cards, cash, etc.) if I swim or rent a jet ski. Any suggestions?Thanks! Bikini Beach was the only place I saw that had lockers. I think it was $5 USD for the day. I'm looking for a pretty beach to laze away the day; I'd like to rent an umbrella, buy some drinks, eat some lunch, and enjoy the sun. Is this a good place to set up camp? Thanks so much for the help We actually "camped" out at Bikini Beach, although the prices there were a bit higher than the bars that were closer to the nudist resort. We ate and had drinks at "Le String". It was a quaint little place, not a whole lot on the menu, but if you want a good burger and some great drinks, that's the place I would go. The Wikki Wakki Woo was PHENOMENAL. Here's some pics of Orient Beach... it was pretty, although we enjoyed St. Thomas more. The view from Bikini Beach The view from our chair @ Bikini Beach The view to the left of Club Orient The divider between Orient Beach & Club Orient Beach What you'll be doing at Orient Beach Let me know if you have any other questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beary Posted December 7, 2007 #22 Share Posted December 7, 2007 It is truly a sad day when the people of St. Maarten alter their morals of topless or nude sunbathing because we Americans are rude enough to complain of their behaviour in their own country. Well maybe, I don't live there to know for certain. But the Taxi driver last summer told us it was the locals (him included) doing most of the complaining about the nudity. We've visited St. Martin many times and I've never met one of these rude Americans. I'm sure there are few, but I don't know that they are driving the changes at Orient Beach. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volleyballmom87 Posted December 8, 2007 #23 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I am a HARD-CORE, flag waving, patriotic American, and I think that the MAJORITY of Americans are far more open-minded than we are given credit for. I am not a prude, but I'm not real interested in seeing other topless women. So instead of complaining about Orient, I think we are going to Little Bay. If my DD & her BFF weren't coming with us, we would likely be going to Orient (waving boobies and all - just not mine:D ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurs Fans Posted December 9, 2007 #24 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Perhaps my wording was a bit too strong, we have all heard the stories. One summer we were in an outdoor cafe in Amsterdam. We were sitting close to a Dutch man who was reading the paper, having coffee and smoking a cigarette. An American guy who was sitting nearby became irate at the Dutch man for smoking his cigarette. He became very vocal with insults about his smoking. My wife and I could only think how rude it was to be in another person's country complaining about their behavior which was totally appropriate under their rules of society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guienevere_Arianette Posted December 10, 2007 Author #25 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Thanks for all of the helpful info...Freedom is leaving with me on it in 5 days, so whoo hoo!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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