Ohio,

Where are you staying? I first thought you indicated you were staying on Orient, in which case you don't have a lot of options if you can't get out of the area.

If you're staying elsewhere and can get around the Orient Baie area and the problems in that area, I would still choose Friars as your nearest good choice with Happy Bay an option, too, but really, the island is yours. Mullet Bay Beach is my favorite or perhaps Simpson Bay, both on the Dutch side though I'm thinking Mullet will be mobbed due to the number of ships in port and the closing of the Orient access roads. Dreams Beach in Nettle Baie is a great spot, and Baie Rouge in that same general area, too. You could even go into Philipsberg and shop, beach and eat there, as there are countless chair rental options along the beach.

If you're actually staying in Grand Case, you need to know there is only one MAIN road that circles the island, so you have all the beach choices available as long as you don't mind driving to avoid the Orient area situation. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />