Given the fact the Orient is agruably the most important single spot on St. Martin I am very surprised that there has been next to no news on condition / status.

Any ideas?

First of all, it is NOT the single most important spot on the island.

There have been lots of reports, basically a lot of damage. Beach appears to be decent but not a lot of places to stay or eat at the present time. Extensive damage up and down the beach.

I agree with you on all counts.

With specific regard to Orient Beach, there is government to deal with and apparently a lot of specifics with regard to rebuilding.

Says one who knew it before it was developed to what most recent visitors know it to be, some of us really don’t care if it takes forever. Count me with that group. But at the same time, I understand what so many are missing and I think the factors for lack of rapid redevelopment all seem to be based upon dollars. I’m sure it will come back eventually. Patience, Pilgrims..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

gotaluvit,
I will give you a report in 60 days!
I did see on a facebook post there was a volunteer group doing some cleanup today.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next month or so. I have to imagine there will be some kind of chair rental and drinks from cooler setups to make some money from the tourist. There will be cruise ship traffic and there are definitely people staying in some of the available rentals on the East Bay.

It appears there are significant issues with regard to rebuilding on Orient, with the government. I guess that's why we don't hear much from Orient. Hopefully there will be more news soon.

See you there. We chat with you every year with our friends from west virginia.

Looking forward to it. Should be interesting vacation , hoping we can help out our island families in some way.

Yes we can

Been there twice this past week. The beach is beautiful and empty. The surrounding area has been cleaned of debris but is otherwise untouched. I think it will be some time IF EVER before anyone is allowed to build there again.

Although I'm not certain of it, as I understand, the 'Five Stars' have an AOT and they are exempt from the not building close to the water line, so I THINK they should be able to rebuild.

That may be true. At the present time the only things open, and only on weekend I think, are the little thing we are calling the Perch and not on the beach but almost is Alamanda Kitchen.

Also le petit bistro.

I heard la petite bistro was open in the village and also that the rest of the restaurants in the village won't open until July....from a friend who worked at Kakao. The owner of La Rhumerie moved back to France and is not returning.

L'Epicurien is open from "9h to 15h and 17h30 until there is no one left! From Monday to Saturday and by reservation on Sundays."

A big organized clean up of Orient beach tomorrow starting at Papagayo at 8am and moving down the length of the beach.

Rdv à partir de 8h pour nettoyer la plage d'Orient Bay, en commençant par le Sud (côté Club Orient / Papagayo) et en remontant autant que possible.
Même organisation que d'habitude;
Prévoir gants, baskets, casquettes, de l'eau et des sacs poubelles. Si possible, également des sécateurs ou couteaux pour enlever ce qui est pris dans les végétaux. Sorry it is in French but volunteers are needed...

It is a start! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/titanic.gif" alt="" />

Appointment from 8 am to clean the Orient Bay beach, starting from the South (Club Orient / Papagayo side) and going up as far as possible.
Same organization as usual; Provide gloves, sneakers, caps, water and trash bags. If possible, also pruning shears or knives to remove what is caught in the plants.

Someone reported talking to christelle at le piment & she said opening March?

OP asked about Orient Beach, so I did not include the village.

As i was getting out of Club O i saw you and Bill pulling in there could not say hi yesterday it was too risky on the road turn

Yes, Le Piment is scheduled to open in March, according to their FB page. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad you said arguably. It's the most important to us, as that's where we stay, spend most of our time, and eat most of our meals.
Of course, others feel differently.

I will probably start going to Orient now, until it builds back up again. Have made maybe 4-5 visits to Orient in the past 10 years out of maybe 20-25 trips. It changed way too much for my liking

OK, I give what is more important to the people on this board? Orient is maybe what, 80% of the traffic to the French side?

Club O posted today that they have started chair rentals in addition to the Perch light being open.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

They've been renting for several weeks already. Not many takers, but they are available. Only on weekends far as we can tell.

May get busier once cruises start returning.

Hope so for the folks trying to make a living. For us, we're enjoying the solitude and will disappear once the crowds return.

This Sxmdronechristophe Facebook page has some amazing images of Orient Beach.
Check out this one especially... Amazing Aerial of Club Orient Posted 11-28-2017 and this...
Amazing aerial view of Club O from the water

Not sure why the photos say "Yesterday near Marigot, Guadeloupe" when they depict Orient Beach, St. Martin.

Wow...There's a lot more of Club O and the Village left than I thought there was.

I too am surprised how many structures are still there at all. I was of the impression that all were gone except the concrete block bldgs.

I dont know what is salvageable, but it looks far better than first pics immediately afterward. Plus the grass and so forth must be growing up thru the sand.

Id rent one of those chalets with a rollaway right now.

And not wanting to offend, but the length of the beach looks alot better than with all the bars and operations.

Id The structures more limited to a bar and walk up grill back where the parking lots were with maybe 1 to 2 rows max of chairs and umbrellas and leave more of the strand natural.

Nature was encroaching anyway........time to reset

Again, only an opinion, not looking for a squabble <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Agreed, there are a lot more buildings there than I thought..

Another thing I notice from those pics is how clear of debris the area looks and how green the foliage is.

Correct. After most initial reports indicated most everything was "gone", I was surprised at how much was still standing.

From that far in the air the buildings appear to be fine, but I recall seeing other photo sets taken from the ground level after Irma showing many of the surviving concrete structures moved slightly off their foundations, out of kilter, with cracked walls, foundations undermined etc. In these pictures they all have their doors opened wide to circulate air through them to dry them out.

I'm not sure if that means they are salvageable and will be redone, or maybe it's just being done prevent mold growth or something along those lines while the decision to demolish them is being considered or planned?

I am sure an up close and personal view would show much more damage. My point was, like with many other places on the island, the initial reports of a place being totally "gone" were inaccurate.

I agree with your statement because to me gone means no longer there. I think most people were using gone to signify severely damaged. When I look at the numerous pictures from many different blogs, I see that many buildings need major repair but when you look at the harbor before and after you see the vessels are gone afterward.

Yes, there were reports that Beachside Villas was 'gone'. Incorrect. They are actually open now with a few units, expect to have all units available by around March 1. Mary's Boon was reportedly 'gone'. Incorrect. Mary's Boon is open already with almost all their units, less a couple of units that were in fact destroyed. I haven't seen any other pictures of Club Orient recently, so I assume that the aerial pictures are deceptive, as far as how it actually looks and the actual condition of the individual units. And I don't remember the layout well enough, but I think the beachfront units are just 'gone', so that much is correct.

The best I can tell from the drone images and other images I have seen show Club O's Beach Chalets to all appear to be standing, all of the Garden Chalets appear to be standing, about four of the nine Waterfront Chalets appear to be still standing, only two of the 15 Mini-Suite buildings are standing and all 17 the Studio buildings are indeed gone. Edited to add that all of the Mini-Suite Deluxe buildings appear to be standing.

OK, thanks for the info.

Actually the doors aren't open to air the units; they were sucked off by the storm, taking all of the contents of the building with them. So yeah, silver-lining is that the shells of the builds are well aired out.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Jenni--I believe your family owns a unit there? Any updates as to when rebuilding will begin?

I haven't heard any dates yet. I'm sure they'll be posted on Facebook when anything becomes official and ready for public consumption. Island time, you know! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

OK

For not the single most important spot on the island, as of now this thread had 8,913 views at 13 days old.
Draw your own conclusions.
Again, only an opinion, not looking for a squabble.

Sorry, did not mean that to be directed at Carol, just the general board.

I'm not sure that you can extrapolate that from the number of views.
Given...those who love Orient are passionate....and would be the type to check a particular thread several times a day. So one person could account for multiple views, not multiple people.'

Just sayin'

St Maarten Island is a beautiful place. We were in Jamaica a few weeks ago but really missed the SXM experience.
Though we love keeping current with SXM news, we are not the types to drive up the view count by multiple visits to TTOL every day, and drive an agenda. No one we have met does that either, to be honest.

Heck. I check the same thead multiple times a day just to see the responses. There goes your theory. And orient isn't my favorite beach area.

Sorry, dude, wasn't looking for a squabble.

No squable. Just stating a fact.

Friend, I mean no harm. My only point was for a thread attracting nearly 9,000 views, Orient Beach must be a significant attraction.
Please, no offense is intended.

Seems like those that are so “pro” Orient are trying to pit the one beach against the rest of the island - “my beach is more important than the rest”. I check this post many times hoping to read something about keeping it more subdued and NOT adding back the circus atmosphere. Not directed at you but in general.

Very well stated.

While I do not go back as far as you and your family, Orient of 25+ years ago was vastly different back then. Yes, Club Orient was there and was very popular but the "circus" atmosphere was not there.

I went for probably a 5 year stretch without going to Orient. Unless I had new visitors with me, I had no desire to make the drive (and possible consequences) from Simpson Bay. I do still enjoy a day on Orient but I also preferred the more laid back and simpler Orient of years ago.

To each their own.

We started going to SXM in the mid-90s and really enjoyed the many friendships that developed at the Bikini Beach Bar. When Andy and Cheryl moved to the beach it just added to the party.
In the late 90s we bought at Mary's Boon but continued day trips to see our friends at Orient.
We stopped going when Andy passed away and Elisa got robbed out of her place.
It is a nice beach but the difference isn't worth the traffic and what were parking issues and cruise ship based crowds.

We used to go to orient multiple times in our 4 week stay. Didn't make it once last trip.

Another perspective, perhaps?

Our first trip to St. Maarten/St. Martin dates back to the early 70's and while Orient was not the first beach we visited - that would have been Mullet - we visited it nonetheless.

It was a totally different place than what many of you 'late comers' to the island who arrived say in the last 20-25 years knew. It was a pristine area that was actually difficult to locate coming from 'the other side' of the island. But find it we did and the only thing there that I can honestly recall was the earliest days of Orient Beach Club aka the 'nudist camp' and it was tucked away at the end of the beach pretty much away from all else. And for the record - 'all else' would include the occasion stray cow or donkey, and the sea grape and various other island flora and fauna that grew there in profusion along with the original restaurant on the beach - a 55 gal. drum morphed into a BBQ grill from which came some incredibly good eats.

It was truly a heavenly kind of place - no crowds at all - you could wander the full length of the beach and maybe encounter 2-3 small clusters of people seeking their privacy and a few more people mostly as you neared the Club O location.

Over the years that original BBQ grill eatery evolved into a profusion of shacks, huts and eventually, some pretty nice eateries and boutiques and even a few hotels with many local entrepreneurs settling in to earn a living there.

And the people came. And the more it was 'talked about' via the internet and hyped as a 'site to see', the more the people came and the development kept increasing.

Now here's where I get into trouble, and know, please, I'm not talking about the Club Orient property specifically but the beach pretty much over all - to me it took on a circus-like atmosphere of people trying to see and be seen. Not everyone, of course, but too many for my tastes. And with the profusion of information out there about this beach, it became to many of us just another cruise ship attraction - often times loud and boisterous people imbibing too freely of the various island libations along the route and all too often, displaying some pretty tacky behaviors.

Many feel this, more so than anything else lead to the decline in favorability of this beach for so many of us. But in the end, nature took its' course and Irma returned the beach to that which many of us knew and originally fell in love with.

I know there are many who will take issue with me, but for as long as it lasts, I would be inclined to rediscover what little is left of the old Orient, and for those who long for the up-scale eateries, accommodations, beach chaises and umbrellas, crowds and all the like, don't fret too much, it will return again and perhaps a lot quicker than it did the first time around. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We think it is an unbelievably beautiful stretch of beach. When we started going in the early 90's it wasn't too bad. Obviously nothing like you encountered in the 70's Pat. As it got more and more "Circus or Carnival" like we stopped.

If it stayed more low key, we would go back. If not, there are a lot of beaches to choose from.

Pat, I'm not taking issue with you, and never would. Your posts are always well thought out, worded, and appreciated.
But, you and others have mentioned a "circus like atmosphere", which we have never experienced while staying at Club O many times. Maybe we just went on the wrong weeks, but we've found it to nothing but laid back, relaxing and friendly.
We started going to the island in '85, and can remember lying on the beach, above the rocks, using a sea grape tree for shade, and having the pristine beach almost to ourselves.
Now, we seldom would venture north of the rocks, except for an occasional lunch at one of our favs - and there were some excellent choices there.
The only "circus type atmosphere" happened when Da Party Bus would park next to the wall, music and sirens blaring, to allow the gawkers on top of it to hold up their phones to take pictures of the guests.
We were scheduled to stay there last month, and were sad when Irma changed that. But, we just lost a vacation. Others lost much more than that.
And, no, I'm not saying that "our" beach is better or more important than any other. It's just our preference. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Biturbo, I believe in paragraph 7 Pat indicated she is NOT talking about the Club O property....rather everything North of the rocks.

I agree with you Pat...but I did enjoy the upscale eateries, as it was an oasis to escape the craziness...until a huge bus with cruisers would roll through and they each got a shot of alcohol and then a particular section of chairs was roped off for them. And I too have witnessed more than I would care to of bad and crass behaviour.

Others before Pat first mentioned the "circus like atmosphere", without specifying which part of the beach they were referencing. I guess I was just defending the many wonderful friends we've met over the years at Club O. Trust me, Pat & I are cool.
I too have witnessed the drunken, rude behavior. I think too many assume that if the beach allows toplessness and nudity, anything goes. The difference at the Club is that security is usually quick to respond.

That's when we stopped going also. I loved the beach but it all got to be a bit too much for us, along with the parking & time to get there.

We are newbies compared to most here as we have made 7 trips to the island in the last 6 years. Much of our time has been spent on Orient Beach and the vast majority of that at the Club O beach even though we have never stayed there. In the beginning, we had no interest in the Club O area. We have met many friends on that beach in that relatively short time and while we spend time all over the island, I suppose we now consider that beach "home" when we are on the island.

As much as it hurts my heart to think of the loss that so many have experienced, we actually look forward to returning in July and experiencing Orient Beach as many of you have many years ago.

I have experienced a number of natural disasters in my day and in every case, the community has come back stronger as a result of nature's reset...I'm trusting SXM will do the same.

And what is?

It's what's important to you. Is what is.

Same here. While we love all of the island, Orient Beach was the first place we ever visited on SXM during a cruise to the island. We fell in love with SXM that very day and went back for a week at Club O the following year. We’ve been back at least once a year since that first visit in 2006 (staying at various places), and Orient Beach is always our favorite beach. We have since enjoyed many of the other beaches on both sides as well, but Orient still holds a special place in our hearts. We will love it with or without the ‘circus’ atmosphere (though busy at times, we have never found it to be anything but relaxing and laid back). We, too, have made many friends on that beach. Miss being there and can’t wait to get back to our 2nd ‘home’.

Well, perhaps the airport for one? No airport and not much a of a way to get to the island for most people.

Who says that there HAS to be the most important spot on the island? And why is it even helpful to make such a designation? There is certainly not a 'one size fits all', single most important spot on the island for EVERYONE. And what is most important to a single person also changes over the years. I know it has for us, over the 30 years we've been going. And that's normal and natural. People change over time and their needs and wants change. It's whatever is important to YOU, at that moment in time. That is what is so great about St. Maarten/St. Martin. It has something for everyone.

Going to close this one now, as it is not a productive argument.