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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: SXMMD]
#176202
11/24/2018 10:37 AM
11/24/2018 10:37 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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Surprised no one has responded to this yet, so I'll give it a go. As far as easy access to the beach, most units at Plantation are a decent walk from the beach, uphill. Esmeralda, the units are closer and that area is pretty flat, so not as much of a walk. As far as privacy, the decks at Plantation are a lot more private, some very private, or they USED to be, with a fair amount of vegetation shielding you from other units. That could have changed since Irma. I've not actually stayed at Esmeralda, just visited there, but I don't think the decks are very private there at all. Of course the big draw at Esmeralda is the private pool for each building. Traditionally, as I assume you know, nude use of the pool is allowed if the other building residents don't object. I believe that Esmeralda just recently reopened after Irma, so I have no idea of the status of the nude beach at Esmeralda. Perhaps I am mistaking your intent with regard to wanting privacy though, so maybe that wasn't what you even were asking about. Personally, I prefer the larger units at Plantation, higher up, with a nice view of the beach. We would drive to the beach from there. Most of the units at Esmeralda have no view of the beach. Hope that helps somewhat, although most of my info is old.
Carol Hill
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: gsdoat]
#176378
11/26/2018 12:15 PM
11/26/2018 12:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,976
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Well, since Esmeralda JUST reopened, not sure how there would be a definitive word on that, from a few weeks ago? Has the management announced that somewhere? Not saying it's incorrect, but just because you read is on Facebook, doesn't mean it's true.
Carol Hill
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: gsdoat]
#176389
11/26/2018 01:15 PM
11/26/2018 01:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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OK. That was one of their big draws. Seems a stupid decision, but over the years they have gone back and forth on c/o on the beach.
Carol Hill
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: SXMMD]
#176394
11/26/2018 01:30 PM
11/26/2018 01:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 20
gsdoat
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 20
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We were last there summer of 17 and our first full day on the beach was on Happy Bay and we spent the entire day nude. It was our understanding that the area to the right (east end of the beach) was nude and the west end of the beach was not.
I've read recently that the beach was never officially C/O. Are the police patrolling and writing citations or is it still acceptable to go nude there?
Last edited by gsdoat; 11/26/2018 01:30 PM.
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: gsdoat]
#176396
11/26/2018 01:48 PM
11/26/2018 01:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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I'm confused at this point whether you are talking about Happy Bay or Orient about police patrolling and writing citations? The Club Orient section of Orient Bay has been traditionally nude for a long time and hopefully there are no issues regarding continuing nudity on that section of the beach. The rest of Orient is technically no longer nude friendly, although it used to be. Every few months, the gendarmes run patrols and stop people from walking the rest of Orient Beach nude. I personally have not heard of any gendarme patrols on Orient since Irma. Due to Bikini being only beach bar open at the moment other than Perch Lite, I doubt they have bothered patrolling since Irma. Once some of the other big beach bars reopen, they may resume patrols. But so long as you stay on the section where Club O is (was??), you should be fine. Regarding Happy Bay, it continues to get a lot of nude use, although it is not technically legally sanctioned there. Currently, unless you go on the weekend, you should be fine with nudity on Happy Bay. I have never heard of any patrols on Happy Bay. Occasionally the gendarmes have parties or beach training exercises there, but reports from others who have been there at the time is that the gendarmes could care less about nudity on Happy Bay, and in fact have occasionally joined in the fun! And again, while not technically legally sanctioned, there is a lot of nude use of Cupecoy Beach, which is on the Dutch side.
Carol Hill
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: gsdoat]
#176647
11/28/2018 08:36 PM
11/28/2018 08:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,093
CaptainJim
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Posts: 1,093
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Was going to book our first trip to SXM in 8 years but if this is true about Esmeralda then we will go elsewhere.
...Captain Jim... "I Will Grow Old..... But I Won't Grow Up"
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: CaptainJim]
#176663
11/28/2018 10:13 PM
11/28/2018 10:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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There are still lots of other places on SXM that are c/o, including private villas. To not book SXM because of Esmeralda not being c/o (if so) seems short sighted. There are LOTS of other places that are c/o friendly.. Really.
Carol Hill
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Re: Esmeralda verses Plantation
[Re: SXMMD]
#177207
12/05/2018 12:59 PM
12/05/2018 12:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192 Columbia, SC, USA
DandM29212
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 192
Columbia, SC, USA
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I stayed at Esmeralda from 11/4 through 12/3. It was great! There were a few villa units still being repaired but that wasn't bothersome in the slightest. Many people staying elsewhere in the village, though, complained about the construction noise, and there are a lot of units where repairs haven't even started.
Overall, both Es and Plantation were essentially normal and far better than most of the village.
Regarding nude use of the pools, nothing has changed. Officially, the pools are not clothing optional. It's always been the practice, though, that one could skinnydip respectfully, with the consent of the villa neighbors and making sure that the usual appropriate discretion is practiced.
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