TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient

What is Orient like these days? Are there many bars, restaurants, shops? Haven't stayed there the past few years, as the wind and sargassam were both awful!!! We walked a bit then left and went elsewhere. Is that the norm or did we just go on "off" days? I really miss the way it was years ago.......

There are a bunch of bars and restaurants on Orient, yes. Not as many shops in that area as there used to be. Wind and sargassum happen.

Is the island making a comeback? It has been almost 6 years since our last adventure to SXM? How is the water and beaches? You mentioned sargassum. Is it bad?
I know when we were there last time, the beach we were on was pretty much uninhabitable because of the sargassum.
Is any place to stay a better choice then another because of that?
Sorry for all the questions.

Scotty--Dawn Beach in particular is often very bad with sargassum. Orient has it fairly often, but the restaurants normally do a decent job cleaning it up. Usually there is little to none on Simpson Bay or in Grand Case.

Great. Thanks for the info. It's nice to know from people that are experienced with SXM. You guys have always been the best. Take care.

You're welcome, Scotty.

I am at Orient Bay now.

ORIENT BAY BEACH

There are many beach bars, large and small. Most you will remember.

Papagallo, Pedros, Cheryls, Palm Beach and Brothers have been replaced/not reconstructed. The other beach bars have been revived.

Perch Lite and Bikini Beach are not the same without our favourite bartenders.

There are donkeys in the village and down by Perch lite, on the beach. They are tame as Perch Lite offers them food.

I saw 2 lounge chairs, drinks, umbrella and wifi at 20e yesterday (maybe Le String??somewhere at that end)

Aloha has live band Sun nights (they were horrible at xmas and this band was as well. Mostly hard rock both times). This event draws a large crowd.

Chez Leandra has 10% service charge.

Kontiki or was it Waikiki?? (the bar with the red swings) is 4e or 5usd/beer.. I wonder if its rounded up per beer or per bill as this can make a big diff at the end of a long day, or large crowd.

The beach is quiet, even on cruise days. Water is sometimes rough, usually fun to bob in. A wee bit cooler than xmas. Winds/breeze has been refreshing all week.

No sargassum in water... some on the beach, most buried/raked in the sand. I'd say a thin layer exists here and there, just go around... there is plenty beach without it.. (not sure at north end tho).

And yes. per another thread, the sun is blistering hot. Lather up, folks.


SHOPS

Sexy Fruits and another shop are still on the beach. Luiz has his sign up though I didnt see much in his breezeway shop showing his wares at his place of business.

Water sports are open for business.

The village square is just as vibrant. a few new restaurants (Sao sushi) and a beach shop behind the real estate corner, facing the beach. Nice stuff for kids too.


ISLAND

Tourism is picking up. The french side looks good except some of Marigot.

Les mardis de Grand Case was fun, though the baby cousin of yester years.

Marigot market is not as diverse with market products as in the past.



thanks for reading my "pod cast ramblings from paradise".. If you have any questions about orient bay, I'll try my best to reply.

"Chez Leandra has 10% service charge."
Surprising they can do that.

WOW! Great information. I guess we'll give it another try on our next visit in August. I had no idea there were that many shops/bars/restaurants. Thanks!!!

VILLAGE RESTO

I had a scrumptous meal at La Favella last night. Price was reasonable. A jumbo shrimp dish with a glass of wine was $36e. 1:1. I thought this was a great meal and do recommend. No service charge.

The resto next to Le Piment is no longer. A new resto will soon open per sign... or maybe they are reinventing themselves, not sure. Plenty of whicker seating out but not open.

Maison Mere was bustling and had a 30 mins wait.

Le Piment was doing great business too.

Sao Sushi was on the high end for $$$$ so I passed.

A few other restaurants had great offerings however I hit decision paralysis and can not recall much more.

There were a few artistic tables but no live music.

BEACH BARS Big 3 (Pinot grigio non scientific research)

La Playa is 1:1 and highest cost pinot grigio of the 3 i visited during Sahara Dust storm yest.

KKO was cheaper for pinot grigio. note: i had the worse dark n stormy ever. 1:1

Bikini beach pinot grigio was cheapest by couple bucks from La Playa and a bit cheaper than KKO. 1:1. Service and vibes improved from last year where bartender was appalled i asked for bottle of water with my beer...almost refusing to sell it to me. and i was speaking french! DE L'EAU?????? DE L'Eau????????? DE L'EAUUUU?????????

Bikini has a sign with their nightly entertainment. I recall Wed is live band, and Thurs is Reggae night.

SOUTH END

Theres a new?? well i dont remember them but alas... Good Time Charlie shack. Booze and chairs only.

Pirates is the last beach bar before what was formally known as the rocks. Rumour has it they have good food.. They have good size crowds when I pass.

Chez Leandras food won't disappoint. Their maccaroni pie has hamburg in it.

Thats it for now.

PS it's a very rainy start to the day. Take cover.

PPS the beach is wide and as welcoming as ever.

PPPS dont forget tp in the garbage can not toilet.

Waikiki is gone, swings were at Kontiki. They have returned to the Kontiki bar area which is to the left as your enter from the parking area.

LaPlaya has a big sushi selection on their menu (as of November) and it was delicious.

Here on Orient now - great comments from Crazy Canuxx
Pirates does have good food
No 10% service charge at Chez Leandra's for us - ate there twice so far - maybe for larger groups? but donlt know about that
Yellow Sub has music 6 nights - no Sunday - one night is Karaoke - horrible service today so off the rotation - paid for drinks and walked
Excellent Deli near Good Morning Cafe - On Dirait le le Sud [sp?], dried meats, antipasto, lasagna, fresh pasta, cheese - pecorino with pistachio's yum and other options. Bonamama for pizza just past the Deli

Rain till early pm and then cloud rest of day - doesn't matter, can hear the waves
Looks like Easter Monday is a hard close on the Fr side

J&B

"No 10% service charge at Chez Leandra's for us"
Maybe it was just for Crazy Canuxx.

thx for the shout out, scubaman

check out this google pic: https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8c0e6f67a1a8af31%3A0xc51ce34b5d949140!3m1!7e131!4s!5sChez%20Leandra!15sCgIYIQ&hl=en&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNxhlpu5iynM8ZkoRucJw4TYtaBw36E1bCacdqP&viewerState=lb

shows 10% service charge written right there on bittom right corner.

thx Fabila. Correct its Kontiki... and the othe beach bar is Wai beach. the bar was busy tonight here and no one at Kontiki.

This is due to today's bad weather most likely.

Errata re exchange: tonight bikini beach charged 7e for 2 beers, or 8usd.

Hello, Do the vendors still walk the beach??? Thanks!

Yes.

For those who remember Dreams, as I know you do, Louise, the sushi chef at La Playa is the same one from Dreams.

What about parking? Most convenience place in the middle of everything? We always seem to park so far away...........

So far away from what? All the big beach bars have their own parking, right behind the restaurant.

Do they each have their own parking in the back of their own bars? If so I was not aware of that. Maybe we need to drive a little further north? We always seem to park (maybe near Bikini?) and then have to walk and walk and walk in the sand with all of our coolers, beach bags, etc.

The road behind the beach restaurants towards the southern end of the beach is one big parking lot. Just pick a spot

I for one am directionally challenged, so can't ever figure out which is north or south. But if you go to the end of the main road in Orient Village and make a right turn, there is a road behind the beach bars. You can drive all the way down the beach, past numerous beach bars, all with their own parking. The road is bumpy and rutted, but you can go all the way to the Club O end of the beach that way. If you wanted to go to one of the bars down by the Esmeralda end of the beach, you have to enter at a different spot.

Got it. Thanks to all. I think we just stop and park prematurely....year after year after year LOL