We haven't been to SXM in nearly five years but used to visit regularly and stay at Esmeralda.
If we returned and stayed in a villa in Orient area, can anyone tell me if it would be worthwhile to pack beach chairs, or should/can we rent some on a weekly basis from one of the beach bars? Villa would be near Kakao and Bikini. Not interested in paying $20/day but do any of them offer a weekly rate?
Advice much appreciated.
Ryan

You can generally get a $15 rate for two chairs and an umbrella or $100 for the week. It's much easier for us to not have to lug stuff around and have others set it up for us

Kakao's chairs are usually $20 a day and they don't offer a weekly rate. If Karl knows that you're going to be there every day, he may offer you a better rate.

We have been lucky in that most of the times the places that we have stayed at will have chairs and umbrella somewhere in the unit or villa. When we checked in or meet the owners they just say look in the closets to see. Even have had coolers for our use. One place packing on our last day we notice a folding door beside fridge and it had chairs, coolers and beach umbrella, wish we had looked on 1st day. Also I believe there are some beach bars on Orient that has free chairs if you eat there. Unless you are flying with free baggage fees I would not haul chairs, just my opions. Good Luck.

then there is the guy that rents chairs/umbrellas/coolers….? is he a sponsor here? forget his name!

GaKaye, Never been to Kakao's but I have read where you have mentioned Karl in many posts. Is he possibly the tall blonde that worked for Kontiki many years ago? We adored him along with his buddy Christophe. (early 2000's) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for this. Which establishment offers this? I will also look into the villa having supplies.
Best,
Ryan

I believe I did hear that Karl worked for Kon Tiki in the past, but I'm not positive about that.

Beach chairs and umbrellas are free at La Playa as long as you eat lunch there too. They have a pretty good menu and free wifi as well. We were just there on Saturday and it was great except for the seaweed which continues to be a problem on Orient.

I didn't realize La Playa offered free chairs if you eat there. The restaurant there looks like it's been renovated. How's the food?

GaKaye , the restaurant is lease to Amenu?, who runs Le Neptune now with his wife during the day. Then off to Grand Case for night shift plus still partners with Thomas at LaPlanation. One busy guy for sure...the food has improved a lot not so much creole/local like in the past. Plus on Sunday they roast whole lamb on a rosterious as a special.....Yummy

At Palm Beach (north end) they will give you chairs & umbrella free as long as you have lunch there. I'm not sure if the new bikini beach does the same. Renting chairs from "Packlight" is a good idea if you're looking to go off the beat and path beaches that have no chair rents. Nice people to do business with. (So I hear)

Interesting. We may have to give la Playa a try one day, although we spend so few days on Orient any more that it'd be hard to tear ourselves away from Kakao.

GaKaye,
LaPlaya has a really nice lunch menu!! We've had lunch there many times. Ask Louise what she likes!! I think they got new chairs too.