Hi, all. We were last on SXM in 2004. Looks like Friday's bay/happy bay bay is not the place to be anymore. Built up? We also visited Orient and Cupecoy but wanted to try a different location with at least a lunch spot and beach chairs and calm waters to snorkel w not a huge crowd problem . Can anyone recommend ? Appreciate all that chime in! Very excited about our upcoming trip! merci! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

We didn't like Friar's last year because they emptied out the yucky pond water into the ocean while we were there and blocked the way out with a huge pit that we couldn't get across or around. We liked Nettle Bay and Dreams for lunch. Not a crowded beach although there was some seaweed when we were there, but overall nice beach and good place for lunch.

Our favorite is Baie Rouge... Two food huts... Not crowded. Beautiful beach and water

We'll second Baie Rouge. If you walk down just a bit it's like you are on your own private beach. Water conditions can vary from calm to fairly big waves depending...

We'll third Baie Rouge and second Leagle 49's idea of walking down to the west end to relax. Those who know enjoy the solitude and freedom.

Only one trip to base an opinion <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> but Baie Rouge was awesome! Surf was up a bit though, no snorkeling for us but we enjoyed the waves! Friars and Happy are nice and so close together, Happy for early beach time (no chairs) then perhaps ease over to Friars for lunch and afternoon beach time with chairs. We only walked around Anse Marcel but really liked that beach and calm bay! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Another alternative is Simpson Bay beach at Karackter if you go early on a weekday. We travel to SXM sometime between May and August and haven't seen it overly crowded during the week then. The water is usually calm with ok snorkeling considering it's a sandy beach.

We loved Anse Marsel. The chairs were very comfortable. The water was very calm. No problem getting in or out of the water. You could have lunch on the beach or they will reserve a table of you. And there are no people roaming the beach selling things. In all the times we have visited St. M, it was our first visit to Anse Marsel. We plan to go again next year.

Here's a 4th for Baie Rouge. We stayed on the beach there our last visit (a villa all the way to the end).

Lunch simply doesn't get any better than at Chez Raymond (but don't tell anyone).

Some good and truthful responses here....Baie Rouge or Dreams are my two favorites..Have not eaten at Rouge but the food at Dreams was excellent....Nice lounge chairs and great food and drinks...No charge for lounges either...Both great places...Hope you enjoy...Two great beach spots..
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We visited Pinel Island once and that was enough for us. We visited Anse Marcel once and haven't felt a need to return. When Orient Beach (Club O end) is too much for us we walk to Le Galion. It is a wonderful calm beach with one restaurant. (And I discovered they sell sunscreen cheaper than the French side grocery stores!). Anyway we have not been to Baie Rouge but may have to pay it a visit next year.

For calm waters and nice amenities Pinel is a nice choice. Baie Rouge has always been rough all the time we have been there but there are less crowds. Restroom facilities for women are questionable.

Agree with bskm - Karakters is best during the week. The other other end of the beach has great snorkeling & shelling. Love the place but stay away on Sundays if you don't like crowds.

Most of the beaches on both the French and Dutch side are not really crowded on weekdays (unless there are a bunch of mega cruise ships in port). Weekends will find local families at a lot of the beaches for there weekend break. LOL

Baie Rouge is beautiful but the water is almost always rough and the sand is difficult to walk on. Galion is calm but hard to get to (very rough road). Anse Marcel is calm and pretty but expensive, IMO. We love Rainbow Cafe in Grand Case - go for an affordable breakfast or brunch and use the beach chairs and umbrellas for free as long as you want. Great shower. Clean bathrooms and very calm and clear water. Karakter on Simpson Bay beach is great, too. If you eat or drink there, chairs and umbrellas are free (although the chairs are due for replacement and a bit saggy and uncomfortable). They, also, have clean bathrooms and a shower.

In reading through these comments, the question really beomes what are you looking for in a beach. We don't like Anse Marcel for the reasons others DO like it. We prefer some breeze and wave action. We don't like Anse Marcel nor Pinel because it is basically a lake. We do love Baie Rouge because it has some wave action.... Just depends upon what your preference might be

+1 for Grand Case & the Rainbow, good food, great people, lunch served on the sand, calm & clear, never a crowd, the anti-Orient.

What is on the Breakfast menu at Rainbow? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

My favorite is Anse Marcel for the beautiful, calm water and excellent food. Dreams also has excellent food but I'm not as enamored of their beach in Nettle Bay as I am with Anse Marcel.

Thank you,all! Got some good choices now! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I agree with you. I don't like sitting at a slant to face the sun at Dreams. They do have a nice setting and food but I don't like the beach arraignment.

The breakfast menu has several items. (Unless it has changed in the last month or so). There's an American breakfast that has eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes, fruit and coffee for $15, I believe. They also have French toast, a la carte items like bacon, sausage, potatoes,etc. I think the French toast was $12 and didn't include coffee but it was HUGE. They also have lots of pastries and the coffee is good and strong. Definitely a good value in our opinions since you can eat breakfast in the open-air restaurant then move down to the beach chairs (which are unique too). We love it!

I'm partial to Galion, really good restaurant and calm beach. In fact going today.

I hope I didn't give the wrong impression about the condos being built on Friar's Bay. They are not "on the beach", but set back in a cluster. Friar's beach has everything you are asking for; 2 beach bars with good food, padded beach chairs, calm water and not a huge crowd (altho I am sure it is crowded on the weekends). If you can navigate the road into the beach, you're all set!

Last time we were at Friar's a couple months ago, there were a lot of sea urchins - is that still the case now?

When we were there last May and they were draining the pond; they told us it was because the condos on the lower end of the buildings flood during heavy rain and that's why they need to drain the pond. It was not a pretty sight seeing all that brown water with God knows what in it flowing into the ocean, not to mention the huge abyss that was dug to do it.