Why a Trip to Pinel?

Been going to SXM for many years, been all over the island and generally plant our-self at CO but always see Pinel in the distance and say lets go over. Sand Gravity and Willy's drinks have been part of the problem for staying put. From other posts have read, you can get naked discretely on the north side (we don't need to on Pinel since we get plenty of CO time), don't go on weekends or heavy cruise ship days to avoid the large crowds, take the first boat over at 10AM to get chairs, when its windy on Orient its calm(er) there...and lets not forget the $50 price tag for the cost of the RT ferry and two chairs plus $ for food and drink. So does one spend the whole day on Pinel just to drink, eat and wallow? Any bands or music? Can one take a cooler? Is there good snorkeling there (if its not to windy)? Or go just because its really different?

Truthfully, we went once or twice to see it and try it but today, we wouldn't waste the time or money. I know that's not a popular opinion but it's honest. Too many chairs too close together and by the time the day is done, too many $$ for doing it. Others will say I'm crazy but Pinel just isn't what it used to be, IMHO. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat's statement reminded me of the old Yogi Berra quote "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

But she has a point. Back in the day, you could take the little ferry over, find a fairly comfortable place to get chairs, and feel like you had taken a short trip to another island. We would wonder through the little shopping area, wade out far in the water, and grab lunch (always a little pricy but what we expected for having the facilities off island)

Now we do feel a little like sardines on a busy day. Expensive, crowded, and pretty noisy on our last trip.

That being said, if you have never been over there it is worth a trip because it is a different perspective of SXM, the water is shallow and usually very calm, it is a chance to try a new place to eat, and you can make up your mind for yourself. On a clear, calm day it can be quite breathtakingly beautiful.

I don't know if coolers are still allowed. We used to take them simply because we have a lot of kids and take coolers everywhere for various reasons, but I think that might be frowned upon these days. I remember music in the restaurant, but not live music.

And another point is that it is a very short trip over. Once or twice we have gone over for a couple of hours just to do something different, sat on our towels when we were not in the water, and limited our costs to the ferry and to a round of drinks. But that was when we were younger and without our kids.

Very similar situation for us as you stated. Went over one time to get it off the bucket list.
Hiked to backside, mostly rocky and little "beach" and couple of gaukers.
found it very BORING.

We too went once and didn't find it appealing. This was back in 2002 and the loungers were very close together then and the water was much to shallow the day we went. Wanted to swim and kept walking out and the water never got pass our knees.

We never returned aside from my husband taking a jet ski over one day with a local friend, again many years ago.

Hubby and I went over to Pinel with another couple for the first time in June 2013. None of us found it overly appealing, though I'm glad we scratched it off our list if just so we would no longer wonder about it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> The day we went, it was VERY warm, there was NO nice breeze like you get on Orient, and it was crowded, even for the low season. Food was expensive and not all that great. We decided we wouldn't bother going back.

Edited to add: they did serve our beer bottles chair side in little plastic sand buckets filled with ice, which I thought was a nice touch.

That is the one reason I can think of to go to Pinel. If it's an extremely windy, sandblasting day on Orient, Pinel will be calmer.

For us, it was one and done.

I may just luckily pick the days that are not very crowded, but I have always found Pinel to be a relaxing, quiet beach day. Plus, I find choices at Karibuni that are not frequently available elsewhere at lunchtime on the mainland of SXM (ie- trunkfish). While the snorkeling on SXM is not all that amazing compared to other islands, Pinel is probably the best it has to offer (other than Creole Rock).

If able to get to Pinel as part of a private day charter or daysail, it is even better, since you can come and go as you please, rather than relying on the water taxi.

I will go to Pinel once per trip, just to enjoy the ferry ride over. It's fun to hike over to the other side, as well. I would not be interested in staying at the beach, as there are too many better beaches on the main island.

We have gone to Pinel and enjoyed our experience there. it is different from some of the other beaches and the views from that side are interesting. We never found it too crowded on the days we were there and would definitely go back for another relaxing day. If you enjoy humour, the ferry ride over and back can be a fun experience.

We like to get to Pinel once per trip and take a cooler and snacks and spend an afternoon on the northern beach. Happy Bay, Tintemarre, Bay rouge, Cupecoy and Petit Caye are a few of our other favourite beaches. (+ Orient of course)

We brought friends to St. Martin a few years ago and went to Pinel because of the beach and very little wave action. My friend has MD and has a hard time walking so he enjoyed the water on Pinel. The cost for the ferry, chairs and meal is starting to price the island from our "must do" list. Sorry to say that since I love taking photos on Pinel.

Ditto. If it's a stop on a boat, and we can enjoy the water, wade ashore if desired, and then leave.....that's my choice.
Don't like being chair to chair, or the effort to make the ferry there and back.
My preference is also excellent food....

Thanks all! Never thought about the view from a different perspective. Thinking about perhaps renting a hobbie cat from CO Watersports and sailing over but looking at the sat photos it does not look like there any room to pull the boat up on the beach. Is beaching the cat there possible?