Orient pictures from iscrogr 12-1-15

Looks like a little water retention problem they have to fix.

Lots of rain of late.

Yes, this was Tuesday, rained off and on for most of the morning

Thanks for the update. Glad to see that everything should be ready for the 2016 Regatta. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Depending on the winter construction season, that might be a reach!

Take Paradise and put up a parking lot. Looks like Disney World. Sorry for the negativity but it really upsets me that the cater to the cruise people when those of us who go to SXM years and years in a row get to feel like we are on a Disney out island.

How is this catering to the cruise people? I am willing to bet the vast majority of repeat visitors to SXM first went there on a cruise.

That's how we first found SXM. After five stops there we decided to vacation there and stay for ten days. Now its four weeks.

I'll take the middle road here. I was a cruiser first, air visitor second and multiple cruise visitor thereafter and will be back by air very soon to see first hand. And while I was not exactly impressed with the old shacks and they could each stand to be replaced, these do look better but cookie cutter and a bit like an out island make believe spot as mentioned. Maybe that impression will fade away once the tenants move in and crowds show up. I hope so. We'll see if organized cruise buses are filling the lots and eating the standard chosen meal as opposed to individuals in cabs and rentals. I love cruisers just not cruise excursions in many cases. "And now on the right you'll see what was Club Orient", please enjoy your watered rum punch and enjoy a 15 minute swim before we haul you back thru Marigot for your trinket shopping". Sorry to be cynical.

Sorry, I have to say that a large percentage of the visitors before were cruise visitors, which is not a bad thing. People say 'cruise visitors', like it's some kind of a plague..

Overall, I think the project will be an improvement for the beach. Meantime, the previous lessees of the restaurants are getting royally scr*wed, still closed as of December 2, and no end in sight...

Some business owners spent thousand of dollars and lots of work hours getting their businesses up and running for last year's season after Gustavo. Some upgraded to much nicer restaurant venues all for not. And now, some may not even be back. The comment about the cruisers came from many posts about catering to the cruisers. In fact, a few restaurants closed when there a few or no cruise ships in port. Again, take Paradise and put up a parking lot.

I would love to know how many many who first came to SXM stay on the Dutch side as opposed to the French side. Would love to know trending info.

We are heading back in April part of the attraction were the slap together buildings and different Color paint
This cookie cutter approach and modernization is not appealing to me what so ever. Most likely won't step foot in a door
As far as I'm concerned the Orient Beach we came to love over the years is ruined. Just my opinion

Why would someone go to a place they have never been to before and stay for a week or more when they can go on a cruise to check the place out first? And Rural when is the winter construction period in a place like St. Martin? LOL Just wondering.

Right! So the daytime highs are only in the high 80s instead of the mid 90s... And the impact on construction is...???

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

First saw Orient 1980 no shops or eateries, no Club Orient. Then things changed. Some didn't like it. Now it's changing again and some won't like it. For newcomers it will be just great. Those of us who got "used to" buildings in paradise will get used to the new buildings.

The comment about the winter construction season was totally in jest for anyone who could not figure that out.

For those opposed to this project and who have concerns about the prior business owners....how many of you, IF ANY, have done anything more than voice a concern and opinion on TTOL? Any contact with the French government of the island? We all have the right and option to voice an opinion but unless you go to the source of the decision making process you will have little if any impact.

I have meet some great folks from cruises, so have nothing against a "cruiser" per say, it's just the large, and ever increasing number of cruise ships that now stop here.
In other words, it's the volume, not the person.
In regards to the shops, I too long for the old days, yet change will happen. I would not discriminate against a place of business, just because they are in one of the "new" shops. Not their fault, probably not their desire either. In a few years, these shops will become a little weathered, and start to fit right in, and some future generation will bemoan some other spoiling of the island.

With regards to cruise ships, the island built a new pier and the island WANTS cruise ships to come, it is $$$$!!! The number can be overwhelming, just like with the mess they create around Sunset and Maho Beach. We as tourists, visitors, timeshare owners, etc. can really do nothing about it. Perhaps a letter or email to government officials MIGHT get some attention but I seriously doubt it. About the only voice we have is through our choice to either continue to visit the island and spend $$$ there or not to do so.

We've met great people from the ships too! I do get put off by some of the loud groups, cruisers or not.
Back to the construction at Orient - I do hope some "weathering" will help, but I'm afraid I'll always miss the funky beach-bar feel. Right now it looks like a new outdoor mini mall. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sad.gif" alt="" />

"Little boxes on the (beach)side
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
Little boxes on the (beach)lside
Little boxes all the same
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same"

We 1st stayed on the Dutch side some 20+ years ago because that's where the travel agents booked Americans. We ended up at the French side for the beaches during the day, back to out hotel to clean up, then back to the French side for dinner. After 2 years of this routine, we "got brave" and stayed at Mont Vernon, which was a very nice, very French, hotel back then.We've been staying on the French side ever since.

We have made 15+ visites to SXM, and never went there on a cruise before deciding to visit for weekly visits....and I'm sure we are not the only ones

I don't understand what the fuss is all about...We have been coming to St Martin for about 20 years and we love it !!! It's true that Orient has gone through some changes,and I think it has always improved.On our two week stay we usually go to Orient four or five times but if I didn't like what was going on with the new restaurants.....I would go to one of the other many many beautiful beaches on the island and I'm sure you would find something you like.For me,I can't wait to go back to Orient in Feb. and enjoy the beach and warm sunshine!!!

The changes only effect a small part of the Orient Beach stretch. I don't understand the concerns many of you have regarding this. If you don't like the changes on that part of the beach go to another beach or another part of Orient Beach.

Maybe they should have just left them as they were...

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> Ok, that is somewhat cheating, as those pictures are immediately post Gonzalo and the restaurants all did a major cleanup before they were forced to close in June. But even before Gonzalo, most were not very attractive to me.

Hopefully this won't happen to the new ones...

Lets get further off subject. With the demise of the beach bars on Orient, the only original beach shack design left on the island is the red, white and blue place on the way up the hill overlooking Cole Bay and Simpson Bay Lagoon. It is called Bethlehem ( or something close to that) and should have a Guinness world record for worst grammar and syntax on a business sign. I wish I remembered this place when people were saying the new buildings would be blown away with the first good wind. The shack on the hill has been there forever. Columbus probably saw through his telescope as he passed by. But it has come through every storm no matter how strong without a scratch. Maybe builder on the Island should study its construction methods.

hello all!
are those pictures from today ? does anyone know how orange fever faired? thanks!

We go to that part of the beach because we've been visiting Leandra's from our very first stay, and she has become a dear friend. She and Zelman are our "draw". We're there almost every day for lunch and beach time. Hopefully she'll be coming back, we'll find out mid-April. Will be interested to see what the "vibe" is on Orient by then.

The pictures of the destruction are NOT from today.

What usually happens to any little-known location with special qualities is that a few people who are especially attracted to its features talk about it, more people are attracted, entrepreneurs set up to take advantage of the opportunity to provide services, still more people hear about it and want to experience what it offers, but maybe with a bit more convenience and services, and eventually its reputation for being special brings in so many people that the qualities that made it special in the first place no longer exist. It may still be an attractive location, but for quite different reasons than those that made it special in the first place. That’s pretty much what happened to Orient and to a large degree to the island in general.
My opinion – Orient was still special in 1989
but the “end” was in sight

Perhaps one of the very best analogies I've seen so far. I'm sure the people who knew Orient in the sixties thought Pedro and Club O brought ruin to their favorite spot in the 70s just as we felt that same ruin in the 80's and as so many have since then.

It is what it is, folks, and those who come down the road will probably love it just as we did 'back in the day' as we scratch our heads and ask WHY?!

I have chosen to never travel on a floating petri dish. Went to SXM the first time in 1989, having never been there before, or anywhere south of the Bahamas. Good decision, and I've been several other places I've never been to before on a cruise as well. Life is an adventure.

Not to spoil your fun, but an airplane is no less of a petri dish. But with only 200 people on board, if 10% (2 people) get a cold or other bug passed to them, no one ever hears about it. But let 10% of a cruise ship get sick (200 to 500 people) and it makes all of the news sources. It's all about numbers.

Yes, that is Himels and he has a sub name as well, Bethel.
He apparently spent his time playing his piano there as Luis had his visit in 1995. Amazing.
Years ago I stopped in for a cold beer in the afternoon, and his helper was sound asleep and I couldn't wake him. So, I took the beers and told my wife that I'd go back later and pay. So, 2 days later I stopped in and Himel was there and I explained what happened. He reached into the cooler and said did you get Heineken, I said yes. He then handed 2 to me and said enjoy. He wouldn't take any money and said I was an honest man and should be rewarded.
Needless to say, I stop in every year now.

Great story, thanks for sharing. I like Heineken too. What time in the afternoon is the helper sleeping you said? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

As Yogi Berra Said: "No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded." <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

It was 3:30 ish.

Lately when I've stopped there the lot is full of tour buses and others taking pictures (selfies even) of the beautiful vistas towards Simpson Bay. I spent nearly half an hour there one time and not one person went inside and bought anything, except me and a policeman.

Where is Mr. Peabody and his Way Back Machine when you need him?

...and as Don Henley sang "call someplace paradise and kiss it goodbye"...

Nice story!!

I would rather spend 7 days in an awful Caribbean location than spend one on some boat where I am told when and where to do things. I have never been in that situation however, because I research my vacations.

I was initially bummed that the construction wouldn't be finished by the beginning our recent October visit. But we realized once we got to SXM, and spent three days visiting Club Orient, that we didn't actually care about the beach shacks at all. We didn't want to put our clothes back on to go over there, anyway ! LOL The guests, the drinks, and the wonderful bartenders at the Perch have hooked us for life, I think.