Beach exploration

My wife and I own at OBBR and have gone to SXM 11 times over the last 20 years. We have fallen into a bit of the "same thing each time', visiting our top 8 beaches and 10 restaurants. We are returning in Feb for 9 days, bringing 6 long time friends along to introduce to SXM. Each day, for the last 2 weeks, I have been sending them a brief report (along with photos) of one of the 36 beaches located on St Maarten. This has caused me to want to get out of my comfort zone and visit a couple of "off the beaten path beaches".

So a couple of questions:
1) I think we will explore Petite Plage (Little Beach) and Bay Rouge this trip. Any reason not to try either of these?
2) I have figured out how to access Bay Rouge (via Chez Raymond) - but haven't figured out how to get to Little Beach. Any suggestions.
3) Do you have a favorite "off the beaten path beach" that you would recomend?

Thanks!

Petit Plague can be entered through Grand Case Beach Club if you plan to eat or drink there. Free loungers if you do. If you don't plan to utilize GCBC park where you can find space on the road then just past the Beach Club on water side is a small path to the beach.

If you don't know where GC Beach Club is, drive from Orient, thru round -a - bout at Cul de Sac then stay right going past Grand Case airport (on your left) to road's end. Street curves left into Grand Case Village. It does also go right but difficult to see the turn. Take the right. Short distance in on the left is the exit gate of Grand Case Beach Club. Drive a little further to entrance gate (left) press button tell them you're going to their restraint Sunset Cafe and they'll buzz you in. Read parking signs then park. Beach is at right just after the Cafe. At left is private in front of their units.

Forgot to add that there is no shade on Petit Plague. So unless you're bringing chairs and umbrella you're better off eating there and using their chairs and umbrellas. Plus the food there is great! There may be a menu at GCBC website. They also rent water sport stuff there like paddle boats, floats etc also on their web site.

Getting free chairs and umbrellas must be new, as I don't recall them offering that prior to Irma.

Thanks for the great info!!

They did prior to Irma as long as you ate there. They even had a flag on the chairs to raise when you needed another drink. Maybe this has all changed since.

We ate there are still paid for the loungers pre Irma.

Here's one you might want to consider that is definitely off the beaten path ... Happy Bay Beach. It's really beautiful, a very natural setting, but you need to bring your own stuff. There's a couple of ways to reach it if you don't have a boat, and they involve a 15 to 20 minute walk through the brush and trees. It's just west of Grand Case and kind of northeast from Friar's Bay. It's a nice break from the more populated beaches if you're looking for something different. Just an FYI.

Thanks, Happy Bay is already on our top 10( guess I should have listed my too 10) visit it during each trip. Very relaxing spot!👍🏻

I'm not sure, but I think the free chairs and the chair service was for people staying there at GCBC??

I expect that is the case.

I was at Petite Plage the first day Sunset Cafe opened (late Nov or early Dec - don't remember exact date). Initially, since we were going to be eating there, we were told the chairs were free. Later, the beach boy told us he was mistaken and chairs would be $10 each. That was fine with us; we just considered it part of their getting their act together after opening. They weren't putting umbrellas up that day due to the wind.