Club Orient

Sorry for the intrusion. It.has been a while since I have been on here. How is Club Orient for last week inApril, first week in May. Also, GCBC? Obviously I have not followed for a while, but hope and expect everyone respects my post and replies honestly.

Club Orient was completely destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Reconstruction has not even begun yet due to continuing litigation. The beach is there, but you'll have to find somewhere else to bunk down. GCBC is back in business, I believe, so you can give them a try.

As the other response stated, Club O itself was blown away by Irma. The beach is there, and the Perch is reopened, and they are renting chairs and umbrellas. GCBC is open, yes.

Is the beach still clothing optional? What about the Perch?

Yes to both. But, this is just the southern end of Orient Beach south of the 'rocks'. North of that is just like any other french beach, and some of the former beach bars and restaurants have re-opened for drinks, dining, and renting chairs with an umbrella for laying out. We're returning in four weeks so I'm excited to see Orient Beach once again (it's been almost two years away for us).

Thanks for the replies. If we stay at GCBC is transportation to Orient available? Cost? Also, what about restaurants around GCBC? And finally, if GCBC is booked what other resorts are open that you would recommend?

The best transportation on SXM is a rental car. Cheap, compared to many other places. MANY restaurants close to GCBC.

You could get a taxi from Grand Case to Orient Beach relatively easy. About $15 USD, I believe. Definitely too far to walk.

There are several restaurants open in the Grand Case area including Bistro Caraibes, Rainbow Cafe, Spiga and several others. Not all have bounced back from Hurricane Irma, however. You can check out other posts on this message board for additional restaurants or search online.

If you want to stay in Grand Case there's a lovely little hotel called LePetit Hotel further west on the same road. Never stayed here, but we did sort of take a mini tour a few years ago. Run by a very nice couple (Remy and ?). I know they are open for business. Or, you could stay in Orient Village. Quite sure the La Plantation hotel is open, and was always priced reasonably in the past. Esmeralda is also open in the same area, and is actually closer to Orient Beach. But, it's likely more expensive this time of year. Finally, the Oyster Bay Beach Resort (OBBR) is just south on the Dutch side and is priced similar to La Plantation. There are some nice restaurants nearby, but you'd have to check to see which ones have reopened after Irma. Good luck with your search!

So someone can actually eat there without a strip of clothing on right now? I’m just curious. This is something I do and I don’t want to do at the same time.

Yes Club O is gone ,for now, and the beach in front of the property is still and likely will be forever clothing optional. The Perch is gone but Cedrick and some other former Club O staff have built a replacement called Perch Lite. They have a full bar, a decent menu and a restroom and all reports are its all pretty good. They also rent the classic loungers and umbrellas you probably remember. There are several good options for accomadations as mentioned. We choose Mt Vernon this time for its location, right on Orient as well as price. Depending on your transportation needs car rental usually ends up being more of an expense than advertised and definatly a hassle. We use a local guy,Winston Blythe. There are many reports that the island traffic has gotten quite bad so Im happy to let a seasoned local deal with that. Good luck and enjoy ! Cheers.

I meant Perch Lite, of course. I can actually dine there naked?

Of course ! Just like before. Enjoy.

Lol that’s probably not happening. I’m just surprised. Beaches, I can see, since you’re immersed in water, but restaurants....

The former Club Orient was a clothing OPTIONAL resort, including the restaurant.

Lol. Sounds like you are better off on the "dark" side of Orient as some of us in front of the Club lightheartly call the stretch from Pedros to Mt Vernon. Cheers.

People at Perch Lite eating there on picnic tables bring towels or wraps to sit on. They don't sit directly on picnic bench.

And it's not technically a restaurant. It's a beach bar with picnic tables to eat your food at & your drinks.

I kind of figured. If I do end up there, the last thing I need is a splinter in my butt!

I'm a relative newbie, returning in May. Is Perch life toward Club O from Pedro's or the other way toward French side? Thanks.

Both are on French side of island. Perch lite is towards old Club O from old Pedros.

Perch Lite is on Club O property.

Did it rebuild in the same approximate location as before? Hopefully, they moved it back a little bit. And what about the woman who was the bartender in there (sorry, can't remember her name!)? Hopefully, they're getting good crowds now that we're in the high season. I know I'm going to have beer there (or two) next month!

They've had good crowds from day one since they were the only thing going for a good long time. If you mean Willie, she has retired.

Dark side?

That was kind of a joke among those who preferred to be au natural on Orient Beach and the stretch of beach that ran parallel to Club Orient. Trust me, there's absolutely nothing 'dark' about the upper two-thirds of this beach. In fact it has always been topless optional when laying out or walking the entire beach. And, now with the return of Kakao, Kontiki and Bikini Beach it's really worth spending time on both parts of Orient Beach to see what is good for you and what's not.

Ah, I see. Again, au natural is something I do and I don’t want to do at the same time. I don’t because I’ll be with my parents and because nobody has seen me in the buff since I was five except for me in the shower. I do because it’s an intriguing experience, something to cross off my bucket list, and the good old “When am I ever going to be here again?”

You crack me up, Allison. You never know ... maybe your parents will want to give this a try! You mention the term 'bucket list' but you are way too young for that! But, it does bring back an old memory I had about Orient Beach several years ago. My wife and I were laying out in the first row of chairs at Kakao and she was reading her favorite book when I decided it was time to go for a walk to avoid falling asleep. So, I planned to walk down past Pedro's and all the way down to Papagayo and back, stopping for another Corona at Pedro's en route.

As I was walking an attractive younger woman (maybe in her early 30's) came up along side me and we began to chat. She was here for one day from a cruise ship in port and was walking at a slightly faster pace than I was. She had never been at Orient Beach before, so I said to her "past those rocks you're going to encounter nude sunbathers so that's a spot where many folks turn around." She smiled at me and said "yep, that's something I want to get off my 'bucket list' so that's exactly where I'm heading!" I just laughed as she went past me and I ducked into Pedro's to get my beer. I have no idea what she did or didn't do with her bikini, but I never saw her again the rest of the day.

It's memories and experiences like this one that makes St. Martin and Orient Beach such a fun destination. My best advice is don't overthink it and just do what you are comfortable with!

Those were my walks at Uncle Ernie's on Shoal Bay in Anguilla years ago. Buy a Heineken, walk half-a-beer down the beach, turn around, and walk back. Rinse and repeat.

The origins of the "dark" side dig goes back to when Orient became divided as you used to be able to be nude anywhere on Orient according to my friends who were there at that time.Its a semi serious shot at the situation as it is now with the more enlightened folks now being relegated to a much smaller area. Not exactly sure when that happened or why.

Interesting info. I remember when you could stroll the entire length of Orient Beach in the buff first thing in the morning (like before 8 a.m.) All the way up to Mont Vernon and back. But, several years ago as the number of beach bars and restaurants grew and construction was ramped up, even that was frowned on. I never did this north of "the rocks", but there were many people who did and enjoyed this. With the newly constructed beach bars returning this past year they appear to be set back further than before. So, why not let people strut their stuff in the early morning hours before the cruise ship guests arrive? Has anyone out there given this a try lately?

My feeling is that the reason why the gendarmes started enforcing no nudity past Pedros was because of complaints by RESIDENTS and hotels along the beach, not beach bars. A lot of those places still aren't repaired as of now, Because there were so few people on the beach for months and months, I'm sure a lot of people did walk the beach nude in past months. Now that there are several places open on Orient to dine, and more living places are repaired, it's very possible that the gendarmes will start enforcement again. My personal opinion is that those days are gone forever, when you could walk all the way to Mt Vernon nude. Yes, a person could probably get away with it for a few more months maybe, but don't count on it. Long term, those days are gone.

Back in the day (a long time back) when only Pedros and Club O (and before that) were there you could be nude anywhere on the beach any time and there would be people walking end to end all day. Not that there were that many, but Orient developed a reputation of being a nice deserted, unspoiled beach so more people began to go there, leading to the development that took over in the late '80's. Once clothed customers and residents (and business owners) who were uncomfortable around naked people became the majority, nudity beyond Pedros became restricted - first during cruiser times, but once something starts to go it keeps on going..

Thanks for the insights. In some ways that's too bad. My belief is that people should be able to enjoy the beach in whatever manner is comfortable for them. There are plenty of other beaches on St. Martin that those folks who are concerned about nudity can visit. Some time ago I posted a blurb about our visit last summer to Es Trenc beach on the Spanish Island of Mallorca. Anybody and every body mixed together at this beach including straight and gay, nude and clothed, old and young, and anything else you could think of. In fact the nude section was right in the middle and you had to walk through it to go from one end of the beach to the other! No gendarmes patrolling the scene or watching your every move. I realize that was Europe (and Spain in particular), but I wish in some ways that all of Orient Beach could be like that. Orient will always be my favorite beach, however.

In the days before my wife and I started going to Club O, I think our first time was 2008, we frequented Orient with our children . I recall specifically one time the gendarmes showed up and arrested a couple who had come from Club O nude. We were having lunch at Baywatch at the time and were sitting with Andy. What he told us was that the complaints were coming from the tourists and not from residents and businesses on the beach.

That's really sad. They actually arrested them? My gosh did they have to post bond? I suppose there are a fair number of tourists who take an excursion to Orient Beach and truly do not know the history of the beach. Maybe the cruise lines who offer excursions here should add a 'warning' after describing the activities that says something like ... "PLEASE NOTE: You may encounter nude sunbathers on this beach." Well, at least the southern end of Orient Beach remains clothing optional and to would be a big mistake if that ever changed.

I don't know what actually happened with anyone that the gendarmes cited. I assume that most were allowed to go with a warning or at the most, they paid a fine.

When we first visited Orient Beach in 2000 LaPlaya ,CoCo had nude sunbathers and the beach had a great live and let live vibe . People walked the entire beach nude all day long but the majority did early in the am or after 4. Now this is what happened as told to me by friends who live there. The behavior of some of the people was a bit more over the top than you would expect.The 4th of July parade is the one instance that several friends alluded to. The rest is history. i have never seen or heard of anyone being arrested or fined. They were just asked to return to Club O

Maybe I should have added the male was giving the gendarmes a hard time. Probably pissed them off a bit. They were led off the beach in cuffs with towels. I cant say what happened after that. As for the cruise lines giving warnings, from the conversations I've had with cruisers who come to Club O beach, they know full well what to expect from the tour hawkers in town, as well as the cabbies and word of mouth. Have you never seen the signs in Philipsberg advertising " see the world famous nude beach " ? Its no wonder the cruisers have gained the reputation of gawkers and pests. Not all ,of course, but there is enough of them to create the problems that sometimes occur. We will be there shortly and Im very curious to see how it is now with Cedrick pretty much running things. I see a pretty heavy cruise ship schedule for the time we will be there.

Thanks for clarifying. I'm curious to see how things are going when we return in March. Many of us were once cruise ship visitors, and when we made port in Philipsburg we chose Orient Beach for our shore excursion. Not to gawk at anyone, but simply to see what this was all about. Friends of ours had gone there on their honeymoon back in 1981 and raved about it when they came back, as did a co-worker who made a cruise stop there a few years later. So, naturally curiosity was a driving influence. After all, this is one of the primary items that puts St. Martin on the map and separates it from the other nearby Caribbean islands. Once my wife and I made our initial visit we fell in love with this beach and the vibe emanating from Club Orient, and have returned year (almost) every year since. We then learned to embrace the entire island with our subsequent visits.

Interacting with cruise ship guests, however has been an interesting experience. Sure, some of the people head down there and gawk and giggle. In all honesty it's more women than men who do this. When I would encounter them I would say "what are you standing there watching for? C'mon and give it a try!" And, believe it or not I have had several people over the years 'shed their inhibitions' and take the walk! Not that I was outwardly trying to convert anyone, but once people give this a try they soon learn how liberating it is and hopefully plan to return in the future. I honestly hope this same high level of curiosity still exists, because I do believe there are more positives from this than negatives. I'll be sure to do a trip report when I get back!

Ive had similer experiances on the beach at Club O. For the most part the folks who come on the beach are just that, curious about what its all about. Nothing wrong with that. Its a shame the idiots who have their camera lens off and camera hanging in a convenient position, thinking no one will notice are common. As well the ones who feel the need to impose thier opinions and values on us immoral heathens. Thats a quote. A case can certainly be made for making the beach nude only (there are beachs like that) eliminating the problem completely. I wouldnt want that but Im tired of the fools and profiteers.

Club Fantastico is a great replacement for those Orient Bay goers that want something a little higher end. And you can walk to the village and beach.

Thanks, Rich. Never been here, but isn't the walk back to Club Fantastico like really uphill? Not like that wouldn't be a good cardio thing, but I believe it's rather steep. It was so sad when places like Alamanda and Palm Court got destroyed by Irma because they were super close to the beach (especially Alamanda). Haven't heard from the folks who run Palm Court, but here we are 17 months post hurricane and neither hotel has returned. What a shame.

Yes, Club Fantastico is up a pretty steep hill. Too steep for me, but I'm lazy.

No reason to say sorry for posting here... Posts are welcome! Club Orient is really great and last week of April is perfect.
Have fun and enjoy your time there.

Chloe and Thierry at Club Fantastico are well known for looking after thier guests. Although I've not had the pleasure of being a guest there yet, we've some dear friends who do stay there. Transportation is one of the many things these exceptional hosts do.

We will be back in March, and really looking forward to it. It’s been a year since we were there, but every trip I walk the entire beach every morning nude up to about 830 am. Never had a problem. The only exception is I don’t do it on weekends because the locals are of course off work, and sometimes frown on it. Not trying to push my luck. But 5 days out of the week is fine with me.

We will be staying at Mt Vernon this trip and Im hoping for some early morning nude beach time in front before we make our way down to see Cedrick, but I dont want to be offensive to anyone. We'll see.

Our first trip was the year before Luis. Walking the beach end to end in the buff was something we did more than once a day from Club O. I guess like everything else, it's just another memory of the "good old days".

Just go early. Should be ok.

Speaking of gawkers and pests from the cruises, the parking lot at Pedro's seemed to become the main gathering spot for that. The brave ones head on down to the beach but quite a few just stay up in the lot taking pictures towards the resort.

My wife and I have gone to Orient since 2004. She used to be comfortable walking topless from one end of the beach to the other. Unfortunately, the last few times over about the last five years it hasn't been that way. Once the sand in front of Pedro's washed out it was necessary to go through the parking lot just to get from one side of the beach to the other. She made the mistake of not taking a top with her one time and said it was really uncomfortable getting past that parking lot.

Did Irma at least put some sand back in front of Pedro's location?

Not sure, but Pedro's is long gone so that should not be a problem. Even in the past when the sand was washed away we just stepped on and over the rocks to get from one end to the other. Not once did we ever have to go through the parking area where the taxi drivers would drop people off. Of course, I would often stop at Pedro's to grab a beer which made the walk complete!

As for gawkers and pests I would say just ignore them. I think some folks worry about this too much, and when you're worrying about something it takes away from your vacation time. The very first time I went without apparel on Orient Beach I nervously looked around to see who might be watching or judging me. But, I soon learned that absolutely no one cared. Everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves with or without swimsuits on. If some people want to stare let them ... I'll take this as a compliment!

Gawkers were easy to ignore, but the pests would be downright pesky. My wife, who was 45 at the time, did not appreciate having to wave off several guys trying to strike up conversations as she was trying to get across the parking area. Funny thing, she didn't have that problem when I was walking with her.

Allison start topless then go "all the way" as your fear ebbs or confidence rises. I started topless at Dawn Beach way back when the Westin Hotel wasn't there.

Tha gawkers are actually quite amusing. We get a kick out of those couples that start to walk down Club O beach and all of a sudden turn around abruptly with an obvious heated discussion taking place. Funny stuff. The pests are the secret photo and video takers as well as those who actually engage us on our own turf about our choice to be nude. One poor sap actually pointed a camera right at my wife, despite being warned not to. He paid dearly for that one, including the loss of an expensive camera.

Perhaps I am missing something here but isn't Orient Beach, along with ALL beaches on the island, a PUBLIC beach and not anybody's "own turf"?

I personally don't care one way or the other about others personal choices on Orient Beach but the continued use of the term "textiles" and considering a stretch of beach a group or a persons "own turf" is rather disrespectful. Kind of like the "gawkers" that are being referred to.

You make a very good point, carrier. The beach in front of what was once Club Orient was not their property, but it was only natural that the Club Orient contingent adopted this as their own. And, you're correct. The choice of whether to go nude or leave your swimsuit on is strictly a personal matter. Over the years I've done this both ways and I'm still the same person.

As for snapping photos let's face it. Everyone has a camera phone these days. If people want to snap selfies of themselves on the beach, I have no issues with that. But, if they begin to snap photos of others some degree of mutual respect should prevail. This should not be done without the consent of the people being photographed. But, when you worry about this or you're just not comfortable with the possibility of being photographed then maybe a more secluded beach location (i.e., Happy Bay Beach) might be the answer. Just an option.

Very much agree with your "common sense" approach. Thank you.

This "our turf" sentiment has at times spread to all of Orient Beach, Cupecoy Beach and just about any other beach where people feel like doing their own personal thing. This is often without regard to local laws, local customs and residents and other visitors. It is like saying "doing this or that" has been "acceptable" at "xyz beach" in the past. Perhaps some do not know the local laws or customs and that is how it happens but I have also seen it attempted on Anguilla and it is usually dealt with swiftly by a local.

I was thinking that, but of course my shoulders burn bad in the sun, even with the best sunscreen.

Allison,

If I was you, it’s not my shoulders I’d be most worried about! The twin peaks can and will burn badly and while not from personal experience, I have it on good authority, this can be extremely painful.

If you do happen to end up with a bad sunburn anywhere, Biofine (perhaps Biofine?) can be purchased otc at Maho Pharmacy and probably at most others, too, and it works wonders in relieving the pain from a severe sunburn.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Ok lets do some common sense here then. The only place it is legal to be nude on the island is that one small section of Orient. It is in that context that the term " our turf " applies. My comment was only about Orient and no where else.That section of the beach is for all of us who enjoy naturalism to do our thing if you will . There is a reason why the no photography restriction applies. It did not go away with Club O and is enforced to this day.That means no cameras of any kind. It doesnt matter if you are ok with cameras there .Many of us are not and thats why the rule. Yes, the beach is shared with those who prefer to be clothed, as it should be in a mutually respectfull environment. Too often that is not the case. I dont need or want anyones criticism or judgement for doing what I have a perfectly legal right to do. I respect the rights of other people on the " textile " side and do not cross that line as unfortunately some do.

So what make it illegal to have a camera there and take pictures of your friend or friends with you? Or a selfie of you and the beach or water? I can see the difference of directly taking a picture of someone without permission, which is unacceptable, but to just take a random scenic shot is to me OK.

OK, actually French law provides that no one should be photographed without their permission. It doesn't matter whether the person is clothed or not. So hdrdr, your statement is not correct. What is prohibited is NOT cameras per se, but taking someone's picture without their permission.

This one is done.