Best beach on St. Maarten

[akl432]

We are trying to decide which beach to visit for our St. Maarten day. We would like to experience a beautiful beach with white sand and crystal blue water (we don't snorkel). What beach would you recommend?

I have heard Orient Beach is very popular. Is it the most beautiful?

If you recommend Orient, what part of the beach would be best to go to if we want to limit our exposure to topless/nude sunbathers? (Nothing against them; just don't care to see them.)

Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

Orient is very well known and "popular." Be aware that there is a "clothing optional" part of this beach. I've read that there is a family section, but our tour took us to the "optional" part. We have a few long standing family jokes from this trip. I

A beautiful beach is Divi Little Bay.

 

[scraptami]

Orient beach is beautiful. You can rent a duo chair and umbrella for like 10 bucks I think and you get a free drink from this shack on the beach that sells hamburgers. You can just relax or they also have parasailing, jet skis, etc.

There is definetely a nudie side, but if you don't go past the man at the rocks who the locals call donkey man (don't ask) then you'll be fine. If you go past the rock wall, you're forewarned.

 

[nikkistevej]

Orient is very well known and "popular." Be aware that there is a "clothing optional" part of this beach. I've read that there is a family section, but our tour took us to the "optional" part. We have a few long standing family jokes from this trip. I

A beautiful beach is Divi Little Bay.

We went there (Little Divi Bay) and it was awesome!! NO one was there but about 4 other families all day. We had a wonderful time and it was beautiful.

 

[TiaMaria]

A beautiful, quiet beach just south of Orient is called Le Galion beach. It is located down the road from the Butterfly Farm. We went there before and it was great. VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY.

It is calm and beautiful. Beautiful, sandy beach. Very quiet. Known locally as a "family" beach. There is a reef out at the point that keeps the large, dangerous waves away. You can see St. Barth's from the beach.

Wonderful little restaurant with pretty clean bathrooms (owned and run by an American) called Tropical Wave (sometimes called Chez Pat). The rent watersport equipment and have great food. Lots of shade here - they will set up lounge chairs and an umbrella on the beach for a small fee. I've attached a link with coupons.

http://www.sxm-orientbeach.com/chezpat/index.html


http://www.sint-maarten.net/St-Maarten-Beaches/LeGalion.html

 

[TexasGirl]

We went to Le Gallion last Oct. Loved it and echo everything the previous poster said. So calm and pretty. We enjoyed the meal at the resterant on site too as poster said.

 

[CBJHockeyNut]

bump

 

[owensjro]

As mentioned on one end of Orient Beach is Club Orient which is clothing optional. Be aware, however, that all of the beaches on the French side are "European" style which means women may go topless. While on the Dutch side this is not the official policy the locals on other boards have pointed out that you cannot rule out seeing a topless lady on any beach there either (for awhile the Sunset Bar at Maho was offering free drinks to ladies with no tops).

We have found that going to Orient in the morning and leaving around lunch time is very nice. We have the pick of the seats (we tend to head to the Pirate where things are a bit cheaper than the main 5 "clubs") and the beach is not crowded at all. By noon things have definitely picked up.

If you do go to Orient and want to avoid the full nudity ask to be dropped off at Bikini beach, not Pedros.

Sorry we haven't been to any other beach on the island as yet so can't offer other advice.

Jim

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Orient is very well known and "popular." Be aware that there is a "clothing optional" part of this beach. I've read that there is a family section, but our tour took us to the "optional" part. We have a few long standing family jokes from this trip. I

A beautiful beach is Divi Little Bay.

We went to Divi Little Bay last week. It was wonderful. It was close to the ship, easy to get to ($4/person cab ride) and the resort was beautiful. It was not crowded. You can rent chairs and umbrellas right on the beach for $5 a piece. We had DD4's hair braided by the nicest lady, right on the beach. She was not pushy and she was so gentle with DD. Absolutely no tears.

The only negative I have to say was that it took forever to get lunch and make sure you have plenty of time to get back to the ship. Traffic in the afternoon is crazy. It took 45 minutes to go a few miles.

 

[kcashner]

As mentioned on one end of Orient Beach is Club Orient which is clothing optional. Be aware, however, that all of the beaches on the French side are "European" style which means women may go topless. While on the Dutch side this is not the official policy the locals on other boards have pointed out that you cannot rule out seeing a topless lady on any beach there either (for awhile the Sunset Bar at Maho was offering free drinks to ladies with no tops).
If you do go to Orient and want to avoid the full nudity ask to be dropped off at Bikini beach, not Pedros.

Sorry we haven't been to any other beach on the island as yet so can't offer other advice.

Jim

It wasn't topless ladies that gave my teen an anatomy lesson....it was (her words) fat old men.

 

[RIJim]

A beautiful, quiet beach just south of Orient is called Le Galion beach. It is located down the road from the Butterfly Farm. We went there before and it was great. VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY.

It is calm and beautiful. Beautiful, sandy beach. Very quiet. Known locally as a "family" beach. There is a reef out at the point that keeps the large, dangerous waves away. You can see St. Barth's from the beach.

Wonderful little restaurant with pretty clean bathrooms (owned and run by an American) called Tropical Wave (sometimes called Chez Pat). The rent watersport equipment and have great food. Lots of shade here - they will set up lounge chairs and an umbrella on the beach for a small fee. I've attached a link with coupons.

http://www.sxm-orientbeach.com/chezpat/index.html


http://www.sint-maarten.net/St-Maarten-Beaches/LeGalion.html

Thank you so much! I think this beach is exactyl what we are looking for. I have a 5 and 7 year old and the pics I see on the web of Orient Beach did not excite me. The big question is......how do you get there and back? Do you just catch a cab at the port and say you want to go to le Galion beach, how do you get a ride back? Thanks again, great info!!!!

 

[TiaMaria]

Thank you so much! I think this beach is exactyl what we are looking for. I have a 5 and 7 year old and the pics I see on the web of Orient Beach did not excite me. The big question is......how do you get there and back? Do you just catch a cab at the port and say you want to go to le Galion beach, how do you get a ride back? Thanks again, great info!!!!

You are welcome!

Yes, once you debark the ship, you walk down the pier and there is someone local there that will direct you to the taxi stand (this is about a 5 minute walk from the gangway of the ship). At the taxi stand, you just tell the attendant where you want to go. They are very familiar with Le Galion (it's on the French side - again, just south of Orient - past the Butterfly Farm - down a very bumpy road).

It was about a $20.00 taxi ride (with tip) and the nice thing is - you make arrangements with the attendant and the taxi driver to pick you back up at Le Galion at a time you specify. Allow yourself about 45 minutes to get back - it may not take that long - but in case there is traffic you don't want to be stressed. I was nervous about being picked back up but our driver was there right on time. There were other DCL folks there also, so I figured we could "hitch a ride" with them or at least have their driver call - but no worries. The restaurant can also always call a taxi if needed - but I found it very easy to arrange our return trip with our driver.

I know you will love this beach with the ages of your little ones. The food is very good also - great atmosphere all around. Enjoy!

 

[PPFQP]

Another recommendation for Little Divi Bay. It's a lovely resort. There are restrooms and a restaurant. There is also a pool. Although a sign says it is for resort guests only, we saw some day-guests using it. I'd read that you could rent snorkel equipment and jet ski's, but we did not do that. The water is very calm and clear, and the beach is quiet and uncrowded. We paid $30 to rent two umbrellas and four lounge chairs. I'd recommend getting their early as umbrellas became scarcer as the day went on.

Here's a picture:

 

[kingcole]

Goto Maho beach!

About 30 mins in a taxi from the port and you get A340 airplanes landing 10ft over your head - even the pilot waves.

If thats not enough excitement, wait for one to take off and be jet blasted into the water!!!!

Seach 747 St Marteen on You Tube for some wicked flicks!