St. Maarten beach recommendations?

[NYCMommy]

Has anyone done their own beach excursions to St. Maarten? As of now our Feb 18 Wonder cruise is still planning to go there so want to at least research..... We would like to take a cab home o a beach but not sure which is easiest/best? We loved when we did Nachi Cocum on our own in Cozumel one year. Is there anything equivalent? Thanks!

 

[Bettyscruise]

We took a cab to Orient beach. It was about a 25 minute ride that started just off the pier. The return trip was in one of the many cabs waiting there at the beach. Easy and simply done. There is the chance of some nudity on this beach so take that into account. Hope they're in shape by your cruise.

 

[mhconley]

We spent 10 nights on St. Martin this past June after first visiting on the Fantasy in October 2015. Orient Bay Beach is by far the nicest on the island. The southern end is a nudist resort but the remainder and majority of the beach is a typical nice European beach. You will see topless females and skimpy swimsuits on both sexes.

Another fantastic beach is Pinel Island. It’s a short water taxi ride from the end of the road in Cul De Sac. The ferry runs every 30 minutes during the day and is $12 per person round trip. There are two restaurants on the beach and you can get a couple of lounge chairs and an umbrella for the day for $20.

Orient Bay was hit very HARD by hurricane Irma. I imagine Pinel Island didn’t fare too well either. We loved St. Martin and will return.

Martin

 

[bumbershoot]

Orient is in St Martin, which is the french side. It’s a little drive away.

We have previously been fine with the beach right there on the dutch side in Sint Maarten.

Hope they're in shape by your cruise.

Eh. People don’t exist just to make my eyes happy. That’s not the point of nude beaches, anyway.

There is the chance of some nudity on this beach so take that into account.

Yep.

At Orient my son got to deal with a nearby woman who was about my age and in about the same decent shape as I was (at the time) sitting around topless. I felt that it was a good lesson in keeping your eyes to yourself, bc they aren’t topless or nude *for us*.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We took a cab to Orient beach. It was about a 25 minute ride that started just off the pier. The return trip was in one of the many cabs waiting there at the beach. Easy and simply done. There is the chance of some nudity on this beach so take that into account. Hope they're in shape by your cruise.

Are you hoping the beaches are in shape (after the hurricane) or the nudists?

 

[SteelersLover]

Took a private taxi. Very nice driver who hung around with us all day (at a cost). Took us to Mullet Bay beach. Beautiful quiet. Had wifi and a little food but

 

[Bettyscruise]

Are you hoping the beaches are in shape (after the hurricane) or the nudists?

Poor wording on my part. I meant the hurricane damage. We were there three years ago, just a week after they were hit by a storm and we were stunned by the damage and how it impacted the island. Orient Beach was pretty torn up. I imagine it is much worse now. Very hard on a populace that depends on tourists.

For what it's worth; the few people I saw, both partially and fully nude definitely were not in shape. Not that I have room to talk...

 

[MUN]

We took a cab to Orient beach. It was about a 25 minute ride that started just off the pier. The return trip was in one of the many cabs waiting there at the beach. Easy and simply done. There is the chance of some nudity on this beach so take that into account. Hope they're in shape by your cruise.

What's wrong with a little nudity? I went topless at Orient Beach, my wife did not.

MUN

BTW, Orient Bay beach is beautiful! I highly recommend it, and it is easy to get there and back via a taxi. The taxis are waiting in the parking lots to take people back to the ships.

We hung out at a place called Orange Fever that was right on the beach. It was very reasonable to rent a couple of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Their food and drink were great and the owner and his workers were very French. I think they are rebuilding after the hurricane.

 

[TFC_UNTIL_I_DIE]

Orient bay is wonderful. There is a nice tiki-hut bar right on the beach. The nudity thing is overblown....its really not that busy. Just make sure you have a backup plan for your return cab as they don't always come back when you arrange.