St Maarten Orient Beach

By Rami Maya

St Maarten / St Martin, in either it's Dutch or French spelling, is renowned for it's plentiful 37 beaches crammed into just 37 square miles, but the 'jewel' in the crown of St Maarten/ St Martin beaches, and known throughout the world, is Orient Beach.

Known as much for it's nudity as it is for it's fine dining and water sports, Orient beach seems to have enough for everyone and at over 2 kms long it certainly has room for it!

Orient beach is just as popular with residents as it is with hotel, timeshare or the behemoth cruise ships that dock in Philipsburg (Dutch side - only 15 minutes drive!). Here's why:

With hardly anyone around at sunrise, St Martin residents are out in small number, taking a morning stroll or walking their dogs whilst American tourists are strolling naked. With no beach chairs or umbrellas yet assembled in their military rows on this vast beach, there is little to hamper the speed-walker or sloucher.

Before noon the cruise ship passengers arrive to take up their positions on the heavily promoted St Martin Orient Beach with restaurants and beach bars and quickly settle into numerous rows of chairs and umbrellas. Not to worry - there is more than enough room on this expansive Orient beach for everyone.

Lunchtime at Orient beach can be as simple as a burger and fries for $10 or a gourmet lunch with Crystal champagne for a $100 a head - it's your choice. A mid-range restaurant that is a personal favorite is Palm Beach which is tastefully furnished with thoughtful spacing between beach chairs (which are free if you're dining or drinking). Dining is a simple but elegant pleasure and will not let down even the most discerning of palates. A cool chic environment.

Water sports are a big attraction at Orient Beach - jet-ski, banana boat, parasail, snorkel, speedboat, sailboat, windsurfing - you name it, it's there. On busy days it can look like a huge waterborne playground!

Sunset cocktails are mandatory it seems, after a hard day in the sun, and Bikini Beach bar is no exception when it comes to excellent cocktails and after hours service. And if you've regained your appetite there is the fantastic French village called, well.... 'Le Village', where you'll find a dozen or so uniquely complimentary restaurants for all tastes and budgets. A great hangout for kids and an even better place for sun-kissed adults to wind down for the evening.

It's rumored that a week on Orient Beach St Maarten is quite simply not long enough to taste all the different flavors and colors of this tropical paradise, but if you're a cruise ship passenger you probably will only get a small sample with just a few hours ashore; but that should be enough to encourage a return visit 'on-island' for a more thorough study of this tropical paradise.

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