 |
St. Martin |
Here is a trip report submitted by some
of our clients. |
| VG - Summer 2010 |
 |
We enjoyed our trip to Club Orient in May
2010 so much I just booked with Castaways for 10 more days in November.
The staff at Club Orient was very accommodating. The place was clean
and friendly. The beach was fantastic. We did get into Grand Case for a few
meals and had a fantastic meal at Auberge Gourmande
http://www.laubergegourmande.com/home.html . We ran into the
owner's wife in a clothing shop she owns in Philipsburg and of course she
recommended it and we were treated very well. Spoke to a few merchants and it
seems like the shaky economy has hit hard there too. We also had a great day on
the Tico Tico on their dinner cruise.
Club Orient is not Hidden Beach
but I must say we felt more comfortable traveling around the island then we did
in Mexico. There is a lot to be said for all inclusive but more then anything
we like to venture out for the local feel and food. St Martin was a great place
to do that. |
|
|
| March 2010 - Sandy |
|
Club Orient was a very relaxing vacation.
Quiet with beautiful surroundings. Everything you need is right there. The
beach was great and good for taking long walks and the people are all very
friendly.
We had many great experiences at local restaurants for
dinners and enjoyed the Beach BBQ at the Perch Bar on the premises. Excellent
ribs. This is a trip I would take again. |
|
|
| December 2009 - Jack Brown |
|
We had heard that Club Orient fulfilled
this criteria and had briefly visited it while on a nude cruise. The resort
proved to be all that we had envisioned when we arrived on December 14th. We
had booked a mini-suite for two weeks and were assigned #157 just across from
the office from the store. The suite was perfect with a full kitchen, bedroom,
and a living room opening onto a patio where we had breakfast every
morning.....
See Jacks
complete report in PDF format
|
|
|
| August 2008 - ahshea2000 |
|
I was a day tripper from a cruise ship on
an excursion to Orient Bay. The tour operator said from the start that we could
go naked on the beach; so I did. The tour took us to Boo Boo Jam at the
opposite end of the Orient Beach resort. Two of my fellow cruise ship
passengers asked me if they could take pictures of me nude. I consented to this
because they were complementing me on my physique. After this I proceeded to
walk down to the opposite side of the bay to Orient Beach. Going there I had no
problem. However, when I began my journey back to where my group was I was
stopped twice by lifeguards telling me that I could not proceed back to my
group in the nude. I explained to them that there was nothing I could do about
this. That I had no clothes on my person. Both of them proceeded to non
sensibly tell me things like I had to walk along the waterline or swim back to
where my group was. They both even threatened to call the Gendarmes. When I
returned to my group I asked the tour operator out what had happened. She said
that she's lived on St Martin all her life and full nudity has always been
allowed on the entire length of the beach.
ED: See Sept 2007 Report below |
|
|
| December 2007 - Anon |
|
Our experience at Club Orient was very
good. The rooms were great, staff was very friendly. Everything about CO was
great. The only real frustration was the horrible traffic on the island and a
flat tire on the car from Budget. It took us 4 hours from the airport to CO.
Through the darkness while it rained! Fortunately we made without additional
problems and found a friendly bartender on way for a margarita to calm my
wifess nerves. |
|
|
| September 2007 |
|
Orient Beach
FYI, in case
you have heard bad news about nudity at Orient Beach we can confirm that nudity
on the beach, on the floats and in the water is perfectly acceptable in the
beach area adjacent to Club Orient but is not tolerated outside that area.
Nudity was also not a problem on Happy Beach which we approached via water taxi
from Grand Case Beach Club.
Grand Case Beach Club
We
wanted to tell you that all the arrangements went smoothly and according to
plan. Island Rep NV Transfer were right on the ball and on time both on arrival
and departure. The Grand Case Beach Club was everything we expected.. We would
recommend it to others and would happily make a return trip to this venue. A St
Martin vacation is anything you want to make it - we wanted peace & quiet
to unwind qand decompress and found it at GCBC but could have easily have hit
the town in the Margot Phillipsburg had the mood taken us. GCBC is a quality
location on which to base a St. Martin vacation. |
|
|
| June 2007 - Brew |
|
RE: Hotel L'Esplianade St Martin
We choose to stay here (and it is an excellent accommodation) because within
walking distance there is a lovely little beach to go topless on in addition to
great restaurants so we do not have to drive after the bottle of wine we
usually get. Folks are friendly and several remembered us after our first
visit.
We go to Orient Beach during the day and frequently see nudists
doing their morning walk on the whole beach - later though they tend to stay on
the Club O side. Topless is OK everywhere on the (Orient) beach.
Pinel
Island was a fun side trip and we found one secluded beach to go nude on. We
stay away from the Dutch side for the most part because of the traffic. We
enjoy our June visits - the crowds are not bad at all - except for the cruise
ships - and the weather has been excellent. |
|
|
| December 2005 - SS |
|
We visited Club O for the fourth time in
Dec. '06 The owners continue to make improvements to the property and to the
roads accessing the resort. The resort is very well maintained and the people
are very friendly. This is a family type resort so don't come here if you are
expecting wild parties and no kids. There are more children in the summer of
course. The atmosphere is very laid back and we are usually some of the younger
people there who don't bring their children (My husband and I are 38). But
don't let the older crowd keep you away, everyone is friendly and outgoing. You
will generally need to leave the resort if you are looking for excitement. The
bar is generally low key and by 10pm it is pretty quiet. Orient Bay is just up
the beach however and an easy walk for dining and bars. You will need to drive
to the Dutch side for casinos and nightclubs. I would highly recommend this
place if you want to go and relax perhaps reconnect with your spouse. There is
no TV or phone, bring a radio! We will be returning in July. |
|
|
| April 2005 - Bill & Karen |
|
Club O is a nice place with a gorgeous
beach. We found the resort a bit too quiet. The bar typically was seldom
crowded and often closed by 10:00pm. Many guests were up at 6 am so they did
not stay up late. The typical age of a guest for this time was 50s or 60s. We
found the roadway to enter the resort to be a disaster. The pot holes are large
enough to swallow a small car. The euro has made the French side outrageously
expensive. Prepare to pay $30 to $40 per person US for a simple meal. Add
extras or bottles of wine and the cost goes up significantly. Be prepared for
sticker shock on meals and drinks. |
|
|
| September 2003 - Bob and Jackie |
|
Martin has some of the best (fantastic
restaurants, great beaches, deep blue water, fun island atmosphere, great
shopping) the Caribbean has to offer, it also has some of the worst (too many
cruse ships, too many fast food joints, horrible traffic)-especially so on the
Dutch side.
For that reason, and because we are true Francophiles, we
prefer to spend our time on the French side of the island. The best restaurants
are there, good value on genuine French fashions, and really cheap prices on
some pretty great French wine. And you just can't beat staying in one of the
beach chalets at Club O where you catch every sunrise, sunset, and everything
else in between. Plus you never have to wear clothes while on the resort. The
beach is one of the best and certainly the longest on the island, the water is
blue and clear, and the view spectacular.
That said, be forewarned
that the crowd at Club O tends to be older and nightlife is pretty limited.
Papaguyos generally closes before 10:00PM for lack of customers. At night we
generally prefer to sit naked on our patio, watch the sunset, and enjoy French
wine and cheese. Of course you can always go to Marigot for lots of late night
clubbing-on the French side most nightclubs don't even open until midnight. We
like to visit during September, generally a slow time on the island, because of
the discounts offered by Club 0 during that time.
If you are really
into not wearing clothes, want a great beach and calm, clear water, and
want/need to go somewhere just to completely relax, Club O is your place.
Bob and Jackie |
|
|
|
