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St. Martin |
| Club Orient
is arguably the best known nudist resort in the Caribbean |
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
 St. Martin/St.
Maarten boasts more nude friendly beach opportunities to enjoy yourself than
virtually any other Caribbean island, even comparing favorably with its larger
competitor, Jamaica. About 37 beaches are on St. Martin. A small island,
roughly 6 x 8 miles, St. Martin/St. Maarten (half is French, half is Dutch) can
be traversed in an hour or two by car, but getting through Marigot on the
French side or Philipsburg on the Dutch side can be a
 nightmare due to traffic. Club Orient is on the French side
and about 5 miles north of Philipsburg (Dutch side). Since Club Orient is on
the French side of the island, St. Martin (French) will be used in the report.
You can move from the French to Dutch side of the island without any formality.
Even though nudity is allegedly unlawful on the island, many parts of
St. Martin, on both the Dutch and French side, are nude-friendly mainly
because, as my villa rental friend, Xavier, says: "we just don't care!" Which
is true.
There are numerous beaches to choose from for nude beach
combing and sunbathing including Cupecoy Beach, Long Baie and Baie Rouge on the
west side to Orient Beach on the east. We like them all for different reasons.
Terrific villas and guest houses are on or near the western beaches and great
hotels and resorts on or adjacent to Orient Beach on the French east side.
 Club Orient Nudist Resort--south end of Orient Bay. This most
popular nudist resort is on the south end of Orient Beach. All guest quarters
are located on this 30 acre site and include stand alone cottages or chalets .
You can choose accommodations from either concrete block buildings or the
traditional wooden chalets in garden view or beach front
locations.
Starting at about $200-300 USD/night, you can enjoy all life
has to offer nude at Club Orient. Rates are 40%-50% higher during high season
(December 15-April 15). NOTE: Rates are charged in Euros by the resort and
dollar equivalent fluctuates. Rates not guaranteed; subject to change without
notice. Chalets include a living area, kitchen, sleeping area, private bath and
dining area with air conditioning and fan. Restaurant Papagayo's is open air.
Rates include car parking and use of of umbrellas/chairs at the unit and on the
beach. Tax is 5% on hotel costs. For purposes of this report, rates are
expressed in USD $ but all amounts are actually charged in Euros. *NOTE: Rates
are not guaranteed and will change without notice.
Note:
Here is a recent comment from Club Orient about nudity on the beach beyond its
boundary:
Walking past Pedros....nude: Over the years one of the
most erroneously repeated statements has been that if you wish to walk without
clothes past the rocks by Pedro's bar (north end of Club Orient property line),
all you have to do is make sure you're finished by 8:00 AM. The Gendarmes were
out in force and ticketed 17 people for being nude beyond Club Orient…..at
7:00 AM. The government has required Club Orient to place a new sign at end of
Club Orient's beach stating that, "Nudity beyond this point is illegal and
violators are subject to penalties." So if you still wish to take your morning
stroll in the buff, be aware that the Gendarmes are enforcing this rule and you
could be stopped and fined.
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
Planes, boats and ferries can get you to St. Martin
daily from just about anywhere in the world. Airfare from the US on scheduled
airlines can run from $500-$700/person, round trip. Rates vary seasonally.
American Airlines dominates the market (and Caribbean for that matter), so
don't expect a benevolent rate from them. Check with us for charters to St.
Martin, primarily from certain eastern U.S. markets.
Rental cars are
plentiful; jeeps and cars can rent for $35-50/day and taxis are fairly
inexpensive. Ask the price first before you enter a taxi. You can also visit
Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, all nearby and accessible by boat, ferry or
commuter plane. As of January 1, 2007, visitors from the USA are required to
have a valid passport....not necessarily to visit St. Martin but to gain
entrance back into the USA.
Public and pedestrian access to the beach
is available via the road outside the Club Orient property.
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 Club Orient Resort has thought of everything: a fully stocked
grocery store and boutique, full service restaurant and bar on the beach with
daily happy hours, live entertainment and weekly manager's cocktail party,
water sports facility, spa and fitness center, tennis courts, and more. All of
these conveniences are located on the property where clothing is always
optional. However, this resort is NOT all inclusive. It you're used to other
similar properties in Jamaica, Mexico or Dominican Republic, you will find no
food or drink included in the room rates here.
Massage and spa
treatments are available on site. A general store, La Boutique, is on site for
food, drinks, books, artwork and clothing.
TIP: Open an
account for the restaurant, bar & grill at reception upon check in. Euros
and US Dollars, travelers checks or cash. American Express, Master Card, Visa,
Optima, Carte-Bleu and Discover are accepted credit cards throughout the
resort.
The island, especially Philipsburg on the Dutch side, is a
shopper's paradise, perhaps eclipsed only by St. Thomas as the charge card
capital of the Caribbean. The numerous cruise ship passengers help keep it that
way, too.
St. Martin is one of the more progressive of the islands so
you will find just about everything you need for your vacation there. Tourist
traps, fast food franchises and real estate companies mix with some of the
quaint areas to drag this island into the 21st century.
Guests of Club
Orient have free car parking on site and use of chairs and beach umbrellas at
their rental unit and on the beach at no additional charge.
Day
visitor policy: Club Orient's beach, water sports facility, restaurant
and bars are open to the public during daylight hours. Resort tours are
available upon request. Club Orient welcomes visitors to spend the day offering
a package for beach chair rentals, umbrella rental, parking and use of
facilities.
 Water sports include snorkeling, sea kayaking, diving,
sailing, windsurfing, floats and paddle boats.
Club Orient produces its
own power and water. The power is BOTH 110v and 220 v, NO need for converters.
NOTE: Please take care of your valuables, cash, airline tickets and
passports while on vacation. Some vacation destinations are considered "third
world" countries and experience petty theft. Recommendation: Do not take
precious jewelry unless you wear it all times; keep your cash, valuables,
watches, travel documentation and cameras with you. Just a word of caution to
make sure you remember to practice common sense with your valuables while
you're on vacation.
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Eat in or eat out as you wish. Terrific French and Dutch
establishments are everywhere, so take your pick. Dotted along the 2.5 mile
Orient Beach, bistros and bars have on site dining and snack shops & dance
clubs are on the beach, too. Papagayos Restaurant at Club Orient is a nude
restaurant, open air and anchors the south end of the beach. You don't have to
be a guest to dine there. Papagayos serves Club Orient guests as well as anyone
who has the money. Prices are comparable to European and U.S. meals for
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
 Each chalet includes a kitchen, but guys, be
forewarned: Most women on holiday do not mix the word "kitchen" in the same
sentence as "vacation." Plan to volunteer to cook or barbecue if you want to do
something nice for your spouse. Plus, if your budget can afford it, read on:
Restaurant ideas:
St. Martin has a terrific wealth of restaurants
on both the French and Dutch sides of the island. Here are a few to consider,
thanks in part to some recommendations from our clients plus a recent issue of
Caribbean Travel & Life magazine. ALERT: Bars and restaurants come and go
so take time to discover new ones as the list below can change without notice.
On Dawn Beach, you will find Mr. Busby's Beach Bar for beaching and
open air burgers, plus it's a great place to start your snorkeling adventure.
At Oyster Pond, straddle the island's imaginary border between the
men's room and the main restaurant at Captain Olivers, a good place recommended
by some of our friends who live there. Stop for cappuccino and croissants at
any one of the French side's superettes, where wonderful pate, fresh poulet
roti (chicken rotisserie) and pastries are featured.
If you want to
bar hop and do the tourist thing on Orient Beach, stop at Bongo Byrons and the
Bikini Beach Bar, where few are worn. In French Marigot, stop at La Parisienne
for a sidewalk cappuccino.
For the greatest concentration of French
bistros and restaurants, visit Grand Case, a small town north of Marigot on the
northwest side of the island. Grand Case's main waterfront street is lined with
the best restaurants on the island including Le Tastevin plus many others along
the street.
Set above Grand Case beach, lolos (food stalls) hold forth
with local cuisine that compete taste-wise with the refined restaurants nearby
on the waterfront. Choose from the following beachside fare: Conch stew, spare
ribs, grilled or fried fish and numerous side dishes such as johnny cakes,
stuffed christophene, macaroni & cheese, peas 'n rice, coleslaw and fried
plaintain.
Plop your butt down at any of the BBQ lolo joints (you'll
know them by the 55 gal drums used as BBQ grills) including: Sky's the Limit,
Talk of the Town and many others where you can stuff yourself for $10 USD (or
more...add on for inflation and the Euro).
NOTE: Small beachside
bistros come and go so be prepared for name or ownership changes.
At
the other end of the spectrum, try Ric's Place in Dutch Philipsburg, a great
sports bar for super burgers and fries.
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Rates vary by room category so contact us for an exact
quote for your desired accommodation or villa. Generally accommodations start
at about $130*/night up to about $400/night. Rate based on per room, double
occupancy per night. Children under 12 are free. Rates subject to discounts for
long stays and are seasonal. Discounts do not apply to Villa.
The
private villa on site which can be up to $1,100+/per night (villa sleeps up to
7 people).
 *ALERT: Rates above are in US dollars for examples
but room reservations are expressed and charged in Euros. Actual deposit and
final payment are in Euros. Rates not guaranteed and will change without
notice.
A deposit of about $550-600 (Euros 500) will reserve your
chalet; final balance is paid upon check out.
NOTE: Typically, all
pricing is in Euros on the island, but USD is accepted at many stores,
restaurants and bars in town.
Club Orient includes about 137 separate
or duplex chalet (cottages). Club Orient homes provide a blend of traditional
Caribbean simplicity and European luxury. Dwellings can accommodate from 3 to 7
persons. Every unit is equipped with a full kitchen, dining area, air
conditioning,telephone and internet service, full bathroom with tub or shower,
front and back patio with an outdoor shower, picnic table and beach chairs and
a specially chosen bottle of Bourdeaux wine, compliments of Club Orient
Resort.
Categories include:
Chalet: Concrete
structure located either waterfront, near the beach or in the
gardens.
Studio: Wooden structure located in the gardens, two
individual units per structure.
Mini suite: Wooden structure
located in the gardens, two individual units per structure.
Mini
suite deluxe: Concrete structure located in the gardens, two individual
units per structure.
All accommodations include:
* Fully equipped
kitchen
* Patio with outside shower
* Beach Chairs
* Safe
*
Ceiling Fans
* Air Conditioning
* Sleeps up to 4 persons
La Villa at Club Orient features three bedroom, two baths, great room
with dining room, outdoor Jacuzzi with dining area and privacy fence. Luxury
villa with deluxe amenities include:
* 1500 sq ft
* Sleeps up to 7
persons
* Great Room and Dining Room
* Two King size beds
* Two
Twin size beds
* Foyer with desk and Sofa daybed
* Two full bathrooms
with Antillean showers
* Dish T. V. in Great room and two bedrooms
*
Internet and telephone access
* Privately fenced backyard and patio
*
Outdoor shower and Reflection Pool
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 You will find both families with kids and adult singles and
couples all over the island at resorts everywhere including Club Orient.
Families are usually the exception during high season (winter) but lots more
prevalent during the summer and fall. When the cruise ships are in town, avoid
the crowds downtown...half of them seem to congregate at Orient Beach to watch
you! The nude beaches are mostly adults with every age represented there.
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Club Orient is comprised of about 137 chalets, studios plus
one villa laid out on the south side of 2.5 mile Orient Beach. Most activities
on the  resort center around the beach and visiting with
other guests at the resort. Nightlife locally is found mostly along the central
and northern parts of Orient Beach while the towns of Marigot and Philipsburg
are home to numerous bars, restaurants and bistros and casinos, although only
the Dutch side includes gaming establishments.
St. Martin's French and
Dutch sides are probably the best combination of nightlife, dining, resorts,
beaches and casinos anywhere in the Caribbean. There is literally something for
everyone from laid back, no-nonsense resorts to the finest villas in the
Caribbean.
For club hopping around Marigot, our fearless clients and
explorers have suggested Club Alibi, Club 1, Pasha, all for late night mischief
and dancing.....after about 11 PM. Others have suggested a fun little club near
the airport called Club Cheri, for local entertainment earlier in the evening,
including island talent, skits and reviews.
You don't lack for
anything on this island, except for maybe a true tropical atmosphere with palm
trees and rain forests. St Martin is really an arid island with low hills and
scrub brush dotting the landscape.
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Although the island is small, you have a variety of
hillside, town, country and beach locations to enjoy. You are just minutes away
by air from Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius. Shopping in Philipsburg is some
of the best in the Caribbean besides perhaps St. Thomas in the USVI.
Most sports activity is in, on, under or around the water.
A fun
excursion is to choose the daily nude cruise on the yacht Tiko Tiko that visits
the little island of Tintamarre a few miles offshore for sun, snorkeling, one
meal, boozing and fun. The day tripper cruise can be arranged at Club Orient.
Sundays, a sailing tour of the island is available,
too.
Contributed by TM from the UK: Happy Bay is on the
French side - it is the very next bay south of Grand Case. Cannot be reached by
road except via a 10 minute hike from the Friars Bay (Beach) parking lot which
is why it is somewhat deserted. We got there via a 10 minute (maybe less) water
taxi service directly from Grand Case Beach Club resort for $15 per head, round
trip.Tell the boat guy when you want to be picked up. We found that 4 hours was
just about right as there are no facilities/amenities on the beach so you need
to take water and a snack with you.
For nude day tripper cruises, you
can also contact the folks at: www.nudetrips.net They offer local nude cruises on their
power boats.
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St. Martin has lost some of its quaint, Caribbean
ways: The island has morphed into a popular tourist mecca as traffic and crowds
mix it up daily, especially when the big cruise ships visit. But St. Martin has
held on to more of its traditional values than most of the other islands. The
Island is unique, offering the French, the Dutch and the Caribbean cultures all
on one island. It defiantly represents a little traditional Dutch, a little
traditional French and a lot Caribbean. It's still a fun place to visit. |
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Orient Beach is a premier spot in the Caribbean to
enjoy the good nude life on a beach about 2.5 miles long. |
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Orient Beach attracts its share of day trippers from
the cruise ships. On big cruise ship days, Orient Beach will have textiles that
get the courage to walk down the beach to see what the nude way of life is all
about. Cameras are not allowed on the beach or resort and are very sensitive to
guests' privacy. Club Orient service includes security on the beach and resort
24/7 that enforce these policies. |
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Food and restaurant selections are outstanding all
over the island. |
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Try the smaller villages around the island for
meals, drinks and entertainment. (Crowds seem to be everywhere in town when the
cruise ships dock) |
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You can meet people easily at Club Orient. Try the
nude sailing charter while you're there to meet other guests from Club Orient
as well as other tourists. |
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The island's beaches are still some of the best to
choose from in the Caribbean, if not the world. Orient Beach is one of the
best. |
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Best shopping is in Philipsburg on the Dutch side, 5
miles south of Club Orient. |
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Fall, winter and early spring are drier and a little cooler
than the heat and humidity of summer. Lows run in the 70s while the highs in
summer or upper 80s/low 90s. Winter months are milder and less humid.
The most expensive rates and prices are from December to March. Other dates are
lower when you will find room rates available and a discounts offered for
longer stays. Hurricane season is late August to early October but actually can
extend from June through November.
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Build better roads through Marigot.
Downplay the
fast food franchises, but progress marches on.
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Click on the Photo Album button to view l photos of Club
Orient. These were provided by the resort. You can contribute to this section -
all you have to do is go to our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.
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We need more trip reports from from folks who have recently
visited Club Orient. You can contribute to this section - all you have to do is
go to our Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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