Garden Villas on St. Martin Near Orient Beach

This report focuses on The Garden Villas near Orient Beach

YES!  We've been to Garden Villas.  Yes, we've visited St Martin often.  Almost like being in Europe without crossing the Atlantic to get there.

This report focuses on The Garden Villas near Orient Beach

A more complete report on greater St Martin is available here
Another complete report on Club Orient here. NOTE: Club Orient was destroyed by the 2017 hurricane and never re-built. (This site is maintained more as a historical record for folks who still ask about this wonderful former piece of nude heaven in the Caribbean.)

Travel Alerts:  A Passport is required, valid for 6 months beyond your departure date from St Martin.   See St. Martin Tourist Office site for details about travel, health and documentation required to visit the island.   

 

Resort Overview

Resort pool - The Garden at St. MartinA new clothing optional "mini-resort" called "The Garden at St. Martin" located just 5-10 minutes from Orient Beach at Mont Vernon is now open.  The complex features five (5) luxury villas  (3 with a private Jacuzzi)  plus a tropical garden, a big swimming pool and new spa on site.

Every accommodation has a private terrace with direct access to the garden and the swimming pool. "The Garden" is a friendly place: in the clothing-optional common area, guests can relax, meet the others around the pool in the tranquility of the garden or with lounge music.

ALERT:  This is an ADULTS ONLY property for COUPLES ONLY.

NOTE:  The villa complex is not on the beach, but Orient Beach is very close.

To check villa rates and availability, click  here to request a quote  or  send your dates of travel and villa preference to:  [email protected]

Photo:  Lydia and Lionel, Owners of the resort, and Champagne, Castaways Travel.

Getting There

Location: Immediately adjacent to the north end of Orient Beach in the village of Mont Vernon.  See map for location of Mont Vernon Village.

Garden Villas are 5 minutes from the main part of Orient Beach. The red circle and yellow highlighter spot the location of the Garden Villas compound.Map garden grand case - The Garden at St. Martin

Airports: The closest, a mile away at Grand Case is L'Espérance Airport which provides inter-island air to central Caribbean destinations. On the Dutch side, intercontinental service is located at Princess Juliana International Airport near Philipsburg.

For exploring the island, enjoying the dining and cuisine and enhance your access to Orient Beach, rent a car or hire a taxi for your jaunts.

The manager on duty can arrange transportation for you. Car rentals are nearby at the airports.

Taxis are available at each airport.  Drive time from the International airport can vary widely depending on traffic on the two-lane road on the northern part of the island from 40 minutes to an hour but that's no guarantee.   Traffic backups during rush hour and other occasions are legendary.

Taxi rates are fixed, and the taxi stands outside the terminal posts the rates.

Typical taxi rate from the airport starts at about 30 Euros but NOT guaranteed and WILL CHANGE without notice.  Expect to pay in Euros to avoid overpaying if you try to pay the taxi driver in dollars or other currency.

NOTE:  Each villa has a parking space for one vehicle.

From Lydia & Lionel, the Owners: From Lydia & Lionel - Owners
Coming from Brittany and together for 21 years, we discovered St Martin in 2001 to practice naturism.

And since that first stay, we came back every year once or even twice a year until October 2013, and we decided to put down our luggage and to buy this villa.  We were looking for a place like here where meeting people, relaxing in a friendly atmosphere are the keywords.

It was THE place to create a clothing-optional resort. Feel free to tell us if you need somethin g   during your stay or if you want to know our tips, our favorite places: beaches, activities, restaurants,…It will take you only 5 minutes to reach Orient Bay.and its beautiful beach, its restaurants, water sports, and its lively nightlife.

Also, it's 5   minutes to the Village of Grand Case, which offers gourmet restaurants, small "lolos" and their typical large barbecues, its small colorful bars.

Anse Marcel and Pinel Island are very close too.  We hope you’ll fall in love like us with this I island that is aptly named:   The "Friendly Island."

  Here is a recent list of Orient Beach bars and restaurants which is subject to change without notice as new ones open, some are rebuilt some change owners and names:

  L’atelier
Télégraphe
Bikini Beach Bar & Restaurant
One by K
Bubbles Shop
KKO Beach Bar & Restaurant
Kontiki
La Playa” reopening soon (no date announced)

Services

Includes:

  • A welcome cocktail
  • Free wifi (high quality)
  • TV -Satellite
  • Household linen (towels, sheet set) changed once a week
  • Beach towels and umbrella (on request)
  • Towels for the swimming pool
  • Airport transfer (with our car rental partner)
  • Restaurants reservations

Ambiance

St. Martin's Dutch and French sides are probably the best combination of nightlife, dining, resorts, beaches, and casinos anywhere in the Caribbean. There is 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 a fun little club near the airport called Club Cheri, for local entertainment earlier in the evening, including island talent, skits, and reviews.  Many others are on the island, just ask Lionel or Lydia, the owners.

You don't lack for anything on this island.

Here's an informal list of the most popular sections of the beach from Mount Vernon on the north end to Club Orient on the south end. Boo Boo Jam area (had a fire in 2012), Palm Beach, Coco Beach, Waikiki Beach, Kakao Bikini, Beach Kontiki, Sun Beach and Club Orient.     This list is subject to change and is not guaranteed as establishments change hands, close or change their format.

Group Trips

Due to the shared nature of some of the standard facilities, the Garden Villas is an excellent location for "mini" group trips utilizing 2, 3, 4 or all 5 Villas.  Contact us if you have several couples interested, and we'll see what we can put together for you.

Sightseeing

Discover St Martin and the neighboring and the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean (Tintamarre, Pinel Island, St Barth, Anguilla, Prickly Pear,…) How? Rent a luxury boat or yacht for the day or half day with a skipper for a nude cruise. The Manager on-site will handle all the details.

MORE? Tennis (world famous), kite-surf, windsurf, surf, jet ski, fly board, kayak, paddle, snorkeling, boat rental, hiking, Pinel island.

Dining

At the villas, meals, and catered dining can be ordered from numerous bistros and cafes nearby.  Shopping, supermarkets  & the commercial center of Orient Beach 5 minutes away.  Arguably, the finest set of restaurants and dining adventures is minutes away from Grand Case.

More Dining & Restaurant information

Eat-in or eat out as you wish. Terrific French and Dutch establishments are everywhere, so take your pick. Orient Beach resorts have on-site dining, snack shops on the beach and of course, villas include cooks. Papagayos Restaurant at Club Orient is an entirely nude restaurant, open-air and anchors the south end of the beach. You don't have to be a guest to dine there.

Restaurants

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 ISLANDS/CARIBBEAN TRAVEL & LIFE magazine.

NOTE:  List is subject to change and is not guaranteed as establishments change hands, close or change cuisine.

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 nice 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 excellent 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 the Bikini Beach Bar. 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 competes 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 plantain.

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 the 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.

Here is a list of dining selections reported by Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine. Note: This list is subject to change and is not guaranteed as establishments change hands, close or change cuisine.

St Martin - Island-wide  (This list is subject to change and is not guaranteed as facilities change hands, close or change cuisine).
L'Escargot-Dutch St. Martin Philipsburg
Loterie Farm-Orient Bay
Lolos (food stalls) in Grand Case
Temptation-Atlantis Casino/Cupecoy
Rare-Atlantis Casino
Fusion-Philipsburg
Aura-Westin Hotel
La Vie en Rose-Marigot
La Samana-French side
La Santal- Sandy Ground
Big Fish-Oyster Pond
The Tides at Mary Boons
Top Carrot(vegetarian) - Simpson Bay
Belgian Chocolate BoxBakery La Sucriere
Jeff de Bruges Chocolate shop
Rituals coffee shop

Grand Case (the best of dining on the island)
Le Pressoir
Le Tastevin
L'Auberge
Gourmand
Le Ti Provencale
Spicy
Mai-Vietnamese
Marrakech (Moroccan)
Shop L'Epicerie de Marie

Rates and Reservations

Rates shown are in EUROS and will vary due to currency valuations.To check villa rates and availability, click  here to request a quote  or  send your dates of travel and villa preference to [email protected]

From  180 Euros to 345 Euros/room/night from low to high season. The rate is for two people. A tax of 4% is extra. Maximum occupancy is a two-person villa.  Each villa has a living area and patio, bedroom, fully equipped kitchen, and baths.  Parking is available for one vehicle for each villa.

Villa Names are shown below with occupancy limit.  Basically, the difference is the size of the living space. BBQ pits are available for the two largest accommodations: The Cottage and the Loft

O Purple              2 people  (no hot tub)

IndigO                 2 people  (no hot tub)

StudiO Rose        2 people

Red PassiOn       2 people

Cottage               Two people, in the living room, there is a sofa bed.  The bath is between the living room and the bedroom with two doors, so it's possible to share for four people

Each Villa contains:

Air conditioning
One master bedroom with a king-size bed
The sheet set and towels
A sofa bed
A fully equipped kitchen (full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave oven)
Nespresso Coffee Machine
A hairdryer
A safe
iPod docking station
Flat-screen TV -Satellite
Free WIFI (high quality)
An outside dining area and two deck chairs
An outdoor dryer
A private hot tub  (except the PatiO & IndigO Villa)
Gated Parking inside the property

Prices shown below are subject to change without notice.

Click image to enlarge

 

For availability& reservations:  Request a Villa Quote Here  or 800-470-2020 or (281) 465-4960

 

 

 

Impressions

Uppers-Downers

↔ 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

↑↑↑ Food and restaurant selections are outstanding all over the island.

↔  Crowds seem to be everywhere in town when the cruise ships dock. Try the smaller villages around the island for meals, drinks, and entertainment.

↑↑↑ Try nude sailing charters while you're there.

↑↑↑ The beaches are still some of the best to choose from in the Caribbean, if not the world.

↔  The Villa compound itself can be quiet during the day and evening.   There is no "nightlife" sponsored by the villa owners as the intent for most guests is to "get away from it all" and relax, which is one of the key advantages of your own private villa within the gated compound.

Grand Case village, however, as well as the commercial zone of Orient Beach is literally a few minutes in either direction from the villas so you're close to some action if you have a rental car.

Anse Marcel beach with more restaurants and an RIU Palace Resort is across the road and down the hill from your villa, too.  Ask Lionel or Lydia for the admission procedure since some facilities, restaurants, and shops require access via a guard gate.  A couple of restaurants are walkable, around the corner from the Garden Villas.

Best Time To Go

Be aware that late summer is hurricane season.

Fall, winter, and early spring are drier and a little cooler than the heat and humidity of summer.

Otherwise expensive resorts from December 15-April 15, you will find rates are embellished with all types of free night offers and incentives during the low season, especially August-November.

Wish List

• Build better roads through Marigot.

• Downplay the fast-food franchises, but progress marches on.

• Wish villas were right on the  beach

Photo Album

Click on this link to view our PHOTO ALBUM of The Garden Villas. The photos were either shot by us, our clients or provided by the resort. If you have recently visited The Garden or St. Martin we invite you to send in your photos for us to display. To contribute your own photos (or trip reports), go to our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.

This report focuses on The Garden Villas near Orient Beach
A more complete report on greater St Martin is available here
Another complete report on Club Orient here

Trip Reports

Click on this link to view our TRIP REPORTS about St.Martin and The Garden Villas. If you have recently visited The Garden Villas or St. Martin, we need your trip reports. You can contribute to this section buy using our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.

For availability& reservations:  Request a Villa Quote Here  or 800-470-2020 or (281) 465-4960 or  send your dates of travel and villa preference to [email protected]

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TRAVEL ALERT:  HEALTH and TESTING

ALL International arrivals into the USA require COVID test   A negative COVID test result is required to re-enter the USA.  Arrange your test upon arrival at your foreign destination.  Test result date must be within 3 days prior to arrival in the USA.

St. Martin also has health protocols you are required to follow. : For countries serviced by international airlines, see:   International Travel Documentation Required by Each Country provided by IATA

AS OF JULY 1 THE rt-PCR TEST MUST BE PERFORMED ON A NASO-PHARYGEAL SWAB WITHIN 72 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE BY TRAVELERS ORIGINATING FROM THE USA AND CANADA. ALTERNATIVELY, THESE TRAVELERS CAN ALSO PERFORM AN ANTIGEN TEST WITHIN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO SINT MAARTEN.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Sint Maarten has established a mandatory health pre-authorization application through an Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) for every visitor arriving by air including transits, Sint Maarten and Sint Martin residents. Without health pre-authorization, boarding will not be possible. Be advised that processing time can take up to 12 hours.

Prior to arrival, each foreign visitor must submit an electronic health application. 

   Alerts subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed.

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Get A Room or call.    See worldwide health protocols (subject to change, not guaranteed) at International Travel Documentation Required by Country

All reservations, payments and transactions are subject to Castaways Travel Terms and Conditions.