Same here. While we love all of the island, Orient Beach was the first place we ever visited on SXM during a cruise to the island. We fell in love with SXM that very day and went back for a week at Club O the following year. We’ve been back at least once a year since that first visit in 2006 (staying at various places), and Orient Beach is always our favorite beach. We have since enjoyed many of the other beaches on both sides as well, but Orient still holds a special place in our hearts. We will love it with or without the ‘circus’ atmosphere (though busy at times, we have never found it to be anything but relaxing and laid back). We, too, have made many friends on that beach. Miss being there and can’t wait to get back to our 2nd ‘home’.