I have no pre-Irma experience with SXM, however we have been to Baie Rouge a few times. Our last trip was in March of this year and we took beach chairs from our villa and had a picnic. Although no beach chair rentals or restaurants, there were lots of people and families enjoying the beach (I'd say around 50 near us). A few topless, idk about nude sunbathers a little further down the beach on the day we were there. I walked down the beach quite a way and saw several beautiful villas. It was a very enjoyable day and I would say FAR from sad in our opinion. And we in no way felt unsafe.
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