TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Beach easy access in and out of the water

Hi all, coming down soon and traveling with recent knee surgery individual. Have been to Sxm many times, love mullet and other beaches but concerned about him getting in and out with somewhat dismissed capacity on that knee. Mullet can be difficult in good conditions. He is mobile but can give him some problems and hate to see him go down. I know pinel would be an option, but just thought I would seek advice from the board. Staying at Simpson bay resort...Kim sha is easy but with regatta we want to get away from there...thoughts? Thanks in advance

Have you considered Orient Beach? It's been nice and calm the last two times we've been there.

Anse Marcel is usually very calm and is my go-to beach. Friar's Bay and Le Galion are also usually calm. And on my last trip, I experienced Petite Plage for the first time (in front of Grand Case Beach Club). It was also delightful and gentle.

Can you tell me about Le Galion? How do I get there from Simpson Bay Resort and are chairs available?

Depending on what SBR building you are in the beach in front of Flamboyant/Flamingo has reasonably easy access from the Villas, Marina and F buildings

Le Galion is also know as "Baby Beach" No undertow or waves. You can walk easily way into water and not go above knees.

There is a beach bar on Le Galion that rents chairs. If you're not familiar with the island, I would suggest taking the route through Marigot.

From SBR, head back toward the airport. At the roundabout at end of the runway, take the causeway across the lagoon. Turn left at the end of the causeway and follow the main road through Marigot then through Grand Case and past the Orient Beach area. On your way through Marigot and Grand Case, you will encounter three roundabouts. Take the first exit out of each roundabout, which basically keeps you going the same direction you entered the roundabout.

There are a couple of gated entrances on the left to the Orient Beach area. After you pass those entrances (and a bit of winding), there is a left turn that has a sign for Club Orient and Le Galion. Turn left, and that road will take you past the famous Butterfly Farm and a horse stable to the beach area. The beach bar is to the left.

For what its worth, instead of the Marigot route, you could go through the counter-clockwise route through Philipsburg, but traffic is likely to be worse and there are a lot of turns. If you want to go that way, I would suggest scouting it out on Google Earth or Google Maps first.

Jazz Gal had all my answers! We enjoy all those beaches.
I don't remember what day Tropical Wave is closed at Le Galion, but would recommend not going that day unless there are other people around. We did one day but left shortly after as we felt uneasy, being so isolated.

Anse Marcel, Orient, Grand Case (at Capt Frenchy's or Rainbow)

Been in that exact same position for the past two years, recent knee replacement/or pending knee replacement surgery. All done for now, but I am still very careful about getting in and out of the water. Galion is extremely easy, along with the beach at Grand Case at/by Capt. Frenchy's. Also, agree with Orient, although there are places that drop off a little more than others. Would not suggest Karacter or Mullet at all, as falling after recent knee surgery can set back recovery! Pools are usually safe, for what it's worth!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I find a walking stick or cane is very helpful. I use the bottom half of a spare beach umbrella.

And on the way to Le Galion , on the right, is the Butterfly Farm. Great stop especially early when they are waking up. Wear a flowered top and they'll flock to you.

Tropical Wave is closed on Mondays at Le Galion so there is no food or drink and there is no chair concessions on Mondays. We enjoy Le Galion but do not visit on Mondays! The beach access into the water is very easy to get in and out! Very calm water!

You could take the ferry over to Pinel Island. Water there is always easy to get into with very few waves and a nice slope.

That is another possibility, however, getting in and out of the ferry may be a pain in the neck (or knee in this case). Depends if you have to step up or down onto the ferry.

I was wondering the same thing about accessing the ferry and the dock once at Pinel. Great minds? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I wonder if the OP ever came back to read these decent suggestions....

Our car was broken into at Le Galion in the middle of the day. We had no valuables in the car, however. There was also a very loud party going on at the time. This might be a one-off incident, but it occurred the first (and last) time we were there.

Thank you all for the idea's and suggestions. He is mobile and Pinel was one of our original thoughts and should not be too difficult in and out of the ferry. Anse Marcel has always been a beach we wanted to get to but never have so may try harder this trip. Thank you all again I'll be printing ideas to take along.