TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Best beaches thread?

I feel like I ran across a thread a few weeks back about the "best " beaches that we recommended too one another but I can't seem to find it.

By best , I recall specifically that someone was using CALMEST waves and waters as their benchmark for best beach(perhaps it was Pat or Carol?)

looking for the beaches with the calmest waves (La Galion is out) Thanks! Or at least what thread was it? I've gone as far back as Jan 1 and cant find the thread..

Thats not it but thank you. It was from 2-3 Sundays ago.

Hello captain ... SXM has something like 34 or 36 beaches and I would say I've been to maybe half of them. But, this is a really hard question to answer because conditions can change from one-day-to-another on island beaches such as these. But, on average the beaches that always seemed to generate stronger waves on a more consistent basis were Orient, Dawn, Mullet, Cupecoy, Maho, and I suppose Simpson Bay (but, I have seen Simpson calm from time-to-time). The calmer beaches with less wave action other than Le Galion definitely were Great Bay Beach and Little Bay Beach near Philipsburg. Anse Marcel, Grand Case, Happy Bay and Friar's Bay on French St. Martin are probably somewhere in between. These are just my experiences.

Here's a website that might help. You can at least read the brief write-ups about each beach: stmartinisland.org. This website comes up if you do a Google search for "the beaches of St. Martin." One nice thing about St. Martin is that if you have a rental car and conditions at one beach are not ideal, just hop back in and the next beach is just 10 minutes away!

Consistently calm seas and beaches ar on Pinel Island. Very short 5 min ferry ride.

I actually don't recall the thread you are talking about and a really quick search didn't really reveal anything. Since you say LeGallion is out, I assume you want a beach with services, as LeGallion always has the most reliable calm seas. I haven't been there in a long time, but Anse Marcel probably fits the bill, although it is NOT a cheap day to go to Anse Marcel Beach Club. Pinel involves a ferry, and I personally usually don't want to have to mess with that. Grand Case Beach is normally pretty calm. Not sure how many options are available there now, but definitely Rainbow and Grand Case Beach Club. Friars Bay is usually pretty calm, and you have Friars Bay Beach Café and Kali's, (if it's still called that). I like FBBC a lot, but they don't take credit cards, if that's a consideration. Mullet CAN be calm as a lake or thundering 10 feet waves, depending on the day. Regardless, it's all good!! Enjoy!

Is it possibly this one? that was one of yours? lol
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/182540/1.html

LOL, thats not it... I specifically recall the poster saying their benchmark for 'best beach' in their opinion was calmest waters. Its gonna bug me! LOL

Which beaches have volleyball nets? I’m kind of the captain of the volleyball team and don’t want to lose my edge LOL. Seriously I just want to play it down there.

Allison Divi Little Bay has (had?) a volleyball net.

Also, if not already mentioned to you, try to plan a stop at TiJon Perfumerie in Grand Case. You can have your very own scent made just for you.

Simpson Bay Resort often times has one.

The southern end of Club O beach (near the former Papagayo) has one. Cedric has the ball.

There was another volleyball area and net that I recall that was near the old Waikiki Beach Bar. It was set a back a bit on he sand. But, who knows what became of that. Playing volleyball on the beaches at St. Martin isn't like the organized games that the resorts in Jamaica or Mexico typically have. You'll have to recruit a few others to join in, but you shouldn't have too much trouble doing so. It's a great way to get exercise on the beach.

Thanks everyone.

RonDon, I will be at Tijon with my mom early in the Trip.

Biturbo, as its the southern part of Orient Beach, may I assume one can play...ahem...freestyle, if you will? Can I at least wear a bra for comfort?

SammyM, I actually asked because hurricane damage had crossed my mind and I was wondering what was still there. I wasn’t planning anything organized, but I kind of figured what you said was the case.

Yes, you may wear as little or as much as you want. I know someone who is on the island until mid-March and is an avid player. Several days a week you may see him (long blonde hair, name's Bill) walking the beach, mid-afternoon, recruiting players.

Bill S great guy. Hook up for yoga in the morning.

Yoga is a possible mother/daughter activity we’re looking into. Is Bill’s indoor or outdoor? Clothes or unclothed?

Bill is a tourist who along with his wife join a yoga class in Orient Beach frequently. It is clothed. There are also classes frequently at El Zafiro.

Anse Marcel by far is the nicest....calmest beach on the island IMHO

Here is his facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/bill.sahlman