TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Opinions on location at Great Bay Beach

We have always (well 3 times) spent the day on the beach to the far left near the Blue Bitch Bar. Would welcome other opinions on different locations and why. TY

Read in Herald that they opened a slice and junk flowed into Great Bay so I wouldn't swim there.

Beach in front of Mary's Boon is great and you can eat there or further down beach at Karaker's. Both have beach chairs.

Anse Marcel is the best but the eating there is expensive.

Rosemary--it just depends on when they open up that channel, to let water out of it. They only do it every so often. They do post a notice in the Herald when they do it.

Regardless of that situation, I personally wouldn't want to swim there regardless, because of all the cruise ship discharge, as well as all the other small boats that are always in that area. But one could certainly hang out on the beach there, if you're in to people watching.

For the original poster, are you looking to shop and then hang out on the beach, or just hang out on the beach? Most of us here do not go to P'burg to the beach, as most of us think there are lots of other better beaches on the island. Best wishes in your quest.

Love to walk along the boardwalk but NO WAY would I ever swim there on lots of days. Anyplace you see so many large and small vessels you know the water most likely will be less than perfect. We like anyplace along Simpson Bay, its the most dependable for have the best water, surf and sand conditions. Like was said Mary's Boons and others have free chairs and umbrellas and good food and service at your beach chair.

Thanks for the information. WOW. I have never though of it that way. I get it. The reason I was thinking of going there was that one person in our group gets "antsy" after a while of just lying on the beach. I thought it would be a good location that he could walk and bar hop on the boardwalk or just explore in town.