TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Changes to Restaurants on Orient

Just heard from a friend that the French government would like to do away with the beach bars and restaurants on Orient Beach from Pedro's on down and replace the makeshift buildings with permanent, sturdier cement structures. Do anyone know more about this. A friend is staying at Club O and said that they are now charging a higher daily room tax in order to accommodate the changes further down the beach. Would love to know what is really going on. 90 days and counting.

I think it is the plan of the French Government and a group of investors to move the eating places back from the water's edge, put up, as you said more permanet concrete structures , which would then be rented back to various restaurants and also build a small wall to keep the water from eroding the beach by the restaurants. I think parking lots will be constructed also. The plan was to start last fall, but owners got them to wait to possibilly this summer before starting.....'Course nothing is ever a sure thing in SXM.

Yes, this proposal is in discussion and would be built in the area just past Pedro's to replace the smaller beach bars. The discussion has increased since this fall, but this is not new. Several years ago, Andy (of Andy and Cheryl's) talked to me about this topic. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Well, I'm sorry to hear this. The current atmosphere of the beach is one of the things that keeps bringing me back.

If the changes are made as outlined, I think the whole "flavor" of the beach would be changed, and I don't think for the better...

While you have a valid point, the "atmosphere" of the beach now is nothing like it was 24 years ago when I first visited either. I liked Orient much better they way it was 20 years ago versus now.

Sometimes "progress" is a good thing and other times it is not so good.

Kind of like the boardwalk in Philipsburg. It is a lot different than years ago and it appears to have benefited the island in general. Some people will like it and call it progress, others will not care for it.

We first visited this beach about forty years ago when there was nothing there but sea grapes and sand and you didn't have to worry about your neighbors getting too close for comfort. To me, the 'flavor' of this natural wonder was destroyed when the first restaurant morphed from Pedro's BBQ grill into the first formal style restaurant. But again, we can all look at the same things and see them so differently

In the long run, given the periodic storm damages and such, it sounds like the changes under discussion on one hand would benefit everyone in the long run but the associated expenses will probably also price this beach out of the realm of many. We'll see, won't we? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The first time we went to SXM was ten years ago we stated at Mont Vernon it was an all inclusive back then it was also our first trip to anywhere that had a nude beach. We got in late got our room that faced down the beach towards all the little shops and restaurants and club O it was beautiful. Getting up early in the morning we could hardly wait to go for a walk down the beach. We got a huge surprise when we met a steady line of nude walkers from Club O something we had never seen before and did not know what to think of it. After our walk we had our breakfast went down to the beach got a couple loungers and relaxed after a while we went down the beach for a walk. We stopped in every restaurant and shop to look around and what impressed us we all the people we in various states of dress and undress one one seem to care and all the little shops and bars we unique painted different colours. It was unlike anywhere we had ever been. Thing have changed alot since then and I don't feel for the better to tear down the colorful little shop would ruin Orient beach in my opinion

My understanding is that this is a fait accomplit, and will start in June, and is supposed to be finished before high season next fall. As someone else said, the project is supposed to include parking lots, plus restrooms, etc.

Well obviously, we all have our own opinions and likes and dislikes. And also obviously, the locals and their government are going to do what they think is best -- right or wrong, and all of the discussion by us "tourist" is not going to make a bit of difference.

So I guess all that remains is to see what happens...

Going in May not sure if it will be the last time. I don't like change to my go places.

Hi Carol,
Is there anywhere that you have read about the proposed changes to Orient Beach. You mentioned that it was a fait accompli. Wouldn't mind more restrooms but I Iove the natural parking lots and the toes in the sand restaurants.

Here is a thread from a couple of months ago. Apparently it is a done deal now, as far as the decision has been made, is what I am hearing.

Cannot imagine this!!! Our cruise stop this spring may be the last time to see it as it is now!! Can't believe way "island time" works that construction can be COMPLETE in this off-season!!!

I completely agree with PAT. Orient was so beautiful in the early 80's when I 1st visited. It's greed that has over taken CLUB O especially with so many chairs and umbrellas crammed together. Why is no one outraged about that! You can't even find 1 open spot the whole length of CLUB O to sit without paying unless you sit 3 rows back and you can't even see the water. Let them do what they want, it's ruined already in my book!

I also understand this will take place after the High Season ends. I have heard that a contingency for resort development is improving the appearance of the beachfront buildings. In addition, I am told the total number of places will be reduced by a 3rd. If so, some businesses will be looking to relocate.

Of course, all of this is hearsay, although the same info came from several different people.

So if this is supposed to start in June will the affected businesses still be operating? June is when we go and if we can't have our customary lunches at Orange Fever that will be completely unacceptable

Wow! I feel sorry for any of those businesses that might have to close for 4 months, especially after all the business lost and money, time, and effort most of them have just spent on rebuilding from the hurricane this past Fall. We are also visiting in June and bringing first-time visitors with us. Ah, progress. What a concept. Such a double-edged sword at times. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/boohoo.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure exactly how it is supposed to work, not sure anyone knows, but it would seem logical possibly that they would work in sections, but I don't know.

I emailed a friend who is a server at Kakao. He said that all that he has heard is that they want to do something with the "bush" as he called it from Kontiki on down, I guess to Pedro'. Other than that he has not heard anything, he is French citizen and has lived on SXM for many years. Didn't know that the area of OB after Kontiki is called the bush. I would call the property behind all of those restaurants and bars a dump instead.

Used to call it a dirt bike track.

SXM??? Wendell

I remember that. Would wake up to the sound of dirt bikes going round and round. That was before Orient Village and the apartments were built. We could look right out to the ocean from the villa we rented and we could also see the dirt bike track.

I hate to hear atmosphere will change yet again....we started coming to sxm in 1999... And the changes are unbelievable.
I guess I would say as long as they leave club orient alone...I am ok with whatever they choose to do with the rest of the beach.