TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Has SXM changed in 6 years

Mary and I would like to return to SXM and stay again at ClubO. Can anyone reply back with any major, good or bad, that has changed that we should be aware of?

Everything changes over time ....yes including Sxm ...including seaweed ....

major changes? the airport is improved, the euro is down, orient beach bars and shops have been torn down...and the best change of all is the bridge from the airport to the French side....a great improvement!

Very interesting question! If you had asked 10, 15 or 20 years ago it would be overwhelming to answer but 6 years? Since you asked about Club O I will assume you are French side centric (other will have to help on the Dutch side which has seen a lot of construction). In my mind the French side has held its own (all my opinion so please provide your own)...Orient, outside of Club O was seriously overbuilt but that happened 10 years or more ago. As result everything is older and not all super well maintained. We don't stay at Club O but know many that do...I would say status quo. We do the beach and Perch, Papagayo and the boutique have not changed in any noticeable way. Orient square has seen some turnover but much the same with many wonderful choices. Tap 5 went away but there is a new store (Petit Caribes???) that is better. There is also a new super market just outside Orient). Kon Tiki and Bikini cycled owners and were rebuilt...mostly for the better. The restaurants north of Pedros have all been knocked down and are presently being rebuilt. Grand Case...I think it looks like a ghost town sometimes but still many great restaurants. Some of the old name are fading but new ones arise. Overall I would use say it's different but very much the same. Hope you have a great time!

Rich--I replied on the other thread, but as far as the island in general, frankly I think in the last few years, the island has improved. The airport is better, you have the causeway, the Euro now is better than it has been in years, more nice supermarkets.. But if you're looking, to me personally, for the best beach to be nude -- or not -- whenever you want, the beach at Club Orient cannot be beat.

Club O hasn't changed much since 2008. Orient village has more and better restaurants than it did in 2008. In some ways they are starting to rival grand Case. Petit Casino replaced Tap 5, and it has a broader selection, better prices. 7 Years ago, neither Simply nor Price Leader (both grocery stores) existed in Hope Estates. In 2008 if you wanted to find a decent grocery store, you had to drive to the Match in Marigot. Now, a drive to Hope Estates (at the roundabout where the turnoff to Cul de Sac is) will get you good supermarket shopping. There are good morning pastries at the Club O boutique, Good Morning in Orient Village, and Yellow Sub in Orient Village. Despite some changes (people will rue the loss of their personal favorites), IMHO Orient overall is better now than it was 7 years ago, and how many places in the world can you say that about?

Thanks everyone. Seaweed change BGH?...that's a good one.
"ChathyG" and "joyfully", great feedback. When I was there years ago, I never heard the name "Orient Village". Is that the shops that were built near Le Hoste? Also, I saw some of the photos from the hurricane in the fall and, I think, that's the worse I've ever seen Orient in the 13 times I've been there. Thanks again. Time to make travel plans.

Yes, Orient Village is the shops, as well as restaurants in that area.. I'm sure they were there six years ago though.