TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin On Orient Beach Today

Okay, here's the latest regarding Orient Beach. Kon Tiki has really expanded and is now around 30% larger. They also charge $30 for 2 chairs and one umbrella! What crooks and who did they pay in the French govt. to get the extra space and gouge the people! Next, Kao (name?)beach, next to Kon Tiki charges $25 for the same deal. Wow! How nice! Closer to Pedro's where the work zone is occurring, the places trying to make an honest living charge $10 for 2 chairs and an umbrella! They do have plenty of chairs and umbrellas! There's also plenty of parking behind the buildings. Yes, they don't have any restrooms and food because of lack of electricity and water. But, for us, we will NOT pay those rip off prices for the 2 big guys with the Govt. pull who are gouging people. You can eat food and go to a restroom at Pedro's. They are charging a reasonable price for their food. Please don't pay those outlandish prices charged by Kon Tiki and their next door neighbor! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
Finally, we've never seen so many umbrellas in use at Club Orient. They were 3 deep and literally lined up from Pedro's south, to the end of the beach. Wow! This re-construction garbage going on has been quite a boon for Club Orient! I would say, go to Orient Beach and enjoy but, just be aware of pricing!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Don't think you walked all the way down Club O beach, because chairs are not "3 deep" until 2/3 of the way down towards Papagayo. Perhaps the umbrellas you saw are the ones that have been set up behind their fence because the beach is too narrow. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Okay, maybe the chairs were not "3 deep" on EVERY stretch of Club O beach but, either way, there were tons of yellow umbrellas there. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

That's a good thing because from what we saw, everyone was having a great time on that stretch of beach. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

There's been a disparity in chair prices between the smaller, more crowded, beach restaurants and their larger counterparts for many years. Once the smaller ones have facilities to offer, you can be sure their prices will increase, although not to the level of Kon Tiki and Kakao, because the chairs at the smaller places are closer together. Some people are happy to pay a bit more for a bit more space around them.

To infer that the reason the larger bars have a larger area is because of some type of collusion is inappropriate, and perhaps even libelous.

I just wanted to clarify so that those who have been concerned with the loss of Club O beach don't think that the beach has suddenly tripled in depth. Today there was still only one row of chairs actually "on" the beach until 2/3 of the way down. All the chairs that used to make up the 2 or 3 rows are now up on Club O property, but they can still be rented.

Getting ready to come back to SXM. We always go to Bikini Beach.
Does anyone know the price for 2 chairs and an umbrella this year?

Paid $20.00 at Bikini in January.

Does the "boon" you described at Club O mean there are more textiles using this part of the beach?

No, mostly nudists.

To GaKaye. Look, if you think all is well with the smaller restaurants on Orient Beach, then go ahead and praise the French govt. for the great job they have done! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
We spent a good amount of time talking with the owners of the small restaurants and they are working so hard to try and get their business up and running. My point was meant to sound off for those poor people who are getting the short end of the stick. Let's just look at how the 2 big guys are suffering through this! If you think the 2 big guys are hurting because of the speed at which the French govt. is going at by not even having power or water up, then I have a few bridges to sell to you! I'm not trying to slander anyone but, I do want to sound off in favor of the little guy who is again getting the short end of the stick! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

My post didn't praise anyone, nor did I even infer that all was well.

I don't disagree at all that the owners of the smaller bars have not been served well by this renovation, however, you certainly can't blame the larger businesses for the problem.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I'm with Bonz on this one.
Big business & big government screws up everything it
touches.
Support the little guys & Club O. You will be better
off for it.

I haven't ventured to Orient Beach in years - do the "5 stars" still exist and if so what bars are they? Not directed at you, but surprisingly many people go to the island and do not go to Orient!!

i actually avoid orient. Mostly since my son was born since the water is not as calm as i have wanted a little one around. Might head back this year since he now swims pretty well and can handle it.

Yes, that's the big ones--Kakao, Kontiki, Coco, Bikini, and Waikiki. Different people running the day to day operations at Bikini and (perhaps Kontiki??) than before, but the restaurants are still there.

The 5 stars still exist they are Coco Beach, Waikiki Beach, Bikini Beach, Kakoa Beach, and Kon Tiki. Big changes happened about 3 years ago some of the operators are no longer there. If you want to read about it this guys blog explains it as I understood what happened but i'm sure there is much more to the story from many sides we don't know about. If yo read the blog the latest update is the criminal charges are dismissed. Most of the court decisions are being appealed. http://lifewithldub.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-as-beach-turns-story_14.html

Oh I know what happened! I left when Elisa had to leave Bikini - Bikini was our go to spot. Never went to the area where all the new buildings have popped up. Just wasn't sure if the 5 were still there. Started going to Orient when other than the resort it was just Pedro's as a kid. Dislike the circus it is now which unfortunately is happening to way too many of the beaches

Good article on the history
The current line up south to north is
KonTiki, Kakao, Bikini, La Playa, Waikiki and Coco Beach - beyond CoCo mid way to Mt Vernon is Palm Beach

So when did La Playa come into the pic, is that result of the 2 Bikini's being repackaged in Bikini and La Playa or?
and when did Palm Beach arrive, it's a large setup

J&B

Don't remember exactly how LaPlaya came to be, but I think it was part of what was L'hoste originally. Palm Beach has been there since around 2008?? Maybe?? Palm Beach is located where there was a large, abandoned building for years before they moved in.

Yes Bikini is not the same. Before it had a great vibe, crazy bartenders,and fun patrons. It was best at night and the very best was Sunday night. But life is going to change
whether we like it or not. C'est la vi

La Playa has been there since at least the late 90s. I remember it because it had a huge sign that said "Swim Ming Pool", and I got a kick out of that.

As others have stated, the five stars are still there, although Kon Tiki and Bikini are under new ownership. Orient, specifically Kakao, used to be an almost daily visit for us, and now we might get there only once or twice a week. Orient is a bit of a circus, but that's part of what we like about it, in small doses.

Sadly, I never experienced the island that you and your mom remember with such fondness.

We go to La Playa now that Bikini is under new ownership.

Umm, just checking, but we are still talking about beach chairs here, right? Am I missing something?
I don't want to stir the pot but gee whiz, this is beach chairs...

If we are talking about beach chairs, I was on island 1st week of February. We rented 2 chairs and umbrella from Sun Beach Clubber for $10. He had three rows of beach chairs. The guy I rented from told me he would be open in a week. Which would mean he is open now. Aloha (next door) looked like it would be opening soon as well.

Sun Beach said open next wk each wk end of Jan to Feb 14 when we left. The issue is no power and no water, I'm told yesterday there was an attempt at power, but didn't happen for whatever reason. The gov't can't / won't / ? even get power to the bathrooms and shower building the built at the same time - I supsect an issue with the bathroom building is who services it. The Pedro pay bathrooms have someone collecting the 75 cents and keeping them clean.

Don't forget the gov't wanted the payments to start mid Jan and then extended that date to March 1. my guess for power is around March 1

Even when power and water is supplied, I would wonder where the outdoors bars being built by some will drain, as no drains even close to the outdoor decks and probably not possible without breaking the floor, which none have done. My guess is the bar drains will be into the sand

J&B

I heard that the shop owners of the new buildings plan were going to shut down the main paved road into Orient as a protest today. Details in SXM weekly News which starts mailing tomorrow. Did this happen today?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />