TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin What's your favorite condo/villa?

Since we've pretty much decided that we won't be returning to SXM until next summer, I thought I'd start looking at potential places to stay for our trip next July 2021. We will celebrate our 40th anniversary on the island, so I'm thinking SBR for the first 3 nights and a villa in Orient Village for 7 nights. We have stayed at Club Fantastico and loved it. We have also stayed at Cote Chic right on the beach and really like that as well. Since this will be a special occasion for us, I'm thinking a villa with pool that is private and c/o friendly. Sea view a must. Neither Club F or Cote Chic checks all these boxes...as much as we love both places.

Would love to hear your thoughts and ideas of places you have stayed in Orient Village that might fit our needs.

TIA

We love this place:

https://www.skyluxuryrentals.com/vacation-rental-home.asp?PageDataID=72339

Though I have never stayed there, my wife and I did take a tour of La Playa back in March before all this COVID-19 stuff was about to hit. A little french woman showed us around and gave us the '99 cent tour.' No, you can't 'vacay nakey' at this place, but the location is great with only a ten minute walk south down to the Club O. beach. It's right on Orient Beach and when you stay there you do get complimentary beach chairs and an umbrella, albeit on the 'textile' portion of the beach. You could request a room that provides an ocean view, but I'm not sure what that does to the pricing. Besides, how much time does one actually sit in their room during daylight hours looking out over the ocean? Another option that I am familiar with is the Esmeralda resort which consists of private units around separate pools for each section. But, this place is a longer hike down to the Club O. beach so that's kind of a buzzkill.

It is VERY difficult to find ANY villas in Orient Village that have a c/o pool and a view. I assume you are wanting someplace that you can walk to restaurants?? For the most part, the 'villas' in OV are what we would call condos and the vast majority are two level townhouses, many of which have a 'private' pool, in terms of you have the solo use of it. The 'rub' is that, since the condos all around you are ALSO two level townhouses, they look down on your private pool, if that were to bother you. Also, there are very few villas in OV that have a view of the ocean. I found ONE villa that might work for you, but did NOT work for us because the bedroom is on the second floor and due to my knees, I do not do stairs. I cannot remember the name of that villa now, but I think it was available for rental from the gal from Go Beach. Annemarie? Something like that. If you are willing to drive a short distance, there are a LOT of villas up the hill with lovely views, as well as across the main road in that other development.

Sammy--I am with the original poster here--I HAVE to have an ocean view..

freeddomfighter--Looks beautiful, but I don't think that's walking distance to Orient Village?

I think this is the one that I was thinking of.

Link If this is the right one, the road basically dead-ended at Kakao (the new location of Kakao, not the old one)

Thanks to all for your replies and links!

We do not necessarily need walking distance to restaurants. Anywhere in the Orient Bay area would be fine. Not afraid to spend a little more money. Club F would be the perfect place if it was a private villa. Heck, we may end up there anyway since we love it so much. Was just hoping for something with a bit more privacy.

It's NOT in Orient Bay per se, but five minutes from Grand Case, but TTOL sponsor Villa Canoua has an extremely private pool and a fantastic view toward Anguilla and the sunset. We stayed there in June last year and it was lovely. Very quiet and private.

Here is my review of the villa.

Thanks, Carol...looks wonderful!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/360731...p4mDn5dz3h4gMn&guests=1&adults=1 Summer rates will be in effect and mention the numbers of bedrooms you need. I have visited this villa and rented from this owner. The best. This is just off the road to the new Kakao and very near the beach.

vacanakey--Let me know if you have any questions. The best thing about the villa is the view and the privacy. I personally would not have made most of the decor' choices that were made there, but the view is outstanding. I personally love a sunset view, and most of the villas close to Orient Village have a sunrise view, because they face that way. That villa is very popular with repeat bookings, so do take a look at the calendar..

Hey Ron....sent you a PM.

My villa is one level with private pool no clothes required. It's off the road to the beach next to Esmeralda. 160 steps to the beach. Joie de Vie.

No, it's not Carol, but no more than a 3 minute drive. Awesome view with total privacy and security gate to get in the neighborhood and another security gate to get into the driveway to the villa.

Looks nice FF...but maybe a bit of overkill for just us two. Do they have 1 BR rate? I know that some villas do, while others don't.

We have stayed at Villa Paloma twice and absolutely love it. The pool area is private for c/o sunbathing. The only thing is you are only going to get at best a peek-a-boo view of the ocean. I would consider it walking distance to the village and the beach, however since it is 2nd level up the hill the walk back may be prohibitive if you have mobility issues. We love it and hope to go back in January!

Villa Paloma

Yes, there are reduced rates based on the number of bedrooms required.

dannan--Perhaps I am wrong, but I understood your villa has no view of the ocean? That was a requirement of the original poster.

Paloma looks perfect except for the limited sea view. Curious to know how limited the view is...can you only view the sea from a particular area of the villa? The outdoor shower is a nice touch. Will definitely keep this one on our short list. Can you share owner contact info?

Thanks for sharing everyone!

Just realized, looking at the pictures, that Villa Paloma is one of the villas that used to be called Green Cay Villas. We had a TON of great memories there! I don't know how many villas are currently being booked under that Green Cay Villas name, as most are privately owned now, as I assume Paloma is. Green Cay was the first place we booked a villa in February 1995. The villa that we booked back then had a fabulous view of Orient, as well as most of the others. That area has changed somewhat since then, as they have built more villas between them and the ocean, but I believe that at least some of those villas have a full ocean view still. For those not familiar with them, at the roundabout that is right at the end of the road that goes to the square, with your back to the ocean, you go straight UP from there by means of a walkway, up to Green Cay. Back in 95, we MIGHT have walked down once, but walking back UP was the big rub. No way I would consider walking it myself these days.

If view is very important to you, vacanakey, as it is to me, there should be other units in that complex with a view. The ones WAY at the top of the complex used to have the best ocean view, and I would think the view would still be there in those units. The driveway to them was VERY steep, but pretty short. They used to be numbers 18 and 20. They had names, even back then, but everyone used to just refer to them by the numbers! I haven't seen any of the villas there for a while, but you should definitely check them out.

We have stayed in several gorgeous villas in Terres Basses. If you are splurging, you may want to take a look.

Agree on Terre Basse. Mer soleil. La Terrasse

Terre Basse is not terribly close to Orient..

https://www.vrbo.com/324072ha?noDates=true

Have stayed at Villa Belle Mer twice...excellent location....5 min walk to the village

vacanakey--Have you made any decision?

With a few other couples we have stayed at Villa Steel Magnolias in the Rouge French low lands which is this former home of address Olympia Dukakis. Lovely Large 6 bedroom villa you can find on VRBO. Also just at Beachside Villas on Simpson Bay. Very nice for 2 or 4 people on the beach.

We have stayed at Logan's Run. Right next door to LaVista. Perfect for 2 couples. Have it booked for next year in case Flamingo isn't ready.

The OP asked about places in Orient Village.

Hi Carol,

Haven't decided on a villa yet but have a couple on our short list. Villa Paloma is at the top of our list, but I'm not totally sold because of the limited sea view. Still in wait and see mode until we see travel restrictions relaxed and a return to normalcy.

OK, just curious, no problem. Did you try to look at any of the other villas at Green Cay Villas? As I said in an earlier reply, some of them have a very nice sea view. I've stayed in at least 3 that have wonderful views.

Carol,

Is this the location you are referring to for GCV?


Sorry cant get the URL to post correctly....do you have a link to a map that shows the location for GCV?

Here

is a link to Green Cay Villas website. Apparently they are renting a bunch of villas now that are not part of the original Green Cay Villas. I haven't looked at it really closely, to see if there is a diagram there, but the location of the original Green Cay Villas is about half way down the hill above Orient. If you head past Club Fantastico, headed down the hill, there is a curve in the road, where it curves off to the left. The upper villas that used to be part of Green Cay are on the left side of the road, right before that curve. I don't know if they are still part of the Green Cay management complex or not. Originally there were approximately 16 villas in the complex. The rest of the villas are below those two, going down the hill on the left hand side. Hopefully that explains where it is.

According to the website, the villas that look to be a part of the former Green Cay Villas look to be Tintamarre, Souliga and Nymphia. All look like they should have ocean views, although the last one looks like the view may be hindered in that they need to trim the bushes. I'm pretty sure, looking at the pictures, that we have stayed at Tintamarre in the past, although of course the inside has been somewhat remodeled since then.

Beachside Villas. Love it there. right on Simpson bay beach. Clean, plenty on site parking. Great staff and owners. Open sliders to deck and step down directly on to beach. Beautiful in ground pool with big deck and gazebo for shade by end villa 14.

Ok, I know right where you are talking about...just down the road from Club F on left. Will definitely check it out.

indi- Villa Belle Mer looks awesome.....I could be talked into staying there.

Louise--I LOVE Beachside Villas, for sure!! Our favorite place these days, by far. But the original poster is looking for a place with a private pool which allows a/n sunbathing.

Ok, best wishes!

Oops, definitely not a private pool, etc. I'm guilty this time of not reading the entire post.

No problem, Louise. Hope you are able to take your trip in October.

And I could have been more specific in my title.

Thanks all...will let you know what we decide.

Just thought the OP might want to consider other options considering what they wanted: "I'm thinking a villa with pool that is private and c/o friendly." We love Orient Beach, Orient Villa, but for a splurge we go for Terres Basses. Heavenly!!!!