The former Naturist's Getaway has been sold and rebranded as Kazanu. Looks like they've added 3 more rooms and updated existing units. We stayed there several years ago and enjoyed it, especially the close proximity to several great restaurants. Still quite budget friendly. www.kazanusxm.com
A nice place that we enjoyed years ago with the previous owners, Gerard and Francine. Loved the quick ride to Orient Beach and the relaxing nekkid pool time afterwards in late afternoon. We wish the best of luck to the new owners. Just a side note that the website suggests that 4 units are available now and 3 are soon to come. It would be a fun to place to rent (i.e. to take over) with a group. With did that one year at Saline Gardens in St. Barts and it was a blast.
Yep, it was pleasant. Wish we had thought of the Dingy Bar but that would have required getting dressed again! They ran it like a housekeeping cottage place, i.e. you were on your own for most everything, no maid service and not much in the way of day-to-day household needs. Not a problem, just something useful to know going in. New owners may have a different approach.
I was there two years ago (solo). During COVID, Feb 2021. I was the only guest there!
The biggest complaint that I had was the Wi-Fi was HORRIBLE. Could not get a decent signal anywhere near my unit. I had to walk outside, toward the main residence.
I know that's not a deal-breaker for some, but I went planning to do (a little) work in the early morning before either heading out or relaxing near the pool. Otherwise it was a good stay. Not going back until I get assurance that they fixed the Wi-Fi.
Update: I sent an email regarding Wi-Fi to the owner/manager. He replied within hours:
Thank you for your interest in our property, Improving Wifi is at the top of our list while as we are currently remodeling and renovating and on track to open 26 Dec 2022 . Hopefully in the next few weeks we can get some better pictures up on the website…
I'm planning a visit in the upcoming months. Given this reply, it's a property that I would consider staying at (again).
We are staying there for a week in January. The owner was very efficient in answering all of our questions and sent lots of information about the resort and surrounding area. We are hopeful everything will be ready for his "soft opening." Happy to report back after our visit.
Looking forward to to your report golda1. We are booked to stay at Kazanu February 25-28 for part of our trip. Then, staying with Paul and Carol from Captain Alan's. Will also report, as this will be our first time back to SXM since 2014.
Paul & Carol's Place is nice and laid-back. If you're not familiar with the area, here are some tips: Go past Emilio's restaurant and continue up the hill. Across from St. Michael's school, turn right (I think there's a dumpster on the corner). Their address is marked. Blow your horn and they'll open the gate for you. The dogs are friendly.
My wife and I were fortunate to be the first guests during the “soft opening” of the newly renovated Kazanu residence located in the village of Oyster Pond, St. Martin. This clothing-optional naturist resort is located in a quiet neighborhood in Oyster Pond Village and is a quick drive to Orient Beach. There are four excellent restaurants, a gourmet pastry shop and grocery store within walking distance.
Tim Roosens, owner and manager, lives on site and was very helpful in preparation of our arrival. He forwarded information in advance that included directions from the airport and many details about the surrounding area. The resort was easy to find and we were greeted upon arrival by Tim. We noted that the property is gated and locked at all times. The grounds were pleasant with gardens and fencing that provide privacy around a large, well-maintained pool.
There are four individual units already completed and three more in various stages of construction. Our unit, the Oseyan, was on the second floor overlooking the pool and provided a stunning view of Oyster Bay and Tintamarre Island from our private terrace. We loved listening to the sound of the waves braking as we enjoyed our morning coffee. The unit was clean and spacious with a king-sized bed, private bathroom with a great shower, and a kitchenette. The well-equipped kitchen included a full size refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and a cooktop.
Tim was a gracious host who always wanted to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. We would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a clothing optional venue at a very reasonable cost. We were very pleased with the amenities at Kazanu and are already making plans to return.
Thanks golda1. Can you elaborate on restaurants around the resort. Can you let us know if they are walking distance and was it safe to walk at night? Sounds like a great place to stay but would like more details on what to expect after 6:00 pm
I stayed there under previous ownership, in 2021, and I have a return visit planned for next month. During my visit, I was the only guest; I had the place to myself! I saw the owner (Gerard) on my first day and last day. That's it.
Regarding the restaurants nearby, l'Oasis is walkable. Fairly steep hill down, and the same steep hill walking back. About 300 feet each way. And connected to l'Oasis is a (very) small bakery/convenience store. The other nearby restaurants, while not far away, are not walkable due to the lack of sidewalks.
Regarding safety, I never felt unsafe while there. During my visit, there wasn't much car traffic (and zero foot traffic), so I considered it both quiet and safe. The previous owner required me to park in the street. I was OK with this, and I saw no evidence that anybody tampered with my rental car during overnight hours. IMO, because it's "off the beaten path," it's not on the radar of the local criminal element. There are more fruitful opportunities for petty theft in other parts of the island.
Of course, because it's off the beaten path, it's not nearby the restaurants, bars, and nightlife of Simpson Bay, Maho, Phillipsburg, Orient, Grand Case, etc. It has a very "residential" feel. I felt like a local resident, rather than a tourist, and I liked that. No parking garage, no check-in desk. Just my unit and the (shared) pool.
Also, note that the units have neither a television nor telephone.
Anyway, I found it good enough for a repeat visit. I'll provide more detail after my February visit.
Thank you, Golda, for the positive report. We have a trip planned for July 11-26 and plan to spend our 1st 8 days there. We also stayed in the 2nd floor unit, but will stay by the pool this time. I can only think of 3 restaurants (BZH, l'Oasis & Mama Pizza), though.
I forgot to mention that the wifi is reliable and the rooms now have televisions with the usual streaming services available if you want them. Also, the new owner has just installed a small parking lot and gate so that you no longer have to park on the street. It is a residential neighborhood and is very quiet. It definitely feels safe, but would not recommend walking around on the streets after dark.
The bakery/grocery store is adjacent to the restaurant L'Oasis and just across the street is another restaurant BZH. There is a short but steep hill down to this area, but is easily walkable during the day. Again, I would not recommend walking back from dinner after dark.
L'Oasis is a typical upscale French restaurant that is very good. Beware that you need a reservation for dinner - it was completely full when we were there. The lighting was bright and the noise level was a bit loud for our taste. We felt a little rushed there, but overall the food was excellent and the experience was very good. We really enjoyed BZH across the street, which at first glance only appears to be a specialty creperie restaurant. However, they also have a full menu with excellent food and very friendly staff. We enjoyed dinner there twice in their outdoor venue where the music was quiet, the lighting more subdued and the tables spaced further apart than at L'Oasis creating a very nice experience.
A little further down the road in the opposite direction is Mama Pizza (you have to go there - lots of fun and great food), and Big Fish on the Dutch side of Oyster Pond which is more upscale. We did not have a chance to go to the latter.
I have a few photos of the view from our terrace and of BZH, but not sure how to attach them! Sorry.
Only now finding out about this great Traveltalkonline.com forum so i would like to thank everyone for the positive comments we have been getting,...here is a quick intro about us,..
Kazanu was previously known as Caribbean Nature & Naturissimo, was started by the French owners 25 years ago until it was finally time for them to retire.
The rebranded “KAZANU” residence is now owned by Tim and his sister Anke. Their parents moved to St. Maarten/St. Martin from Belgium more than 30 years ago and they grew up on the island’s beaches, spending any time off from school in or on the water.
Tim lives at KAZANU along with his life partner and manages the property. When his partner heard that the property was Clothing Optional she was like you should totally continue that because you are always running around our house naked, so he took of his swimmers and jumped into the pool and said there is no age limit to become a Naturist right ? So yes he is novice to naturism but certainly not to the hospitality sector as he is also the owner of the famous ice cream shop Gelateria Milano which is located at the beginning of the boardwalk in Philipsburg & where they also have vacation rental units. He made a total career change due to Hurricane Irma destroying his boat rental company in 2017 ; and has been know as the “Gelato-man” island-wide ever since. Tim’s love for the ocean has not left him though and he spends his free time windsurfing at Orient Beach, which he learned as a teenager whilst working as a beach-boy in his spare time at the Brink family owned “Club Orient Water-Sports” together with Australian brothers Garry and Kerry Whitfield.
And yes we currently have 5 units up and running & by next season we will have 7, including some wheelchair accessible units,...I can assure you however that there is no construction going on at the property & you will have a very peaceful stay as everything was already build but we just like to upgrade / finish some of the last units before adding them online, so please follow us on social media for updates,... And just to confirm , all rooms now have Airco, TV with Ruku tv, and fast Fiber internet Wifi is available all over the property including in the rooms & around the pool deck.
Please find lots of pictures and updates on our Website www.kazanusxm.com and Facebook & instagram pages @kazanusxm
Looks great. You should message Carol Hill about becoming a sponsor on this site. Is there a rate for a total buyout or is it just the room rates added up?
Thank you & will mess her now,... The complete property pricing will be listed as soon as I finish with the remodeling, but for now you can add rooms up and would give some discount if booked all together,...its a great property to be booked with a group of friends or family, currently we can accommodate 12 adults but that number will eventually increase to 16 or even 18 if dont mind sharing some bathrooms,... Kind regards, Tim
For anyone who has stayed there, are there a lot of stairs? I do not do well with stairs. Been thinking about possibly doing a few days there, combined with a few days somewhere else. If there are stairs, are there some rooms where there are no stairs?
There are several rooms on the pool level that only require a couple of steps to access. There are two larger units on the upper level that do require stairs. Make sure you book on the pool deck level. Send a message to Tim at Kazanu and he can help you with the specifics and I'm sure will do everything he can to accommodate you. He is also working on a new handicapped accessible unit on the lower level that may be available by the time you are there. Have a great time!
We have added a new parking lot inside the property with a remote controlled gate and with the phase 2 of this parking lot ( that is scheduled next week in between 2 bookings) we will have the 2 units (La Vu & Oseyan) at the same level of parking lot so you no longer need to go up the 5 steps to access those units,..Ill try and post some picture here next week....You will however have to go down a few steps to go towards the pool deck area but we have already installed additional handrails for those who have trouble walking,...So yes by next season we will have at least 2 units wheelchair accessible and maybe even more units as it is definatly something that is close to my heart to be able to cater to an older crowd who we would like to help to continue enjoying life for as long as they can in our little piece of paradise,.. and yes my long term dream goal would be to have an elevator down to the pool,...
Hoping every one is good & enjoyed a great summer,...We have been working hard to do some upgrades over the slower months & we will continue to do so when we dont have guests on site,... Attached are some updated pictures of our expanded Pool deck, The new Parking lot with direct access to the "LA VU " & "OSEYAN" units, & the small section of steps down to the lower laying poolside rooms, We are still waiting on our building permit from the local gov for our Poolside Gazebo but they have now promised us by end of Nov we should get the green light so hopefully by the New Year we can also add this,... We have increased our discounts on longer time rentals as our goal is to have people stay for longer stays since each unit has a confortable kitchenette with medium size fridge and private porch to eat your own cooked meals,...You can of course head over to Oasis & BZH restaurants that are 500m away for those special delicious moments... We are very much looking forward to seeing some of you again this winter and meeting new guests ! Feel free to reach out to me via Whatapp or iMessage on +590690307999 or send me a Facebook messenger or email at contact@kazanusxm.com if you like more information when your fingers get itchy cold and looking to escape to warmer weather.
Hope everyone is well and that the weather is warming up wherever you live and that you can enjoy Nature closer to home,... We are rounding of the season here at Kazanu and want to thank all of the guests that stayed with us this year,
A bit of a heads up for next season most of the past guests have already rebooked for winter 2025 so if you are playing with the idea then feel free to reach out to us because February is already sold out !!!
Did you know that we give super discounted rates on Monthly booking starting at $2400per month ! For those who want to escape the winter or even work remotely on high speed internet even by the pool deck,... Shoot me an email at contact@kazanusxm.com or call me on whatapp # +590690307999
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