TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient Bay project to start in June

Sort of the gist, anyway! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> Thanks.

Gist-ist. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I spent a lot of time in a previous job using Google Translate, so I guess I got good at translating the translation into something interpretable.

Never used it much at all myself, but I can see where experience in using it would certainly be helpful. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Wow, the idea that Pedro's would be owned by Club O is almost too much for me to imagine...talk about night and day but then again the "rocks" are the border...long time lease? Hard to imagine that they would not have monetized this area if they could. Buffer???

Well, they got the best of both worlds to capitalize on both life styles. Smart call.

Pedro's is NOT owned by Club O. The LAND where Pedro's is located is owned by Club O, I believe.

The soul was sucked out of Orient Beach 15-20 years ago. This is just going to make it any beach destination on any island sadly

Here's a rendering of the actual structures , also from le Pelican.

gary

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

Translated.
http://lepelican-journal.com/saint-marti...forme-7375.html
Sorry, didn't work.

If using Chrome, just right-click on the text (not image) and select translate from the menu.

gary

Unfortunately it looks like our trip this year will be impacted, but that isn't a huge issue. I think those pictures make it look very nice. Hope the reality is as good as imagined.

No character. Just plain ugly and boring. Disliking this more and more

So - I'm trying to be positive and think of all the places that will not be affected that we can visit in July.

Here is a list I have come up with - please chime in if any are incorrect or to add any more that I have missed!

Kakao
Palm Beach
Kontiki
Bikini Beach
La Playa
Pedro's
Waikiki
Coco Beach

Oh - and need opinions on your favorites. Of this list I've only been to Palm Beach. My 2 favorites were Aloha and Chez Leandra which are in the remodel zone

How about the Perch and Papagayo? You don't have to be nude to eat there, or you could get carry out. And I ask because I don't know--aren't there some places in Orient Village open for lunch? And what about bringing something to the beach with you to eat? Of course, some places don't allow you to bring your own food and drink with you and sit in their chairs. Which brings up a question--I wonder what will happen on the actual beach? I wonder whether people will be able to bring their own chairs and sit them there, or whether the area will be roped off?

We will be in the same boat you are....visiting in July. As such, we've decided to spend 3 of our days on Anguilla.

But the remaining time on SXM we will still be perfectly happy on Orient, as we love Kakao. Used to frequent Kontiki, but haven't been there since they changed and remodeled. I think I'd fall off those new swinging bar stools... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Waikiki while expensive has very good food and comfy lounge chairs with good beach service. LaPlaya also has good food although beach service and rest area at Waikiki much better.
Palm Beach also has very good beach service and amenities but have been disappointed with the food on the last few visits which again has been over 2 years.

It does seem like this 'renovation' is definitely going to cut down on the availability of lower priced food on Orient at least temporarily, as the places which will remain open are more expensive in general than the closed ones.

Seems absolutely impossible that that project can be done in three months. We're talking French AND island time! They should allow food trucks in during the construction.

Perhaps after the new construction all the places will be putting their prices up to compensate for the higher rents they will be paying. Time will tell, I guess and by September we might have a better indication of the real completion date.

That's assuming that the rents in fact will be higher. Although that seems a fair assumption, does anyone know that for a fact?

What is interesting is that the 2 leassee of the land leased out plots to people/businesses that built buildings on these plots. Did the land leasee's buy back the building owners interest's an start this project? Was this a combined project from the building owners ?

Also with the new free bathrooms I would expect higher prices on what is sold at these new places.

SXM??? Wendell

Wendell--I could be wrong, but I thought the property in question is owned by the Collective'?

Wendell, I cannot imagine that the developer would be doing this without a plan for significantly higher rents. All of the new places will be significantly more expensive.

BobandJeana

We'll be there in September, and I would be highly surprised if this project was completed by then.

It will be interesting to see what comes from all of this. I suspect my little piece of paradise on on earth, is going to be drastically changed -- and IMHO probably not for the better.

I am curious when the affected businesses will shut down or if there is any possibility of them being open when we are there the last week of May and the first week of June? Anyone have any info?

According to the company which is in charge of the project, it will start in June, so it looks like your last week in May should be fine for sure, unless some of them would close down early, which actually wouldn't make sense, I wouldn't think.

I was told many years ago that the OB area was leased. Half from a man and the other half by 2 women. This was from a person who built one of the buildings there. The dividing line was at Kontiki. Do you remember the sliding gate behind Kontiki that was closed every night? The was supposed to be the dividing line of the lessors. Then they subleased.

SXM??? Wendell

It is difficult to tell from the bad translation, but I think that newspaper article states that the property is owned by the Collective. Kontiki, etc., is irrelevant, as it's not part of this project.

The article does indeed say that the parcel of land involved in the rehab belongs to "La Collectivite."

Since we will be there right when this project is slated to start, I will be sure to post pics and updates upon our return.

We'll be in St. Maarten on October 10 and I hope they're done with the project by then. Fingers crossed, since we love going to Orient Beach. I doubt they'll be finished by then, though.

This subject was covered here last year.

Link.

It includes an informative link to the Today newspaper.

Pretty accurate information.

gary

We really love Orient the way it is. Time will tell ...

I think this will be a big improvement it will make it safer to walk to the village from club o at night.

I agree it would be a good thing if the end result was that several of the restaurants there are open in the evenings, and that is supposedly part of the intent.