Phil, it was seeing your new video of the progress in Orient Bay that finally persuaded us to plan our next trip to SXM, which I just finished booking earlier today. It's scheduled for early next year and we look forward to seeing the continued progress in rebuilding going on in Orient Bay and elsewhere on the island. We've been wanting to go back for nearly a year now, but we realized there needed to be time for the islanders to recover, clean up, get basic services up and running and get themselves ready for the rebuilding work that has since gotten underway. We can't wait to walk barefoot on that wonderfully smooth, sandy beach and jump into the warm Atlantic Ocean!
Thanks so much for this update! I absolutely LOVED visiting St. Martin on our cruises because of the extraordinarily beautiful beaches. Orient Beach was always my favorite. I was devastated when I saw the damage the hurricane left, and it had me worried. After this video I'm confident that in 7 months this place will be up and running to it's former glory again. I'll be stopping by here on a cruise in June (Anthem of the Seas, 06Jun2019 sailing) - and I can't wait to return.
Phil, great video. How does it all look since the hurricane? Has the island (both sides) recovered enough? I want to travel there in the next month - thoughts??
The island still has some signs of damage, but there is plenty that was saved and has been rebuilt. You will have a great time. So much to do and the people are in good spirits. I'm headed back for the month of May. Thanks for watching!
Wrapping up my first full day here in Orient Bay. During my walk along the entire length of beach, from where the former Coco Beach bar/restaurant stood, all the way down to where the remains of Club Orient stand, I found myself quite stunned at how different so many areas look and how much damage remains,but also found some pleasant and vibrant examples of the renewal that is slowly, but surely occurring. There are now 3 new beach bar/restaurants fully up and running. They are Bikini, Kontiki and Kakao. A fourth one, Coco, is in the earliest stages of construction with the former site footprint cordoned off, the ground leveled, new sewer and water pipes awaiting burial and pallets of patio paving blocks stacked ready for eventual use in the construction of what will be its rebirth. The staff at Esmeralda Resort is anticipating the new structure being open for business in time for fall 2019. Orient Bay Village has come along nicely with all of the buildings that housed restaurants, open for business. There are some new restaurants among the group. Tai Chi, Little Italie and La Table D’ Antoine are gone with Cote Plages, La Voile Blanche and Le Piment having reopened. Across the boulevard, the row of shops are about 75% filled with the small market, Petit Casino, among the businesses up and running. There is also a new bakery, pizzeria and ice cream/candy shop. Many of the rental apartments and similar properties are open, but there is much in the way of construction work still going on to the facades and roofs of those buildings as well as places like the Palm Court Hotel, La Playa and Esmeralda Resort. There are some areas where multiple adjoining properties are boarded up and awaiting their fates. I did see 2 or 3 multistory properties which suffered fire damage and are also sitting boarded up. By far the most shocking section of Orient Bay is the area along the far south end where Club Orient is (or rather was) located. It is now an entirely abandoned debris field. Many visitors, myself included, walked among the ruins of the resort just looking with awe at the result of the incredible damage from hurricane Irma. The most striking visual thing that one immediately notices is the lack of palm trees and other dense shrubbery that once served as a natural break between the beach and the homes, apartments and rental units. Wide open vistas are now the rule. What once had no direct views of the Caribbean Sea, now have front row views. That same look extends to the homes and rental properties that rise up into the hilly area near the main road that passes through Orient Bay. It will definitely take years to achieve that lush, tropical look that was so easily recognizable. Most of the entire stretch of beachfront, closest in area to where waves come ashore, is covered in thick seaweed and other related marine growth. The new bar/restaurants and the accompanying area for beach goers to sit out in loungers and umbrellas has been moved further back. Those areas are clear and pristine. I knew going into my vacation that the Orient Bay of old is no more. Change is a constant and always will be so. This is a new chapter for the area and while it will take more work to fully erase the scars and repair the damage, it will happen. I’m writing this as I sit out on my patio, well after the dark of evening has descended, listening to the breeze blowing through the palms and very much enjoying the explorations and discoveries that I’m encountering.
Hi Scott and thanks for the informative update on Orient Beach and Village. I have been visiting it for the last 10 years and was planning to return back in March. As a naturist i always enjoyed the far (club Orient) end of the beach, even though I never stayed in the resort.Tell me although the Club has been devastated,did you notice if folk are still able to nude sun bath on that end on the beach? Would appreciate if you could let me know!
rdhickman Yes, you can! I walk the entire beach every morning and late afternoon and have seen quite a few vehicles parked in the empty lot with folks getting out, carrying towels and their own lounge chairs and finding a spot on the beach in front of where the resort stood. I would guess that at some future point the area will be fenced off for debris removal, etc... I’ve asked a few business owners in the Village if they know anything about the property and all I get are shrugs.
Thank you so much for this information. I really can hear your passion and love for the area and it makes me appreciate it even more. I love the positivity and outlook. The information is super helpful for all those wondering if they should go back. I thank you for your words.
More good news today! SXM Daily Herald online has an article stating that airport terminal operations will resume on December 15th, so there will be no more tents for use by arriving and departing passengers! There is still ongoing work to the structure, but it is mostly limited to the installation of the new roofing panels. PJIA should be fully operational sometime during 2019.
It's great to come across this latest video showing the condition of Orient Bay Village and the beachfront areas. We are looking to plan our next visit back to Orient Bay now that our favorite place to stay, Esmeralda Resort, has re-opened for business. It opened up back on November 1st. Speaking with the general manager there, L' Astrolabe is open for breakfast and dinner service and the Coco Beach bar/restaurant is being rebuilt and will not be open until June 2019. The bars/restaurants at Kontiki and Kakao beaches will be opening up in December 2018. Club Orient resort is no more. The SXM Daily Herald had an article published back on October 6, 2018, which indicated that the management company which oversaw the operations filed for liquidation and the resort was expected to close permanently by year's end.
Thanks for all this great information! We had heard similar things about Club Orient, but it's nice to see it officially stated. I have a feeling we are going to see it again, as it was a big attraction loved by many. Thank you so much for sharing all of this! \
@@philphriday My pleasure! There are many of us Orient Bay visitors who come back again and again. It will definitely take a bit of getting used to the 'openness' of the grounds at Esmeralda Resort and along the beach areas, but the new Bikini beach bar building looks awesome and hopefully the other bar/restaurants being rebuilt along the beaches follow suit. Gotta get back to see our dear friend, Christelle, over at Le Piment! It's been far too long since we've enjoyed one of the fabulous meals over there!
Thanks for all the videos and updates. We have been regulars to sxm for decades. We were there last May and saw for ourselves the devastation. We are returning in January. Do you know if Palm Beach will be returning at some point? It was one of our favorite places on Orient beach. It looked like a bomb hit when we were there. Same with our beloved Grand Case.
Carry R thanks so much for watching! I don’t have any info about Palm Beach but maybe someone else does and will get us the information. I will ask around. Grand Case did get hit hard, but they already have new places opening so it should bounce back. Glad to hear you are still supporting the island and I’d love to hear about how your trip goes in January.
@@philphriday hi. Heading to sxm on Friday. Glad to see airport is done in phase 1. I will be posting pix on Instagram. My handle is sxmrapp. We are on a windstar cruise in the middle of the trip. Bookending each end in sxm. Look forward to more of your posts
Hey Susan! I would imagine the Watersports at Orient Beach has paddleboards for rent as well as any of the major beaches like Philipsburg or Simpson Bay beach in front of Buccaneer Beach bar. Pretty sure I saw them at Simpson Bay!
I will be in St. Martin in a week and half. We are going to rent a car and explore on our own with our two kids (6&8), should we go here or another beach? We've seen Maho beach already. Thanks!
While I appreciate your comment, I have to kindly disagree. The beach took a big hit with the hurricane and they are doing a great job of rebuilding and coming back. Some of the new spots are gorgeous. The beach will be back, but it's not going to happen overnight. I do miss the old Orient Beach, but I'm also excited to see what's next. Thanks for watching and letting me know your opinion!
@@philphriday Have the shops ON the beach been rebuilt? Have the restaurants ON the beach been rebuilt? Are their chairs to rent ON the beach come back? NO.. I understand things don't come back 'overnight' but its been over a year now and if the French had any desire to rebuild it would have happened by now since they are the ones that forced the shops to tear down their place of business, have the French government build those cookie cutter huts they had to rent for a crazy amount. YES, I know all the history since I have been there 19 years now. Orient Beach was a tourist destination spot, not anymore. Its a nice walk on the beach but not a place to spend your day like we all use to. Apologies for sounding negative, but I do miss Orient Beach as it once was....
kennethpappas no need to apologize. It’s a wonderful discussion about the current state and the rebuilding process. Yes, there has been a lot of changes and not everyone is going to like them, but I have faith the beach will become something new and exciting. It’s sad to see the old days gone, but we don’t quite know what’s ahead. I, for one, love the new look and style they are going for. A bigger beach with the restaurants and shops pushed back. That beach is gorgeous and it’s nice to see more of it. Multiple restaurants have re-opened and while they aren’t the same, I personally still enjoy them. It appears you have some knowledge about what’s happening on the backside of this that I don’t have, so I really do appreciate you telling me about it. Believe me, I’m sad to not have the incredible beach we once had, and hope it can return to that one day. It’s a good thing there are 30 other beaches we can explore in the meantime. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.
@@philphriday ABSOLUTELY. They took a major hit. Wife and I visit multiple beaches. We have postponed coming to SXM and will be returning in a few months to see how its coming along.
kennethpappas I totally feel for you and appreciate your passion over the matter. It’s hard to see a place, that we both obviously have a love for, change. I’m going back in May and am looking forward to seeing how the recovery is going. Thanks again for the chat! I’m happy to hear you are returning!
![Why You Should Spend a Day in Grand Case - [A Walk in St. Martin's Most Charming Fishing Village]](/img/n.gif)
Phil, it was seeing your new video of the progress in Orient Bay that finally persuaded us to plan our next trip to SXM, which I just finished booking earlier today. It's scheduled for early next year and we look forward to seeing the continued progress in rebuilding going on in Orient Bay and elsewhere on the island. We've been wanting to go back for nearly a year now, but we realized there needed to be time for the islanders to recover, clean up, get basic services up and running and get themselves ready for the rebuilding work that has since gotten underway. We can't wait to walk barefoot on that wonderfully smooth, sandy beach and jump into the warm Atlantic Ocean!
Thanks so much for telling me this. It keeps me going. I'm so excited for you.
Thanks so much for this update! I absolutely LOVED visiting St. Martin on our cruises because of the extraordinarily beautiful beaches. Orient Beach was always my favorite. I was devastated when I saw the damage the hurricane left, and it had me worried. After this video I'm confident that in 7 months this place will be up and running to it's former glory again. I'll be stopping by here on a cruise in June (Anthem of the Seas, 06Jun2019 sailing) - and I can't wait to return.
So happy to hear you will be checking in on the island! Hope you have a wonderful time. Thanks for watching!
I will be on that same sailing.
Phil, great video. How does it all look since the hurricane? Has the island (both sides) recovered enough? I want to travel there in the next month - thoughts??
The island still has some signs of damage, but there is plenty that was saved and has been rebuilt. You will have a great time. So much to do and the people are in good spirits. I'm headed back for the month of May. Thanks for watching!
philphriday thank you! Have a great time
Wrapping up my first full day here in Orient Bay. During my walk along the entire length of beach, from where the former Coco Beach bar/restaurant stood, all the way down to where the remains of Club Orient stand, I found myself quite stunned at how different so many areas look and how much damage remains,but also found some pleasant and vibrant examples of the renewal that is slowly, but surely occurring. There are now 3 new beach bar/restaurants fully up and running. They are Bikini, Kontiki and Kakao. A fourth one, Coco, is in the earliest stages of construction with the former site footprint cordoned off, the ground leveled, new sewer and water pipes awaiting burial and pallets of patio paving blocks stacked ready for eventual use in the construction of what will be its rebirth. The staff at Esmeralda Resort is anticipating the new structure being open for business in time for fall 2019.
Orient Bay Village has come along nicely with all of the buildings that housed restaurants, open for business. There are some new restaurants among the group. Tai Chi, Little Italie and La Table D’ Antoine are gone with Cote Plages, La Voile Blanche and Le Piment having reopened. Across the boulevard, the row of shops are about 75% filled with the small market, Petit Casino, among the businesses up and running. There is also a new bakery, pizzeria and ice cream/candy shop.
Many of the rental apartments and similar properties are open, but there is much in the way of construction work still going on to the facades and roofs of those buildings as well as places like the Palm Court Hotel, La Playa and Esmeralda Resort. There are some areas where multiple adjoining properties are boarded up and awaiting their fates. I did see 2 or 3 multistory properties which suffered fire damage and are also sitting boarded up. By far the most shocking section of Orient Bay is the area along the far south end where Club Orient is (or rather was) located. It is now an entirely abandoned debris field. Many visitors, myself included, walked among the ruins of the resort just looking with awe at the result of the incredible damage from hurricane Irma.
The most striking visual thing that one immediately notices is the lack of palm trees and other dense shrubbery that once served as a natural break between the beach and the homes, apartments and rental units. Wide open vistas are now the rule. What once had no direct views of the Caribbean Sea, now have front row views. That same look extends to the homes and rental properties that rise up into the hilly area near the main road that passes through Orient Bay. It will definitely take years to achieve that lush, tropical look that was so easily recognizable.
Most of the entire stretch of beachfront, closest in area to where waves come ashore, is covered in thick seaweed and other related marine growth. The new bar/restaurants and the accompanying area for beach goers to sit out in loungers and umbrellas has been moved further back. Those areas are clear and pristine.
I knew going into my vacation that the Orient Bay of old is no more. Change is a constant and always will be so. This is a new chapter for the area and while it will take more work to fully erase the scars and repair the damage, it will happen. I’m writing this as I sit out on my patio, well after the dark of evening has descended, listening to the breeze blowing through the palms and very much enjoying the explorations and discoveries that I’m encountering.
Hi Scott and thanks for the informative update on Orient Beach and Village. I have been visiting it for the last 10 years and was planning to return back in March. As a naturist i always enjoyed the far (club Orient) end of the beach, even though I never stayed in the resort.Tell me although the Club has been devastated,did you notice if folk are still able to nude sun bath on that end on the beach? Would appreciate if you could let me know!
rdhickman Yes, you can! I walk the entire beach every morning and late afternoon and have seen quite a few vehicles parked in the empty lot with folks getting out, carrying towels and their own lounge chairs and finding a spot on the beach in front of where the resort stood. I would guess that at some future point the area will be fenced off for debris removal, etc... I’ve asked a few business owners in the Village if they know anything about the property and all I get are shrugs.
Thank you so much for this information. I really can hear your passion and love for the area and it makes me appreciate it even more. I love the positivity and outlook. The information is super helpful for all those wondering if they should go back. I thank you for your words.
More good news today! SXM Daily Herald online has an article stating that airport terminal operations will resume on December 15th, so there will be no more tents for use by arriving and departing passengers! There is still ongoing work to the structure, but it is mostly limited to the installation of the new roofing panels. PJIA should be fully operational sometime during 2019.
Scott Salmins I heard about this...it will outdate my next video...whoops! But that’s okay! Good news is better to hear.
@@philphriday I won't tell anyone, pinky swear!
It's great to come across this latest video showing the condition of Orient Bay Village and the beachfront areas. We are looking to plan our next visit back to Orient Bay now that our favorite place to stay, Esmeralda Resort, has re-opened for business. It opened up back on November 1st. Speaking with the general manager there, L' Astrolabe is open for breakfast and dinner service and the Coco Beach bar/restaurant is being rebuilt and will not be open until June 2019. The bars/restaurants at Kontiki and Kakao beaches will be opening up in December 2018. Club Orient resort is no more. The SXM Daily Herald had an article published back on October 6, 2018, which indicated that the management company which oversaw the operations filed for liquidation and the resort was expected to close permanently by year's end.
Thanks for all this great information! We had heard similar things about Club Orient, but it's nice to see it officially stated. I have a feeling we are going to see it again, as it was a big attraction loved by many. Thank you so much for sharing all of this!
\
@@philphriday My pleasure! There are many of us Orient Bay visitors who come back again and again. It will definitely take a bit of getting used to the 'openness' of the grounds at Esmeralda Resort and along the beach areas, but the new Bikini beach bar building looks awesome and hopefully the other bar/restaurants being rebuilt along the beaches follow suit. Gotta get back to see our dear friend, Christelle, over at Le Piment! It's been far too long since we've enjoyed one of the fabulous meals over there!
Thanks for all the videos and updates. We have been regulars to sxm for decades. We were there last May and saw for ourselves the devastation. We are returning in January. Do you know if Palm Beach will be returning at some point? It was one of our favorite places on Orient beach. It looked like a bomb hit when we were there. Same with our beloved Grand Case.
Carry R thanks so much for watching! I don’t have any info about Palm Beach but maybe someone else does and will get us the information. I will ask around. Grand Case did get hit hard, but they already have new places opening so it should bounce back. Glad to hear you are still supporting the island and I’d love to hear about how your trip goes in January.
@@philphriday
You will hear from me. This is my island for 30 years.
@@philphriday hi. Heading to sxm on Friday. Glad to see airport is done in phase 1. I will be posting pix on Instagram. My handle is sxmrapp. We are on a windstar cruise in the middle of the trip. Bookending each end in sxm. Look forward to more of your posts
@@carryr3116 Just requested a follow! Can't wait to see all you do.
@@philphriday I promise to post pix of it all, including the BVI etc. 🤗
Hi Phil, have you seen anyone paddle boarding around, and if so, where can one rent or get a lesson? Any idea?
Hey Susan! I would imagine the Watersports at Orient Beach has paddleboards for rent as well as any of the major beaches like Philipsburg or Simpson Bay beach in front of Buccaneer Beach bar. Pretty sure I saw them at Simpson Bay!
Any word on when Coco beach restaurant will open? And how is Esmeralda? Thanks in advance. Supposed to be back in June 2019!
See the first posting, it contains all your answers.
I will be in St. Martin in a week and half. We are going to rent a car and explore on our own with our two kids (6&8), should we go here or another beach? We've seen Maho beach already. Thanks!
Emily Hendrix Orient Beach is a great spot! There will be plenty to do and explore. Great for families too.
@@philphriday Thanks! Is parking free there?
Emily Hendrix yes and there is plenty of it!
Excellent. Thank you so much for the information! You have a new subscriber!
Emily Hendrix aww thanks! Happy to help.
that beach use to be thriving, now its dead. not even worth going to.
While I appreciate your comment, I have to kindly disagree. The beach took a big hit with the hurricane and they are doing a great job of rebuilding and coming back. Some of the new spots are gorgeous. The beach will be back, but it's not going to happen overnight. I do miss the old Orient Beach, but I'm also excited to see what's next. Thanks for watching and letting me know your opinion!
@@philphriday Have the shops ON the beach been rebuilt? Have the restaurants ON the beach been rebuilt? Are their chairs to rent ON the beach come back? NO.. I understand things don't come back 'overnight' but its been over a year now and if the French had any desire to rebuild it would have happened by now since they are the ones that forced the shops to tear down their place of business, have the French government build those cookie cutter huts they had to rent for a crazy amount. YES, I know all the history since I have been there 19 years now. Orient Beach was a tourist destination spot, not anymore. Its a nice walk on the beach but not a place to spend your day like we all use to. Apologies for sounding negative, but I do miss Orient Beach as it once was....
kennethpappas no need to apologize. It’s a wonderful discussion about the current state and the rebuilding process. Yes, there has been a lot of changes and not everyone is going to like them, but I have faith the beach will become something new and exciting. It’s sad to see the old days gone, but we don’t quite know what’s ahead. I, for one, love the new look and style they are going for. A bigger beach with the restaurants and shops pushed back. That beach is gorgeous and it’s nice to see more of it. Multiple restaurants have re-opened and while they aren’t the same, I personally still enjoy them. It appears you have some knowledge about what’s happening on the backside of this that I don’t have, so I really do appreciate you telling me about it. Believe me, I’m sad to not have the incredible beach we once had, and hope it can return to that one day. It’s a good thing there are 30 other beaches we can explore in the meantime. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.
@@philphriday ABSOLUTELY. They took a major hit. Wife and I visit multiple beaches. We have postponed coming to SXM and will be returning in a few months to see how its coming along.
kennethpappas I totally feel for you and appreciate your passion over the matter. It’s hard to see a place, that we both obviously have a love for, change. I’m going back in May and am looking forward to seeing how the recovery is going. Thanks again for the chat! I’m happy to hear you are returning!