A trip of a lifetime six
years ago, P and I enjoyed our sixth visit to St. Martin in February
2005. It is a vacation destination like no other, with so much to offer for so
many. You might ask what it is that makes this place so unique and addicting. I
will attempt to explain it, but you really need to go and see for yourself. The
following are some guidelines and tips that make it special for us year after
year.
Keep in mind this can be
an expensive trip, but there are ways to trim the cost if your vacation budget
is limited. The primary currency is the Euro, which currently holds an exchange
rate of 1 to 1.3254 against the U.S. Dollar. Many restaurants offered one for
one exchange in the past, but that trend is disappearing. But there are cheap
eats available with little sacrifice in quality. You are going to love the food
just about everywhere you go. Pizza is affordable almost everywhere, and the
Lolos in Grand Case offer top quality grilled meats and fish for a low price.
Our recent favorite of those is Germaine’s.
Flying in is easier than
it used to be, with a new state-of-the-art airport that moves tourist along at
a quick pace. I miss the charm of the old airport though, with its brightly
painted series of cast- in-place additions. Our first year, we got off the
plane and walked across the tarmac to this tiny terminal. It had a third world
feel to it. It was hot, crowded, and a little disorienting but the lure of the
warm Caribbean wind as we walked up made up for it.
We have always rented
our cars from Unity Car Rental. They pick you up and drive you to a tiny field
next to a ramshackle building. Not an entirely picturesque setting, but the
service is excellent and the vehicles are trustworthy. I would recommend an SUV
if you want to get out and explore, as well you should. The roads can be pretty
darn nasty off the beaten track and you will appreciate the larger vehicle when
you encounter them.
Your budget will determine
which side of the island you choose to stay. We prefer the French side, even
though the language barrier can be a bit troublesome at times. Our favorite
Hotel on the French side has been Alamanda, because it is the newest resort,
they have excellent, friendly service, and they are a very short walk from the
world famous nudist resort that is Club Orient.
However, if you want the
best bang for your buck, try The Summit Resort on the Dutch side of the island.
Secluded with a breathtaking view of Simpson Bay Lagoon, the deluxe rooms have
a full kitchen and can comfortably sleep four people. They have a pool where
you can sun and swim topless and a restaurant and bar on site with an engaging
staff. You will be ideally located for the Dutch nightlife too, just a short
drive to the Sunset Bar and Grill, Bamboo Bernie's, and Bliss, all hotspots for
the young and energetic.
For the young money
crowd, The Maho beach area offers hi-rise condos and time shares and is a bit
closer to the aforementioned bars
St. Martin boasts
37 beaches, but we primarily stick with four for the clothing optional aspect
they offer, along with their distinctive personalities and
beauty. Orient Beach is a must visit for your first full day,
especially if that is a Sunday. The beach is at its liveliest, with a diverse
variety of people, especially at Club Orient. Plunk down some cash there for
chairs and an umbrella and enjoy the people watching. You can choose to keep
your suit on, but most take them off within the first few minutes. Nearly
everyone around you is completely nude, so you eventually begin to feel pretty
out of place with a suit on…”When in Rome”.
You needn't worry too
much about being photographed there, as the resort employs security to ward off
the inevitable throng of cruise ship day trippers that make a giggly tour of
Club Orient a must-do excursion. Their shock and amusement is as entertaining
to us as we are to them. A brave few will even lose there top or bottoms, and make
a promise to themselves to return for a full week the following year.
Make sure to take a
stroll along the entire mile and a quarter length of the beach too. People used
to walk the beach nude at all times of the day, but recent Government
crackdowns now limit you to a g-string or sheer cover-up I opt for shorts or a
swim suit (does any guy look right in a g-string?) On this walk you will be the
subject of much scrutiny and image recording, as topless is allowed but not
entirely prevalent. It's a “see and be seen” beach, so walking the length nearly
nude is not for the timid or jealous types. I say enjoy the attention. This is
your 15 minutes of fame. Well, a bit longer than that if you're walking the
entire length.
Stop in at the Pirate or
Le String for lunch and enjoy the French/Caribbean cuisine. Both places have
friendly and attentive staffs.
For professional and
amateur models and photographers, Orient offers a panoramic backdrop for
shutterbugs. Just make sure someone that would rather not be in your photo is
not part of your shot. There are usually a lot of people everywhere on this
beach, so isolating your subject may be difficult. All variety of water sports
is readily available as well. You can even take a ferry ride to the small island of Pinel and
enjoy its main beach, or take a hike to the more secluded and clothing
optional stretches of sand away from the dock. Club Orient also offers a
"Nude Cruise" to Tintamere Island, which is expensive but
definitely worth the price from what I have been told.
Another must visit beach
is Baie Rouge, which is a French beach not far for the French/Dutch border.
Here you will find around a mile of sand so soft it is really unnecessary to
rent a chair, the sand conforms to your body. You will never be at a loss to
find some seclusion here, most folks populate the north area in front of the
two restaurants while the remaining center and south area is scattered with a
smattering of sun lovers, both clothed and unclothed. An entrance sign
prohibits nudity, but the beach boys will be happy to set you up "past the
white umbrella"; their own designation for nude use. The French police
(Gendarmes) will not pay a visit to enforce this vague ban on nudity as long as
no one complains, so keep your PDA's to a minimum and don't venture too close
to the textile patrons and you will be just fine. Take a walk to the southern
end for some truly spectacular photo ops with your subject in the foreground of
a pristine and romantic background. Rent a pool float and bask in the sun
while the calm waters beneath you keep you cool and refreshed. Pure relaxation
and ecstasy. Slip on your suit and head over for happy hour when the sea shell
horn sounds. The drinks are strong and the staff at either restaurant is
engaging and funny.
A beach for nudists and
textiles alike is Happy Bay on the northern area of St.
Martin. Located next to Friar's Bay, it is separated from that beach by a
rather large and difficult to traverse hill. Steep rocky slopes on a narrow
path gradually give way to a simply gorgeous and isolated horseshoe bay. It is
well worth the hike. This is one of our favorite beaches because the harmony
that exists between textiles and nudists is remarkable. There is no fear of
shutterbugs or cruise ship day trip invasions here. Photo ops are plentiful
here, with large rocks jutting out of the sand and plenty of room for shots
without others entering the frame. Beach chairs, umbrellas and food and drink
have become available recently, but there are no facilities other than nearby
bushes. Weather permitting Happy Bay is a serene and blissful
day trip. It is not a beach to be missed.
Cupecoy beach is the
only beach on the Dutch side that permits nudity. Alas, beach erosion and condo
development has taken out the once expansive northern section of beach, but the
southern section and adjacent coves remain intact to some degree depending on
the fickle tides. Cupecoy is unique in that certain frequent travelers hold a
reverence to it that borders on spiritual. If erosion limited the beach to the
size of a pool table, I am certain they would find a way to occupy every square
inch, forgoing any other beach in favor of it. Here you will find pounding surf
against tall cliffs, a picture postcard-epic romantic film clip worthy backdrop
for photographic backgrounds of magnificent quality. Enjoy the company that
surrounds you, they are truly experiencing their own personal Nirvana and are
happy to share it with you.
We are “get up at the
crack of dawn and enjoy every minute of sunshine” travelers, so our nightlife
recommendations are a bit limited. One experience I have to offer is Karaoke
night at Club Orient's bar/restaurant. Although the host tends to hog the mic,
there still are opportunities to warble your own tune, or watch the naked
patrons dance to the beat. Delightfully entertaining.
Body painting night at
the Sunset Bar and Grill can be a lot of fun too. The bar boasts a
"topless women drink for free" policy that is frequently put to use
(always by P). The rule still applies if you are wearing only paint. The artist
is quick and immensely talented, and she works for tips only. You may run into
patrons you met on Cupecoy earlier on this night, they tend to be the least shy
about brandishing their attributes. Depending on the events scheduled, the SSBG
can be mighty slow some nights, so plan your visit around an event or weekend
entertainment.
The Orient Village area
is a unique place that could have you feeling you have been transported to a
French village. There are areas in the main square for playing a Bocce-type
game, and charming restaurants offer a great variety of culinary cuisines. You
may also find a foam party or live entertainment at one of the beach bars
during the week. Ask around while you are there to find out who is having what
that week.
As I mentioned before,
the Maho and Simpson areas have some nightlife to offer the younger crowd, but
being a bit older, I can't really make specific recommendations on those
places.
St. Martin has its
problems with crime as many other Caribbean destinations do, so do be
careful, especially late at night. Try to travel with a group, even on your
hike to Happy Bay.
Hopefully
you will come to experience this diverse and utterly charming place. Let me
know if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer them.happybaynovel.com
No comments:
Post a Comment