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The beaches of St. Martin
Beaches, Sun and Watersports:
St. Martin has more than thirty different beaches and all of them are available to the public. There are several the vacationer would enjoy more than others, however feel free to explore on your own.But first some advice on beach etiquette. Throughout most of Europe topless beaches are common and nudity is not all that unusual, but in the United States these sights are practically non-existent. St. Martin/St Maarten is, in very many ways, an extension of France and Holland, thus topless sunbathing has become accepted just about everywhere on the island.
Nudity is usually confined to Orient Beach, Coconut Grove, and Tintamarre or Flat Island on the French side and to some extent at the far end of Cupecoy Beach on the Dutch side. Although you may encounter nude sunbathing on some of the more isolated beaches, it is advisable to confine the experience to your villa or the Orient area.
A strong word of caution:
The Caribbean sun is far more intense then what you are used to at Home. There are many parts of your body that have infrequently, if ever been exposed to the sun. Many vacations have been ruined by severe sunburn. All you need to do is stroll Orient Beach to see people exposing themselves to a very lousy vacation. We can't stress enough how important this is. Please use a sun screen or block all the time. A 15 block or higher is recommended by most doctors to insure proper protection. Also remember in the Caribbean a cool breeze or a cloudy sky does nothing to inhibit the suns ability to burn you. It is advisable to avoid direct sun between the hours of 11am and 2pm.
French Side Beaches
Baie Rouge, Plum Bay and Longue Baie are all popular beaches in the area known as the Terres Basses or the French lowlands. At the main entrance to Baie Rouge Beach it is possible to buy cocktails, sodas and snacks. You may also rent lounges and umbrellas. It would be advisable to bring your own drinks, provisions and sun protection to the other two.
Nettle Bay, Friars Bay and Grand Case Beach are all calm water beaches where the waves rarely become large. At Nettle there are restaurants and watersports available. Food and drink is available at Friars Bay. Grand Case Beach is right in the town of the same name and has food and drink available in all prices ranges and some watersports. Anse Marcel is at the northern end of the island where the Hotel L'Habitation is located. It is popular with families. Watersports and boat rentals are available.
Our favorite beach on the island is Orient. Although this is St. Martin's famous clothes optional beach, it isn't necessary to take off your bathing suit to enjoy the area. In fact most of the people, with the exception of in front of the Club Orient Hotel, do wear bathing suits. The beach is clean, long and wide. The surf can sometimes get rough but generally isn't a problem.
There are many restaurants all along the beach. By St. Martin standards they aren't expensive. When you drive out to Orient you will see names like Coco Beach, Bikini Beach, Kon Tiki etc. These are actually the names of the restaurants on Orient. Our favorites in fact are, Kon Tiki, for food and people watching, and Bikini because it is less crowded. Great staff. Music on the weekends.
Dutch Side Beaches
Cupecoy Beach is a great place when there is sand. The beach is actually at the foot of small cliffs and at certain times of the year a lot of the sand disappears and it can become to crowded. One of the best little bars on the island is the Cliffside. Great beach and great people (Frank and Nina). Ask us how to find it. In the same area, a little farther south, is Mullet Bay Beach. This is a large popular beach surrounded by the hotel and golf course of the same name. It is popular with families.
Popular Maho Beach has one of the most unusual locations you will ever see. When planes land on St. Martin they fly right over Maho or Airport Beach. It is the closest observation point where the public can watch planes as large as 747's land. The beach is surprisingly good, and the snorkeling is great.
The surf can sometimes be rough but it is a great place to stop, take a quick dip and watch a few jets land right over head. At one end is the Sunset Beach Bar a very popular cocktail hour spot. A word of caution: regardless of what other people do, stand off to the side of the runway. The jet blast could toss a pebble back at you at twice the speed of a magnum bullet. Also don't leave your clothes or towels in the flight path or they will be blown out to sea.
Guana Bay and Dawn Beach are north of Philipsburg. Guana is a nice large beach that is never very crowded. The surf can be strong at times but if you like privacy this is a good bet. Be sure to bring your own provisions. Dawn Beach has always been popular with tourists as well as locals. The hotel was destroyed by Luis but the beach is still wonderful. Go to Mr. Busbys
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