*sob* last full day of vacation in St Martin

[Journeyman]

Ugggghhhh...today is the last day of enjoying hot & sunny Saint Martin's Orient Bay. I've been staying at a small naturist resort called Club Fantastico (www.clubfantastico.net) for the past week. It's about 15 minute walk to (naturist) Orient Beach but when the pool, the view and your outdoor shower is just outside your room, who wants the effort to walk down the hill? :-)

Anyway, here's a couple of shots from yesterday. My friends were chatting across from me, and that's me taking an outdoor shower. Bliss!

Happy holidays, all.

[Sanslines]

Jman,

Don't worry as the snow has not melted and the cold has not disappeared up here in the north country. It is all still here and is awaiting your return so don't feel that you missed anything up north while you were far away enjoying the sun and warmth.

[Xen]

Looks wonderfully warm and sunny - but why would you chose to stay there rather than on the beach at Club Orient ?

[Journeyman]

Looks wonderfully warm and sunny - but why would you chose to stay there rather than on the beach at Club Orient ?

Have you seen Club Orient's prices lately - per night and *no* meals or extras? It is also sprawling and impersonal.

[brainyguy9999]

Unless I'm looking at them wrong, it looks like Fantastico's prices are higher than Orient.

http://www.clubfantastico.net/rates.htm
http://www.cluborient.com/ClubOrient/roomrates.php

Fantastico's least expensive right now (Dec 21st) is $425 per night.
Orient's 2nd most expensive rate is $325 (the "Waterfront Chalet").

Am I looking at the wrong thing?

I can't speak to how impersonal the club is because my wife and I only walked through the resort to get to the beach when we were on St. Maarten. We stayed at Mary's Boon on the Dutch side for 10 days in 2004.

I've never heard of Fantastico, but I like the pictures they have.

My advice to you, though: Stop using the dumb computer and get out and enjoy the warm sun while you can!!!!!!! shocked shocked :eek:

Stay nude.

bg


PS -- I hate you. ;)

[Journeyman]

Unless I'm looking at them wrong, it looks like Fantastico's prices are higher than Orient.

http://www.clubfantastico.net/rates.htm
http://www.cluborient.com/ClubOrient/roomrates.php

Fantastico's least expensive right now (Dec 21st) is $425 per night.
Orient's 2nd most expensive rate is $325 (the "Waterfront Chalet").
...(snip)...
My advice to you, though: Stop using the dumb computer and get out and enjoy the warm sun while you can!!!!!!! shocked shocked :eek:


Hey! I am/was out in the sun, nude, on my laptop -- WiFi at no charge (with no laptop, Club Orient charges approx USD$5 for 15 minutes) ...and when I had averaged out the *winter* prices between the 2 places, Club Orient's avg. was USD$441 a nite; Club Fantastico's is USD$400/night, which includes an open bar the whole time you're there, as well as continental breakfast daily, and free Internet and satellite TV (including pay per view) in the lounge. (By the way, Fantastico's prices are reduced by 30% until Dec 31)

PS: Don't hate me 'cos I'm tanned!

[Xen]

I haven't checked the price calculations but would exepect the place some distance from the beach to be cheaper.

Is Club Orient sprawling ? I thought it was very spacious having large grounds with well spaced out chalets, all near to the beach. Certainly very different to a small place where everyone sits round a little pool - that might make it easier to hitch up with other people if you are alone though.

[bill2me]

I love St Martin and St Barts. Thanks for the tip on the hotel. It may be more costly but it looks like it has more personal services.

[NudistGuy47]

Journeyman,

You really know how to live! Way to go! Where will th next travels take you?

[nudenwv]

wow! what a beautiful place! outdoor showers are my favorite too! nice of you to post pics. thanks!!

[Nu]

How come both clubs are so expensive?

[Journeyman]

How come both clubs are so expensive?

If naturism on this side of the Atlantic was mainstream vacationing...
If North Americans weren't so damn spoiled...
If business people didn't want to make a profit on an island where commerce is supreme...

..then both "Clubs" would not be so expensive.

The clothing optional clubs of Jamaica are even more expensive! But you, Nu, as a Canadian, can check out & reserve the hotels of Cayo Largo, Cuba, for lesser expensive all-inclusive packahe vacations with nude beaches attached. Just Google Cayo Largo.

[wiz]

If naturism on this side of the Atlantic was mainstream vacationing...
If North Americans weren't so damn spoiled...
If business people didn't want to make a profit on an island where commerce is supreme...

It is likely also an issue of supply and demand. If the demand is there the prices will go up. The problem is that is not sustainable if the economics change. And if things do change people end up with a bitter opinion of the gouging.

In any event I'm more of a $40 dollar per night guy, paying ten times more just isn't going to fly. Interestingly I went to ST Martin for my 40th birthday about 7 years ago and stayed at Esmeralda. Nice place even if the acceptance of nudity is just a smidge less than a full fledged nudist resort. But thee where lots of reasons for going there when I did and at the time the dollar amount wasn't that bad. Traveling during hurricane season helped too.


..then both "Clubs" would not be so expensive.

There is likely two things working against us. As mentioned the supply and demand. Plus the not so minor issue of the value of he American dollar, which might be a big factor.


The clothing optional clubs of Jamaica are even more expensive!

I'm wondering how you came to the conclusion? About a year or so ago I went to Hedonism and thought the deal was much better than what you are indicating above. That was figuring that the food and stuff was worth at least $100 per day. Granted not the nudist resort in the traditional sense but at least you can be cloths free most of the time. Yeah there are some things that you have to put up with but the Caribean sun is just as strong.

But you, Nu, as a Canadian, can check out & reserve the hotels of Cayo Largo, Cuba, for lesser expensive all-inclusive packahe vacations with nude beaches attached. Just Google Cayo Largo.

This kinda makes me wonder when Castro will die!

[nakedjohn]

St. Martin is always nice to spend some time, and if you can be nude, it is heaven.

[nudeinwa57]

Maybe that's key here, travel during low or off season. I also noticed there specials noted on the web sites so one could pay a little less than the $400 per night. I wish the pacific coast of Mexico would come around for a few resorts.

[Nude in the North]

My question is, Are there any All Inclusive Nudist resorts in the Orient beach area? What are their prices?
I'm probably a couple years away from taking another "expensive" vacation, but hoping that I can find something in my budget. St Martin is at the top of my list of places to go.
If not all inclusive, what are the prices and options for eating places around the area?
I'm sort of torn between a "sprawling" resort with tons of people to socialize with and a smaller quieter place to relax.

Any suggestions?

[Journeyman]

My question is, Are there any All Inclusive Nudist resorts in the Orient beach area? What are their prices?
I'm probably a couple years away from taking another "expensive" vacation, but hoping that I can find something in my budget. St Martin is at the top of my list of places to go.
If not all inclusive, what are the prices and options for eating places around the area?
I'm sort of torn between a "sprawling" resort with tons of people to socialize with and a smaller quieter place to relax.

Any suggestions?

To my knowledge there are no all-inclusive nudist resorts on either the Dutch or the French side of St Martin.

Club Orient is room only.

Club Fantastico is room, breakfast and (alocholic and non) drinks for the duration of your stay.

While I stayed at the latter, I knew one of the other couples, and we each bought groceries for our own "night of cooking" for everyone there. It was fun and economical- a commercial kitchen is there to use, and if you or your partner likes to cook, it also bonds you with your fellow naturists. We did this 4 of the 7 nights, and ate out the rest of the time. For lunches, we usually ate at the beach (a few good, economical dining spots) or bought groceries to prepare sandwiches & salads at "home".

There is nothing stopping Club Fantastico's guests from being on Orient Beach - it is a public beach, but Club O charges 6 euros daily for a rental of a cheap chaise longue or 6 euros for an umbrella (there is no shade anywhere on the beach). Many people simply brought their own small, collapsible chairs that I suspect they bought on the Dutch side of the island where more American-style value stores are.

Also, non Club Orient nudists can eat at Club O's restaurant, Papagayo, or visit their beach bar, The Perch Bar, where Happy Hour (2 for 1 drinks) is from 1230 to 130 pm.

[Nude in the North]

Thanks Journeyman.
Like I said, It's probably going to be a couple years before I get there. But it's good to have a clue where to start looking for lodging.
Breakfast, and all you can drink sounds pretty good to me, along with being able to cook any meals I want to.
It looks like I have something to keep working and saving up for.

[Yasehtor]

One benefit of being a Canadian......Cayo Largo!