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Pinel Island


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #3 of 86 attractions in St. Maarten/St. Martin
Traveler Description: Topless optional
Familiar with Pinel Island? Write your own description and share what you know with other travelers.
Attraction type: Beach, Island
Address: Orient Bay
St. Maarten/St. Martin

Traveler Reviews

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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3 of 5 stars
SaskiaC 2 contributions
Amsterdam
Jul 9, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

Pinel was indeed a lovely island, and fine for a daytrip. Pinel felt a bit unreal to me though, rather fake, and it was completely oriented on people coming to pay for a chair on the beach, of whom most were getting drunk. If you prefer a more quiet beach, I would recommend a daytrip to Anguilla, not a daytrip... more

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4 of 5 stars
fishiedelsol 10 contributions
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Jun 15, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

This was a fun place that I wish we had had the time to do over again. A small boat takes you over to the island (5-10 minutes) each hour. When you arrive there are yellow and orange umbrellas and chairs for rent ($15). You also get a free rum punch. There is also a boutique and two restaurants. One... more

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4 of 5 stars
relayer 466 contributions
Newtown, PA
Jun 13, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

Based on the help of this forum, we chose to spend our one day on St Martin at Pinel Island. Everything went smooth from the taxi ride out, to the boat ride onto the island. We thought the main beach was OK, not great. It had a crowded feel to it. We were expecting a little more seclusion. However, we... more

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5 of 5 stars
RoxxyGirl 48 contributions
New York City, New York
May 28, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

By far, my favorite beach. A quick 5 minute boat ride will have you there. The water is clear and warm. I was just here last week and it was so empty we felt we had the island to ourselves. Don’t miss it. Food is good as well. Service on the beach was slow but we were too relaxed to... more

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5 of 5 stars
REJohnson99 4 contributions
Nashville, TN
May 14, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

Great relaxing beach! We used the "blue umbrella side" and discovered that the beach service seemed to be better and more available on the "orange" side, but it did not matter food and beverage was convenient. We also ate lunch at the restaurant associated with the orange umbrellas and found it delicious and reasonably priced. Try the Barbequed Chicken! more

Pinel
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4 of 5 stars
Caribbean5 36 contributions
Portland, OR
Apr 27, 2009
2/3 found this review helpful

Have not been in a couple years but will return in May '09. We have been several times and always enjoyed the day there. There are two beach bars on the island. One has yellow/orange umbrellas and the other has blue umbrellas. We used both facilities and enjoyed them both. Food was equal at both places. Looking forward to the... more

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5 of 5 stars
lushpuppy 1 contribution
miami, Florida
Apr 5, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

I had a great time on Pinel Island. the weather was so wonderful and day my was so lovely. I ate at the middle place called up on the key, (orange umbrellas) and couldn't ask for better food and service and they are 1 euro = 1 $. The island is such a beautiful island, the water is shallow, the... more

Beautiful
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5 of 5 stars
AlexMT 26 contributions
Raleigh, North Carolina
Mar 9, 2009
2/2 found this review helpful

The beach at the island is breathtaking. The side with the blue umbrellas is better than the one with the orange and yellow umbrellas. Do not bother make a reservation for lunch when the guy collecting the umbrella fee asks you. Contrary to what they claim, there is absolutely no problem finding a table at the three cafes on the... more

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4 of 5 stars
DCglobetrotterJW 15 contributions
Washington DC
Feb 19, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

Pinel is nice break from some of the more crowded beaches on St. Maarten/St. Martin. The water is calm and very clear, but I didn't think it was all that great for snorkeling - at least in the rocky areas that can be reached by swimming from the main beach. There are 3 restaurants - the orange one had good... more

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5 of 5 stars
kktraveler 47 contributions
Glastonbury,CT
Nov 7, 2008
6/6 found this review helpful

We came to Pinel on a cruise excursion. We had been to St Maarten several times and really just wanted a quiet beach and something different than famous Orient Beach. We got exactly what we were looking for and more. I have one of the best pictures i ever took in the Caribbean from here. We came in October 2007... more

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Pinel Island Address

Orient Bay, St. Maarten/St. Martin