We stayed here for 3 nights in a deluxe suite with a deluxe room connector. We had never stayed here before but were told the property had gone through renovations and was refreshed. The reason we considered it was because we have always enjoyed Orient beach and there is a special part of Orient we enjoy and that is the beach bar/restaurant attached to this property which is Coco beach. Coco is uncrowded and the food and service in our opinion are the best on Orient.

The rooms were in our opinion adequate. The air condition, which is new, worked great and the bathrooms which were somewhat redone were very nice. Between the 2 rooms we had 3 tv's and only one of them was working. We called the front desk twice and were told someone would come to fix it. No one ever did.

We paid $1100 per night for the 2 rooms and for that price point you would think the suite/room would have the basics: bathrobe, slippers, bottled water, and working tv's etc. In the suite there are no dresser drawers or closets. Everything is located outside the bedroom in the hallway which we found to be a bit odd. Internet was free in the lobby but if you wanted it in your room than it was extra. The continental breakfast was fine. The plunge pools attached to each villa worked well after a long day at the beach.

The only reason we would come back here is because it is so close to Orient and especailly Coco beach. The beach and restaurant made our stay memorable. The beach boy Tai is fun and hard working and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great few days. The restaurant staff were all superb and the lunches, especially the fresh red snapper, were great.

The Esmeralda is one of the nicest spots we've stayed in St Martin. It's right on Orient Bay, and located, fortunately, at the quieter end of the beach - away from the jet skis and the bus loads of cruise ship day trekkers. The rooms are comfortable and very quiet as there are either three or four rooms per building - each building has its own pool as well and a great private deck per room.

As pet lovers who miss our pets while we're on vacation, we were very pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a couple of adorable tabbies on the deck. The cats are in very good shape and are very grateful if you feed them. I know the idea of cats may not appeal to all, but the cats do what cats do and keep the property free of any bugs or other things that tend to pop up in warm weather.

The only thing I'd change is to have the wifi available for free in the rooms (it's free in the lobby and you can also pay for access in your room per device).

I will definitely stay here again as it's a great spot if you want a hotel on Orient Bay.

I often read with interest the reviews/experiences of other travelers. Having recently returned from an amazing one week stay at "Esmeralda", I thought that I would offer a few personal observations about this property. I should first preface my review with a few comments about the writer. My wife and I are seasoned (sounded better than mature or old) travelers. We travel 5 or 6 times a year - and can be critical.
We had been to St Martin (Orient Bay) once previously, but this was our first stay at "Esmeralda". We really enjoyed the layout of our "villa" or pod. While we didn't use the small pool, it seemed that this common amenity to the 4 units (Bldg 55) was a catalyst to our meeting guests in the adjoining units. And we spent exceptional evenings becomming acquainted, and exchanging stories over a glass or two. And I think that the courtyards are exceptionally well kept.
The cleanliness of our room was acceptable. Some minor repairs are needed (screen door), but it is peak season. Sometimes it is small things which make for a more comfortable stay. In our case it was the rain shower systems.
We found the Esmeralda staff (cleaning, groundskeepers, lobby) to be engaging and helpful. Of particular note was the assistance we got from the "concierge". In a word, she is terrific!
Overall, the weather was pleasant, but there were a few showers, so the proximity of the hotel to (Co Co) beach is a real benefit. And our beach walks at sunrise were a highlight.

Very nice, luxurious, clean villas, each 4 with their own pool; 100 yards from the beach with the greatest beach bar. Restaurant can get overwhelmed and is generally not the best bet since there are so many others around. Service is very friendly and helpful, some things don't work just like they would in the US but overall we had a wonderful experience and are looking to go back again, and stay at Esmeralda!