I want to make it 100% clear that this review is for the beach at club Orient only, NOT the resort itself. Please take that into account while reading this if you are looking to stay at the resort. We were just visitors to the beach from a cruise ship.

The beach itself, water, and surrounding scenery were of course gorgeous just as expected. However, the beach was very very small, and i was extremely surprised by that. We walked from one end to the other in like 5 minutes tops, and getting from the water line to the non-beach resort section must have been like 50 ft.

Anyway, again the beauty takes your breath away, and the beach was safe and clean. Also, the staff, from the guys manning the lounge chairs ($7 per chair / per day) to the bartender ($3.50 per beer) were friendly and helpful.

So all in all we would go again in a heartbeat. The cab cost from the port area on the British side of St Maarten to Orient Beach on the French side was like $6 to $8 each per person each way, and took about 25 minutes to get to. You will arrive right where the two beaches meet (Bathing suit wearing Orient Beach and Nude Orient Beach club), so you don't have to be embarrassed about asking a cabbie to "take you to the nude beach" :-)

The only thing I didn't like is that the bathing suite wearing gawkers constantly strolled through the beach. There is no cost / barriers between the two beaches, and no nude only requirements for the club, so anyone can and does pass through. We saw single men, to couples (young and old), to (MANY) full blown families with children walking by us -- ALL fully dressed or with bathing suits. We must have seen a half dozen if not more groups of people from our own cruise ship which made my wife feel uncomfortable. It almost felt at times like us nude people were zoo animals, which wasn't so horrible with the adult watchers, but really was awkward and a bit humiliating with the (sometimes giggling) kid watchers who I can't for the life of me understand why their parents took them there in the first place.

Anyway, all of that said, the gawkers seem overwhelmed with all the naked people and they don't stare/focus for the sake of embarrassment at any one person. Even though we recognized all of those people from our cruise ship, I don't think one of them recognized us (to give you an idea of what I mean).

Finally, just another thought re the gawkers. I would imagine they come in groves with the cruise ship porting, so i would imagine if one were staying at the resort itself, beach going could be timed to avoid the clothed watchers.

Final words is that even with the gawker topic that I have beaten to death in my review, i would go again in a heartbeat and had a very pleasant visit.

Pros :
A unique location near a wonderful beach (a real Caribbean beach).
Clean accommodation.
Nice atmosphere.
Friendly and helpful staff.

Cons :
Food at the beach bar.
Mosquitos (!)
The safety in the island of St Martin (although you feel safe inside the Club Orient).
No pool (except a very small one if you rent the only villa... but who cares ? the beach is so perfect).

We just got back from 13 days at Club Orient and while checking out we put a deposit down for next year. Usually we will go to different places, never the same but my wife and I both agreed we have to go back. It was so relaxing with nice weather, nice accomodations and the people that work there are very nice. Just to name a few Stephen in the office at night, Vanessa and Mimi in the Boutique always had a smile. Security were very friendly and the guys in the morning lining the chairs and putting up the umbrellas.
We brought food with us and made our breakfast each day and one of supper or lunch each day and bought the other. It worked out perfectly and we are already looking at what we can take next year.
Every morning by 700am I ran 4km on the sand which is gruelling but very good excercise. Never had a problem going au naturel past Pedros.
Every afternoon at 400pm we played volleyball for an hour.
We took a couple Tiko Tiko cruises to Tintamere Island which were really nice. The second one we explored all over the island and it was a lot of fun.
I must say that the Beach at Club O is VERY well kept up. They have a tractor rake it daily. The other places along Orient beach is mainly lined with sea moss. It comes in with the tide and most places leave it to go out with it. Club O really looks after their beach and property.
The only drawback in the two weeks was some, NOT ALL the people from the cruise ships. Some are just plain rude and lewd. Club O is not that type of place. If anyone has any questions please feel free to email me.

Love the beach and everything else. This was our 8th time at Club O. The rooms are starting to get tired. In our unit the last time it was painted (really varnished wood) it was on the bathtub,floor,etc. I know it is difficult to keep wooden structures healthy in a tropical location but their rates keep rising.
YES, we return dispite this. Morning croissant are still great