Made it to Club O once again over New Years. Meeting our old friends and meeting new friends is really our favorite part of vacationing at CO -----hard to be pretentious when you are nude! We've reviewed CO in the past but feel a few additional comments are deserved. First, the front office staff are wonderful. Karma can take care of any problem with amazing efficiency---I wish she worked for us!! The boutique staff are friendly and helpful and Willie at the Perch Bar is amazing. One downside this year: The food at the Papagayo was better than ever---but the service was not up to previous year's excellence. Apparently there has been some server turnover and hopefully this will resolve with better training.
A couple of new finds in the area--- and in the most unexpected location! Behind the Simply Market [on the way to Grand Case] are two small wine shops. The Grape Leaf [only a few weeks old] is tiny, with a small but select group of French wines at extremely reasonable prices. Also has a few delicacies such as canned French foie gras. Bacchus is much larger, with a larger selection and deli like counters of delicacies. But their lunch is truly fabulous. It is not cheap--- you can easily spend over $100 per person including wine-- but every bite is worth it with the food being comparable to that of a Michelin 3-4 star restaurant. You will not be disappointed!
So make it to Club O, enjoy the wonderful beach, the friendly staff and guests, the Papagayo and the local shops and restaurants. It needs to be experienced!

To appreaciate what Club O offers you have to travel from New York with a Jet Blue plane full of selfish New Yorkers pushing for available luggage space, restricting 8 rows of passengers because of YOUR peanut allergy - well you get the picture. Since most of these people stay on the Dutch side of St. Martin (better deals at hotels) Orient Bay is blissfully clear of aggresive, must win at all cost, people. Club O even moreso because living clothing free tends to expose pretentious discussions and behavior as really stupid. We are all there for the same thing - freedom - from routine, from Long Island, from restrictive clothing, clocks, cell phones etc. Club O offers just enough convenience without the silly frills. The chalets are very homey, warm and more than adequate for living free. Mine was spotless, very well organized and cleaned to prefection every day. Food is available at the Orientique or off campus. Fresh French bread is delivered each day at 8am. It is worth getting up to see 25 naked people in line with baguettes under their arms! The grounds are meticulously planned and maintained. There is a free laundry for those who must - I did and it was wonderful - no lines of obnoxious people as I have in New York. The food at Pappagallo restaurant is very good if not gourmet. There are some excellent French restaurants in the area but most of the Club O residents stay in the club. Now I understand why - you just dont want to get dressed for ANYTHING. The beach at Club O is the best of Orient Bay although if you like waves you need to go further down the beach (and at least wear a thong) where the surf is rougher. Do take a ride on Phillippe's Tiko Tiko catamaran - whatever cruise you choose you will love. The drinks, food and company are wonderful and if your specific group is not that friendly, its ok. The sun the water, the ship will keep you company enough. Generally speaking the people are very warm and while engaging will also leave you alone if that is what you want - there were many backyard readers and groups of freinds who stayed home drinking wine and talking all day. You are free here to live as you want in a respectful way. Cruise ship visitors often head to Club O but then decide they are not ready for naked to go back to the hotel areas. This is a blessing. We are thankful! The staff was very helpful and friendly and the best of all was late check out and a taxi drove right to my chalet to pick me and my luggage up. No hassling the luggage to reception first. What luxury! I intend to go back to Club O exclusively in the future - it is just too good and unique to pass up - and it avoids all the people problems of a big resort island in high season. Just a blissful, happy restful time. It is not really a place for the young as we currently know them. Thoughtful, sensitive young people with some self control - yes but the other kind just would not like this place - too quiet, not enough external entertainment, no TV etc. You must listen to and follow your internal feelings and imagination for the magic to happen. Don't miss sunrise - it is a substitute for Church. Direct light show from God with no intervening interpretations and it happens every day to remind us all how lucky we are to be on the earth at this great and peaceful resort.

I stayed at Club Orient for a week, from Dec. 4th to Dec. 11th. This was my 8th trip to St. Maarten/Martin, and Club Orient, between 1991 and 2012.
It's very much like staying at a summer cottage, as the rooms are in cabins of various sizes. I stayed in a studio type of room, perfect for one or two people. I travelled alone, but I was far from lonely. Everyone is so friendly, it's easy to meet people. Club Orient is in a beautiful tropical setting, with lush vegetation. The beach, of course, is the highlight, with soft white sand, and gorgeous turquoise water. December is typically windy, as the locals tell me, calling them the "Christmas Winds". Some days are windier than others. When I felt it was too windy for me to be on the beach, I would spend lazy days on my lounge chair in the garden area by my room, where it was less windy. The sun feels so good, whether on the beach, or in the garden area. Great climate! So wonderful to enjoy it all with the freedom to be clothes free. I felt so completely part of nature that way. Also got a great all over tan! There were two short rainfalls during my week, one for 10 min. and the other about 20 min. Another highlight of Club Orient is the staff. These folks are amazing, amazing, amazing!! They will do what they can to help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest. The Front Desk staff were all so professional and friendy, but I wish to mention two of them who were exceptional.......Junior, and Karima. They exceeded my expectations. I had most of my meals at the Papagayo Restaurant on site. They don't serve breakfast, only lunch and dinner. Free coffee is available in the boutique from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with an assortment of fresh pastries for sale. If I wanted a full breakfast, I was able to walk outside the resort to a lovely hilltop restaurant called "Paradise View". It's a 20 min. walk, but be careful to walk well to the side of the road, as there are no sidewalks. The server I had at Papagayo for the most part was Ronald. This man is always so jolly and full of life. He always helped to make my dining experience most enjoyable. If you are into cooking, which I am not, each room has full kitchen facilities. You can buy groceries at the boutique. Housekeeping staff is excellent, doing a marvellous job. My studio was always clean and well stocked. I can't wait for the next time I will be able to visit St. Martin and Club Orient.

Our third visit to Club O. I have never been able to relax on vacation like I can here. The beach is unbelievable! We stayed for eight nights and we are already to go back. The guests at Club O are like family! We met many friends that we will see on return visits. Nudity is new to us and my wife has had a very difficult time adjusting to it but on this visit she felt so comfortable with the people at Club O and the beach that she is ready to return!! She loves it!!! So ladies--give it a try--folks here dont care what you look like -at all--and wont even notice. The staff here will do anything to make your stay perfect. The ladies at the boutique store were so wonderful. Willie at the Perch Bar was terrific--makes the perfect BBC-!