i was wondering how the new restaurants/boutiques that were constructed the beach a few years ago (and of which there was much discussion about cost and such) survived the hurricane. did they take a beating like club o in that only the foundations survived or were they more sturdily built? we were there when they were being constructed but have not been back since they opened. just curious.

http://today.sx/tourism/top-tourist-attraction-desolate-disaster-area/

wow! thanks for the information. now i have a better understanding of the devastation that hit the island. this is one of the clearest written articles i have read on the hurricane and st martin.

The article overstates the damage to Club O, although not by much. It says there is nothing left of the chalets except a pile of rubble. Well, not exactly. the concrete block buildings survived and are still standing, although with substantial damage to the roofs and the interior. All of the other buildings on the beach side of the service road from Pedro's down to the Village are gone -_ just not there. That includes the newly constructed buildings next to Pedro's.

Unfortunately the article is pessimistic about the rebuilding of the resort, but I doubt that was based on inside information; at least I hope it wasn't.

The article seems significantly more pessimistic that the reports I'm getting from our friends in the village. Obviously, one's outlooks depends on where they stand in the aftermath, and most of us our relying on second hand information, but the reports I'm getting are more optimistic. Regardless, it's going to be a long road to recovery.

Excellent news!! Le Piment is our overall fave! I swear we eat there or get it to go 5-6 times in a week:) Also, saw where Club O is currently constructing a new Perch Bar:)

Club Orient commented on the pessimism of that article on their Facebook page yesterday. www.facebook.com/ClubOrient I also saw some photos of the Perch being rebuilt already. I gotta believe Club O will be back, perhaps, better than before.

I beg to differ with Christa. I have seen a drone video of the beach and Pedros is flattened. All that remains is the bathroom behind it.

I've seen that video too and agree. Papagayo, however, was still standing. Badly damaged, but still there, much to my surprise.

Originally posted by leonard

I beg to differ with Christa. I have seen a drone video of the beach and Pedros is flattened. All that remains is the bathroom behind it.

Yes, I agree as I just saw the same drone video. The picture I saw of Pedro's was one of several showing Irma damage. Don't know why it was posted if it wasn't post Irma. When I saw it , I thought it odd that Pedro's had survived and other wooden structures similarly situated had not. But I think it is safe to say that all of the wooden structures on the beach from Papagayo's all the way down to the Village were destroyed.