Have visited St. Maarten and Orient Beach at Club O numerous times, but always staying at timeshares or as a cruise day-tripper. This will be our first time staying at Club O (finally). Couple of quick questions:

1. Can you charge Perch/Papagayo/Boutique purchases to the room, or do you need to carry cash/credit card? If so, how's it work?

2. We've always rented a car in the past, and it's pretty cheap (day of car rental cheaper than one way taxi to/from airport). That said, our #1 driving destination (most every day) on past trips has always been Club O, so won't need it for that. Still worthwhile to rent a car for the occasional dinner out or shopping trip when staying at Club O?

3. Worthwhile to 1) pre-order groceries, 2) do our own shopping at the boutique when we arrive or is 3) there significantly better savings/selection at a grocery store in town?

4. Any other tips / tricks for a first time Club Orient guest?

1. You can charge everything at Club O on your room. When buying something you just tell them your room number and sign. It is amazing how long your bill gets on checkout.

2. We still rent a car. Nice to have to go to dinner at other places during your stay.

3. If not getting a car you can preorder or just go the boutique every day. You usually go there every day to get fresh towels anyways.

4. You will need less clothes that you can think. There are washing machines to use also.

1. What SXM-Beachlover stated.

2. We like having a car at our disposal, since it allows for spontaneity.

3. We always pre-order a few things from the boutique to have for the day of and next morning of our arrival. We go to Le Grand Marche the day after our arrival to stock up, haven't compared prices, but the selection is better.

4. The boutique also has fresh pastries and baguettes delivered daily. If that is of interest to you, once you find what your favorites are you can reserve them and they will have them bagged and ready for you at the register-otherwise they do usually sell out of the pastries. The boutique is open from 8-5 daily. Depending on the type of unit you are staying in, may have some suggestions, like Christa recommended to us since we were staying in a Chalet this year to use/purchase a fan to push the air-conditioned air from the bedroom area to the kitchen and living room area when the unit only has one A/C unit which will be in the bedroom. And the usual advice of bringing half the clothes and twice the money!


The Simpsons

Thanks Ricky21 for asking these questions, as we are also upon our first stay there after a few visits. All good info, and i hear there's free coffee in the am at the boutique!

Life's a beach!

Unless things have changed in the last few years, you can't charge massages to your room. As far as I know, that's the only exception.

Regarding massage charging, we have charged massages to our room and did so recently on our last visit. But we could not charge the gratuity only the service. We paid the tip in cash.

I would add to Ricky21 - Renting a car is still good for trips out to dinner. For shopping you might want to use a shopping service, we use shop and drop on all our visits. You select your items from their online page and your groceries are delivered to Club O. We then get any items we need during the week from the boutique.

ricky21 this all good advice.
1. Grocery shopping- Having beer and water delivered, by the Boutique, is nice. Cold beer waiting, for your arrival, is really nice. We get groceries from either Fresh Market or Grand Marche. I believe in spending money at Perch/Papagayo/Boutique, as my part to help keep Club Orient viable.

2.We always rent a car. Chances are you meet other people and go to dinner. In our experience, sometimes there will be several couples, and there will be multiple cars required

When will you be making your visit to Club O?


I am ALWAYS on island time!!!!!!!!

Just like anywhere the prices at the larger Supermarkets on everything are going to be substantially better than those of a corner Convenience Store, which is what the Club O La Boutique sort of is. We always hit the Grande Marche for the lions share of our needs, rarely rent a car now, and use the Boutique for anything we may have forgotten. Also there is the "Petit Casino" in Orient Village which is sort of a middle ground between a full market and a convenience store like La Boutique, and it's but an easy stroll from Club Orient. Bring a folding insulated bag in case you go there and grab ice cream, or anything else needing refrigeration during transport.
Bonus tip: Bring a surge strip or extension cord. Outlets seem to be limited in their units.

For a first visit and if you are going to eat in, you might wish to bring the spices you like best for your meals. For breakfast you could bring your favorite coffee from your home. (There are good coffees in the major grocery stores as well). When I vacationed Club O, I rented a car only for day trips. I found that after three or four days, I did not want to put clothes on and leave the resort. The beach kept me on the property. Enjoy your stay at Club O

There is a happy medium on the car question. You can also arrange to rent a car for just a day (or two or three). Hertz rental has an office in the lobby. This way you're not scratching your head wondering why you didn't use it the rest of the time you are there...

ciao

Originally posted by Popeye

There is a happy medium on the car question. You can also arrange to rent a car for just a day (or two or three). Hertz rental has an office in the lobby. This way you're not scratching your head wondering why you didn't use it the rest of the time you are there...

ciao

When we were there in December it was Dollar/Thrifty.

Best tip ever... as the beach tends to be windy at times, I always bring a handful of those binding clips to secure the four corners of my towel to the slats on my chaise. People will admire your ingenuity and if you bring enough you'll make instant friends giving them away.

I agree with the Mainahs. We take a cab from the airport, tip a bit extra while he waits at Grand Marche, where we get food, alcohol, paper towels.. etc. Once at club O we do not need or want a car. If you want to split a cab to Grand Case for a nice dinner out, that's cheap and easy. It's so easy to charge at LaBoutique, Papagayos and Perch. It does really add up, so be cognizant of that..it's a gorgeous beach, you will want to spend alt of time. You can also check on Tiko Tiko. Enjoy!!!!

I prefer to be nude the entire week, so we stay on site, other than walking down the beach for lunch now and then. We don't rent a car. I love eating at Papagayo. The food, atmosphere, location and attire are perfect. We always check one bag, since we bring our snorkel gear; so we fill the remaining space up with sunscreens/lotions, and any food we want to bring. Usually bring enough for all breakfast, and few lunches. Grab other necessities at the CO store. Get fresh pastries every morning there as well.