we are thinking of returning to st martin in the spring (March) but the lure for my wife are the french restaurants in grand case. any word on how those are coming along with renovations and reopening?

I don't have information as to specific restaurants, but when we were there in June, there were several open and doing business as usual. She won't be disappointed.

Our favorite waitress, Christine, from Club O, is working at one of them, the name of which now escapes me.

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Paragraphs Are A Reader's Best Friend.

We just returned yesterday after 2 weeks on the island, and had dinner at Bistro Caraibes on Saturday. It was, of course, wonderful. Someone counted 12 restaurants now open in Grand Case.

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"But then I think about the good times, down in the Caribbean sunshine..." (J.B.)

Originally posted by biturbo We just returned yesterday after 2 weeks on the island, and had dinner at Bistro Caraibes on Saturday. It was, of course, wonderful. Someone counted 12 restaurants now open in Grand Case.

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"But then I think about the good times, down in the Caribbean sunshine..." (J.B.)

Are you going to write a report about your trip?

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Paragraphs Are A Reader's Best Friend.

Christa, we did take daily notes. It won't be nearly as extensive as yours, but I guess I could summarize the trip. Give me a week +/-, but I will say that this trip, our 23rd, was overall one of the best. Of course, it seemed weird not staying at Club Orient for our 2nd week

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"But then I think about the good times, down in the Caribbean sunshine..." (J.B.)

thanks for the notes about the restaurants. i expect more would be open by next march.

perhaps someone can answer this question as well. (i emailed clubfantistico but haven't yet received a reply.) is it necessary to be nude at club f? must one use the pool nude? i ask b/c my wife tolerates my nudity but is not so fond of being nude herself. we usually say at es (which i understand is open again) but i was wondering about club fantastico.

We have not stayed at Club Fantastico, so no first hand knowledge, but we know people who have. It is my understanding the club is clothing optional. That is, go naked or clothed, it makes no difference. Enjoy your trip.

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Paragraphs Are A Reader's Best Friend.

We took a year off, of course, but plan on returning and staying at Esmeralda since Club Orient was devastated. Someone told me yesterday the French side is still dangerous and the curfew is still in effect. Is this true? Cheers.

We've stayed at Club Fantastico several times, in fact we were just there from 12/2 - 12/9. There is no restriction on what one wears or does not wear at any time, either in or out of the pool. We did not find the French side to be dangerous and we know of no curfew. I've also read that the pools at Esmeralda are no longer c/o.

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"But then I think about the good times, down in the Caribbean sunshine..." (J.B.)

i found this on trip advisor re esmeralda. it is a review and the management's reply. the lure for me at es was the ability to use the pools nude.

"Nevertheless, if you - like us - are interested in sunbathing at the approved nude section of Coco Beach, and are desirous of being nude at the pool at the place where you're staying, the Esmeralda Resort is worth considering."

Claudie N, General Manager at Esmeralda Resort, responded to this review
Responded April 4, 2017
thank you for your nice comments.
full nudity is not allowed by the pool. but at coco-beach we do have a naturist area.

Originally posted by igor i found this on trip advisor re esmeralda. it is a review and the management's reply. the lure for me at es was the ability to use the pools nude.

"Nevertheless, if you - like us - are interested in sunbathing at the approved nude section of Coco Beach, and are desirous of being nude at the pool at the place where you're staying, the Esmeralda Resort is worth considering."

Claudie N, General Manager at Esmeralda Resort, responded to this review
Responded April 4, 2017
thank you for your nice comments.
full nudity is not allowed by the pool. but at coco-beach we do have a naturist area.

Using the pool nude was the only reason we would stay at Esmeralda. Since their position was always that you could only use the pools nude if the other guests at your villa didn't object, as a blanket policy, they could not say you could always use the pools nude. Hopefully, they will allow nude us if the others quests don't object. We have stayed at Esmeralda 6 times over the past 12 years. I was planning on returning to Orient and Esmeralda this year which would be the first time since the hurricane. If nude use is strictly prohibited, we won't be staying at Es and may not even go to St. Martin.

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DS&SS

I’m cool with pool rules. CO Beach will suffice on that score. Thanks for the info.