I want to go to Orient Beach on our day trip to St. Martin. However, I don't like high, scary rides on the sides of mountains... is this ride like that? If so, any other suggestions for STM nice beach for the day? Our main thing is a calm beach to swim in. Thank you.

St. Martin is hilly but not mountainous. The trip from Philipsburg to Orient should not bother you.

It is not a scary ride at all. Orient Beach is a beautiful beach. We did, however, see an older gentleman violently assualted and mugged at the Butterfly Farm (I forget which beach this was close to) so please be careful, as you should be anywhere you go.

the ride to Orient Beach from any direction is fine.. no hilly scary sides of mountains.
Orient can be calm or rough depending on the winds an time of year...

rungirl when was that? jody I also answered this on the Cruises thread

I do not mean to down play the great-ness of SXM..it was back in early Nov 2005. It was really scary and we know it was two teenage boys (give or take) on mopeds/motorcycles. The people at the Butterfly Farm were super nice and helpful...don't know about the police.

why would you mention a crime that happened over a year ago??
it is fine to warn people to be careful and I can understand that the experience was scary and it is awful it happened. but every time old crimes get reported over and over again, it can create a kind of hysteria on the internet. I cannot tell you how often I hear from people asking me about this crime or that one and they happened years ago.
St. Maarten is safe to travel to, but, yes, we do have a crime problem. Just use common sense and be careful. 95% of our visitors never have a problem.

Barbara1- I mention this to be helpful and because it is relavant...not to be an alertist as you suggest.

Jodylee- As I said, you just need to be careful whereever you go. I am sure you will enjoy SXM!

I just happened on this thread. We are a couple in our mid-seventies, have been to St. Martin at least a dozen times, stayed on both the French and the Dutch side. We have always felt perfectly safe. The first time we were ever there, about 16 years ago, we met some wonderful gendarmes one evening at the Lolos. They invited us for lunch the next day. Nice to have cops for friends. Never saw them any other year. (They get posted from Versailles for three month stints) I even drove every morning from Mullet Bay to Orient Beach for my early morning walk all alone, while my husband played golf. I even had an accident once, a young French boy drove in to my rental car. But I got thru it, and the Police were fine. (Luckily I speak French and I am a lawyer, so I was able to correct the traffic report which the young man fudged a bit, not knowing I understood.) In short I have alwys felt safe, and generally I am sure that is true. One must always be a bit careful in traveling, as I will be when we go to NYC tomorrow for a few days. Have fun. It's a great island. (going again in March!)