Is it nice? Location, food etc. Any thoughts would be helpful.

We stayed there about 3 years ago, and liked it very much. It is about a minute to Orient Beach, which is gorgeous. Know that while many wore swimwear, many went topless, etc., so if C/O bothers you, may not be the right place. <BR> <BR>The complex is made up of villas, each has 4 rooms and a pool. Our room had tile floors, ceiling fan, two double beds, small kitchenette, nice porch with privacy walls, huge walk-in tile shower. Staff "cool" but okay. Good restaurant on-site, and many others within walking distance, either via beach or by road. Write me directly with specific questions--happy to help if I can. <BR>

We stayed there pre-hurricane and hope it hasn't suffered too much. We loved it -- the restaurant was very nice, esp. cheerful for breakfast. Our villa had a nice view and, since we were there in Oct. ("wrong" season), we had the pool to ourselves (1 pool per one ville, which has two guest quarters)(halves?). <BR>The beach was lovely and quieter than further down Orient Beach to where there were some funky-but-fun little shops/booths. Nice to have drinks from the cabana brought to your beach chair. Clothing optional is certainly part of the ambiance, but no one wearing full bathing suit need feel embarrassed, either. <BR> <BR>Yes, you have to cross the island to get there (see other posts re:bashing St. Martin), but we liked Marigot very much -- very glad we were nowhere near the Dutch side=American side.

Afraid my post may have been misleading re:location. It's not near Marigot -- you'd have to drive there -- if you look at a map of the island, Esmeralda is on the northeast coast and Marigot is on the west coast. But you are about as far from Sint Maarten as one would like. Just be aware, other than walking down the beach, you are not "near"=walking distance to anything (any town) other than the resort itself. You'd need a car if you wanted to anything other than the beach-y things (think you can rent boats, hang-gliding -- can't remembe) that are available right there.

check out this buletin board.. a lot of peopel who post there have stayed at Esmeralda and can give you reviews <BR>http://www.traveltalkonline.com/wwwt...Board=stmartin