Orient Bay Beach Studio

There’s a nice pool, but this location is a bit out of the way for business travelers. When I visited outside the tourist season, just one small shop was open and there were no nearby restaurants open.

We had everything we needed for a lovely stay in this cute little apartment, with a beautiful view and a gorgeous beach. The shops and restaurants were an easy walk away. We also had a car and visited Happy Bay Beach and Grand Case Beach, where we found lots of good restaurants and had a wonderful meal. Another day, we drove to Anse Marcel Beach and ate lunch at the marina, which had lovely little shops and good food. Dinner at L' Astrolabe at the Esmeralda resort was amazing, both the setting and the food, and the service was great too. We also tried Le Taitu, a really cute little restaurant close to home, and enjoyed the food there. For breakfast, we went farther up the beach to Good Morning, the Yellow Submarine. After long beach days when we wanted somewhere close to walk to for dinner, we went to Fred’s pizzeria three times. The homemade thin-crust pizza was really tasty. It was also handy having a store downstairs. We had a great visit and would recommend it to friends.

The balcony had a wonderful view of the sunrise and the clean pool. Inside, the accommodation was very clean and well furnished, with a spacious bed, air conditioning, a large TV, couch, laptop table and chair, safe, and a wonderful bathroom. There was also a tiny kitchen with a microwave, refrigerator, and cooking equipment. This place is ideal for me. When I fly here again, I won’t choose anywhere else to stay.

This is no longer a top-notch resort after the hurricane, but it worked well for us as a budget stay. The place felt serene, safe, and relaxed. The complex has three or four floors of individually owned studio apartments, rented out by different hosts. We found a reasonable deal through AirBNB, and our hosts sent clear instructions by WhatsApp video and text. Our studio was clean, nicely decorated, and had the basics for cooking and serving food. WiFi, AC, and the pool were great. The permanent residents from France and England were friendly and helpful. We were on the first level, so the patio view wasn’t much, and it was too hot to eat breakfast there. It was perfect for dinner under the stars, though. Toiletries, paper products, beach towels, chairs, and an umbrella or canopy weren’t provided, so bring your own or buy supplies at the convenience store. The clerks there were friendly and helpful, and you can also rent beach gear a short walk away. We paid $30US for a taxi to and from the airport, and $15 to Grand Case for Mardi Gras. We walked to SuperU, the Pinel Island Ferry, and the restaurants and shops in Orient Bay, all within 20-30 minutes. There are dining options at different prices, and the pizza and lasagna on the premises were both delicious and reasonably priced. The area had lots of beautiful wildlife and plants, though stray cats could be noisy at night. Expect to see topless sunbathers, and some people fully nude at the far end of Orient Beach and on Pinel.