Great Bay Beach
Great Bay Beach runs along Front Street in Philipsburg, stretching nearly a mile down the south eastern coast of St. Maarten. This wide strip of sand is near the cruise ship docks, and that combined with it’s proximity to Philipsburg makes it a popular destination among tourists. It’s a great place to people watch, or go for a walk and be one of the watched.
There are many resorts, hotels, and guest houses in the vicinity which are a great base of operations for the island. Plus, of course, the beach right outside your door. You can also easily walk to all kinds of shopping from the shore. Of course, if lots of people, a constant stream of cruise ships in the background, and a bustling shopping district aren’t your idea of fun, Great Bay Beach may not be the best scene for you.
It’s not that there’s anything really wrong with the beach. The water is clear, the oceans calm, and it’s a fine place to catch some rays or wade in the water. But most people interested in water sports will want to find a better place, and those looking for seclusion would be better served finding their way to one of the smaller, calmer, beaches elsewhere on the island.