The house is very nice, not near the beach, 10 - 15 minute walk but a great ocean view. Pool is unheated but bearable. The issue - the house was broken into on our 4th day. There is an alarm, we set it, but found out from the alarm company post-robbery the battery was dead and the owner's had no clue, duh. The owners have an apartment attached to the house but they could have cared less, seems the house across the way had been robbed the preceding week, happens all the time, no big deal. Everyone in the house had their mobile phones taken, several hundred dollars in cash and even one winter coat, go figure!
The French side of St Martin used to be lovely, safe, quite, great food but in their quest for the almighty euro the French side is now a cruise destination with all the crowding and crime that comes with it. There is now a guarded gate at the entrance to Orient Bay but they just sit in their little booth and let everyone come and go as they please, no real security there at all.
We went to Marigot one night for dinner and parked in what was once the very lovely town square, now just a parking lot for the cruise ship traffic and we were followed by some guys in a pickup obviously with the intention of robbing us. We let them know we were aware of them and they left for easier targets. My suggestion; don't go to Marigot after dark unless you're with a crowd.
Orient Bay is likewise not immune as busloads of tourists are driven right to the beach several days a week, likely as a planned cruise excursion for the day and it gets very crowded.
So if you stay at this house or any other in Orient Bay don't bring any valuables or cash. Use the safe for anything with any value (unfortunately the safe won't fit winter coats or laptops). Don't take your fancy iPhone, jewelry or cash to the beach or restaurants, you will become an instant target and believe me the thieves will know where you are staying because the bars and restaurants all have "spotters". And our final suggestion unfortunately is; St Martin, don't go there!