Hi all.
The goal for a week in mid-October: We like great beaches, friendly people, nice accommodations with modern amenities, good food, real good but now rowdy nightlife (we like casinos and bars), not overcrowded and the ability to walk at the edge of the water by our hotel at midnight without worrying about our safety. Also, budget is not unlimited.
Is there a place or should we just go to Vegas and walk laps around he pool at midnight?
Thanks in advance for the expert assistance.

Hmmm... casinos. From my experience that means either Aruba or the Dutch side of St Martin. Walking along the beach in front of the hotel sounds more like Aruba to me.

Ken

Try Nassau in the Bahamas. We never have had a problem with walking the beach at night. Atlantis is a awsome casino and the Crystal Palace casino. The nightlife is fun and the people are very friendly. Many hotel on choose from on Cable Beach.

Aruba certainly fits what you are looking for. It would be hard to find a safer island with friendlier people in the Caribbean plus there are plenty of casinos to chose from, but none are quite like Vegas. There are tons of great restaurants to choose from that offer different price ranges.

Thanks!
How about Isla Verde on Puerto Rico?
And where would you recommend staying in Aruba or Cable Beach where there's plenty to do but you don't have to fight for spots on the beach?

In Aruba for a more upscale place on Palm Beach (there is more to do on Palm Beach and the people watching is better) I'd say the Radisson. On Eagle Beach (less crowded) I'd say Bucuti would be a good choice.

St. Croix has only one casino - which is fairly small. It's the Divi Carina and it's only a few years old. We didn't stay there but it looks nice - the casino is actually across the road from their hotel. We like the Carambola Resort on St. Croix - however, please rent a car as it's on the other side of the island. Exploring by car is wonderful.

Hi again. Have any of you kind folks been to Antigua and be able to compare it to Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Aruba. What the main differences and similarities, the pros and cons? It looks very nice and safe with activities and some of the places not secluded, which is good.
Thanks again.