Ok, I need help from all of you that've been to Aruba or Barbados. We can't decide. We read nice comments/review about both location. We want calm water/beach, nice ambience, deluxe/luxury room, service and good food.

Very different destinations and Barbados has so much to offer. Great tropical island with history, great natives and lots of options. Aruba is characterless, windy and pure commercialism. Depends if you want a LasVagas vacation on a nice beach or w wonderful Caribbean vacation.

I couldn't agree more with Sandy. Barbados is the true Caribbean... why waste a Caribbean vacation on an Americanized destination like Aruba or the US Virgin Islands? Go for the real thing!<BR><BR>Happy Travels<BR

Aruba is an awesome place. I stayed there 3 times within 2 years. We love it. It is somewhat americanized, however, you don't have to worry about safety, health issues or drinking the water.<BR><BR>Barbados has different illness's throughout that region. <BR><BR>Aruba's tradewinds cool it down.

It's DIF you get on Barbados and its wind burn you get on Aruba. Hard choice. Worry about safety where ever you go!

They call Aruba "One Happy Island" and that is because they treat you like royalty. Most of there business is derived from tourism, so we are important to them. It is very safe and clean. <BR><BR>I heard Barbados is not so clean. And medical care isn't very good on Barbados. Aruba is up to date and is an awesome place to travel.<BR><BR>You can party with the best on a sunset party cruise, or take a romantic sunset dinner cruise. It tailors to whatever your liking is.<BR><BR>When you pay big bucks...you want to make sure you are treated kindly. There wasn't anything in my 3 times in Aruba, that I was unhappy.<BR><BR>Bon Voyage!!

If you want Americanized character go for Aruba. But why would you travel all the way to the Caribbean for that? <BR>I'm not knocking it but it all depends on what you're looking for.

Good point Tracey, it depends on what you want. It is still almost the southern most island in the carribean, free of hurricanes. That is why I originally went there. It still has a dutch charm to it and you do feel like you are in the caribbean.<BR><BR>I just love Aruba so much, that I wanted to share my opinion!<BR><BR>SB<BR><BR><BR> <BR>

Tina,<BR>We have been to both Islands and enjoyed each one in a different way. When we went to Aruba I wanted to go back for every vacation because I felt so safe. We stayed right on the beach at the Raddison and took public transportation to restaurants and the downtown area. It was a very laid back vaca. Beaching during the day and eating and gambling at night. The island is not lush due to the lack of rain. The poeple were very nice.<BR>Barbados is tropical and very lush and beautiful, the people are very nice and extremely polite. We stayed on the Southern tip at the Bouginvilla right on the beach which was beautiful. There was a little surf on a few of the days which made it to rough for body surfing, however there are really nice hotels on the west coast with calm waters. As others have stated it really does depend on what you are looking for. Each island is charming in it own way and what ever one you don't go to make that your next vacation. They are both worth visiting.<BR>Good luck.

One happy island? Hate to see an unhappy one then if that's a happy one! Not for me! Loved the fat little tourist statues they sold that made fun of the visitors. Dutch? That's American oil folks and American culture not Caribbean nor Islandtime.