Trying to pick our family spring break vacation for next year (first week of April). Thinking of either Hyatt Aruba or JW Marriott Cancun. Our kids are 7 and 4. Looking for nice pools and beach, recreational sports, decent food, nice rooms, good food, nightlife not a priority.
Any input would be appreciated.

Sorry, I can't address Aruba, but I will say the JW Marriott in Cancun is my favorite resort ever! (and for comparison, I just returned from the 4 Seasons Punta Mita near Puerto Vallarta.) The most beautiful beach I've ever seen, comfortable rooms, great service. My only reservation on the JW would be organized kids activities...I did not see a lot of those.

I've been to both Aruba and Cancun and thoroughly prefer Aruba. The food on the island is absolutely incredible -- the best we've ever had overall on a vacation. I would recommend not doing all inclusive and eating at Aruba's many great restaurants. Cancun's restaurants are primarily American -- Johnny Rockets, Papa John's, etc.
Beachwise, I think Cancun is nicer, but overall Aruba has a lot more atmosphere and culture and plenty of activities. The Hyatt on Aruba is gorgeous -- nice pools, great outdoor restaurants.
The JW Marriott is very nice, too, but I just didn't like Cancun nearly as much.
Let us know what you decide!
Hope this helps.
Best,
Kelly

I will say that spring break in Cancun will be wilder with more of a rowdy crowd. I doubt they will be able to afford the JW but they will be at surrounding resorts.
I have been to both locations and stayed in different resorts than the ones you chose. I stayed at Le Meridian in Cancun and the Marriott in Aruba. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to Aruba. It had great food and lots of activities and watersports for my kids (they are a little older 11 and 12 ). I saw the Hyatt and it was nicer than the Marriott. It was very family oriented and upscale. You will have a nice vacation if you choose the Hyatt. I am not a big Cancun fan, but others love it. We went without kids to Cancun. I am not sure I would bring them there. That is just me though.

just one disagreement -- Kelly said Cancun's restaurants are primarily American -- not so! Go into the town of Cancun proper (check fodors restaurant section) and there are a lot of good real places to go...

I'd skip Cancun during spring break. For what you have listed my choice would be Aruba. You will get all you look for there, esp. the restaurant part. Aruba is not a prototypical lush Carib. island however. In fact it is arid, dry and windy. The beach areas will be terrific because the beaches are shallow and the Hyatt is a good resort. If you go do see the natural bridge and get used to the Aruban greeting, "Bon dia"

Any other suggestions? Looking for a direct flight from Newark. Don't want to do Atlantis yet (not until my daughter can swim well on her own and I don't want huge crowds) and Beaches Turks is booked for what we want.

Though I have not been to Aruba, I have been to many places in the area and by far our favorite is Cancun. We have made it our annual winter destination. The JW is great (though we no longer stay there as we have bought at the Royal Caribbean just south of the JW). We have also vacationed in Cancun during spring break and I have to admit, there are "two" Cancuns during that time. If you opt for the JW, you will hardly interact with the spring breakers except while taking buses (preferred mode of transport) and if you frequent bars.

My wife and I tend to dine at more upscale restaurants and do not frequent the bars- consequently we do have not had issues with this.

It's a quick straight shot from EWR. The beach is awesome though last year was a bit rocky due to hurricane erosion. The city has planned a major effort to add sand to cover the rocks.

If you do choose Cancun, I believe you will have a very fine time.

Steve

What about St. Thomas? Lots of resorts to choose from, it's U.S. territory, some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere, and there are direct flights from Newark. The food is awesome and there is as much or as little nightlife as you want. I would look into the Wyndham. Many folks like the Sapphire Beach resort too.

We have travelled a fair amount in the Caribbean and Mexico and our favorite destination so far is the Mayan Riviera just south of Cancun. Cancun is very commercialized and Americanized now as is Aruba, whereas the Mayan Riviera is less commercialized and has some wonderful new resorts and there is so much more for kids to see and do in this area with Mayan ruins to explore and eco/water parks and cenotes to swim in. Aruba is very small (19.6 x 6 miles) and is basically a flat, windy, desert island (think Arizona) where little vegetation grown and easily seen in a day or two. There are many casinos in Aruba and gambling is the main form of entertainment, so if you are into gambling (no kids allowed in casinos) this may be your destination of choice. I was disappointed in the ocean in Aruba and found Palm Beach (Hyatt Aruba) the water was murky and we could not see our toes near the shore and we found the sand littered with cigarette butts. There was lots of motorized water activity going on. I felt like I was on a beach in the U.S. I love the beaches in the Yucatan pennisula where Cancun and Mayan Riviera are located because the sand is always cool and it is white and the water clear and turquoise. The waves can be rough in Cancun.

I can pesonally recommend the Barcelo Maya resort in the Mayan Riviera. We have had 3 family reunions there and the beach (almost 2 miles long) is one of the best in the area and the water calm. There is snorkeling on site and they have a kids club. They have two beautiful huge pools with swim-up bars. Here is a private website for this resort.

http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/

On this site there are a lots of pictures and information about the area and the resort and there is even a discussion forum you can read or ask questions if you want.

There are many other wonderful resorts in this area and the Barcelo Maya is not the only good one for families.

Whatever destination you pick have a wonderful family vacation.