I'm having a bit of trouble deciding which place to visit!<BR><BR>Where would you go? <BR>We have eight days and like to do lots of things. We are planning to go in early March.<BR><BR>Or is there a better choice? We've been to USVI and BVI.<BR><BR>Thanks!!!!!<BR><BR>

ARUBA! Beautiful beaches, desert like for exploring, great restaurants, superb scuba, diving & snorkeling, lots of shopping, attractions & golf. Go to Palm beach where the Hi-rises are like the Hyatt, Radison or the Marriott. Remember, it has the trade winds along with the hot sun. Gets about 16 inches of rain per year. You will remember it for a life time & will probably go back again. Never been to the Caymans, we always go to Aruba. Enjoy!

Aruba is grrrrrreat!!!! And no crime to speak of. Pro is right in saying to stay where the high-rises are. Try a restaurant called; LE PETITE, near Holiday Inn. Your food is cooked on a hot stone. FANTASTIC!!!!!

I would choose the Caymans because I didn't like Aruba. Too touristy and much too windy to enjoy the beach. Not much to see either. Caymans much better restaurants and so many of them but more expensive. You pay for what you get.

I'd vote for Aruba. You will find more activity in Aruba to keep you busy.

Shella talked about going to the Cayman's which bothered me to a point of what she said about Aruba. Not arguing with her but here are some websites to checkout & see for yourself as to what you can do in Aruba. There are all kinds of things to do in Aruba for the young & old or kids for that matter. The restaurants I recommended are the ones that have great service as well as the food & beautiful breath-taking sunsets. I'm not sure what restaurants she visited but these restaurants have been rated excellent for many years wqith very few bad reports & yes there are fast food places also. Rent a jeep and explore the island for sightseeing other towns, the Natural Bridge, there park & so on.<BR><BR>http://arubadining.com/ http://madamejanette.com/ http://www.paddock-aruba.com/ http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/ http://www.chezmathilde.com/ http://www.avallones.com/ http://www.aruba-latrattoria.com/ http://www.aruba.com/extdine/brisas.htm http://www.tierradelsol.com/finedining.asp<BR>http://www.pelican-aruba.com/ http://www.cubascooking.bizland.com/ http://www.texasdebrazil.com/ http://www.aruba.hyatt.com/ - They can set ya up for a table on the beach! Romantic & very expensive! http://www.blackhogsaloon.com/ http://www.jollypirates.com/ http://www.nilton.net/menu.htm <BR>http://www.visitaruba.com/hungparadijs/ <BR>http://www.visitaruba.com/<BR>http://www.arubaadventures.com/<BR>http://www.ranchodelcampo.com/ http://www.ranchonotorious.com/ http://www.ranchoelpaso.bizland.com/ http://arubaadventures.com/kukookunuku/ http://www.arubaadventures.com/tattoo/ http://arubaadventures.com/midushi/ http://www.mambojamboaruba.com/ http://www.arubanationalparks.com<BR>

Haven't been to the Caymans, but have been to Aruba every year or two for the past twelve. We were married there as well, and it's got great beaches, great food, great shopping. I like the trade winds--they are simply a light breeze, not irritating at all. Also, no bugs--I got eaten alive in the Turks & Caicos in early December.<BR><BR>Aruba is also very safe, a place where you can walk on the beach at night.<BR><BR>My favourite restaurant is El Gaucho, an Argentinian steakhouse; it's the one that everyone spends their whole week trying to get a reservation for, and you'll see why. (You can now get them on-line and reserve in advance.)<BR><BR>We were married down there also, and knew we could count on not having the day rained out. Rain lasts a max of 10 minutes, then the sun is back out.<BR><BR>World-class wind-surfing, diving and snorkelling.<BR><BR>Enjoy it!

Tim.<BR>Since most of the posters here have not been to Grand Cayman, you really aren't getting a fair comparison!! Grand Cayman is my favorite island in the Caribbean! Very safe, more tropical than Aruba, although both are flat and considered arid. IMO there is no beach in Aruba that can compare to Cayman's Seven Mile beach. Grand Cayman is a destination for diving and snorkeling, because of it's crystal clear water. Both islands are westernized, but you won't find highrises on Grand Cayman. It just has more of a tropical feel than Aruba.

Head to the Caymans. You've been to the BVI's and USVI's the Caymans should be your next stop. Aruba's things to do are indoor casinos and shows and some sites but not many. Very windy beaches and not enjoyable when we were there in March so sat at the pool. Cayman's food puts Aruba choices to shame. Laid back tropical feel in the Cayman's like liming in the BVI. Lots of water and great snorkling and diving - unlike Aruba.

I have been to both Grand Cayman and Aruba and love both. But I have been back to Grand Cayman several times because it is not as windy as Aruba. I have to disagree with one above poster about the beaches being prettier in Cayman. While I do love 7MB, I think Aruba has just as attractive beaches. The down side to Aruba's beaches, is that sometimes the wind is so strong that the sand blows so hard that it stings you. Not a very pleasant beach experience.<BR><BR>But my bottom line opinion is that if you have never been to either island, you should plan to visit both as I have found both to be safe islands with good shopping, good restaurants, gracious people and great islands to rent a jeep and explore.<BR><BR>One big difference in nightlife is that Aruba has casinos and Grand Cayman is pretty laid back on night life.<BR>

I've been to both Cayman & Aruba, and I love 'em both. Cayman is very British, very conservative, and very expensive. Nightlife options are limited, but there are several great restaurants. The scuba diving is fantastic, especially the advanced diving off the East End. <BR><BR>Aruba is a more decadent vacation destination. Toplessness is common and accepted, and there are plenty of nightlife options. Fine restaurants are more numerous than on Cayman, but the scuba diving is not as good. <BR><BR>Both are great -- I guess it depends what you're looking for. <BR><BR>

Wow!!!<BR><BR>Thanks for all the help!!!<BR><BR>It sounds like I'll have a great time no matter which island I pick!<BR><BR>This time it's Grand Cayman, next year Aruba!!!<BR><BR>Thanks again!!!

I have also been to both the Cayman Islands and Aruba. I was not impressed with the Caymans at all. There is no nightlife there (we knew that before we went), so if that interests you, then don't go to the Caymans. We stayed at the Marriott and felt like we could have been in Florida. Not that Florida is a bad vacation, but we went to the Caymans expecting something VERY special. It is just like the United States except more expensive - there is no culture there. We expected it to be more "beachy", but most of the restaurants recommended to us were not even open air or on the water. It took a few days to find the "beachy" places, and that was after meeting some locals who understood what we were looking for. The best part was the snorkeling, which was FANTASTIC! Also, it is VERY safe...we rented a jeep and left our valuables in the open jeep while we got out at various spots to snorkel. We met a couple who goes there every single year...so I guess it depends on what you're into!

I have been to Caymans twice and Aruba once. My choice would most definitely be Caymans. I thought the diving in Aruba was just okay. The diving in Caymans is great and diving with the stingrays is an experience not to be missed. Aruba seemed windy (February) but both times we went to Cayman (Feb. as well) we have had two weeks of perfect weather! Also Aruba is a cruise port-of-call with lots of crowds of "boat people" and cheap souvenier shops. Cayman is far more refined-great restaurants and great shopping if you want that.

Guess what, more cruise ships call on Grand Caymen than do on Aruba.<BR>Aruba has better night life. <BR>Yes it is windy, but that keeps it cooler.<BR>I think both are great islands, but there is a lot more to do in Aruba and dining is better (in my opinion).<BR>Enjoy Caymen is 2002 and Aruba in 2003.

ARUBA ARUBA ARUBA!!! Loved it there. Went for our 5 yr anniversary...stayed at the Hyatt. The place was gorgeous. If you go...you must stay at the Hyatt. It really is the most beautiful resort on the island. Also, eat at El Gaucho and in the hotel...Ruins Del Mar as well as Madame Jeanettes. We are saving our $$$to return to Aruba. Went to Hawaii in August and still loved Aruba a million times better. Good luck!

Aruba?!? That place is so grotesquely UGLY that we would never return there!! As for the Hyatt, it is NOT a very impressive hotel at all -- the rooms are smallish and there are no balconies to speak of! And the crowds in front of the Hyatt are disgusting, like a mini-Waikiki! Grand Cayman wins by miles and miles!!!

Tim made his choice . . . now let's move on to the next question.<BR><BR>

Bob, there is NO WAY you could have really stayed at the Hyatt and call it unimpressive... Please do not pass out false infomation. Saying that Aruba is ugly... that COULD BE a matter of opinion, your opinions of the Hyatt aer just untrue

Oh really? Not only did I stay there but I checked out ASAP and went to the far more beautiful Marriott just down the road! Not only was the room larger and nicer but they actually had LARGE balconies as well!!