Barbados or St Martin/St Maarten
 

Hi everyone! I am looking to you all for some assistance since this board seems to have tons of knowledge about all things Caribbean :) I am planning a week's getaway for my husband and I in mid May. We are both in our early 30's and want to go somewhere tropical with a nice beach. We tend to like resorts, but they don't have to be huge...we just enjoy somewhere that is more hotel than condo style. We've been to Mexico numerous times, Bahamas, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. We were thinking of trying out the Couples Negril or Swept Away resorts, but I think we need to try somewhere new (although I still want to go there soon :)

We'd like somewhere with some nightlife, great hotel and beach, good dining, fun bars. We'd also like to do a little sailing trip for a day or half day. Other than that just relaxing and having fun at the beach.

I am considering SXM or Barbados. It seems there are more lodging options in Barbados but I can't really seem to find anything that I really like in SXM. I also looked at Anguilla and it looks great, except I think it may be too quiet for us.

Any opinions/suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help!!

We have not been to SXM, except to pass thru. SXM is not nearly as lush and tropical as Barbados. The culture in Barbados is British, rather than French. Barbadians are lovely people, and the island is incredibly varied for hotels, beaches, sightseeing, nitelife. A fun day trip is to take a tour which involves a short flight to Union Island in the Grenadines, then a catamaran or sailboat thru the spectacularly beautiful Grenadines for island hopping and snorkeling. On Barbados, Coral Reef Club is the class act for a resort. See www.barbados.org and www.coralreefbarbados.com

I second xkenx. St. Martin ( we visited 3 times-1880's, 1999 and on a Wind Spirit cruise in 2004) is a sandbar with a few hills and not very much to see. Barbados ( 2 visits) has some lovely boutique hotels and medium sized places. Maybe avoid the Marriott. Glitter Bay is quite nice and if you wanted to splurge Sandy Lane (stayed there in 2004) is lovely though a little stuffy. But it does set the bar in Barbados. You can find lovely beaches and some decent snorkeling. If you can get to the Grenadines by flying on a commuter airline to Union Island you can arrage a snorkel trip to Tobago Key. This area is has some of the most colorful snorkeling in the Caribbean.Almost as good as St. John.
Dining options are numerous but without a car you will find the taxis a bit costly if you eat out every night. Tours generally will pick you up at your hotel.
Hope this helps ypu make your decision.

St. Martin is for shopping, nightlife, and the wine and food is great.
The other posts are right in that Barbados is more lush and tropical.I have found the barbadians with their properness much more friendly than french St.Martin.
The food in Barbados, I felt was as good or almost than St.Martin.
St.Martins water is much more clear than Barbados and snorkeling is better.
I think I prefer Barbados.But, I would go back to both.
Other than La Samamana on St.Martin.Hotels are not as elegant as in Barbados.
I know..go to both!

Thank you for your replies. Barbados is more and more looking like the place for us. Any suggestions of other islands that I should check out that may be what we are looking for?