Island Choice
 

Looking to get away. Have narrowed it down to Barbados vs St. Martin (Dutch Side). Want to go all-inclusive. What are my wife and I looking for:
1. Good pool essential
2. Resort entertainment
3. Sightseeing and tours
4. Shopping

neither are great destinations for AI

St. Martin, best restaurants in Caribbean, why bother with AI? Best shopping too, but forget AI

Barbados is huge!

Every island in Caribbean offers 1-3, a few offer 4, very few islands are typical AI destinations. basically Mexico, DR, Jamaica are the main ones for that

I like AI cause the island trips are expensive enough without the food so AI is a good cheaper way to travel. Just did AI in Curacao and was great

>>island trips are expensive enough without the food so AI is a good cheaper way to travel<<

The food isn't 'free' -- you pay for it in the rates. Non-AI lets you spend as little or as much as you want for food, and you aren't stuck eating at the same resort for every meal.

Some places AI does make sense -- a remote or isolated resort w/ no place else nearby to eat.

There are several AI properties in Barbados to suit all budgets, AI is popular on the island. The beaches on the west coast are beautiful. I would go for Barbados over St Maarten, it has everything that you asked for.