Which Caribbean island to choose?
 

Have done some research on this, but am having some trouble sorting out what I've found so far.

Looking at the possibility of visiting a Caribbean island sometime during winter or early spring, but not sure which would be a good fit. Am looking for the following: lower end budget, beach nearby, good food, a few attractions, ability to use public transportation or reasonable walking proximity to most things, reasonable on safety, easy to fly in and out of New England (nonstop or 1 stop preferable). Am not looking for: active water sports like snorkeling or jet skiing, hard-core hiking, all-inclusive resorts (though included breakfast is a plus), or getting a long way off the beaten path. Casino is okay but definitely not required, not really a gambler.

Do not want to go to Jamaica, Haiti, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, or Dominican Republic and am a bit leery of Nassau. Have been to Grand Bahama (stayed in Port Lucaya) and enjoyed a visit there several years ago.

Am thinking Barbados or Aruba might be decent options, but am open to suggestions. Many thanks!

we liked curacao better then ARUBA. St Lucia is also really nice but might be harder to get to.

<lower end budget>

Those are the islands you say you don't want to go to - Dominican Republic, Jamaica. Barbados and Aruba are not inexpensive islands.

Barbados was absolutely beautiful when I was there last year. It is definitely a place I would go back to. I have never been to Aruba but have heard that it is expensive.

I didn't like Jamaica when I visited there. However, I did enjoy Puerto Rico.

Mexico is the place you want. I'd look at a small hotel in Playa del Carmen close to the beach. There are many really nice, very modestly priced places, and you can walk everywhere in Playa del Carmen or take cheap taxis. You can fly into Cancun and take a shuttle down.

Neither Aruba nor Barbados is going to offer anything on the low end of the budget, though there are a few places in the St. Lawrence Gap if you are willing to travel after Easter. If you want to go before Easter, then that's high season, and everything will be very expensive.