young couple..where do we go?
 

My boyfriend and I are both in our early/mid 20's, and we want to go on vacation at the end of summer. We're a little budget conscious, but want to go somewhere nice. We are looking for a place where we can relax on the beach and do some water sports, and we definitely want to go somewhere that has a great nightlife! any ideas?

Have you looked into Playa del Carmen in Mexico? It's easy to get to (fly to Cancun plus about an hour transfer.) There are lots of accommodations to choose from in terms of style (all-inclusive, small hotel in town, plush boutique hotels...) and budget. Lots of water sport opportunites as well as tours to Mayan ruins, cenotes, etc. and Playa itself has some fun nightlife.

negril

based on your criteria I would choose between Aruba, Cancun
maybe Barbados(the Gap)or Negril.
of these choices Aruba and Negril have the best beaches/water sports while Cancun and Barbados have the best nightlife.
Aruba is the most upscale.
Cancun will be the most budget friendly by far.

i forgot to add, PDC has a major issue with beach erosion from the last hurricane, the beach is still not nearly what it once was.
although the color of the water is beautiful, the beach itself now pales in comparison to the beaches of Aruba or Negril.

Aruba would probably be a good choice for you. Lots of places to get cocktails. We continually looked for good restaurants, but were rather disappointed. That doesn't sound like it's a big issue for you. You will be able to get the relaxation on the beach and the water sports...