We’ve been visiting SXM for what seems like forever and I have to say, in our experiences, Mid to late April is usually the perfect time to be on the island. However, Carnival can cause a lot of short staff evenings and traffic back-ups with everyone heading to basically the same general destination. And if you do decide to attend one of the various Carnival parades, do make sure you are well-hydrated and use sun protection while you’re in viewing mode.