Welcome to this forum. I see you are from MARIETTA. We live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and one of the small towns nearby is Marietta. Could that be the same place? We have been traveling to SXM for over 20 years and after the second visit settled on Orient Village. So many nice places to stay for a reasonable price and there are so many places to eat within walking distance. Add another 5-10 minutes by car and you will find twice as many places to eat including Grand Case. Orient beach is remarkable! We can usually drive to Philipsburg in about 15-20 minutes if you want to shop there, but as a few have said, we wouldn't want to stay there. After your first visit you will b able to make your own choices since everyone on this forum has their own favorite beaches and places to eat. It will take you a few trips to the island before you will find your all-time favorite beaches and places to eat. If you need a car rental, try Leslie with Kennys rental. He is a member on this site. Great guy and he also can be a big help with directions. Enjoy your trip. And...if you are near Lancaster, PA, respond here and we can get together to talk more about our favorite vacation location.