I guess we were the exceptions. All but one trip over nearly 30 years were All Inclusive for us. The one time we went DIY my husband freaked at having to find breakfast every morning. We stayed at AI on both the French and Dutch sides. In the later years we always stayed at Maho. Rented a car from Kenny's at the airport. Parked it in the nice covered lot at Maho. Had breakfast at the buffet each day and then took off to the beaches, for shopping, to explore. Usually had lunch out somewhere - the lolo's in Grand Case, the beach spots on Orient, places in P'burg and elsewhere. Back to the hotel at day's end. Sometimes went out for dinner but if we were zonked from the daytime activity, it was nice to just grab dinner at the hotel and relax, go to the Casino, sit in the bar.

For me, I don't want to go on vacation and have to think about what's in the fridge for breakfast, where to shop for this and that. I can do that at home. On vacation, every meal tastes better when someone else prepares it. At least, for me.