The only issue that I found with Aruba was the cluster frick of trying to get a chair/umbrella either on the beach or by the pool. We stayed at multiple Marriott properties and a few other t/S exchanges. They also were a tad busy with WAY too many people...

This November we had rented our own two BR condo for the first time across the street from Eagle beach and it was fantastic...problems removed. Aruba felt safer with zero scooters zipping by...NO traffic issues since most everyone just goes to their resort and hangs out. Decent beaches, some huge and some isolated. ...Restaurants are decent and we have our few favotite on the water ..Non high end restaurant prices are a bit higher than SXM and beer is twice the cost.

But...with that said, we still love SXM but will also do the condo thing in Aruba again