Agree completely, Carol. We typically stay in a high rise which I love, but on occasion We stay on Anguilla, and a couple of actual SXM beachfront locations. IMO, it is a wonderful way to enjoy a beach vacation when you're directly on the beach and can carry your morning coffee onto the sand while you watch the sunrise. And like you, I'm more into the old 'Caribbean feel' as opposed to glitz and glamour and marble countertops when on vacation. Nothing wrong with either possibility but 'on the beach' is awesome and trumps marble and glitz any day in my book. But in the end, it's all about the OP and their preferences. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />