Has anyone been to both of these properties? We are timeshare owners at Divi Dutch Village and have been there a few time. We are thinking about trading our week for a week in SXM, but have never been. Just wondering what to expect, what you like better about one or the other, etc. Is SXM comparable safety wise to Aruba?

I'm interested in this too - as we are the opposite! Have been to Divi SXM 8 times, headed to Dutch Village at the end of Feb. We love Divi in SXM, but don't know what to expect in Aruba so can't help with comparing the two!

I'll add that I have heard there can be some confusion at Divi Dutch Village on what is limited to All-inclusive guests vs not AI guests. Can non-AI guests pay cash at beach bar for drinks? Dinner? Not even sure what restaurants are on property ...

We are owners at Divi Little Bay and have been to Dutch Village many times.

Divi Little Bay is a very secure property on a finger of land with water around three sides, great harbor views and Ft. Amsterdam at the very top of the hill.

Units may face Little Bay or Great Bay or both, there are three, maybe four restaurants now, three bars, three pools, tennis, members lounge, row of shops, car rental and car park.

Philipsburg, the Dutch capital is a 30 minute +/- scenic walk - there are casinos on the Dutch side - no formal border crossings, a free port, duty free - buy it and take it with you - car rental a big plus to fully enjoy the island, easy travel to the French side and back, no customs check at the airport, just immigrations.
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Divi Resort Map

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Island Information Guide

I own at Dutch Village since the late 80s been there 3 times been to St Maarten 25+ times.
Lots of great places to eat a lot more reasonable prices than Aruba.
More Beaches / A lot of day trips to different islands
just a lot more to do in general.
Crime I don't think its any better or worse than Aruba.
There is a lot of petty crime car break-ins are at the top of the list you can not leave anything in your car......

Divi Dutch Village is set in a cluster of three sections, each with a pool. Access to the beach is just steps away from many of the units. AI at DV is optional for timeshare and hotels guests staying at the Tamarijn Hotel who prefer the DV units for the larger accommodations - the Tam occupies the beachfront.

Dining for non-AI guests at Tiki Tiki, Seabreeze, Mulligan's and Windows - free shuttle takes you around this large complex including the casino at the far end and even the non Divi propertries behind the casino if you ask.
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MAP and photos

Dutch Village is shown as Tam all inclusive suites on the map.

There is a bar on site at the beach for non AI guests to enjoy

Vouchers are available for non AI guests to dine at the AI restaurants on the various Divi porperties but these vouchers are expensive and restrictions apply.

Dining around the island is the better option.
Bus service is excellent on Aruba.
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Dining

Wild Bill: You and Bobcat have nailed it! I second your opinions. We stayed at Dutch Village in 2014 and will be back at Little Bay in April. I believe that you are arriving the day we return to the States. Maybe we will see you at Julianna. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

In SXM you don't have the brisk breeze that seems to blow constantly on Aruba! Sun burned the top of my head in Aruba because it was too hard to keep my straw hat from blowing off.

Michael and I own at Divi Little Bay and Divi Aruba Phoenix (so a different property than the one posted about here). We FAR prefer SXM to Aruba.
There is far more Caribbean flair in SXM than Aruba. Aruba feels more like Florida to us than the Caribbean.
High end restaurants in Aruba are in our opinion, just not as good as the high end restaurants in SXM (Grand Case)

AUA Island dining guide
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SXM Island dining guide

Bobcat - do you prefer one over the other?


We own a 2BR lockout unit in Aruba, which means we have 2 floors. Not sure if those are available in SXM or not? Are their 2br all on one floor does anyone know?

We enjoy both - both have much to offer and not always the same.

Not sure about the interior room layout - some units face Great Bay, wide lawn, afternoon shade, views of the cruise ships - some units face Little Bay, some beachfront, some up the hill, some of the higher hill units face both bays, some units face a garden and waterfall.

In our experience, the 2 bedrooms at Little Bay are all on one level. Most of the 2 bedrooms we've stayed in are actually a one bedroom unit combined combined with the adjoining studio unit, so they are very large.

We've stayed at units throughout the resort and there seems to a big mix of layouts depending upon which floor and which building you are in.

The majority of the units have a water view, either Great Bay or Little Bay. There are a few that look unto the little water fall between two buildings, but even in those you can see the bay from the balcony. We enjoy both Little Bay and Great Bau views...they are different but both are nice. There's a little more boat activity to watch in Great Bay with the cruise ships, etc.

one plus at Divi Dutch Village is that there's a shuttle to the casino---sort of an open air train, and if you ask, the driver will drop you off anywhere between divi & the casino to eat. Also bus stop to get a bus to the hi-rise area is just across the street and reasonable (was $1 when we were there maybe more now?). Wish that tram was at Little Bay down to P'Burg.

Also there's a grocery store a short walk from Dutch Village.

Those units facing cruise ships vary in layout from bldg to bldg. And some even vary from side to side. We stayed in bldg #4 both left & right sides and they were totally different. 2nd floor in that same bldg has a 2 BR with an efficiency aside it that can turn into a 3 BR. Once stayed up hill think it was #12 and that layout was terrible--dark hallway with 2 br off it, walled kitchen at right and DR/LR forward.

Thank you!