agree with most of the posters. All inclusive on SXM makes no sense. Way to many restaurants and things to do NOT to miss. I don't necessarily agree with renting a villa though. It is ''safer'' in one of the resorts...and you don't have to put the shutters down at night, lock up your windows, or feel that you may be a ''target''. For your first ''official'' vacation to the island, i would suggest one of the timeshare places, or somehting like Mary's Boon, or the Horny Toad, or Grand Case Beach Club, or a resort in Orient Village. Plenty of places to chose from...and will probably be more cost effective than a villa also. My two cents.