FI & I want something tropical for our honeymoon, and we originally wanted Bahamas. After researching a bit I found that British Virgin Islands and Aruba are much cheaper. I posted on facebook, asking if anyone had experiences in these destinations. A friend told me her husband is from Sint Maarteen and her father in law could get us the hookup on a lot of hotels out there. A Quick google search and the pictures are amazing, it looks just as gorgeous out there as the Bahamas.
Has anyone traveled out there and what was your experience like? Which side did you stay on, St Martin or Sint Maarten? Where would you recommend we stay? My friend recommends hotel vs resort because she says a resort will make us miss much of the culture of the area. She also says staying in a hotel and go to local spots will get us more authentic food, drinks, etc.
I've never heard much of this area before now so just looking for personal experiences. Oh and cost is a big thing, obviously my friend said she can get us a deal but I don't want to count on that. How much did you pay for how many days?
TIA