One could also argue that St. Martin is also not one island as it is occupied by two countries, France and Holland. The Dutch side receives more visitors as the cruise ships stop in the capital, Philipsburg and because of this, the Dutch side is more developed. The French side is more laid back and has more of a Caribbean flair to it. I worked on cruise ships for 5 years and I was in Saint Martin every 2 weeks and we nearly always went to the French side, firstly to get away from the passengers and secondly as the beaches were nicer. I have visited most places on the list and all have some incredibly beautiful locations, many have some not so nice places but the beauty of those countries is far greater than locations that are less desirable....unfortunately with the exception of Haiti. But there are places such as Jamaica that can be just as dangerous. The island is spectacular with some of the most beautiful locations in the entire Caribbean, but alas, there are some areas that you just don't feel safe at all. When I first started going to Jamaica we stopped at Ocho Rios which was a beautiful location, so calm and peaceful surrounded by some incredible people. But then the ship started going to Montego Bay which really was not a nice location, and quite dangerous in many areas of the city. The same can be said for Kingston Town. But the island itself is beyond beautiful which is shame as Jamaica has a crime reputation that reduces the amount of visitors that the island could potentially receive. Having been to most islands I can give pros and cons to most, but out of them all my favorite place is still the Dominican Republic...for its people, its size, beauty, history and diversity which is why it has been my home for 20 years. Out of all the countries that I have lived and where I was raised, I have lived in the DR longer than any other country!
