Greetings
I am hoping to plan a surprise holiday for my wife and I for 2012 and have been looking for somewhere that will be unexpected, a bit different and somewhere that has never been on our radar before.
So I came up with St Martin and have found a villa on the south Dutch side near Simpson Bay. I have investigated and discovered that it is carnival time in the south in April/May 2012.
The flights look OK and outward bound go from Heathrow with a change at JFK or Newark. Also on the inward bound journey there is a overnight stop at Antigua - bonus!
In terms of the Caribbean we've only ever been to Cuba before so I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips, advice, benefit of experiences etc. What are the costs like in terms of eating and drinking out? Are there any particular items that the island is famous for and are bargains? From my research I can see that the climate is good all year round, and that it is safe place to visit and go out and about, although it is recommended that you do not stray from the beaten path. Has anyone any experience of carnival time on the island? It seems as though the island comes to a standstill which can be a good or a bad thing! Any input would be much appreciated.

Love and tolerance
Paul