“Aruba vs. the Bahamas” is a matchup that plays out frequently in the minds of many would-be Caribbean travelers. They both rank consistently among the most popular Caribbean destinations, and it can be hard to figure out the right choice. In a knockout round between the two, however, we think it’s pretty clear which one comes out on top. These travel favorites have much in common, but Aruba has the most return visitors each year in the Caribbean, and we think there’s a good reason for that.

While the travel times between the U.S. East Coast and each of the locations is fairly similar, both places are considered to be reasonably safe and both have a similar quality of nightlife, Aruba tips the scales in its direction in many other categories. As an article from consumer travel website Oyster.com points out, Aruba has plenty to do and see both above and below the water. It boasts fantastic cuisine from every corner of the world. It is also located outside the Hurricane Belt, meaning the chance for hurricanes ruining one’s travel plans is close to zero. Its constant tradewinds help keep mosquitos at bay, and temperatures average in the mid-80s Fahrenheit all year round.

Plus, it’s pretty impossible to compare Aruba’s white sand beaches to any other island in the world. With their shallow turquoise waters and calm waves, they are the kind of beaches that travelers can’t stop dreaming about. Eagle Beach, near Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort and Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort, was recently voted the third best beach in the world in the 2017 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards. And Palm Beach, home to Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, is perfect for families to introduce their young children to the ocean for the first time. In the “Aruba vs. the Bahamas” matchup, we think Aruba wins every time.