<p>I’m still struggling with the vacation ideas, and I’m considering an all inclusive at the end of June. We’ve never been to one, but I’d like to try. I will call a travel agent, but I’d like some honest opinions from people who have been to these.</p>
<p>In the alternative, how about Florida or Gulf Coast locations??</p>
<p>A great alternative to an all inclusive is a cruise!</p>
<p>Many people love cruises and I might also. The problem for me is that I need to be on land. The idea of being out in the ocean on a boat, unable to see land completely freaks me out. Don’t even get me started on what it would be like at night. Just looking out into the black endless ocean. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.</p>
<p>I’ve been to many. What price point–basic, luxury, or top of the line? Adults only?</p>
<p>We have gone to the Tamarijn on Aruba a couple of times. It is a “low rise” with only two stories but most of the rooms are right on the beach - and it is a long beach with plenty of room so you don’t have to be near others. You would have sliding doors right on a little patio then step off on to the beach and the water might only be 30 feet away. The food is excellent. Most people dress nicely for dinner. The prices are pretty reasonable.</p>
<p>Since my youngest child is 17, I will say adults only, assuming she would qualify. I don’t need a bunch of litle kids running around, but I need to include her. As for price, I’ve never been to one so I don’ know. I’m assuming you get what you pay for, so definitely not bargain, but no need for the most expensive either. Mid to upper cost is fine though. I really want this to be a good/special vacation. </p>
<p>There are almost too many good choices to list. Cancun area, Punta Cana, and Jamaica each have a couple dozen mid to upper level resorts. Iberostar, Occidental, Riu, Majestic, and Palace Resorts are all good choices with multiple hotels in each area. Do you want great beach or great pools? Party or laid back? Restaurants or buffets? Where are you flying from? Do you need direct flights? Do you want fairly close to the airport or do you mind a drive once you land?</p>
<p>I think you should check out Club Med (they should pay me for advertising). A lot of inclusive do not include activities. They include food and drinks, but they charge for water sports or activities around the resort. Club Med is truly all inclusive, and no tipping. They have some very luxurious accommodations now and not very crazy either. We are going to their Cancun club in a month. We are staying at their 5 Trident section, with private pool, concierge and beach front. They have out door live music every evening. We go to a club med vacation every year. We’ve been to most locations in the Caribbean. </p>
<p>^^Oldfort: You may want to read the Wall Street Sunday edition from yesterday…big section on all-inclusives…not too favorable…they say in the article that the Club Med in Cancun is currently undergoing renovations…make sure the part you are going to isn’t noisy with construction workers! See if you can call the resort directly and see where the renovations are taking place…just a FYI</p>
<p>I’ve only been to a couple. We really liked Iberostar. I suggest not going for the cheapest option if it’s a multiple-tier property. For example (I might not have the details exactly correct), the cheapest could only eat buffet and stay at their pool. Next had maybe 3 restaurant choices over week and use of multiple pools, next had many restaurant choices and all pools except adults only pool, and one was adults only. </p>
<p>I can’t find the article. We did quite few all inclusive in Mexico because we were so close to those resorts few years back, but nothing ever came close to Club Med as far as value, fun, location. This will be our second time at this resort.</p>
<p>My brother in law really likes Sandals. Not particularly my thing, but perhaps another data point.</p>
<p>Hubby and I once showed up at an all inclusive in St. Lucia late at night to find a drunken toga party going on. We stayed one night and left. </p>
<p>For a quiet resort with an all-inclusive American plan, we loved the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. They had boats to ‘check out’ and take to little coves for picnics and snorkeling. It was really nice. It’s very near to Richard Branson’s private island. We went many years ago. The price tag now is pretty steep.</p>
<p>Bahia Principe Sian Kaan in Cancun is a great place (18 and over only). the sister properties Tulum and others, located a short shuttle ride away, are all-age and are also pretty nice.
The credit goes to teriwtt for mentioning it here in one of the threads. :)</p>
<p>We have only stayed at one AI, Grand Velas Riveria Maya. The food was quite good, and I am not easy to please. Everything was included from mini bar to room service to drinks by the pool, in addition to three meals/day. The resort was very pretty but there was not a lot to do when we visited a few years ago. </p>
<p>If I were to do this, I would take one of the Viking River cruises in Europe. They aren’t that expensive and you’d see things…not just blue water, but beautiful, historical landmarks and the food is wonderful , so I hear
We are not beach chair loungers. I could do that in my back yard, but I cannot view another world there. I am all about that and so is my husband</p>
<p>The perfect one, Kona Village Resort, was unfortunately the only property damaged by the tsunami and remains a legal nightmare of old Hawaii vs everything.<br>
I got to stay there once, I should be glad…</p>
<p>@oldfort, I am a fan of Club Med also, but we haven’t been in several years. Have been thinking it would be a nice trip to do with the girls now that they are adults. We have been to Cancun, Huatulco in Oaxaca before it closed, and Paradise Island. We enjoyed the clubs before they became more Americanized, we liked having no TV and larger group tables for dining where we could meet other GMs. Being disconnected from the world was great. Our most important aspects were the sports (mostly water sports) and food, less important is the nighlife. </p>
<p>jackief - you should check out Columbus Isle (Bahamas). Club Med is the only resort on the island. You get a lot of Europeans. Most people go there for diving, so they tend to go to bed early. They have one of the most beautiful beaches with very few people. When our girls were between 10-17, we went there every year, sometimes more than once. The GOs got to know us very well. Recently we’ve been to Ixtapa, Punta Cana. Cancun has gone more upscale with the 5 Trident rooms. You maybe disappointed, they have TV and internet now (very sporadically), but GMs and GOs are just as friendly.</p>
<p>A friend of mine loves Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It is adults only and I think that a 17 year old would qualify. I have never stayed there, but when we were there, I walked by it and looked at it longingly. We were at Iberostar, full of kids, ours included, and thought it looked so lovely and peaceful. </p>
<p><a href=“Occidental Hotels & Resorts | Barceló Hotel Group”>Occidental Hotels & Resorts | Barceló Hotel Group;