<p>So we’ve got a big anniversary (25th) and big birthday (50th) coming up in the next 6 months. I want to spend my birthday in the Caribbean on a beach at a swim up bar (don’t judge!) probably only 5 nights/6 days due to work. I spent the day web surfing yesterday and now I’m more confused so I figured I’d turn to y’all.</p>
<p>We’d prefer all inclusive so we can just relax & not worry about extra $$$ and planning. DH would like golf but its not a deal breaker if its not there. I’d like a chance to try paddle boarding, and a yoga class would be good. We’re not divers but might do some low key snorkeling. So a nice beach is important. Also, no kids.</p>
<p>Flying from Nashville can be a pain, so we’d like to keep flight time under 8 hours. Bahamas are apparently chilly in February so that’s out. We’ve been to Mexico & Jamaica in recent years, so we thought we might try somewhere new. St. Lucia looked like a winner but then Jamaica came back into play.</p>
<p>Any insights are welcome, especially about Sandals or Couples. While we are blessed to be able to take this trip, with 2 kids in college, budget comes into play so it needs to stay around $4000.</p>
<p>Well, per our experinces, late August is the best time to get a good deal on all inclusive. The best route of flight seletion plus room.</p>
<p>Make sure your connection to Caribbean is in a warm airport such as miami or ATL. Some cheap flights take you aroudn NY. If there is a winter storm, you will be stranged.</p>
<p>We have been exclusively on Iberostar properties. Went to Grand Rose Hall last year for 7 days around Christmas. Our agent made sure the resort knows the date of our 25th anniversary. The resort gave us an upgrade of room, reserved a table for two on the balcony over looking the ocean, and did a rose ped bubble bath with a bottle of champagne. </p>
<p>For your special case, Grand is the only way to go - adult only. So much quite and much much better services.</p>
<p>We went to Casa de Campo in the DR and rented a villa. It came with a free golf cart to get around to the restaurants and various activities, we had a private pool and maid/butler/chef service as desired. it was definitely the way to go.</p>
<p>Are you open to a cruise? That would be all-inclusive (drinks would be extra) and you could have beach days, golf days, and activities at ports.</p>
<p>A cruise is out. DH is a terrible sailor & prone to motion sickness (even on trips in the bay; and he almost keeled over on a little kids spinning ride so I don’t want to chance it.)</p>
<p>This will be the first vacation we’ve been on alone since we had kids (sad, I know) but we’ve been to the Hilton rose hall resort in Jamaica so ill look into that iberostar resort dad II. And we went to a Barcelo resort in riviera maya. Pre kids I went to hedonism in negril, & we honeymooned at Divi St. James in Barbados.</p>
<p>Dominican Republic looks like it will be my research focus this evening :)</p>
<p>I use Trip Advisor for reviews and Oyster for their excellent photos.</p>
<p>We just returned from Round Hill in Jamaica but it is not an AI and not inexpensive. You can add AI for $195/person/day but that is crazy!</p>
<p>The only AI place we have stayed was Grand Villas in Riveria Maya. Several excellent dining options plus free food & drinks all day, including room service, swim-up bar, and mini bar. I am just a bit wary of Mexico these days, but it was a lovely resort. </p>
<p>There are a few AIs in Costa Rica. Loved that vacation but we did half adventure (white water rafting, zip lining, hiking, etc), and then half relaxing but did not stay at one of the AI properties. The Westin in Playa Conchal is supposed to be nice but cannot vouch for it firsthand. </p>
<p>I spent a good amount of time on TripAdvisor yesterday and every time I thought I had it figured out, somebody’s review changed my mind. Discovered oyster yesterday and will look at the pics there later. Thanks!</p>
<p>We have been Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) 4 times. Iberostar has a Grand (Grand Bavaro) hotel there too. The beach is the best and you can walk for hours. </p>
<p>Relatively speaking, I think DR is the poorest comparing to Mexico and Jamaica. So your dollar goes further there. </p>
<p>“hedonism” pre kids, that must be fun!!!</p>
<p>The Iberostar Rose hall is a couple miles away from the airport than the Hilton. I don’t like those set up because you just got one hotel complex. </p>
<p>Punta Cana is different, you got one hotel after another. And the people watch is another big fun part - almost like the “hedonism”. Those europeans are very “different”.</p>
<p>Kind of pricey, but the Four Seasons on Nevis has a really nice golf course. It does allow children but I don’t remember actually seeing any while I was there. Nevis is different in that it has a volcano with a rainforest and is lightly populated. We flew into San Juan PR, then St. Kitts and took a boat over to the Four Seasons.</p>
<p>Went to FS Nevis for our honeymoon and wanted to return this summer but the travel was just too onerous for a short trip. We also flew NY-San Juan-St. Kitts then high speed boat to Nevis, but somehow that didn’t seem as daunting twenty years ago! That is one gorgeous golf course though—those last couple of holes along the water are beautiful.</p>
<p>The golf course at the FS in Costa Rica also offers stunning views, but we are moving too far away from affordable. I find the food at FS expensive and their resort locations are often remote enough that leaving the grounds to eat is impractical.</p>
<p>RobD–are you a regular TA user? I generally grant very little weight to the single-review posters. Some hotels will email guests a link to TA to complete a review. While many single-post reviews are trustworthy, I have learned to question some. I drive myself a bit crazy reading pages of reviews and then discovering the few bad ones and rethinking the entire process. Overall, the reviews are very helpful and also sometimes reveal ‘secrets’ about a destination that I might not otherwise know.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed Iberostar several years ago. We went to Mexico, but i Wouldn’t recommend going there now. I suggest not going with the cheapest if it’s a group property. Usually more money means more nice restaurants, things like that. Also, found that the busiest bars tended to pour the worst liquor. You could go to some a little off the beaten path and get very good drinks, and they seem to remember if you tip. (not a big tip, but something).
I’m jealous. Hope you have a fabulous time</p>
<p>CT1417: I usually use TA in conjunction with Hotwire to make sure I’m not picking a dump for a hotel, especially since we just finished 2 years of college tours I’ve read lately that a lot of the reviews on websites are plants, but how do you figure out which ones to listen to? </p>
<p>This is all really helpful everyone Lots of ideas.</p>
<p>Hedonism was pre-kids, pre-DH. My mom still tells me that I never looked as relaxed as I did when I got back from that vacation…</p>
<p>Rob: I haven’t been brave enough to use Hotwire. I know that I am overpaying for some of these college tour hotels, but hope that those stays are temporarily behind us now.</p>
<p>I don’t know how to definitively rule out certain TA posts as plants but just read enough (too many!) reviews until I sense a theme and then determine if the complaint is one that would bother me. Very unscientific.</p>
<p>For less than four grand for both of you I’d suggest Riu Tropical Bay in Negril. You can do up to 7 days including airfare if you time it right. Punta Cana is fun but the Club Med is for families and will generally run higher than your budget when you add airfare. Also look at Moondance Cliffs in Negril, I toured the property last April and its breathtaking. It sits a walk away from Rick’s Cafe and has the same view of the sunset Rick’s has. The accommodations are top notch and its AI. The downside is, it sits on a cliff so if you want to lay on the beach you’ll have to walk or taxi up the road. Drinks are top shelf and food is very good. You can cut your cost by opting out the AI and pay as you go if your not a huge drinker or eater and that will save you greatly.
Another option is ClubMed Ixtapa, Mexico its usually cheaper than other Meds and is a jewel many overlook. Its tucked away and secluded and has all the sports activities available to you and food is very good. The “Go’s” are all so helpful and lends to a memorable stay. It is a family resort and recently fully renovated and feels new. Try and book travel when school is in session so you can beat the family crowd. All in all you can’t go wrong with any of the above resorts and if timed right will fall within your budget including most your airfare if you red eye or if flexible with travel dates.</p>
<p>So a few of you have mentioned “red eying.” I get what it means when flying from CA to the East Coast, but not when flying to the Caribbean. Are you saying that flying overnight can save $$$?</p>
I’ve read lately that a lot of the reviews on websites are plants, but how do you figure out which ones to listen to? </p>
Lots of ideas.</p>