all inclusive
Mar 1st, 2009, 06:52 AM
#1
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all inclusive
Girls time out. We are 2 married woman in our fifties and are getting away in June for 4 nights. We are looking for an all inclusive property with a great beach and warm calm water to wade in. Snorkeling from shore would be a plus. I understand great food is hard to find in an AI but we would like it anyway. We assume we will not be nickeled and dimed in an AI (but I may be wrong) . We have never stayed at an AI before. Any and all suggetions and info are appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Mar 1st, 2009, 11:48 AM
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An AI for four days would be great. More days than that and you will want to start to venture out for food. The Sandals brand of AI is very nice and will not nickel and dime you at all. You aren't even allowed to tip.
I think Sandals is for couples only, and I don't know if the two of you would qualify. Are you going to split a room?
Beaches is Sandals family brand. There will be lots of kids there. I don't know if that is something you wish to avoid.
We stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos for our honeymoon. It was wonderful. Grace Bay is one of the top ten beaches of the world. The water is that blue blue and so clear. Beaches had a snorkel boat that was included in the AI that would take us out I think twice a day for a little trip. It was lovely.
I think Sandals is for couples only, and I don't know if the two of you would qualify. Are you going to split a room?
Beaches is Sandals family brand. There will be lots of kids there. I don't know if that is something you wish to avoid.
We stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos for our honeymoon. It was wonderful. Grace Bay is one of the top ten beaches of the world. The water is that blue blue and so clear. Beaches had a snorkel boat that was included in the AI that would take us out I think twice a day for a little trip. It was lovely.
Mar 1st, 2009, 03:28 PM
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I dont' think Sandals if what you're looking for. It is couples only and recently includes gay couples. Their resorts are set up for romantic/honeymoon type vacations. They are also very overpriced.
Look at the Playa del Carmen/Mayan Riviera area of Mexico. We stayed at the Royal Playa del Carmen and loved it. 5 minute walk to 5th Avenue if you get tried of the AI food. Other hotel;s to reserach include the Ibeostars, Barcelos, Secrets and Excellance chains.
El Cozumeleno in Cozumel has great snorkeling from the beach. It's a solid 3*, so you might not like the food. It's a 5 minute taxi ride to town.
How about the Occidental or RIU in Aruba? Great solid AI's on Palm Beach. Do the beach hopping tour from De Palm for good shore snorkeling.
The Dominican Republic has many AI's, but have not been to any so not that familiar. From research, I liked the Iberostars, Occidentals, Barcelos (same chains as in Mexico) and the Majestics.
Look at the Playa del Carmen/Mayan Riviera area of Mexico. We stayed at the Royal Playa del Carmen and loved it. 5 minute walk to 5th Avenue if you get tried of the AI food. Other hotel;s to reserach include the Ibeostars, Barcelos, Secrets and Excellance chains.
El Cozumeleno in Cozumel has great snorkeling from the beach. It's a solid 3*, so you might not like the food. It's a 5 minute taxi ride to town.
How about the Occidental or RIU in Aruba? Great solid AI's on Palm Beach. Do the beach hopping tour from De Palm for good shore snorkeling.
The Dominican Republic has many AI's, but have not been to any so not that familiar. From research, I liked the Iberostars, Occidentals, Barcelos (same chains as in Mexico) and the Majestics.
Mar 2nd, 2009, 05:00 AM
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You don't say where you live, but Mexico is usually a better value than the Caribbean, and the standards of the AIs in Cancun/Cozumel/Maya Riviera is generally a little higher than in the DR, which is usually the cheapest destination in the Caribbean.
There is good snorkeling near (but not right off the beach) at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus near La Romana, but if you go there, be sure to fly into the La Romana area. It's fairly far (as in 2 hours) from either Punta Cana or Santo Domingo, and a lot of companies try to put you on flights to one of those two airports.
Jamaica is experiencing a rather dramatic downturn in travel, so there are some good deals there as well. Iberostar has some new resorts near Montego Bay, but the beaches are much better in Negril. I don't really like the huge Riu resorts in Jamaica, though they are usually the cheapest.
I also would urge you not to consider Sandals. Everything there is geared toward married couples. You could claim to be a gay couple and stay, but you would not feel particularly welcome.
There is good snorkeling near (but not right off the beach) at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus near La Romana, but if you go there, be sure to fly into the La Romana area. It's fairly far (as in 2 hours) from either Punta Cana or Santo Domingo, and a lot of companies try to put you on flights to one of those two airports.
Jamaica is experiencing a rather dramatic downturn in travel, so there are some good deals there as well. Iberostar has some new resorts near Montego Bay, but the beaches are much better in Negril. I don't really like the huge Riu resorts in Jamaica, though they are usually the cheapest.
I also would urge you not to consider Sandals. Everything there is geared toward married couples. You could claim to be a gay couple and stay, but you would not feel particularly welcome.
Mar 8th, 2009, 02:32 PM
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We are not a couple. Just two wifes who are friends for 29 years who will be sharing a room. We don't mind kids, we both have them, yet we don't want then running all around us. We will be flying out of the New York City area. It seems leaving on a Wednesday and comming home on a Monday and staying 5 nights is less or the same money as 4 nights. I am very interested if the Cancun/Cozumel/Rivera Maya areas offer more upscale accomadations for less money. Which specific ones would you suggest? Thanks everyone.
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