Is your $2,500 budget per person or for the two of you? Does that budget include airfare or is that just for your accommodations and food? Also, how long a trip are you planning - a few days, a week?? It would help to have answers to those questions as it will have a big impact on where you go. FYI - $2,500 including airfare for two people for one week is not a very "big" budget for the Caribbean.

If you are looking for All Inclusives in that price range your best bet is to concentrate your search to Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel as those are among the least expensive destinations in the Caribbean and they have lots of "budget priced" AI's.

You might also consider taking one of the lower priced cruises as you'll get the most bang for your buck.

That would be for both of us, incluing airfare... probably could go up to $3000 but not more than that. We'd like to go for 5-7 days. Would also look at Mexico.

I have been to many AI resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. (15 to be exact) Your money will go a lot farther in Mexico and then Jamaica.

Here is a list of AI resorts in Mexico:

http://www.mexicoallinclusive.com/mexico_all-inclusive_resorts.cfm


Here is a list of AI resorts in the Caribbean:

http://www.caribbeanallinclusive.com/caribbean_all_inclusive_resorts.cfm

If you wait until about the 2nd to 3rd week of May, prices will go down after all the Spring/Easter break hoopla is over.

Do some pricing on a few of the on-line booking sites to see what your money will get you. Any specific questions about a destination or resort, we can probably help.

You'll likely find the best bargains on Caribbean all inclusive resorts in the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic or even more budget friendly Puerto Plata.

http://best-caribbean-vacations.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-all-inclusive-resorts-punta-canas.html

cancun.bookit.com
Best Values AI Mexico
travelzoo.com Top 20
Amazing Puerto Plata DR AI deals at LifeStyle Resorts
puntacana.com best area for me
Hard Rock or Excellence if budget permits
spirit.com cheapest flights down usually.

Happy Planning!

Either Mexico or Punta Cana I have done both all inclusive and they worked out great!

You might want to try a package deal through Apple Vacations or TNT or a large travel agency like Liberty Travel. They all put together air and hotel packages that can sometimes save you some money over doing it yourself.

http://www.applevacations.com/

http://www.tntvacationdeals.com/

http://www.libertytravel.com/

You can also try AA Vacations or USAirways Vacations, the two main carriers to the Caribbean. Or Jet Blue:

https://www.aavacations.com/

http://www.usairwaysvacations.com/vacationplanning/honeymoon_romance.html?cint=lp_usv_11084

http://www.jetblue.com/vacations/

I agree with the Caribbean coast of Mexico (Mayan Riviera) for the best value.

Negril Jamaica has some reasonable priced AIs on the 7-miles beach there.

Punta Cana doesn't send me personally, because it's a 'built environment' for tourists. There's nothing outside the resorts unless you go to Puero Plata, etc.

fishguy-

Just because some part of a country is on some list does not make it all unsafe. Mexico is a huge country, yes with some current problems, but those reports are NOT about the places tourists usually choose to visit and where you'd find the AI resorts... Cabo, Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta, etc. have no issues to date with visitor safety.

I don't know about Jamaica as far as "travel advistory" but I was recently in Negril and everything was just fine, I'm female and was traveling solo.

Mexico is a BIG country...not all areas are on the advisory list. Gee whiz....there are murders in Philadelphia so you better not go to California because the US in dangerous.???!!
The Playa del carmen area is safe....most of Jamaica is safe. These areas depend on tourism and keep the tourist areas safe.
In the Playa area you are NOT confined to your AI resort in order to keep safe. There is plenty to do off the resorts there.

We loved the Coconut Beach Club in Antigua... right on the beach and a modest, reasonably priced AI. We went hiking every morning and always felt safe. St John, where the cruise ships come in, may have some areas that tourists should avoid, but we did not have any problems during our 8-night stay.