For that budget you can probably do many AI's in the Caribbean. I have for around $3,000. However, the accomendations, food quailty and perks were NOTHING compared to what you got at San Souci or resorts you'll find in Mexico or the DR.

I would suggest a different AI in a different part of Jamaica. We loved the Jewell Dunns River in Ocho Rios or try Couples Negril, the Iberostar ot Secrets in Montego Bay. All adult only AI's.

Puerto Rico does not have AI resorts. There are a few hotels that offer some kind of an AI plan, but nothing like what is offered in Mexico, Jamaica or the DR.

My other suggestion is the DR. Lots of AI resorts there comparable to Jamaica and priced about the same also. Look at the Majestic or Excellance. Both adult only AI's.

Here is a list of AI resorts in the Caribbean. They are noted to be audlt/couples/family.


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

$3500-$3800 is hardly doing a vacation “on the cheap”. That is a pretty large budget and you can most definitely get 4 star accommodations for at least a week with that budget (which you already have done before in Jamaica).

I was going to actually suggest Jamaica since you said you wanted to go AI, but since you have such a large budget (and have already been to Jamaica) there are plenty of other options for you. I would look at Aruba, St. Maarten/Saint Martin, Barbados and St. Lucia. Those islands are much more expensive than Jamaica, but your budget is still pretty big so I am sure you could find some packages. The water/geography is nicest in St. Lucia, I think.

A vacation to Mexico/The Dominican Republic would be MUCH cheaper (you can def get a week for under $3k) but the water is not potable in either location.

I agree, that's not on the cheap at all. That's a generous budget even for the Caribbean. Although why I opened this thread was coming to suggest Mexico, because you get so much more bang for your buck there than in the Caribbean.

KVR, thank you for the website, it is a very good resource. Does punta cana have any like, jungle-type landscape near by?

dontcallmecass, I need to find out where you're finding your vacation price quotes from, because i am having the hardest time finding a vacation in our price range that is not in the DR, jamaica, or mexico. I am willing to go to the DR, but i would LOVE to go to like grenada or turks n caicos. I know turks is waaaay outta my price range, but ya know...dreams. if i REALLY got my fantasy vacation, id like to go to Tanzania. but airfare alone...WHEW!

St. Lucia does not have clear blue water. The topography is absolutely beautiful. Not sure you can get an AI there for that budget as air is very expensive to get there if you don't find a sale.

I have been looking for an AI in Barbados for over a year now and can not find anything decent or well recommended under $4, 000 for a 6 night trip. The AI's there are definately sub-par compared to Mexico, Jamaica and the DR. Many are condo units with meals and drinks included. Meals are set times with no in between snacks except afternoon tea. I've about crossed this destination off my list as it is really expensive AI or not.

Though I loved Aruba and we did the AI plan at the Holiday Inn for $3,000 air and hotel for 7 nights, it was only worth it for drinks. Aruba has too many really great restaurants and bars and going AI there is really not recommended. The RUI and Occidential are the only AI resorts comparable to Mexico, Jamaica or DR and both are family friendly.

There are only 2 AI's in St. Martin that I am aware of and they are family friendly. Also, nothing like the AI's in Mexico, Jamaica or DR.

This is why we keep going to Mexico. Have been going since 2000 and returning again in December. I have been to many Caribbean Islands and I have yet to find accomendations and prices comparable to what we get in Mexico or Jamaica. The DR is the only exception, but I do not care for that destination.

If only i could get my boyfriend on board, id like to go to cozumel or tulum....but i highly suspect that is not an option. what are your thoughts on grenada? i am looking at the Grenadian by rex resorts, i can't tell if the resort is worth it. trip advisor helps alot, but pictures can only go so far.

misslindsey, you can go to T & C with that budget if you give up the AI. We stayed at the Sibbone and did 7 nights for $2,700 air and hotel. Rent a car and go to some of the less expensive restaurants. You could probably do the entire trip for $3,800.

I wish I could go to Grenada. From my area I'm looking at $4,000+ for air and a non AI hotel.

Misslindsey - Where are you coming from, what months are you looking to go on vacation and how long do you want to stay. These are all factors.

I agree that many of the limited AI's in Barbados / Aruba / St. Lucia are subpar compared to the high end AI’s in Jamaica/MX/DR but those islands aren’t AI based islands (and with reason). Those islands are generally much safer than the other 3 and most have better infrastructure / potable water. You get more for your money in Jamaica/MX/DR due to their limitations…especially in DR.

The DR has beautiful resorts, but imo you are extremely contained to your resort (especially if you are in Punta Cana). The AI resorts in Barbados and Aruba may not be as luxurious, but you have so much more freedom to get out and about and explore the island on your own. In fact, my favorite island destination is a non AI destination – Bermuda. Although, I do thoroughly enjoy the AI experience in Jamaica as well (little more freedom to be out and about than in the DR imo).

we are flying out of philadelphia. Want to stay at least 7 days. now the when is the question mark...my boyfriend does graduate school online and has few breaks. he has one break in january (too expensive to go then, and too cold down there for us) i have spring break in march but he has school i believe. I am really hoping he has a break or willing to put stuff off in may, because i want to start an internship in june.

St-Maarten. Sonesta Maho or Sonesta Great Bay! Beautiful beaches, lots to do there. The resorts may not be 5 star but the island of St.Maarten-St-Martin more than makes up for it.

The thing that is going to keep the price up is the airfare! What I do is I go to hotwire and do a flexible date search for the destination I am interested in. So if you want to go in May, just do a flexible date search (for whatever destination you want) and set it for a 7 day trip in May. It will give you a monthly outline with the airfare for each day you could leave…so a 7 day trip leaving on 5/1 may be $400.00 and a 7 day trip for 5/7 may be $302.00. At that point, I look for packages that coordinate with the cheapest flights. It is a tedious process but it is helpful in the long run! Also, I have found the BEST deals to be on Funjet (www.funjet.com). You also have an option to do a payment plan with them, so that is nice.

I just did a search for a 7 day Barbados trip in May and got the Almond Casaurina Beach Resort – All Inclusive for under $3300.00

If you can go the 2nd or 3rd week of May you can usually find better deals. We have gone around the 19th a couple of times because the prices are good.

"I just did a search for a 7 day Barbados trip in May and got the Almond Casaurina Beach Resort – All Inclusive for under $3300.00"

Not from my departure point. I could never get that price. I checked and I'm getting $6,135. I so need to move. Also, read the reviews on TA. Not very favorable and it's not adult's only. I would not spend my hard earned money at that hotel.

With regard to your question eariler about the Rex Resorts. There is one on Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Grenada. The are considered a lower end AI resort. Read the reviews before making a decision.

I used to use Fun Jet, but found better deals with Orbitz, Travelocity or Expedia. Also look a bookit.com, cheapcaribbean.com and beachdestinations.com

Also, www.applevacations.com and www.allinclusiveoutlet.com.

Over $6,000.00?!! That is crazy! Where are you coming from? I always fly out of Newark/NYC and flights/packages are quite comparable to the OP's (Philly).

I have been to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Mexico all. I disagree about the comments about safety. You can travel independently any of those places, you don't have to feel limited to staying behind the gates of an All-Inclusive resort.

I know this is off-topic and won't side track this thread but I just hate seeing comments like <<much safer than the other 3 and most have better infrastructure / potable water>>.

Akumal, Tulum or Cozumel would absolutely fit the bill here, if the boyfriend wasn't so set against it.

I suppose you misinterpreted my comment. Let me clarify, the crime rate is indeed much higher in DR/Jamaica/MX than it is in Barbados/Aruba/ETC. The latter are more expensive islands and are generally safer islands and pricing correlates with those statistics.

I didn't say that they were not safe to go travel independently. I was highlighting the fact that the price of each destination correlates with things such as crime level/infrastructure; it does.

With that said, the last time I went to Jamaica we stayed in Montego Bay and had no problems with safety at all and left the resort many times. I am not one to stay behind the walls of an all inclusive resort.

However, To me The DR (Punta Cana) is the one location where you sort of are contained to the resort. Not because of safety but because imo there is not much to do (there is no real downtown to walk around or whatever). Puerto Plata is much better for getting around and about, but the beach is not as nice.

Sorry, I should have said "statistically safer" above.

"Where are you coming from?"

I live in the middle of nowhere Texas. I always pay higher airfare than most because I don't live in a city with an international airport. I have to first fly to Houston or Dallas before we can get anywhere, which is why flying to Mexico is so much cheaper than the Carribean. However, we have been to several Caribbean islands. Some AI vacations and some not. During my research, I have found, at least for us, Barbados to be overly expensive and their AI hotels sub par. I've had it on my list for awhile, but I've about given it up for Costa Rica instead if I'm going to spend that kind of money. At least I'll get to see 3 areas for the same price.

Some of us do take great offense to inaccurate info posted about Mexico. It's a great and safe destination and people who avoid it because of media hype and scared tourists who believe that garbage is missing out on a great and inexpensive destination, which is really really sad.

I do agree with your comments regarding the DR though.

Well, I do love Mexico. I have been there quite a few times because my step dad/brother are Mexican. Unfortunately, I have never been to the beach/Caribbean side.

I totally get wanting the stress free "AI" vacation; how about Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril; yes, it's Jamaica, "again", but the beach is so much nicer than Couples San Souci so you'll really feel like you're "somewhere else".

see? this is why i asked you fine people! the plethora of experience and ideas!!! thank you so much for the advice, i have booked through cheapcaribbean before and i really liked them. but, they almost seem limited? i keep trying bookit.com but i find it too confusing and badly laid out. ok, ill X out grenadian by rex resorts. i had a feeling they sucked, bc their rooms look awful. ill definatly look into st. maarten, that would be ahhhmazing.

Yeah, I am actually looking into St. Maarten for my next trip. A little out of my budget but we will see!

Check out packages with funjet. They really are cheaper from our area.

My advice is to educate the boyfriend on Mexico. I mean that in a nice way, but his ignorance of this destination is keeping the both of you away from a very safe area that I'd bet the house on both of you loving if given the chance. I used to be the same way about Mexico....but glad someone set me straight, and I was able to enjoy one of the most beautiful tropical destinations around...

I guarantee that the Riviera Maya of Mexico is 10 times safer than Philly is....Just sayin....

Hope you find the right place, with that budget, it really should be simple. Try some of the All Inclusive vacation sites like Cheapcaribbean.com or Bookit.com....usually plenty of deals on all the areas of the Caribbean & Mexico.

You can't reasonably expect to compare "statistically safer" or otherwise the entire HUGE and diverse country of Mexico to an itty bitty island like Aruba.

Suze,
Do you mean to tell me that with all those cartel killings 1200 miles away that the Riviera Maya is actually safe? No way!! LOL

So don't go if you don't feel safe, but don't toss it around like it is a fact.

For me personally, no I do not believe that Mexican drug cartel gangsters killing each other 1200 miles away from where tourists vacation is dangerous to me. Historically and to date tourists sitting drinking margaritas on the beach resorts of Mexico have been safe.

There are lots of lovely islands in the Caribbean to visit. My suggestion to you are Bougainvillea Beach Resort and the Amaryllis Beach Resort in Barbados. http://www.tropicaltreasures.net/pages/all-inclusive-to-barbados.html These are two lovely four star resort with lots of great activities for couples to enjoy. All the exciting forms of water sports are there for you all to enjoy.These two resorts are really affordable as well.

Suze...it was a joke. Hence the "LOL" at the end. I sure wish there was a button on computers to show sarcasm....Relax...I'm on your side...

sorry dude i realized that after i posted. but people really DO believe that... hence my over reaction. lo siento mi amigo!

It's all good. Unfortunately the media sucks, and there's not much anyone can do about it beside try and educate others. It's the old "We can lead them to water" thing!!