FloridaResident

I would like some suggestions on some higher end AIs during Christmas (December 24-29, 2014). I would prefer a suite, with or without concierge, for my family of four which includes my husband and 2 (under 21) college-aged sons. I know that this is the most expensive time of the year to travel and most AIs require a minimum night stay which I may not meet. I am not looking for a kid-friendly resort, however, I would like a resort that welcomes young adults who like to scuba, surf, tennis, skeet shoot, etc. We do not golf at all. Nightlife and alcohol are not priorities, however, top quality food is. Nevertheless, the men in my family can forego fine food if there is all-you-can-eat lobster and/or shrimp. I also would like the resort to close to the airport but not a necessity. I live near a regional airport in FL so I am looking at destinations which only require 2 flights. I have researched Casa de Campo in DR, however, there is a 6-night minimum during the holiday season and neither my husband or I can take that time off from work. I am open to any AIs in the Caribbean which meets these requirements. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

doug_stallings

My advice: If nightlife and alcohol are not priorities, do NOT choose an all-inclusive resort. In general, people choose AIs for large amounts of food and alcohol rather than quality. Instead, go to a large non-AI property. However, if you can't stay at least 6 nights, you are going to have minimal choices.

I think the best area for you would be the Riviera Maya in Mexico, but without the minimum stay requirements, I'm not sure what you'll find. There are some wonderful high-end non-AI properties there.

However, I've never seen skeet shooting at any Caribbean or Mexican resort. Shooting is not something people generally do outside of the US.

KVR

As much as I love AI resorts and been to many throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, I really don't think from your wish list it's what you are actually looking for. Though some of the nicer lux resorts offers good food I don't think it would be considered "top quality". If alcohol is not a priority, than an AI is definitely not what you are looking for. I have never seen an AI resort offer all you can eat lobster or shrimp. As a matter of fact, I am never been to an AI resort that even offered shrimp. Some of the lux resorts offers some kind of lobster, but not all you can eat.

If you are interested in scuba, you need to get certified at home and then take the open water course when you get to your resort. Otherwise, the certification process at the resort will take up most of your vacation time. Instead go snorkeling or try snuba.

If you are wanting fabulous food with good activities for your group I would suggest Aruba. Tons and tons of great restaurants and bars and good water activities. Otherwise, I think a cruise on one of the huge Royal Caribbean ships would offer the activities you are looking for.

RoamsAround

1) KVR is Fodor's "resident" All Inclusive expert so listen to her advice AI is probably not going to fill your needs.

2) FYI shrimp is not local to the Caribbean so any shrimp you do find on a menu will be "previously frozen" and shipped in from someplace else.

3) I agree with the other posters - shrimp & lobster are expensive so chances of seeing "all you can eat" specials are a rarity. Some resorts throughout the Caribbean do offer "beach BBQ's one night a week that feature "buffet style food" and might have lobster or ship as one of their offerings but I wouldn't choose a destination or resort simply because they offer a once a week "stuff yourself" BBQ. You can, however, find local Caribbean lobster on every island but it won't be "all you can eat".

4) You are going to have limited choices as to where you can stay as most higher end resorts/hotels have minimum stay requirements between Christmas/New Years.

5) Since you live near a "regional airport" and only want two flights you are limiting your self to those destinations you can reach non-stop from either Miami or perhaps Atlanta - that's going to be: Providenciales (Turks & Caicos), Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Martin, St. Lucia, Barbados, Aruba, Cancun and Cozumel.

suze

If "top quality food" is a priority and "alcohol" is not, I'd also suggest reconsidering the idea of taking an All-Inclusive plan.

FloridaResident

Thanks for the responses. The reason I thought about AIs is because I am on vacation, I just want to vacation. I don't want to have to "plan" anything once I am there. We have been on RC cruises for the last 4 Christmases, and in fact, we're booked for another RC this Christmas. I thought a change from the usual would be nice. All the planning for the cruises is done beforehand, from booking the specialty restaurants to the excursions on port. That's the reason I thought of AIs. We usually book a suite on RC with concierge service, but not always. Food quality is important to us, and no, I didn't expect any resort to offer all you can eat except at the buffet. It's just that I don't have the time to compare different locales, resorts, restaurants and activities and I like to have everything planned and booked before I go. Since my vacation time is so limited, I was hoping a highly recommended 4 or 5 star resort will fit the bill. In terms of scuba, my sons are certified, so I just need a resort that offers scuba. Again, I don't want to have to do things of-site.

KVR

AI resorts are not all created equal. Outside of Mexico, DR and Jamaica, most resorts that offer an AI option are a second thought. They are also about twice as expensive and doesn't offer as much with regards to amenities. Not all Caribbean islands offer an AI resort or an AI plan and some of the ones that do really shouldn't.

My first recommendation would be the Iberostar chain. You can find one in Mexico, DR and Jamaica.

Also check out the Barcelos, Occidentials, and the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana. The Marriott chain offers an AI plan on selected Islands. Avoid any of the RIU's.

Here is a good list of all the AI's in the Caribbean and Mexico:

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

http://www.mexicoallinclusive.com/me...ve_resorts.cfm

Unfortunately, anyone here can only give you recomedations so you can start your own research. We can not do all the research for you, but I think you will find what you are looking for in an resort with an Iberostar. Activities in those 3 destinations, probably not so much. Mexico would come the closest. Mexico has some really great snorkel spots, so I'm sure people can scuba in those spots also. The DR and Jamaica not so much. Again, you have the problem with minimum stays during a holiday, so don't know if any resort that will fit your criteria will work for you in that regard.

I am not familiar with the option of scuba as I don't participate in that activity. I do think it's a shame to go to an AI resort and never leave the premises.

RoamsAround

For what it is worth, you don't have to stay at a resort that has an "on-site" scuba facility - in fact most resort don't have them BUT any resort (especially the high-end ones you are considering) will have a working relationship with one or more of the scuba operators on that island and all you have to do is ask the concierge or activities director to arrange a scuba trip for you.

I'm sorry you "don't have the time to compare different locales, resorts, restaurants and activities" but most of the contributors here are busy also. As KVR pointed out all we can do is steer you in certain directions by giving suggestions for destinations and perhaps name some resorts but it's going to be up to you to do all the first hand research to see if they meet your expectations and can accommodate you for only 6 days during Christmas week.

So for very good to excellent diving look at resorts on Grand Cayman or St. Thomas (two island you can probably reach in 2 flights from your Florida Regional Airport. You'll also find very good diving in Belize but other than Cayo Espanto you may not find the 5-star luxury you are seeking.

There's also some good to very good diving around Providenciales (in the Turks & Caicos) which is a relatively short non-stop flight from Miami. There are lots of high end "Condo Resorts" on that island which will give you the space of a "grand suite" and convenience of a full service resort.

FloridaResident

I appreciate the suggestions. It's a good starting point. Of course I will do my own research, just needed some guidance and direction. I like to plan, book and pay for everything in advance so that I won't have to worry about the "details" while I'm on vacation. You're right, a good resort will have good working relationships with local operators and a good concierge will bring us go ether.

KVR

The problem with the destinations that RoamsAround mentions is that they don't offer the type of AI resorts you stated you were looking for.

Grand Cayman has one resort that offers an AI plan; The Reef. It offers that plan because it's on the other side of the Island out in the middle of nowhere about 45 minutes from 7 Mile Beach and Georgetown. You will need a rental car if you choose to stay there. It's also in the mid level range of an AI.

St. Thomas has 2 AI resorts; The Wyndham Sugar Bay and the Bolonga Bay. We have stayed at the Wyndham and it was OK, but we are used to low to mid range AI's over high end/lux resorts. The 99 wooden steps to the beach, buffet, bar and pools was a pain. If I had to do it over again I would have choose the Bolonga Bay, but again it a mid range hotel that offers an AI plan.

Belize does not offer any AI resorts.

T & C offers 2 AI resorts; Club Med, which is not family friendly and Beaches, which your kids are too old for, and overly pricey for what they offer.

When we book vacations I also pre-plan and pre-pay for off property excursions before leaving. When you choose a destination, I can provide you with names of operators that offers activities and excursions.

Odin

I've stayed in AI hotels in several of the Caribbean islands. My priority is certainly not all you can eat buffets and copious amounts of alcohol. Its mainly for convenience esp if the island does not have many restaurants and if I have limited vacation time. Almost all the AI hotels I have stayed in either have a dive operation or are closely affiliated with one.

Antigua - the scuba is not great on this island, but there are several upscale AI resorts. I have been scuba diving here.

Jumby Bay
Carlisle Bay offer an AI package
Curtain Bluff
and couple others

St Lucia - scuba is better esp by the Pitons
Sugar Beach
East Winds Inn
Body Holiday Le Sport
and others

Barbados have several AI hotels, scuba is not fantastic but again, I have done several dives here. It is a very popular island at Christmas. The west coast is the best area to stay.
Some hotels offer AI packages rather than being an all inclusive hotel, these can offer the convenience you seek.

I would not limit yourself to looking at AI hotels in DR, Jamaica and Mexico, as several excellent options exist outside of those islands/countries. In Negril, you don't need AI as several dining options are on your doorstep or a short taxi ride away. In Aruba, again AI is not needed due to the abundance of restaurant choices.

AI is not needed on Grand Cayman, again due to the excellent dining choices available, scuba of course is excellent, probably the best I have done. If you stay on 7MB, you don't need a car.

Check out TA reviews and forums to get some other opinions.

RoamsAround

KVR makes some valid points about the lack of AI's in the destinations I mentioned but I wasn't implying that there were any - I was focusing in OP's desire for scuba diving on an island she can reach in 2 flights from her Florida based Regional airport - which effectively means a non-stop flight from an International Gateway Airport like Miami or Atlanta.

Odin makes some good suggestions but some of the recommended just have "meal plans" and are not true AI's in that you pay extra for drinks and/or activities. Some travelers confuse the two but in this case OP may be perfectly OK with a "meal plan" reset.

The biggest problems OP has are finding a high end resort that is: 1) AI (or offers a meal plan), 2) is on an island she can reach in the allotted travel time and 3) doesn't impose a minimum stay requirement between Christmas and New Years.

We can make scores of suggestions but OP is going to have to find out for herself if any of them will accommodate her family for a "short stay" during Christmas.

doug_stallings

This is an interesting discussion, but the real problem is that you simply aren't going to meet the minimum-stay requirements at most large resorts over Christmas. Moreover, many resorts do not allow arrivals on December 24. I'd suggest you simply put those dates into Expedia and see what, if anything, shows up. That will give you a starting point.

Bassguy66

If you want great food, great diving, and plenty of activities....get a condo on Grand Cayman. Some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean. There is one that might still offer "all you can eat lobster" (Deckers).

If you don't need the booze and nightlife, Grand Cayman ticks most of your wants. AI & upscale food just doesn't go together. I've been to some of the upper end AIs, and still found the food just decent. If you are a true foodie....Grand Cayman will treat you well, and IMO, it's some of the best diving & snorkeling in the Caribbean.

KVR

RoamsAround, I agree. Just trying to show the OP that they are not going to get good diving and the type of AI they are looking for outside of Mexico.

Since they already have a cruise booked for that time period anyway, I would say go with that and then try an AI when they have more time and not during high season.

doug_stallings

Yes, could you possibly do your on-island vacation after your Christmas cruise? That would be much easier, and you'd definitely be able to get a 5-night stay somewhere decent.

sharona

I'm going to echo KVR's recommendation of Iberostar for an AI with great food. We've stayed at the one in Mexico and also at the one in Jamaica. The Iberostar Grand in Jamaica had lobster almost every day at lunch when we were there and we were there for 10 days. They set up a beach bbq most days and grilled lobster was included. I'm allergic but my husband said he got tired of it after a few days! The food at both of the Iberostar Grands was very good. The Grand is adults only. You didn't give the ages of your sons but we did see a couple of families with older children (late teens would be my guess). Jamaica isn't known for its scuba diving, however, but it does offer a lot of other activities.

I'll also agree with Bassguy66 about Grand Cayman. It's known as a great diving destination and while there are very few AIs there are condo resorts and excellent restaurants on the island. We were just there in November and we ate very, very well.

It seems to me that we've either recently been to a resort that offers scuba in the price or else I saw it in my research. But sorry, I can't remember where it might have been.

doug_stallings

Unfortunately, scuba diving in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic isn't very good. It's ok, but not great. So if diving is a primary focus of the trip, it could be a disappointment for the divers. But diving off Cozumel or the Riviera Maya is magnificent, and there are Iberostars in the Yucatan and (I believe) on Cozumel.

For diving, I'd choose the DR over Jamaica. The best diving in the DR is around Samana, but there are no recommendable AI resorts there (though one or two good non-AI resorts). There's also good diving off Catalina island on the south coast, which is reachable from Punta Cana. And there are some excellent Iberostar resorts in Punta Cana and also a good Iberostar in Bayahibe (near Casa de Campo), which is close to Catalina Island.