I am trying to plan my second anniversary trip. Last year my husband and I went to Royal Hideaway in Mexico and it was the first all inclusive we did. The place was amazing! Is there anything like it in the Caribbean? If not, can you suggest a nice 7 night destination in the Caribbean. Neither of us know too much about the area. Thanks!

Hi Junebride04,
There are lots and lots of wonderful places in the Caribbean. You need to be a little more specific about what you are looking for -- beach, food, snorkeling, night life, what? Also, your budget makes a big difference.

I think the Paradisus Punta Cana is a 5-star, and it's not even outrageously expensive -- maybe $300/night for an all-inclusive room (total, not per person).

We don't have a preference. I am just trying to find nice 5 star all inclusive resorts. We would like a gorgeous resort (similar to Royal Hideaway) where the food is great. We are more pool people but do enjoy the beach and walking on it. Not much into nightlife. This is more of a relaxing and unwinding type of vacation where we want to be pampered. Does that help?

Thanks again!

Forgot to mention no real budget. We just don't want to fly a great distance. Would like to make the most of the time there.

Maybe look into the Peter Island Resort? The resort itself is on a private island in the British Virgin Islands. You can either fly to St. Thomas and take a ferry to the resort (on Tuesdays and Saturdays) or fly to Puerto Rico and change planes and fly to Tortolla, BVIs (and then take a ferry). Beautiful surroundings and the food is excellent. While the accommodations and the cost of food are included within the rate, it is not an all-inclusive. You will still have to pay for drinks, activities, etc.

My husband and I stayed at the Royal Hideaway a few years ago after staying at a Sandals resort and you cannot compare the two. We also had the opportunity to stay at the Peter Island Resort - it may be what you are looking for! - Susan

I've got a great place for you...secrets capri. It is 5 star. Fantastic pool and you can walk the beach. Plus you can have a couples massage under the stars with strawberries and champagne or a romantic for 2 beach dinner. We had the best time. It's 35 minutes S of Cancun [you can see Cozumel across the water] in Playa Del Carmen.
http://www.secretsresorts.com/capri/index.html

Trish

Well, I see that the off-season rates at the Royal Hideaway run between $750 to $1200 a day depending on the room choice and, I have to say, the beach looks absolutely delightful from the pictures on the website.

Not having been to the Royal Hideaway but having a rough sort of idea of what it must be like, I'd recommend Cap Juluca in Anguilla (http://www.capjuluca.com/) and the Turks and Caicos Club on Providenciales (http://www.turksandcaicosclub.com/). Neither resort is an all-exclusive like the Royal Hideaway but you can purchase meal plans from the resorts to, in effect, convert them into all-inclusives (or nearly all-inclusive - you may still need to pay for some of your alcoholic beverages).

Both Cap Juluca and the Turks and Caicos Club are located on absolutely stunning and calm beaches and you'll find all of the elegance and service I trust you experienced at the Royal Hideaway. Both Cap Juluca and the Turks and Caicos Club have outstanding restaurants and specialize in relaxing and unwinding vacations. These are two of the best beachside resorts you'll find in the Caribbean.

It will be difficult to find an AI as nice as the RH. It is about the only one I would consider. (I don't care for AI's.)

I would suggest the follwing resorts I think would be comparable. Many of them are different from RH, and many of them are different from one another...

K Club , Barbuda
Firefly, Mustique
Cap Juluca, Anguilla
Strawberry Hill, Jamaica
Parrot Cay, TCI
Horned Dorset, PR
Casa de Campo, DR
Ladera, St Lucia
Raffles, Canouan
PSV, Grenadines
Jumby Bay, Antigua

I know RH is large and very spread out with amazing grounds. Most of these places are smaller but very luxe.

If you want someplace larger, let me know, and I'll try to think of some, but most larger places don't do as good a job as RH does - truly a top-shelf place, and I have never heard a bad word about it...

Secrets Excellence either in the Riviera Maya or Punta Cana. Adults only, AI with gorgeous pool and good food and service.

Risking the ire that this response is sure to raise - Sandals has multiple all inclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean (Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, Nassau). Sandals was our introduction to all inclusives and we have done several others since then as well.

paulalou, If you liked Sandals, that is all that is important - not what other people say about it.

Buuuut - no offense - Sandals is not in the same league with Royal Hideaway (the OP's AI experience), or would most people familiar with the Caribbean classify any Sandals as a five-star property.

I am a die hard Sandals lover, have been to mostly all of the Sandals Resorts and I really dont care what the Sandals bashers on this board say if you want a vacation with nothing to worry about then an (AI) is the way to go...feel free to email me if you have any ?'s aboutany of the resorts.

Grand Lido Negril Jamaica is suppose to be very good. I haven't personally stayed there, but friends have and raved about it, so you may want to look into that and it is all adult as well.

We have stayed at the RH, a few RIU properties, Sandals, a Golden Crown Paradise (Adults only) in PV as our 5 and 5+ star properties. I would say the Royal Hideaway was decadence certainly. I would think that there is that kind of experience somewhere in the caribbean. St. Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico.
You could always go back to the RH - it certainly is a beautiful resort.
There are some good suggestions on this board. I do hope you find your spot.

ONZGO is right. Grand Lido Negril is lovely. We're not that into all-inclusives but went there anyway based on friends' rave recommendations and loved it.

Thanks everyone! I am off to search the islands everyone suggested. You were very helpful in narrowing down the island choices for me!