Best Caribbean All inclusive for four couples
 

My wife and I are travling with three other couples (her family) and looking for an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean. I would be happy with spending all week on the beach (snorkeling, swimming, etc.), but they are looking for availability of activities such as zipline tour, river tubbing, dune buggy, etc So far we've looked at some Sandals resorts particularly in Jamaica, but we are pretty much wide open. Looking to spend about $4,500 per couple including airfare from Boston. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

jamaica.bookit.com couples.com Swept Away Negril

The majority of AI resorts are in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. For the activities that you stated you are looking for, Mexico would give you the most variety.

Personally, I think the Sandals properties are highly overrated and not worth the money. The resorts in Mexico, the rooms are way more lux, include more amentites and are much less expensive.

Look at the Iberostar Grand Parsario, Secrects Maroma, the Royal Playa del Carmen and the El Dorado Maroma.

Check out this site for things to see and do in the Playa del Carmen area.

http://www.playadelcarmentours.com/

Having said that, we did stay at the Jewel Dunns River in Ocho Rios this past December. The property used to be a Sandals. I noticed that they are charging less than Sandals used to and that the room are just basic. We booked the lowest catagory room and got a free upgrade. We did enjoy our stay. There are several things to see and do off property. This is the main tour operator for that area:

http://www.jamaicatoursltd.com/

The Couples resorts are highly recommend in the Jamaica area and I would choose them over a Sandals. There is an Iberostar and Secrets in Montego Bay. Those resorts chains are highly recommended in Mexico and I would chose over Couples if I was interested in staying in the Montego Bay area.

I agree with KVR...there is more to do off the resorts in Mexico's Riviera Maya area. Great snorkeling, zip line, ruins to explore, etc.

We have friends who like Breezes Curacao

You may want to ask yourself where many of the activities are so that you don't spend lots of time going back and forth to the hotel. It sounds like Sandals is one option you are looking at. My husband loves Whitehouse, but do know that particular property is quite isolated.
Make sure they know it's important to you to just chill at the beach a little too!

I would be weary of Breezes in Curacao. Even I refused to spend my hard earned money there and we love AI's. It's need lots of updates, the food is questionalbe and there are too many kids. We stayed at the Lions Dive instead, just down the way from Breezes.

The activities that you stated you are wanting will not be found on Curacao either. It's more about sightseeing, snorkeling and diving.

KVR,
Thanks for the heads up on Breezes Curacao. I will pass it on.
When were you there?

Ocean

Ocean, we were in Curacao in May, 2009. I've since read that Breezes Curacao has started a long awaited reno project as of last year.

KVR,
Thanks for the update.
Our friends are going to be there the last 2 weeks in March, 2012.
Do you know if renos will be completed by that time?

Ocean

couples swept away would be my choice,everyone has a favorite. good luck!

I would check out the Grand Palladium in Riviera Maya. It's a huge resort on a great stretch of beach, that offers something for just about everyone. The food is very good for an AI, there are 14 restaurants, 10 pools, endless bars....and with your budget, you can upgrade your rooms to a couple different types of suites that are awesome. They offer a Royal Suites section that is adult only that comes with a few extra perks. Check it out online, 99% of the reviews this place gets are very good. I was there in October, and it's definitely one of the better AIs I've ever been to.

What time of year are you planning to travel?

Thanks, Knowing. Whitehouse would be great for me, but they would pefer to stay in the Ochos Rios area of Jamaica. We plan on going March 2013. The pools, beaches and rooms for the Couples on their website are not impressive. Sandals Royal Plantation and The Jewel are now under consideration, but any Ochos Rios are all inclusive would be considered.