December celebration trip
 

wife just got clean bill that of health from breast cancer, it has been a long year. Want to celebrate with adult children 32 and 34. Budget 4 or 5 star resort, hotel or all inclusive. Looking for luxury. Willing to get 2 rooms one for the adult kids and one for us. Looking for rest and relaxation during day with some side trips and some night life. Pool, beach and Internet a must. Not reluctant to rent a car. Willing to drive for excursions, bioluminescent bay. Rain forest etc... looking to go for a week beginning 12-20.

Any suggestions.

It would help if you gave ACTUAL dollar range of your budget. Tell us too, if that budget includes airfare. If so, where are you flying from. FYI - regardless of where you go "week starting 12/20" is start of Christmas holidays and is smack dab in the very height of High Season so expect to see some of the most expensive room rates of the year. Many hotels & resorts are already booked for this period so don't dilly dally;y making reservations. Some have minimum stay requirements (10 to 14 days depending on hotel).

Puerto Rico has a bio-bay and rain forest plus lots of other points of interest and excursions.

I'm pretty sure there IS NOT a bio-bay in the USVI's. 2/3's of St. John (USVI) is a National Park which will fill your need for a "rain forest" (although it is more of a "dry forest").

You'll find plenty of rainforests in the Dominican Republic. I can't comment about availability of a bio-bay in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is the All Inclusives capital of the Caribbean, there are only one or 2 All Inclusives in Puerto Rico and a couple spend out through the USVI's (but several more in the chain offer Meal Plans).

Some hotel/resort suggestions:

Puerto Rico - Dorado Beach, Ritz Carlton, St. Regis Bahia Beach, El San Juan or Intercontinental.

USVI's - Caneel Bay (St. John), Ritz Carlton (St. Thomas)

Dominican Republic - Casa de Campo, Eden Roc at Cap Cana, Tortuga Bay in Punta Cana

Just got home from St. John in the Virgin Islands, and it was beautiful, laid back, and safe, with fabulous snorkeling on so many beaches. The Westin resort there is very nice and has villas that would work good for your group. We had a three bedroom with three baths and there are other options. Not sure on the price because our friends had a time share there. The only drawback might be that Westin would try to sell you a time share while you were there, I suppose.

We rented a car, which was nice for getting exactly where we wanted to go and for driving the island. You drive on the left, which is kind of strange at first, but vehicles are standard U.S. style.

Here is a link to the Westin site:
www.westinresortstjohn.com

Flying out of Detroit. I understand that is the Xmas holidays. I am not adverse in spending $2,500 per person for airfare, hotel and etc..l

If you looking for nightlife and a lot of things to do go to Puerto Rico. Like someone else said, there's a Bioluminiscent Bay, a rain forest (El Yunque) a lot of beautiful beaches, historic fortress, casinos and great food and activities during December. I would recommend to stay in EL SAN JUAN RESORT AND CASINO in isla verde. Its right in front of the beach, close to the airport, they have live music every night and they have the best nightclub in PR as well called Brava. Is beautiful inside and they have great restaurants as well. I think everyone would have fun since there's entertainment for everyone in the family.

I would also recommend La Concha hotel and Ritz Carlton in Isla Verde. They all have great pools and are right infront of the beach, near airport and Old San Juan areas.