I am not Kim, I always post on the Caribbean forum under the same moniker though I use a different one on the US and Europe boards. Because I am a pediatrician I don't type well, I don't have to. I know how to spell, I am just a two finger typer who tries to speed things up because I am in a hurry and it comes out all jumbled and I am not going to take the time to go back and proofread. Also you will note that of recent, all my posts occur late at night or early in the morning (when I am not at work) I do not sit around typing all day!

Geez No way. You went a little psycho on us this morning. Please take deep breaths ...

Dear Sandals Lover,<BR>I don't know who you really are but if your postings accurately portray your activities on vacation, I hope our paths never cross. It's unlikely since I have no interest in vacationing at Sandals. The picture you paint is vulgar and disgusting. <BR>There is about as much chance of you and your husband being a pediatrician and an attorney as there is of my flapping my arms and flying to the moon.

xx. Thanks for the back to reality check. I used a paper bag to stop hyperventilating. It's all a case of different strokes for different folks, and I guess I should just be glad I won't be running into her at any of the places I'll be. Whew!

Q: Have you had to bring prices down? Has the top line been affected?<BR><BR>A: Yes, but we have not been nearly as radical [as some competitors have been]. Primarily because I think people want increased value on everything. What is most important for the product that we're operating is that service is being improved rather than reduced. Now we have motivational rates. We have discounts of 30%, but there are some people with 50% or 70%.<BR>This is an exact quote from Butch Stewart who owns Sandals, so I guess even he thought you weren't getting a good value for your money!

Ok Sandals Lover/pediatrician, you've given us an excuse for the spelling, er, typing errors. Now could you explain the run on sentences?<BR><BR>And if (and this is a very big IF), Sandals Lover is indeed a pediatrician, so what? Education and class are not synonymous. I suppose you'll find a few low class individuals in any profession.<BR><BR>I don't care if you're the Prime Minister Sandals Lover, you still can't convince anyone that Sandals is anything but an overpriced, tacky, uncouth resort catering to the masses. But if you like that kind of thing...

Sorry, Sandals lover and I haven't responded in a while, we were at our included scuba class. We're signed up for included water skiing now, so you'll have to wait for our response later.

Yes, "I like it," I'm familiar with the SCUBA and water-skiing.<BR>I've seen your "cattle boats" crowded with a load of 20 neophyte divers just waiting to stomp and wallow all over the coral while the harried divemasters try to keep you all from killing yourselves by having an uncontrolled ascent. <BR>I'd rather pay $90 for a two tank private dive with only my husband and a divemaster. Gee whiz, I might actually see some sea life - imagine that?<BR>I've heard about having to make reservations days in advance to ski - just to find out you get 15 minutes -during which most of you won't be able to get up anyway because you've been gorging yourself with 5 meals a day like Sandals Lover.<BR>Stop trying to persuade the rest of us seasoned travelers that we're missing out on so much by not joining you in your purgatory.<BR>Just go and have "fun," but don't expect us to think about trying it...<BR>

Nancy I just got back from Sandals and I only got to water ski for about 4.5 min. Scuba Diving was booked, probably glad I didn't go anyhow, talked to someone who did, guides were surly and dive was no fun they said. Went snorkeling that was fun. Food was OK, room was musty smelling but AC worked. Wanted A Crown and water they didn't have Crown, settled for Michelob but they didn't have bottled beer. Got a good buzz on Miller Lite out of a can though! Went to a disco but alas only 4 couples showed up. Got bored and went and tried to get something to eat but they had closed. Some guy was yelling at me on way back to room, said he had something for me? To tired and went to bed but was awakened by some man chopping at overgrowth. Oh well had a pretty good time.

Wasn't trying to persuade you to join us, you don't sound like much fun--just to leave us alone. We like it, you don't, don't call us unseasoned, we just prefer something different.

I think it's okay for people to agree to disagree about Sandals. There are many kinds of people in the world and not every vacation is right for every person. I'm not interested in going to Sandals, but other people might enjoy it. Some people enjoy the Olive Garden and some people have higher standards. I like fine Italian food, but every once in a while, I'll go to the Olive Garden. It makes me appreciate the finer places and generally it's not out and out terrible. If I had a group of friends that was getting together to go away, just to have fun and relax, I would consider an all-inclusive.

Gosh, I wish I had as much money as you guys, so I could spend it all on private scuba lessons, Crown Royal, Fine dining and 5 star hotels. Thanks, but I'll save for my kids college fund, my retirement, make a donatation to my church, and go to Sandals for $300 a night right now.

Marti,<BR>Are you implying that only people who go to Sandals donate to their church or charity? That's just a tad condescending Marti.<BR>I probably have similar financial constraints on me when I plan a vacation but I still wouldn't book Sandals. I can do better on my own, thank you very much. Half the fun of my vacations is the research and planning. I know what I like and I'm the best person to make decisions about it. Cookie cutter vacations like Sandals hold no appeal at all.<BR>I'll admit that there are some higher end all-inclusives that do a much better job but it still wouldn't work for me. <BR>I'm glad that Sandals makes some people happy. It makes it easier to book the places I like to go.

I think [email protected] is right on about differences of opinion. Everybody has their own likes and dislikes and should stick with it if that's what makes him happy.<BR><BR>I do think, however, that the point a lot of people are trying to make is that Sandals forces you to pay Le Cirque prices for Olive Garden food. I personally prefer savoring a high quality meal over a lot of crappy food that I could probably make (badly) just as well in my own kitchen, but to each his own. I guess if your preferences are quantity, not quality, then Sandals is for you. <BR><BR>Finally, I am compelled to comment on Sandals Lover's disturbing post regarding her food consumption habits. It makes me realize why some people consider Americans truly awful when it comes to protecting the world's resources. What a sheer waste of food and drink! Eating a bite or two of an entire meal or dish, then sending it to the trash is just wrong. Don't Sandals guests realize that Africa's children are starving to death? As a pediatrician I would imagine she has some knowledge of that fact. Whatever happened to social and environmental consciousness? Aren't you embarrassed that so many people where you vacation are living below the poverty level, yet you sit in front of them and throw away good food? Just think about that next time you're there.

So it's OK for you to spend money on fine dining, instead of eating at Olive Garden, but it's not OK for SL to waste food?

Marti, months back I was interested in going to Sandals with my husband, yet could not afford. You are getting for 300 night? Which one? I might consider that but when I was looking it was around 400-600 a night. Have they reduced their rates?

poor,<BR><BR>what do you have against fine dining? i'm not the one throwing away food and i still contribute to world aid organizations. if i order something to eat, i eat it all or take it home for later. now, what's your point again?

sorry poor, the above post was to hypocrite guy instead of you.

I got a package deal through an AMEX agency, it's for Sandals Grande St. Lucia. Got it about 2 months ago, it's for November.

Marti, I was curious, so I got on the Sandals website and looked at the prices. <BR>I picked St. Lucia Halcyon because I've been to that island three times and know what the rates are for the places I've stayed.<BR>Within the last few years, I have stayed at Jalousie Hilton and Anse Chastanet.<BR>The rates at Sandals (on their website) for October 2002 - I stayed in October both times - for a comparable room category I stayed in are $469.00 per night. (Range is $400 to $500.) <BR>That is twice what I paid to stay in two of the nicest hotels on St. Lucia. Now you will say, "but that doesn't include food, activities, etc."<BR>For $200+ per day, we can eat at some pretty fantastic places and do some pretty cool things.<BR>But one of the best parts is, I don't have much of a chance of running into "Sandals Lover."<BR>The thought of all of that food going to waste makes me nauseous. How selfish.<BR>