need advice on ai properties
 

We've never done an ai vaca but are looking into it as it may be more affordable-in fact we've never been to the carribean. It will be in early june departing from newark. We usually enjoy bopping around the local restaurants and area when we go away so an all inclusive will be different. We are both foodies so crappy buffets would ruin the trip immensely, we are looking for good food. I would imagine relaxing on a nice beach with clear water, a good bar or three, and also an amazing pool would be wanted. Not too into big time water sports but jet ski's and kayaks would be fun. Maybe somewhere with a little hiking and scenic views along the way would be nice too. As far as pricing goes we'd like to keep it around $1500 or less. I've read some people go for more middle of the road (cheaper I assume) so that way if the food stinks they didnt waste ai money on it and can still venture out to local retaurants. We've decided that mexico doesn't really interest us. Are there any places like this, and thanks for any help and advice in advance.

Sorry also I see packages go from 3 nights to 7. I would say 3 is not enough we were thinking of 4 or 5 nights. 4 seems kind of short too though but as I said we've never done an ai so maybe 4 nights in the same "compound" would be suffice???

$1500 for both including air? Not realistic. Maybe $1500 for each. Even then you're going to get bottom of the line.

AIs are mostly buffets. AIs save ywou money in mostly drinks, and because they serve the "masses". To serve the mazes, it means mostly buffets. Even the sit down dinners are just okay.


If you're foodies, not going to happen, unless you're willing to multiply budget by 4-5 for good food.

Also what time of year? Can make a huge difference in budget. Peak seson are double and triple that.

And this is just general, but hilly islands witan hiking don't have the cleared water and beaches are in coves/the flat islands have the clear nicer beaches. Very few hilly islands have AIs anyway.

For as little time as you're going also leaves out many choices. As time will knock out a day or 2 of trip if going South.

Thailand might of fit, but way to far for a couple of nights.

Mexico actually comes close to what you want, maybe the only spdestimation that does.

Didn't let me correct, sorry, Mexico only destination that comes close.

Being a foodie, AI is not going to work for you, especially at your budget. Some are good, most just okay, and all are buffet based, unless you increase budget by a lot.

As usual blamona is spot-on with her comments. Your budget of $1,500 isn't going to get you the great food you desire. At that price you are looking at the bottom rungs of the All Inclusive ladder.

If that's your budget look for "package deals" on airline and travel websites to make your "travel dollar" go further.

Too bad you ruled out Mexico - that's one of the least expensive destinations in the Caribbean - lots of moderately priced AI's. if interested look at AI resorts in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel.

Also, you'll find a heavy concentration of moderately priced AI's in the Dominican Republic, some of which may be in your price range.

Again, look at package deals for resorts in those places on airline or travel websites - it's your best bet for what you are willing to spend.

Sadly, Mexico is the only area I can think of that even comes close to what you are looking for. The DR also has some less expensive resorts, but will not have the "off the compound" exploring you are looking for.
Your budget is totally unrealistic even for the lower priced resorts.
I do not agree that AI resorts are only buffets. Many of them have some very good ala carte dining, but they would be out of the budget you specified.

I think the comments about AI food are a bit unfair. I've stayed in several ranging from 5 star to 3 star in various parts of the world and have not yet experienced food that stinks. Exception is Cuba & Egypt where food in general is an issue & I wasn't there for the food. In Mexico for instance, the AI hotel had couple of restaurants with a la carte menus. It wasn't Michelin standard but it was very nice. The dishes were nicely presented. Same with the AI I have stayed in Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. Even the small AIs I have stayed in Tobago, Grenada & Antigua which only had 1 restaurant were not buffet in the evenings. The only meal in Mexico that wasn't great was one in a hotel restaurant that was not AI.

But I do agree ruling out Mexico is not a good idea on such a small budget and if you do go too low pricewise in any country then you may end up with an AI that doesn't serve acceptable food.

Check out Jolly Beach in Antigua, this won't win any culinary awards but is quite decent with restaurant choices and is on a beautiful beach.

"Being a foodie, AI is not going to work for you"

I could not agree more with blamona's statement. If $1500 is for both people, it's just not going to happen. Even if that's (per) person, you will get some decent AI resort choices (if you look in Mexico of DR).

If you are true foodies, the cheaper AIs are a mistake, and you will not be happy. I have been to a higher end AI in Mexico, and thought the food was decent, but nothing great.

We need to clarify if the $1500 is per person or the entire budget for two people all expenses included. Big difference.

I agree huge difference and also the time of year can make a huge difference. It you go off season, which is coming up very soon, you can find some good deals. I know Barbados has some and if you could find an ai in Barbados I would take that over DR. DR will probably come the closest but I am hoping your $1500 is per person not total. Won't happen for that money. Also check applevacations.com for upcoming specials from your area. Some include air especially from Newark.

I just found on applevacations a property for 5 days for $853. from Newark a/I including air in DR. VIK Hotel Arena and Cayena. You can check that out it is for 5 days. Also Ocean Maya Maya Royal in Mexico for for $858.00.

The OP said they were planning on going early June.
It would be nice if they would come back and tell us if that price is per person or not. It sure isn't going to happen if that budget is for two people including air.

I agree that the comments about AI food are unfair and not accurate. It's funny, that the people who make these comments are not the people that actually spend their vacations at AI's resorts. I found better food in many AI's resorts than I have with the local restaurants. A great example of this is Playa del Carmen, MX. We loved the food in the resorts we stayed in. The local restaurants on 5th Avenue, not so much. Truly hit or miss. We have stayed from 2* to supposably 5* AI resorts. You do get what you pay for. With the exception of Sandals. Stayed at 2 of their resorts and was not all that happy with their food especially their St. Lucia resorts.

It that $1,500 is per person, which = $3,000. You will find plenty of options to go with. If $1,500 is the total, then you will not find much outside of Mexico and the DR. In Mexico, I would get a resort close to 5th Avenue so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. In DR, it's not advisable to walk off a resort, so get the best your money can buy.

You will find more bang for your buck in Mexico, the DR and Jamaica. The AI resorts in the Caribbean, outside of those 3, will not offer that type of AI experience. AI is really an after thought and more like a "plan". They are also way more expensive and don't offer as much.

Sorry, I meant$1500 per person. I thought id get emails when youguys responded. So sorry on the delays. Shes not keen on mexico mostly because of feeling safe over there.

Hiking would be fun but we could definitely do without that. As far as the food goes we don't need 5 star food but it has to be good and not ruin the trip. Hope that helps clear somethings up and thank you all for your responses.

In reply to kvr I didn't know the dr was unsafe, I thought mexico was unsafe.

Mexico is NOT unsafe. Of course, parts of any area are unsafe. They Riviera Maya area of Mexico is beautiful, has great beaches, ruins to explores, cenotes to snorkel, friendly people to enjoy. The areas of Mexico with problems are the border towns with drug cartels.

So in the riviera maya section you wont be around those areas? Not even en route from and to the airport?

http://www.caribjournal.com/2013/10/...r-food-2013/3/
does anyone agree or disagree with these?

The tourist areas of Mexico is VERY safe. ie; Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morales, Tulum, Akumel, and the Riviera Maya just to name a few on the Caribbean side. On the West coast; Cabo San Lucas and Puerta Vallarta to also name a couple. We have been going to Mexico about once per year since 2000. We are booked again for next month. It's our most favorite destination because you can get really nice AI resorts at a really great price compared to other destinations and there is so many things to see and do off the resorts. I live 3 hours from the border town of Juarez, MX. I'm safer in tourist Mexico than I am in my on backyard. Don't listen to the news media hype without doing further research.

We have been to Jamaica twice and the DR once. The thing about Jamaica and the DR is that I would not call them "unsafe". You just need to be guided when off property. Do tours offered by the resort or use a reputable company. The locals in Jamaica are very aggressive and you need a guide to keep them at bay. Most of the resorts in the DR are AI complexes, where everything there is contained within. There are a few tours that can be done off property with a guide. It's a good place to just chill at an AI and let them cater to you.

We do love AI resorts and have been to many, but we don't like to be "confined" to a hotel and call it a vacation. In Mexico, it is so much eaiser to just walk off a resort and go shopping, visit sites, restaurants and bars than it is in those other destinations. In Playa del Carmen there is 5th Avenue. Blocks and blocks of pedestrian walkway with literally tons of restaurants, bars, shopping and entertainment. There are also several boutique non-AI hotels and a few AI resorts within walking distance. I always recommend the Royal Playa del Carmen AI resort as you will get the best of both worlds.

We have gone AI in other Caribbean destinations also. $3,000 for air and hotel will not buy you much. We do pay more in airfare from our departure point than you probably will so that will help you. You will not get a Sandals for that price even in their lowest category room unless you find a steal somewhere. I don't like Sandals anyway and wouldn't even recommend. To keep costs down, look at Islands that are easier to get to keep airfare down as much as possible. Other thing about the Caribbean Islands is that not all destinations offer AI's and some of the ones that do shouldn't because it's not worth it.

If truly not interested in Mexico, Jamaica or the DR look at Antigua, St. Thomas, Aruba or Barbados and see if any of them will fit your budget. We got the Holiday Inn in Aruba AI for that budget, but the AI was so not worth it with regards to the food. Drinks, yes. We also stayed at the Wyndham Sugar Bay in St. Thomas for that budget. The food there was OK. When do you plan on going? Time of year makes a huge difference also.

we plan on the first week of june. we usually like to bop around and check out local restaurants/bars while on vacation but I feel if we're paying for ai then doing that would be pointless or waste of the ai money. Do you agree with that? I just thought that ai would be a more cost saving way to go if we could get a good deal. I've heard food is expensive on islands due to the fact that they have to import it all, and of course drinks are always expensive. Do you feel 5 nights is enough time to go to an island-I see 3 nights and feel that's a waste?

<<Shes not keen on mexico mostly because of feeling safe over there.>>

That's unfortunate, because it's not true. There are no issues of tourist safety in the resorts of Mexico (like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, etc.).

I personally feel much safer in those parts of Mexico than I did in the Dominican Republic or Jamaica.

For me, I don't go anywhere unless I have at least a week (7 days). Since the biggest expense is the plane ticket, I try to get my money's worth by staying 10-14 days.

"I personally feel much safer in those parts of Mexico than I did in the Dominican Republic or Jamaica."

I totally agree with that to the point we will probably not return to Jamaica.

We tend to go 5 - 6 nights and stay at low to mid price AI resorts so we can get the best of both worlds without feeling like we are wasting on money on AI. When venturing to local establishments, I include that as part of our activity budget and not our accomendation budget.

Food and drinks are expensive, and though many people have disagreed with me and those people are the ones NOT spending their vacation time in AI resorts, I always found AI vacations to be much cheaper than non AI vacations. We have done plenty of both. Eating AI breakfast, snacks and drinks at the resorts and then paying for a few lunches and dinners and then going to a local bar outside of the resort was still cheaper than eating out all of the meals and drinking and paying for transportation to and from if not within walking distance of your hotel. If you chose to take a few tours or do activities outside your hotel, most include some kind of lunch/snack and drinks.

If you are interested, I have a pic site with all of our vacations posted. If might help you make a decision.

https://kvrlvnphotogallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/5

Click "all" to just scroll through without having to click multiple pages.

Again on your budget I would choose Playa del Carmen in Mexico there are many great resorts in your budget for one week even less then $1500 per person during the first week in June. Prices are dropping dramatically during that time frame.

As I said before go to applevacations.com and a list will come up. I would choose mexico over DR but that is up to you and your choice. I do feel the 2 places will end up being your choice. if you want the Caribbean then Punta Cana will have to do. Personally I would choose Mexico.

"So in the riviera maya section you wont be around those areas? Not even en route from and to the airport?"


Not going to the Riviera Maya because you are worried about drug cartels is like not going to Miami because of crime in Boston. With the budget you have, I don't think you have much choice here. Plenty of very nice choices for $1500 each, and you should be able to get an entire week for that. I would look at the resorts south of Playa Del Carmen, (closer to Akumal). Playa Del Carmen was too busy for us.

Forgot to add: We stayed at the Grand Palladium which is a top rated AI resort, and stayed 8 nights in the royal section (no kids) in a beautiful jacuzzi suite, for $1400 each which covered everything. I'd give the food here a solid "B". Besides the buffet, you have 14 restaurant choices as well.

Agree with Bassguy66 with $1500 per person for one week you would do well at these areas. I actually saw some for $1K a week, per person and you would have plenty left over($$) for tours and some exploring which is available in the area. I believe it your best option.

Ok I will definately be checking out mexico now on most of your suggestions. Any suggestions on where I can get a good deal or is it a crap shoot? Apple vacations was mentioned already and I've heard negative things about cheapcarribean.com. I would assume to just shop around.

When I go to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta most often) I just book it myself... airfare and inexpensive local hotel. I've never tried a packaged deal.

I usually check Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia and book whoever is cheaper. You can also check retailmenot.com for sales and promos codes. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Orbtiz usually does offers for $75 to $100 off, so that helps with airport transfers. Sometimes though they will say they their current deal is better than their promo code and won't allow the code.

I can't use Cheap Caribbean because they don't offer my departure airport. I have looked at Book it, Apple and Funjet and they are always more than the others. If you can fly Southwest, Jet Blue or Spirit, you will get better deals. Unfortunately, I can only use AA or United and I have been screwed so many times with AA I refuse to ever set foot on another one of their plans, so I am stuck with United and they are always higher than AA. I'm hoping someday I can use SW. Right now they are only flying out of Austin to selected destinations and Austin is too far from me.

If you can leave on a weekday like a Tues or Wed it's usually cheaper. Bottom line, yes it's a crap shoot with air. When you find a price and schedule you can live with book. It's changes everyday.

Cheap Caribbean will match any price you can find. I have used them one time to book the Grand Palladium, and had great service. I looked at every travel site I could find, and they were the cheapest.

Thanks everyone for your help.