Part of my problem with AIs (and I have many), is that you are stuck once you're there. IF the food is bad, or you hate the drinks or whatever, that pretty much ruins your vacation.

Whereas, on an independent holiday, if you don't like to food at a place, don't go back...if the drinks are weak, spend your money at another bar. Wait for scuba too long? Just go to another dive shop.

Etcetera. The all-in-one feature may be conveneient but it also means you're stuck with whatever they care to give you because you prepaid. You can't take your money and walk.

Liza, we did take our money and walk after the first night. We would have left even if they had not refunded us. It would have been a big financial loss that many couldn't take. But I just couldn't let a big company like that get away with the fraud.

We have never ever, left a place before or even came close to the need to.

By the way if you are the liza that has the great trip report to Jamiaca. It's great!!! Thanks for sharing it.

What I don't understand is painting all A/I's with one giant brush. You had a bad experience at one A/I. One out of how many? Just seems awful narrow minded. Since I had such a wonderful, romantic experience at an A/I I guess that means that ALL a/I's are wonderfully romantic and fabulous places to vacation. Least I know where to line up!

We did have a great trip....can't wait to do it again. Glad you enjoyed the report :)

I happen to agree with the original poster regarding all inclusives. I've never had the interesting, varied food that I have had when i go to the more local restaurants. I hate the idea of wristbands and being confined to the resort for my meals. That's just me though. It seems to me that you would either love them or hate them.

This is definitely one topic that polarizes people. There aren't that many people who are ambivelent about AI's (and please don't feel compelled to respond by singling yourself out as one of them).

You love 'em or you hate 'em. Count me in the hate 'em list. But I see and respect the appeal it has for many people. But the giant downside is (as mentioned previously) that if you do get a dog - you're stuck with it.

The A/I we went to, we never wore a wristband. What is a wristband for? We left the resort as we wished on several occaisions, fell in love with Negril and her people. We ate at several different places outside the resort. Never suffered any reprecussion. The resort staff couldn't care-a-less whether we came and went as we pleased.

So, I guess I still do not understand the animoisity against all A/Is.

I will agree it would be bad to get a dog...but if that is the case, why can't you go somewhere else. Also, it may be an indication of lack of due diligence in one's travel research.