Outstanding All-Inclusive
 

I am beginning to plan for a March '04 family spring break vacation. Kids 17 and 14. I'm looking for a beautiful and clean all-inclusive resort that offers a great beachfront, beautiful pools, activities all day and night, and good to great food. Any island is okay. Please throw out ideas! Thank you.

Check out Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, its about 40-45 mi south of Cancun.

Beaches resort on Turks and Caicos! Coming from a travel agent, this is one of the hottest family vacation spots.

That's a tough one. Your youngest child isn't yet old enough to be able to stay in the more upscale adults-only AI's (usually 16+), and any Beaches-type AI will be positively overrun with families with small children during spring break. Although teens would certainly find things to do at a Beaches, it may be too full of children for both your tastes.<BR><BR>Spice Island Beach resort on Grenada has just gone all-inclusivce. It's a nice property on a gorgeous beach, but I don't think it will have the 24/7 activities associated with most AIs. <BR><BR>I like La Source, also on Grenada, which offers lots of activities and even spa treatments. They used to allow children over the age of 12, but something tells me that they've changed<BR>their age policy. It would definitely be worth looking into. Grenada is a simply gorgeous island. <BR><BR>St. Lucia's LeSport is the sister resort to La Source, and I think the same age rules apply. Definitely inquire.<BR><BR>Have a great time!<BR>

The best all inclusive resorts are the ones that also offer non-all inclusive. Round Hill in Jamaica, Ritz-Carlton, Jamaica and places like that.

I have to agree with GoTravel. The very best places offer a non-AI option, and the VERY very best places are not all-inclusive to begin with. <BR><BR>In my opinion, an all-inclusive in the Caribbean that accepts kids as young as 14 in the high season isn't going to feel very Caribbean-esque.

I will third the last two comments.<BR>Exclusively AI places never offer the best combination of high end rooms, great beach, great food, flexibility etc.<BR>AI's can be pretty good, but they're never top 10% when compared with all Caribbean options.

While we stayed at Sandals in Antigua we visited the all-inclusive Occidental Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Antigua and it looked very nice with a large beach. They offer a trip to Shirley Heights every Sunday where you eat barbecue meats on the mountain top with live bands--your kids would love it! The view from the mountain is spectacular over the ocean and it's fun to toast the sunset. <BR>Lots of activities offered at the Grand and you can hire a taxi driver like we did to take you around. There are historical sights on the island and viewing the yachts up close is amazing. You can get travelers reviews at Where2Stay.com and may have a link to their website. <BR>Also, Blue Waters in Antigua is a very nice property at a beautiful setting with a friendly staff.<BR>My travel agent of many years from a large travel agency sends her customers to the A-I Paradisus Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (she also stays there) and is highly recommended.

Occidental Grand Pineapple Beach Hotel: At Where2Stay it's listed &quot;Grand Pineapple Beach&quot; and the website is &quot;allegrogrand&quot; (allegro grand).

Blue Waters on Antigua is indeed a nice property that offer an AI option, but it doesn't offer lots of activities nonstop, so I didn't mention it before. I've not stayed at the Pineapple Beach CLub on Antigua, but I have stayed next door many times. It seemed a nice enough property with lovely gardens, but it has always been rather &quot;dead&quot; when I've walked by it. Again, I didn't recommend it because you said you wanted &quot;activities all day and night.&quot;

Seems like there would be a gazillion AI's in the Dominican Republic that would suit the bill. Lot of AI's in Punta Cana and I've read some glowing reviews here lately. You might do a search on that.<BR><BR>Also, someone else mentioned it here, but Beaches Turks and Caicos is also what you describe.

Brenda-<BR>I don't know how to link, but you should check out my post on the BVI Board about the Bitter End Yacht Club. It fits your need to a T. You may also want to check out Peter Island, also in the BVI.

If you and your kids are into watersports, sailing, etc, the previous poster had a great suggestion in Bitter End Yacht Club. if you're not, though, then you may not care for its remoteness. it's a matter of preference. <BR><BR>another thought would be Half Moon in Jamaica. It's large enough to offer a full range of activities, yet it is more upscale than, say, a Beaches. Food is good there, too.

My husband and I stayed at the Royal Hideaway Resort and Spa in Playacar (Playa del Carmen, MX) a few years ago...and found it to be an EXCEPTIONAL all-inclusive. <BR><BR>Rooms - outstanding! beautifully furnished, marble bathrooms and oversized tub<BR><BR>Grounds - gorgeous! well-manicured, very lush, winding trails and streams and hidden &quot;plunge&quot; or relaxing pools.<BR><BR>Pools - the main pool area is nice...there's an &quot;activity&quot; pool and also the more relaxing &quot;infinity&quot; pool with zero entry and sand bottom - lovely.<BR><BR>Restaurants - excellent! Several different cuisines to choose from...and extensive wine lists at each. Not once did we feel like we were eating AI food or drinks - fine dining and top shelf. <BR><BR>Service - impecable! We wanted for nothing...except a few more days.<BR><BR>

I should have also mentioned that the beach was very nice also, the water was a little rough when we were there but we didn't have any problems. There are lots of water sports available right there...and tons of nearby activities. We really enjoyed the ego-park Xel-Ha and snorkeling off a private beach through Snorkel Adventures. You can also take a tour of Tulum (ruins just south) or take a longer ride inland to the bigger ruins - Chintza Inza (sp?).

Just in reference to &quot;bogarts&quot; reply, I second the Royal Hideaway as well. I was there last year and my husband and I fell in love with this place.The only thing is I think they don't allow children under the age of 16. Its more of an &quot;adult/couples&quot; resort. Maybe look into other resorts in Playa Del Carmen that are more family oriented?

I never stay at an all-inclusive myself, but- have you considered Aruba? It's full of all-inclusive resorts I believe. The Hyatt is supposed to be one of the best. Aruba is an island that offers all the things you ask for: beautiful beaches, great pools and lots and lots of activities.

Having been to both Aruba and many different parts of Mexico, Mexico gets my vote.<BR><BR>The diving and snorkeling in Cozumel are world class. If you can, dive the wall. Unreal. Ever seen a 300 pound flounder? Yikes!

Unfortunately, Aruba does not have many all-inclusive resorts - they have the Tam, the Divi and the Occidental (which used to be the Allegro). None of these resorts is a 5* IMO. The only resort I would consider is the Allegro. We have had wonderful vacations in Playa del Carmen at the Riu which is an all-inclusive resort. We are partial to Turks &amp; Caicosm, however, and there I would suggest the Beaches Resort or the Allegro.