Hello again. This will be my last time posting about this. My parents just go home from Aruba and my mother and I were chatting about our trip to the caribbean in January. She has some demands that I am supposed to meet. Could someone tell me which island and which all inclusive hotel?

She wants:
1. Soft white sand (not rocky or made of shells
2. Must be an all inclusive hotel - moderately priced
3. Clear water (Aruba is a little cloudy and the waters are a little rough)
4. Must be a direct flight from Newark
5. The resort should have a few restaurants to pick from

Someone mentioned Domincan Republic but she heard there is unrest there and wont go. I have already been to DR and want to try another island. She has already been to Aruba twice and won a trip back this last time there, so she doesnt want to go again. She has already been to Turks and Caicos.

ANY IDEAS?? Please! We dont need to leave the resort to there doesnt need to be much island flavor or culture. I would really love some names of all inclusive hotels if possible.

There is no unrest in the DR. Your mother is simply wrong, and this island would give you the most bang for your buck, but I trust she won't be convinced otherwise, so I guess forget it. My recommendation would have been Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus in La Romana, which meets all your requirements.

The best places are going to be in the Riviera Maya (there are many other Iberostar hotels there). They will meet all your requirements.

You could try one of the huge Riu hotels in Negril, though I'm not terribly fond of them because they are so big.

Otherwise, I'm out of suggestions. There are many non-AIs on exceptionally lovely beaches. You could choose Ku on Anguilla and then have a huge range of independent restaurants on a very safe island

Does the Riviera Maya have nice weather in the winter? Are there any hotels that you would specifically suggest in the Riviera Maya? Are the beaches soft and white with clear blue water?

Here's a list of AI hotels in the Riviera Maya area:

Allegro Playacar by Occidental
Catalonia Playa Maroma
Gran Porto Real
Grand Coco Bay
Iberostar Quetzal
Playacar Palace
Real Playa del Carmen Hotel & Beach
Riu Palace Mexico
Riu Palace Riviera Maya
Riu Playacar
Riu Yucatan
Royal Hideaway Playacar
Sandos Playacar Beach Resort
The Reef Playacar
The Royal Playa del Carmen
Riu Tequila
Aventura Spa Palace
Azul Beach Hotel
Azul Blue Hotel and Spa
Barcelo Maya Beach Resort
Barcelo Maya Colonial Tropical Beach
Catalonia Riviera Maya
El Dorado Royale
El Dorado Seaside Suites
Excellence Riviera Cancun
Fun for Less Mayan
Gran Bahia Principe Akumal
Gran Bahia Principe Tulum
Grand Esmeralda Beach Resort & Spa
Grand Oasis Riviera Maya
Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa
Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach
H10 Hacienda Maya
Hidden Beach Resort Au Naturel Club
Hotel Marina El Cid
Iberostar Grand Paraiso
Iberostar Paraiso Beach
Iberostar Paraiso Lindo
Iberostar Paraiso Maya
Maya Tankah by Freedom Paradise
Moon Palace Golf Resort & Spa
Occidental Grand Xcaret
Paradisus Riviera Cancun
Sandos Caracol Beach Resort & Spa
Valentin La Hacienda
Xpu - Ha Palace

Since there are so many, I would suggest reading reviews and viewing pics on Trip Advisor to weed out the ones you may not be interested in.

Most areas of Mexico and Caribbean have good weather in the winter months. Most US snowbirds head to those destinations to get out of the cold. It's also considered "high season" and rates usually go up significantly.

Other areas with AI hotels that may fit your criteria:

Antigua -

Blue Heron by Rex Resorts
Crowne Plaza Resort Antigua
Galley Bay
Halcyon Cove by Rex Resorts
Hawksbill by Rex Resorts
Jolly Beach Resort
Occidental Grand Pineapple Beach
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa
St. James's Club, Antigua

Grand Cayman -

Beach Club Colony Resort
Spanish Bay Reef Resort

St. Thomas -

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa

Barbados -

Almond Beach Club & Spa
Almond Beach Village
Barbados Beach Club
Crystal Cove Hotel
Divi Southwinds Beach Resort
Tamarind Cove Hotel
Turtle Beach Resort

St. Martin -

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino

I've researched destinations and AI hotels since 2000 some with good results and some I didn't care for. There's no magical answer. Good luck in your search.

Mexico Riviera Maya - good.

Sounds like you have lots of insight. What do you think or know of Jumby Bay in Antigua regarding all of the first posters wishes.

Jumby Bay doesn't meet many of hte requirements. First of all, it's something like $800 a night (perhaps even more ... I"ll confess I'm not verifying the rates). That's hardly moderate. It's also very isolated, so the opportunities to go out to dinner will be extremely limited. The beach is lovely, and I believe you can get a meal plan, but I don't think the base price is all-inclusive. Is there a nonstop from Newark to Antigua? I'm not sure.

Having said that, it's a lovely resort and is managed by the same company as Caneel Bay. But it's an exclusive, very expensive resort.

If we went to Grand Cayman, which all inclusive would be the best for our needs?

knor0177, Beach Club Colony. It's located on 7 Mile Beach and is very close to Georgetown. Spanish Bay Reef is not on 7 Mile Beach and does not have a beach per se. It has steps into the water. Of course the snorkeling will be good with all the rocks.

If your interested in these hotels research them well. They are small and very standard. No luxury. They have 1 resturant and 1 bar, which will provide the AI option. Beach Club Colony sits on a great stretch of beach, but both hotels cater to cruise shippers on beach excursions, so can be crowded when ships are in port. They do section off the beach area from the hotel guests. From reading the cruise boards for our cruise next month, looks like most cruise shippers are opting for Sea Grape Beach, the Hyatt or the Marriott for day passes. May helps with some of the crowds. That wouldn't bother us and we would stay there, but to some it's an issue.

Given your requirements, I don't think either of the small "AI" type resorts on Grand Cayman would be suitable.

Doug,

If I can convince my mom to get over her weird ideas about DR - Which resort would be best? What is the difference between La Romana and Punta Cana? Why would someone choose one over the other? Are there direct flights from Newark to DR?

I'd say Riveira Maya or Jamaica.

In Jamaica there are a handful of moderate HUGE resorts like Bahia Principe (Runaway Bay0 and the Rius (2 in Negril, 1 near Ocho Rios), but there are smaller ones too, like Sunset Beach, Starfish Trelawny, Royal Decameron.

Starfish probably has the best beach of those 3, white sand, calm water, very long.

There are also quite small hotels in Negril that offer AI plans - Merrills, Legends, Coral Seas - those all have the same 7 mile beach, very calm water, white sand, etc.

You will have to check on the direct flight situation. There are some nonstop flights to the DR from Newark, but it's very important that if you do this trip you take a nonstop to La Romana/Casa de Campo, not to Punta Cana, which is a 90-minute drive away). La Romana, which is dominated by the huge Casa de Campo (which has an AI plan, by the way, but which has a sadly disappointing beach), is a newer area that faces the Caribbean, so the beaches are calmer with clean, white sand, especially at the Iberostar resort I recommended. Punta Cana is a long peninsula in the east and faces both the Atlantic and the Caribbean. The beaches on the Caribbean side are nicer, but your choice of resorts is limited to the family-oriented Club Med or the non-AI PuntaCana Resort; this resort's basic rooms are very moderate but not nearly as nice as the more deluxe suites designed by Oscar de la Renta, a part-owner. Punta Cana has more rooms than almost any other island in the Caribbean, with a strong of AIs of varying quality all up and down the Atlantic coast. There are some fine resorts there, but the beach here is not what you want at all.

Hey There,

So I am getting through to mi mama about dominican republic. I want to send her the website to Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus in La Romana - but I cannot find it online. Do you have it?

Also, if we go to Mexico - which all inclusive is as good as hacienda dominicus? What do you recommend? I know she wont go to cancun.

SOme people are complaining about the state of a beach or reduced beach in Mexico. I really want a nice sandy beach with calm crystal clear water and no sandbags. Do you know a resort like that in Mexico?

Any of the Iberostar Resorts in Mexico's Riviera Maya would be good for you. All inclusives with wonderful service and great beaches.

You've probably already chosen your hotel, but would like to suggest the Royal Suites section of the Grand Palladium Palace in Punta Cana. Beaches are powdery white soft sand. Hotel is all inclusive (more drink and food you could wish for or need); Water was clear and enjoyable -- spent 2 hours or so each day in it; We flew nonstop from Fort Lauderdale but while at airport did hear of a Continental NONSTOP flight from Newark to Punta Cana; There are over 6 alacartes and 3 or 4 other buffet places from which to choose. If you stay in Royal Suites (perfect for your Mom), you also get a more private restaurant, the Royal Gourmet for dinner (and breakfast) if you wish. Alacartes must be prebooked but are easily done from special lobby desk of Royal Suites.
And NO there is NOT any unrest in the DR in Punta Cana area!!

How is the beach at Paradissus Palma Real? Is it clear calm and beautiful or the Atlantic? And the resort, is it luxury?