starrsville

Now, wait just a minute, Little Missy!

That's MISS Jo Schmo to you. I am VERY proud of my vacuum sales!

taitai

I don't think you understand, Miss Jo Schmo was running the meeting as CEO....

starrsville

But, on a serious side, I have to disagree with one comment. Awards trip (4S BI in my case) and sales meetings differ - in my experience anyway.

BUT, both are held at Four Seasons, Ritz Carltons, Breakers, varied resorts in AZ, etc. and the "business" part of the meetings are held in the conference portion of the hotels. In 20+ years, I can't think of a single instance when a family or leisure traveler even knew we were there - except perhaps in the lobby as they were on the way to fun and we're in our business casual on the way to meetings.

When we are "off the clock" (which is rare at such meetings) we are in casual attire and hanging out at the pool, playing golf or tennis, etc.

In other words, I've never known of a case where an oceanfront room is over the awards dinner ballroom. I've never been in a hotel of ANY design that has placed guest rooms over a ballroom or meeting space. What bad luck for you to have that experience - but surely not at a four or five star resort?!?!

taitai

RC, Cancun. Had an ocean front suite, club floor. Sales dinners outside nightly (surprisingly, no weddings)on the courtyard below our room overlooking the ocean.

Kea Lani also had a big gathering but it was the NFL Players reps annual union event and it was kinda cool to see all the players as we are big sports fans.

FS Aviara and FS Nevis same thing as Cancun.

We have addressed this by switching our allegiance to more intimate hotels and resorts. Works for us at this juncture. However, as our children get older (just toddlers now) we might go back to take advantage of the kids clubs (which they have to keep the kids occupied while their parents are at the meetings and awards dinners). On the other hand, they are such business hotels that I am not sure they give my husband the respite I want him to have (not necessarily what he wants to have) from the office.

Whatever works for each traveler.

ASCarverIII

fivestart, I would LOVE to know where you stayed in the Caribbean for US$700 a night that has the Four Seasons luxury and pampering. Right now for next January I am looking at Little Dix Bay, the new Aman in the Turks and Caicos and the Hotel St Barts Isle de France in St Barths and they all want about US$1500 a night, (plus tax of course). These are all ocean front junior suites, so may be a bit larger than the FS, but I would love to know hotels in the price range you are taking about, because I can't find good luxury hotels in the Caribbean in that range. Maybe it is because it is January. Even the FS Nevis is showing US$995 for an oceanfront standard size room.

FYI, the Aman in Bora Bora has rack rates of US$950 for their over-the-water bungalows, which is where you would need to stay to get, IMO, the same level of luxury and service as you would at the Four Seasons. (No FS there yet.) It is absolutely beautiful, and I agree that 6 years ago you could have stayed there for much less, but that is now the going rate...The new St Regis (Sheraton) is showing rates of US$1,300 for their over-the-water bungalows for January (I just picked a month, they don't show rack rates).

fivestar

Where did I say that I stayed in the caribbean for $700 per night? We never travel in the winter months. We travel from April through November. I checked rates for September when all the children of the world are back in school.

Four Seasons Nevis- $325 to $700

Half Moon Bay Jamaica $275 to $990
Ritz Carlton Jamaica $$199 to $2500

Cobblers Cove Barbados-$ &25 for an executive suite

The Crane Barbados-$410 & up

The caribbean has lots of bargains for when we travel.

ASCarverIII

Wow, you are brave for going during hurricane season, I wouldn't take the risk, that would explain the good prices....it's also so hot during the summer in those places that I don't find the need to go there, as it is just as hot here and I can go to our beach house, but whatever.

I know that Hawaii is great for weather in the summer months, and prices are lower too which helps as well.

mah1980

Pretty sure several high end anguilla properties would fit those rates: CJ & Cuisianart.

Turks & Caicos: Parrot Cay

Barbados: Coral Reef

Jamaica: Jamaica Inn

BVI: Peter Island

ASCarverIII

I tried CJ and Cuisinart and am getting about US$1200-1500 for January.

I don't want to travel off season like fivestart does, that seems to be the problem...I feel better because I know understand she is getting those rates off season and not in high season.

mah1980

If you are talking about going for New Year's Eve, then you are going at the absolute highest price point. Additionally, many of these popular properties are reserved a year in advance since some families return every year.

I just looked at the Coral Reef, Jamaica Inn, and Parrot Cay websites and you can find those places in the 700-800 range in January. However, you won't be the highest room category. If that is what you're looking for in January then you will probably be disappointed.

ASCarverIII

No I am acutally OK at paying those rates (well not really but what can you do) as I am going on and just after New Years and I understand it is the high season and Christmas season to boot. I was just confused by the orignal comments in fivestar's posting that she didn't like the hike in the FS Maui's rates, and that she never paid that much in the Carribean, etc, and couldn't understand how she was getting FS room size, luxury, ocean front or ocean view and service in the Carribean for US$700 a night, but now understand that she goes to the Carribean off season when that is of course more possible. If she went to FS Maui on my dates, she would of course pay even more than the $900 she now finds shocking, and which ironically is not the best weather in Hawaii, but is high season, just the opposite of the Carribean when the hot weather and hurricane/rainy months are the low season.

stever

Dudes... just do the Mountainview Room at the FS Maui and save a ton of money. We loved our MV room and it's easy access to our car in the garage down the step and out the door in a minute or too. We loved our view of the mtns and a golf course across the street. We were on the beach all day so getting a beach view was absurd to us for the extra money. We used that money for very fine dining and activities.

Cheers,
Steve R
Silve Spring MD

TravelTess

We're on Maui, vacationing, right now. We once spent a week at the Maui 4Seasons and agree with Stevers...go with the garden view. We had an ocean view suite with a side view of the ocean - what a joke. The suite was beautiful but the price of the "view" was not worth it. We have stayed in luxurious condos ever since, by the way...you can have the hotels. We have two kids and enjoy the spaciousness and privacy that condos can provide.