Why I wont go all inclusive again

[pd9845]

can you tell me if the kid activiites are as extensive as a cruise? My kids really enjoyed the organized kids activities for ALL ages on the Explorer. I'm concerned that there isn't as much to do for them besides a volleyball game or making a piece of pottery. We're talking about kids 7-14.

 

If you want an AI with a great kids program (and great time for parents as well) - - check out http://www.beaches.com

 

It's a bit more pricer than most other resorts, but it has A LOT to offer kids and parents. I've heard rave reviews about Turqs & Caicos...

[jcanino]

If you want an AI with a great kids program (and great time for parents as well) - - check out www.beaches.com

 

It's a bit more pricer than most other resorts, but it has A LOT to offer kids and parents. I've heard rave reviews about Turqs & Caicos...

 

My wife likes to try different resorts in different locations and Beaches Turks is the only resort that my wife has wanted to go back to a second time and will go back for a third, fourth, etc. You are correct, it is pricier than most other all inclusive resorts.

[ratherBcruizin']

For those that have been to Beaches Resorts (particularly Beaches Sandy Bay) do you think it's worth the money? DH and I have been talking about taking our 2 y.o. DD to one this fall but the prices are scary! I've read conflicting reviews on Trip Advisor as to whether it's worth the money or if you're just paying for the Beaches name. It also seems that Beaches Sandy Bay on Trip Advisor got great reveiws from those having very young kids. We would like to take DD somewhere she can have a great time and we feel totally welcome at. (This was not the case last fall on our NCL cruise with her.) Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mamax4]

Thanks for the tip on Beaches Turks, I pulled up their website and IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

But when I did a search for dates and prices...ohmygaa!! We have a family of 6 so one std room won't work. we talk'in anywhere between 8500 and 16,000! I'm NOT kidding.

A little bit pricier is certainly one way to put it. Thanks for the suggestion though, it looks so wonderful and they really seem to play up the kid thing. That's just what we're looking for. Fell in love but can't have it, boo-hoo!

[mamax4]

Oh, Did I mention... THESE PRICES ARE WITHOUT ANY AIR! (sorry, I just need to vent a little)

[jcanino]

Thanks for the tip on Beaches Turks, I pulled up their website and IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

But when I did a search for dates and prices...ohmygaa!! We have a family of 6 so one std room won't work. we talk'in anywhere between 8500 and 16,000! I'm NOT kidding.

 

But the kicker is that the property sells. I have four familes staying there for February school vacation and three of them are in concierge level suites.

[syndyj]

Both the cruise and the AI have pros and cons; I happen to like both BUT if the cost is the same I would choose the AI land vacation.

 

On the cruise, I liked going to a different port each day,exploring the ship of itself, dressing up for dinner, the shows (especially ice shows) activities on board the ship and the service on the ship.

 

However, I did not like the embarkation and disembarkation process, the time spent on the island always seemed a bit "rushed" , by the end of the week dinner in the main dining room seemed monotonus, the pools were small and crowded, everything was on schedule, extra costs do add up and of course, it would be nice to have all drinks included.

 

In choosing a land based vacation I choose islands with lots of things to do and beautiful beaches, I love exploring and AI or not I go off the resort on tours. I also like walking the beach, or lying all day doing nothing and never feeling rushed or on a schedule. I also choose 4 or 5 star hotels which makes the difference in AI service and amenities.

[NnJ2010]

For those who have done AIs and like them...what would you recommend for a couple in their early 30's without kids? Jamaica will be a hard sell for my husband. So elsewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico would be great! Are there any other child-free AI's other than the Hedonism ones? Don't think that (hedonism) is quite our scene :D

[jcanino]

For those who have done AIs and like them...what would you recommend for a couple in their early 30's without kids? Jamaica will be a hard sell for my husband. So elsewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico would be great! Are there any other child-free AI's other than the Hedonism ones? Don't think that (hedonism) is quite our scene :D

 

For Cancun and the Riviera Maya area, check out this link......

http://www.applevacations.com/showHotel.do?lastActive=summary&hotelCode=211709&command=showHotel

 

for Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun or this links...........

 

http://www.applevacations.com/showHotel.do?lastActive=hotel_div_MEXCUNRIVIER&hotelCode=211988&command=showHotel

 

for Secrets Excellence Riviera Cancun.

 

Theses might be just what you are looking for.

[sgttami]

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day...

 

He has never done an AI...I did ONE to Club Med in 1992 to Martinique...if I remember, it was about $1300. a person then..including air and everything.

 

The same year, I went on my first cruise and it was $1500, (single supplement on Monarch of the seas) including air but nothing else...my first Sea Pass for me alone was over $800.00 plus what I spent in port...

 

Fast forward to now....I have tried to compare what is less costly, since we do several trips a year...and cruise prices are less now...but no matter what, we still figure it's going to cost a minumum of 3 grand for a week for the two of us...

 

We are going to Alaska in September and between our cruise, air, pre-night hotel, and travel insurance it's $4,513.00 so far and we haven't even left the house!!!! (8 days planned)

[senior lady]

I have to agree. DH and I love cruising and always will:) We tried our first all-inclusive at the beautiful Karmina Palace in Manzanillo. What a first class resort. Price wise it was much cheaper that most cruises.

Especially for us Canadians. We pay in Canadian and don't have to worry about our Sea Pass accounts at the end of the cruise. It's the exchange rate that kills us:mad:

 

I like to think of cruising as a great way to be treated. Tables pulled out and napkins put on your laps. Dressing up for dinner everynight and seeing lots of different places. Even just sailing on the ocean:cool:

 

The all-inclusive I only have to pack casual clothes, nothing fancy. (only 1 suitcase instead of 3:rolleyes: ) Also don't have to spend anymore money if I don't want to. Even tipping is cheaper than on a cruise. Sometimes I just want to sit on the beach and relax.

We plan on going back to the Karmina again this November. But we're also going on a 19 day repositioning cruise next May through the Panamal canal.

 

Frankly, I just like getting away.

 

If you want to feel like "Royalty" go on a cruise

 

If you just want to hang out and relax try a all-inclusive:cool:

[NnJ2010]

Thanks Joe! I'll look into those!

[PhinsAndGills]

Thanks!!!

That might have been the problem. We did not look at holiday Inn. We were looking at the big names you always hear of when looking at AI.

One question did the rooms look like a HI hotel room or did they look like a resort room.

The reason I ask is we do spend a lot of time in our room.

 

The rooms were much larger and had a beautiful balcony / patio - but they were glorified hotel rooms... not these HUGE resort -type rooms. They might have some, but we don't spend a lot of time in the room, so we got the smallest and least expensive (just like when we cruise! We book tiny interior rooms and spend the money elsewhere!)

[tlmlb]

Not much, stay with brother on way down just gas, a couple of meals and parking. When you are talking about 500.00 for two plan tickets its really nothing.

 

100 gallons of gas (1600 miles at 16 mpg) at 2.50 = $250 plus parking of $70, that's $320

[Babs66]

For those who have done AIs and like them...what would you recommend for a couple in their early 30's without kids? Jamaica will be a hard sell for my husband. So elsewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico would be great! Are there any other child-free AI's other than the Hedonism ones? Don't think that (hedonism) is quite our scene :D

 

We were in our thirties and did Secrets Excellence in Punta Cana. At the time we went (4 years ago) it was a brand new resort and they were still working out some of the kinks, but it was beautiful and we had a blast. The beachfront is not on a reef there for the ocean has great waves for boogey boarding and body surfing. The pool runs the length of the entire hotel, so it was fun just walking from one end to the other, of course stopping in the middle for a drink at the bar. Food was awesome and the drinks were plentiful and now they have a casino. The resort is made up of several buildings that are three stories high, if you go ask for a room on the top floor, these rooms have vaulted ceilings and all rooms had jacuzzi tubs. The resort is on the otherside of the island that is not that populated so you can walk down the beach and be very secluded kinda like you see those commercials with the palm tree hanging over the water.

[rsinj]

For those who have done AIs and like them...what would you recommend for a couple in their early 30's without kids? Jamaica will be a hard sell for my husband. So elsewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico would be great! Are there any other child-free AI's other than the Hedonism ones? Don't think that (hedonism) is quite our scene :D

 

I think it's all a matter of preference and price. Many people are saying that the all-inclusives are less expensive than the cruise, however, that's entirely dependent on which all-inclusive you're looking at. Just as you can get the best room on the ship, you can also spend lots of money on a top-quality luxury all-inclusive resort. It's simply a matter of what you're looking for and what you want to pay.

 

When my wife and I were in our early 30's without kids we went to the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda. It was simply fabulous. It may be something you want to check out - www.beyc.com

 

 

Howard

[gerif]

We have only stayed at one AI - Beaches, Turks & Caicos - back when it first opened at the recommendation of a TA. Since it was new, the price was quite reasonable at the time, and we got a good travel package. We were just a couple, but they seemed to have a great kids program going on. In fact, it seemed to be pretty much one-on-one staff with the kids. Food was great, drinks were top-shelf, and the staff absolutely refused to accept any tips at all but catered to your every whim. The first day sitting at the pool when someone asked if I would like a drink (as if I couldn't walk ten feet to the bar or swim to the in-pool bar), I thought for sure a tip was in order, but, nope. The wallets went into the safe the first day and came out when we left. Even the day DH went to the gift shop for some aspirin, he was told he could have it free at the infirmary - no nickel and diming there.

 

OTOH - there was a lack of good evening entertainment and the price has gone over the rainbow - but I would go back.

[OutSyder]

I have to agree. DH and I love cruising and always will:) We tried our first all-inclusive at the beautiful Karmina Palace in Manzanillo. What a first class resort. Price wise it was much cheaper that most cruises.

Especially for us Canadians. We pay in Canadian and don't have to worry about our Sea Pass accounts at the end of the cruise. It's the exchange rate that kills us:mad:

 

Could you give me an idea of what the cost is for a week at Karmina Palace in Manzanillo is? My wife and I are also from Surrey and we have been thinking about trying an all inclusive.

[BobBeaSea]

We have done three cruises and many, many AIs over the years. In Canada we get great deals at AIs all over the Caribbean, Mexico etc.. Hands down, the AIs are less expensive. My own pricing comparison is a JS on RCI vs. a 5* AI; by the time you account for everything it is not even close (we do like to have a few drinks:D ). A cruise and a stay at an AI are two different types of vacation and we will continue to do both but, for us, the price winner is no contest - the AI every time.

[Bleacher Creature]

My last 3 "vacations" were on a cruise. I am ready for all-inclusive. The whole getting on, and getting off the ship process is a pain, as is rushing from port to port and rushing back to dinner, but oh, no, don't forget to see something in port. I want to fly and park my butt in a beach chair. Plus, you don't have all those extra outfits to bring, as you can do laundry in an A/I.

 

Plus, there's not one cruise out there that I've found that doesn't stop in at least one of these crummy ports:

 

San Juan, Jamaica, Nassau, Costa Maya, Haiti. If there is, I'd like to know about it.

[pd9845]

Plus, there's not one cruise out there that I've found that doesn't stop in at least one of these crummy ports:

 

San Juan, Jamaica, Nassau, Costa Maya, Haiti. If there is, I'd like to know about it.

 

Did you check out the cruises to Canada, Hawaii, Europe, etc??

[Bleacher Creature]

I'm sorry, I meant Caribbean, as we were talking AI Vs. cruise.

[Flaglady]

We just returned from our first cruise (Explorer Eastern 6/26) after several vacations at AI. Most recently we stayed at Iberostar Pariso Beach & Moon Palace both in Riveria Maya area.

 

Cruise plus's:

Balcony Room-Awesome-loved having coffee & watching the ocean in the morning!

 

Entertainment-great shows (ice, comedy, The Drifters were great & even the piano at Dizzys early in the evening)

 

Dining was a great experience but grew tired of 2 hour meals by the end of the week.

 

AI plus's:

 

Total relaxation-You can sit at the beach, pool & just relax without checking your watch to make sure you don't miss the ship.

 

The price is huge. On the cruise we spent $2100 on our sea pass & brought $1200 cash for our family of 4. I figured we spent $200-250 just to lay at the beach at Orient Beach (taxi, chair rental, buckets of beer & snack for kids) this did not include the jet ski rental. I won't even mention what we spent at St. Thomas on our day sail!:)

 

No long lines to check in & check out. Free to come & go as you please. When we were at Moon we took a cab into Cancun & had a very nice dinner.

 

We really did enjoy the curise but we prefer the AI for the relaxation!

[senior lady]

Outsyder....... Depends on what time of year??? We went in November and it cost us around $2600 for the week. I did see in this Sunday's Province that the Karmina had a deal for $1000 for a week.

It really was a great place, and the accomidations where the best. If you go to there web site www.Karminapalace.com

it will show you all the great things about it.

I know that we're thinking of going there again this November. It is one of the few web sites that doesn't lie and everything it shows is just the way it is!!! Let me know if you have any other questions.:)

[teach01]

For those that have been to Beaches Resorts (particularly Beaches Sandy Bay) do you think it's worth the money? DH and I have been talking about taking our 2 y.o. DD to one this fall but the prices are scary! I've read conflicting reviews on Trip Advisor as to whether it's worth the money or if you're just paying for the Beaches name. It also seems that Beaches Sandy Bay on Trip Advisor got great reveiws from those having very young kids. We would like to take DD somewhere she can have a great time and we feel totally welcome at. (This was not the case last fall on our NCL cruise with her.) Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

I have been here and other than the beach there isnot very much to do. they have a sister resort and little down the road that is MUCH better, when we went to visit we were upset that we did not choose the sister resort---more restaurants, pools, bars, activities and etc.!!!!