I need some help. I want to take the wife on a 7 day 6 night all-inclusive get-a-way to Jamacia or the Bahama's (somewhere warm with a beach), but I have never been and have no idea where. There are a LOT of options and plenty of reviews - which leads to some confusion. Of course price is a consideration as I sure didn't mark $150,000 + on the "how much do you make?" poll

So I thought I'd ask you guys if you've been, where you went, and how was it.

I'm looking for a few things in the place we choose.
1. Adults Only - (Couples only preferrably)
2. Premium or top shelf alcohol with domestic beer (as well as local brews)
3. Plenty of activities included (Scuba, wind surfing, sailing, etc)
4. A Spa for the wife if she so inclines
5. An Ocean view room with a private balcony is preferred

Since we've never been before, even making the list is tough .

The last thing is whether the weather will be good or not (rainy season?) during the time I hope to go. We hope to spend the last week in February sipping on umbrella drinks on the beach.

 

I went to Aruba, and I loved it. Not running crazy with a million teenagers, people were nice, plenty to do, weather was perfect. I'd reccomend it to anyone, and I'd go again. We did all of the things that you mentioned, and then some.

 

You might want to consider a cruise.... see several islands, all teh activitys you mentioned, and they have "no kids' cruises.......

 

I've been to Jamaica and am going back the in January. It is VERY much hit and miss. Some of the places we went last time were nice, others were horribly poverty stricken and honesty scary at some points.
It is a beautiful country, I mean breathtaking. Weather was SWEET when we went in Feb. 05, temps in the low 80's water temp right at 78* If you've never been in Caribean waters, you are in for 2 shocks, number one it's eerily clear, like as in you can see the boats on the surface in over 30' of water, number two, it is the saltiest thing you have EVER come in contact with. The water will straight up turn your stomach just getting a teaspoon worth in your mouth.

Anyway. My wife's Boss (he fits into a category not even listed in the poll) goes to an all inclusive that I'm sure dwarfs our family vacations. I'm pretty sure it is one of the Sandals (Beaches, whatever) type places in Negril. You need not even leave the main area without a local guide. Espically for illicit purchases (not that anyone would do that) You'll more than likely get beat as they tend to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.

As far as I know, you are pretty much dead on with the timing, we couldn't have asked for a better time (weather wise).

 

Yeah, the Navy offers some of those types of cruises


Good luck, I have been considering doing something like that (might even bring the wife). Like you, I would have lots of questions. If I'm going to spend that kind of coin, I want to know what I'm getting into.

~Rob

 

Cruise = CHEAP travel, same destinations just less time in each.

You can go to Ocho Rios Jamaica and Grand Cayman for less than $750.00 a person INCLUDING airfare.

Good call Chrisreyn.

 

You might want to look at www.atlantis.com.
It is in Bermuda.
This is on my list of places to go!

 

last november we went to jamaica and stayed at a sandals resort in montego bay. sandals royal caribbean. we did not want to come home. very very pleased. excellent food, service, entertainment, and tours. at a sandals you stay at the resort you pay for, but can take the free shuttles to the other sandals resorts and do all of the activities, drinking, and eating at the other resorts, all for the inclusive paid for price.

 

I could take you on a trip to the majectic mountains of the North Slope of the Uintas or maybe you would be interested in the captavating slick rock of the San Rafeal Swell all trips include your own person mule which tends to stool while you are on the its back, all trips also include a cot and sleeping bag with view of the cylinder stove, alchohol is includes ofcourse and you can bring as much as I can possibly put in panyards pockets and saddle bags.

Actually my wifey is graging me to Pueta get a tape worm Viarde, and I think it is smothered, obviously I would rather be somewhere else.

 

Ooohhh ... count me in on THIS trip !!! (I grew up in Dove Creek, Co.)


Hotdram ... ain't it funny how almost every old sailor ends up wanting to PAY for a cruise ... just to see what it feels like to be a "passenger" for a change ?? To think that you could actually be rocked to sleep in a real bed wider than 24", wouldn't have to help onload the food you will be eating on the cruise and you'd get to drink wine that wasn't made from stuff you snuck out of the galley and brewed in the bilges . Sounds like paradise !!

PISTOL

 

Been on a couple of all inclusive trips both sandals type and cruise type. I found that nothing is all inclusive. We really have no desire to ever do either again. Too restrictive and structured for our taste. What we do now is find a place we want to visit and then go there and pay as we go.

 

Take a look at Beilz. Great beachs and water for diving. I considered retirng there. Whereever you go have fun.

 

yeah I went to aruba with the family, forgot the resort, but it was all-inclusive. very good stuff. and if you go missing they will keep it Hush Hush for ya too down there!!!

 

I vote for the Mexican Riviera - just South of Cancun. The same stuff as the Bahamas, etc., but for a bit less money (most of the time). Wife and I have been down there four times. I think the best ones have been the Iberostar chain... Just my last couple of pennies....

 

Just got back Thursday night from a trip to Cancun and last year went on a cruise to the US Virgin Islands. Both had there trade offs. The Carnaval cruise I was on had food included but no liquor. But... if you didn't like the place you were at or the weather, by the next day you were someplace else and at least had a chance to catch some better weather. With flying someplace and only staying there, you're "stuck", if you don't like it, to bad. If the weather is bad, buy an umbrella.

That said, I liked them both and for different reasons. This time of the year is still somewhat "rainy" in the Carribean. Hurricane season ends in November if I remember correctly, and it doesn't clear up down there until January-ish.

We stayed on the Carribean side of the lagoon. Place called the Golden Parnassus. With air fare out of MCI for 2, and staying a Saturday through Thursday at this all inclusive place was about 1700-ishy. Frontier had non-stop service down there which worked out great so we didn't burn a day doing tours of different airports.

The place we stayed was all-inclusive, liquor and food was included. They made us long island teas, margarittas, daqs and watched them make just about everything you could imagaine. Beers were mostly local stuff. Corona, Modelo, SOL... no American stuff. Though you could go down the street to the corner market and pickup most stuff. Non-motorized watersports were free. They vanned you out to a spot and you could snorkel, wind surf, etc. They had a Spa, but we didn't use it, so can't comment on it. We had an ocean view room on the top floor. Had a balcony and a jacuzzi in the room with us, king size bed and a stocked fridge that was included as well. The only complaint I had was the bed was firm. But, I'm used to a double pillow top mattress, others may like sleeping on a firm bed, I don't.

Other than that, top notch vacation, we had a blast and I'm now a little less likely to physically harm my co-workers.