all inclusive resorts

[ckret01]

OK these are the places I have been too:

Sandals - Bahamas- would never go back there. I am a beach lover and there beach maybe fit 10 chairs on and as the tide came in there wasn't much beach left. The pictures were very deceiving(sp). The pools however were big and there was 2 of them but because noone could fit on the beach everyone was in the pools. they were so jammed packed. We went in Oct of 2001. The food was so-so, nothing I would rave about. The cost of the trip was 3500 total fpr 2 people...too much for that place.

Punta Cana, Domincan Republic- H10 Resorts (I think they changed the name now) all inclusive. Very nice resort nice pool and the beach was big and spreadout. Little huts throughout to stay away from the sun and lots of palm trees. The food here too was just ok. I would go back here again. Lots of night entertainment at the resort. Had a lot of fun and did a few excursions. We went here May of 2003. Cost about $700pp(including air)

Riviera Maya, Mexico. Stayed at the Viva Maya, all inclusive. BEST TRIP EVER!!!!! HANDS DOWN! Mexico's ocean is far the most beautiful I have ever seen. It is sooo blue it makes you thirsty. The water was warm and blue. The resort was great. The pool was a little small but since the ocean was just so great we laid on the beach most of the time. They had little palapalas(sp) -( huts) on the beach too if you needed shade. The food here was excellent. The breakfast buffet was incredible..anything and everything. It is real close to X-Caret which I highly suggest going to . Maybe 20 minutes down the road. You can snorkel there and snorkel in under ground caves or just hand out on a hammock looking at the beautiful ocean. I would recommend anywhere in the Riviera Maya. I can't wait to go back there. We went in May 2002. Cost about 650pp including air.

 

[chrissyk]

I forgot to mention that most of the guests at Sandals St. Lucia seemed to really get their money's worth from the all-you-can-drink policy A lot of people were clearly there just to get bombed for an entire week. The pool was a real mess from the napkins and cups tossed in by drunk people who were boozing it up at the swim-up bar. Ick. I think that some all-inclusives are boozier than others...I wish that I'd known that before I chose that one!

 

[hydster]

Me and DH took an adults only trip to Cancun and stayed at Club Med. It is for 18 and above and it is beautiful. It's an all inclusive and I did a little pricing for you just to give you a ballpark. Leaving out of Newark (have no idea if that is correct) flying to Club Med for 4 days from Wed Dec 1 to Sun Dec 5 including airfare and the club med membership fee that they charge everyone ($55 pp) the total including air (but not transportation to/from the airport) is $2352.42. If you do your own air (you can usually get it much cheaper on your own) the price total is $1310.00.

It includes all premium alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, Gourmet Buffets, Dining rooms, All day dining options from late breakfast to late night snacks, live entertainment, land and water sprots, gratuities. It's about 20 min from the airport but it is beautiful! Cancun is a fun place and very easy to get around on their local bus system.

Go to www.clubmed.com and click on Cancun. Gives you a virtual tour and pictures.

Heidi

 

[leahannpen]

A few things. I noticed you want an "adults" only all inclusive. Then try the very nice "Secrets" resorts. They have 2 in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area of Mexico... I know Apple Vacations has them. There is also one in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, but it's been damaged due to hurricanes.

Second, I love Jamaica and love some of the all inclusives there. Most seem to be okay since the hurricanes, but check first. I can easily recommend any of the "Couples" resorts, and Grand Lido Braco in Runaway Bay. Very nice!!

Sandals... eh. I've seen/heard way too many negative things to say pay the horrendus amounts of money to go there. Personally, I would not.

 

[leighe]

Another vote for the Riviera Maya. DH and I stayed at the Aventura Spa Palace for our honeymoon and loved it! It was couples (or just adults, I guess) and it was wonderful! We didn't seen any particuarly wild or drunken behavior - but maybe that's because we were participating in it! Really, it was beautiful. Spa treatments and tours to places like Chitinitzen (sp?) Mayan ruins were included in our package. There were 8 resteraunts there and I they had a policy that said you could eat or enjoy the pools/recreation at any of their 8 resorts. They had bus transporation to and from the different resorts. The pool at our resort was unbelievable!

 

[JerseyJanice]

My honeymoon was at the Omni International in Cancun, which is all-inclusive or not, depending on whether you pay for all-inclusive. We opted for it and were very glad we did.

It was totally awesome. The beach was gorgeous, the food very good, and activities (snorkeling, bus rides to night clubs, banana boat rides) were included with the all-inclusive deal.

 

[WDWHound]

I highly recomend Couples Resorts. We have been to Couples Ocho Rios 4 times and plan to return again in January 2006 to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I have heard great things about their other 2 locations as well. These places are truly all inclusive. Even the scuba diving is included. Even better, tipping is not allowed.

Here is a link to Couples's web page
www.couples.com

 

[WDWFAN9]

My DH and I stayed at the Moon Palace in the Riviera Maya (just south of Cancun) in 2002. We loved it! The resort is secluded, but provided free transportation to downtown Cancun. The pool went on forever, absolutely breath-taking. The beach wasn't that great, but I prefer to swim in a pool, and walk the beach anyway. There were 10 different restaurants to choose from, and the food and service were excellent. It cost about $2800 for us both, for a week, including airfare from Chicago. We would definitely go back again.

 

[Beth76]

Now, you guys have me itching to go to Mexico! Some friends of ours just got married at one of the Palace resorts and loved it. We're hoping to go sometime next year! We keep hearing such great things about those resorts.

To the OP, last year I was researching all-inclusives (in Jamaica mostly--didn't really know about Riviera Maya then). I found most reviews to be 50/50. Half of them said it was a great vacation, half said it was horrible. I just couldn't see spending that much money on a vacation that may or may not be wonderful. So, we ended up cruising to Alaska. I'm not saying you should take a cruise. I'm just letting you know my findings on the resorts in Jamaica. I would be much more willing to try one in Mexico. Good luck in your search!!!

 

[CRB#33]

I've been to Breezes in Nassau...definitely a drinking crowd, younger, but we did have a lot of fun.

We got married (2nd time for both of us) at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica last year and it was just wonderful. The crowd was (on the average) a bit older than Breezes and calmer. We are in our early 40s and were very comfortable there. We met tons of people celebrating their anniversary.

We did a river raft ride down the Martha Brae which was so beautiful and romantic. They take you for a several hour tour on a long Bamboo raft. A local Jamaican stands at the very front of the raft and uses a long pole to push you down the river. I loved every second of that!

I have also cruised on Disney for a week, but it's very expensive. Plus drinks are extra. Entertainment and food on a cruse, plus the spa and atmosphere are just awesome.

Cruising is really wonderful, but I enjoyed my Jamaican "Weddingmoon" just as much

 

[nealymouse]

Just got home last Friday from the Dominican Republic. We stayed in Boca Chica (10 minunts from internation airport). Our hotel was very beauitful . Coral by Hilton but the area was not so good once outside the gates.

We did a few day trips and loved them all but would have never gone off property without a tour gulde.

I cant wait to go back to the Dom Rep but would like to try the North side of the island.

Coral by Hilton really was beauitful

 

[JerseyJanice]

I feel like I should mention that our room at the Cancun Omni was spectacular. Marble floors and a king-king sized bed (it was like the size of a small room) plus a bathtub the size of a small swimming pool.

We had a private stone balcony with flowering vine-covered walls and flower boxes overlooking the pool complex (4 distinct pools within it, all connecting), then the Caribbean Sea.

When we checked in, the bathtub was filled with fresh flowers.

And as nice as the Omni was, I know there has been a lot of development in that area during the past ten years. I suspect the newer resorts beat it.

Definitely I'd recommend all-inclusives in Mexico, but be careful (especially in Cancun) to get one that caters to your age group and interests.

 

[LoraJ]

I have also been to Breezes in Nassau and we enjoyed it. It wasn't luxurious or anything, but we enjoyed the food at both the sit down restaurants and the buffet. There is a casino down the street that we would go to at night.

The beach was really nice and there were a lot of activities you could do.

It's a lot cheaper than Sandals. The only thing was, when we were there they were renovating, but maybe it is all done by now.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by nealymouse
Coral by Hilton really was beauitful

That's good to hear . We're thinking about using HHonors points and FF miles for a spring trip in 2005. There are about 3 all-inclusive resorts in the DR. Did you see any children there? We plan on bringing out 5 year old with us.

 

[dis4me]

Thanks for all replies and advice. This board is adicting. Ijust spent hours reading posts.
Well I think we may stick wih Jamaica because we have never been. We are planning on taking the girls to Mexico next year so will look into the Riveria .It looks great. They loved Cozumel.
Has anyone had a bad experience with Sandals Montego Bay???
Thanks again

 

[BostonTigger]

Originally posted by Felicia
Try the Riviera Maya (Playacar) in Mexico (about 50 minute ride south from Cancun airport). It is gorgeous and there are many all inclusives. We went to the all-inclusive "Iberostar Quetzal" in Playacar and loved it. Yes, we went with the kids, but there were MANY couples only and DH and I said we would love to go back there without the kids someday. Not all that expensive either. For the four of us spending eight nights/nine days at resort, airfare from JFK, and transfers to/from airport... it was under $4K! Definetly well worth it!!

Hey Felicia, are the beaches around that area public or private? For my honeymoon, I was initially thinking of going to Antigua, but my travel agent told me that the beches are public and you can get bombarded by locals trying to sell things. She told me that a lot of the couples she spoke to said that they couldn't relax and had bad time and therefor couldn't wait to leave. Anyone know of some good all-inclusives where the beaches are private?

 

[BostonTigger]

Originally posted by cats7494
My DH and I went to Cancun last November for our honeymoon. We stayed at Cancun Palace and it was all-inclusive and absolutely wonderful!!
They have many choices of things to do! There is a beautiful beach it is on and not crowded at all when we went!
There are several restaurants to pick from and the food was wonderful!
There are also really neat shows by their entertainment staff every night...lots of fun!

Then there are really neat flea markets - try Mercado 28...lots of wonderful things to buy!!
I would go again in a heartbeat!

Hey Cats, How was the Cancun Palace? How did you like the beaches? I have this thing for beaches, I don't want to get bombarded by locals selling things.

 

[CRB#33]

dis4me, Sandals Montego Bay is right in front of the airport and the noise from the planes is said to be distracting to some, but I've heard good things otherwise, plenty of resturants and activities. You can take a shuttle to the other two Sandals resorts in the area to eat or play. (Royal Caribbean and Sandals Inn)

Sandals Royal Caribbean is beautiful, but also just a mile or two from the airport. It's actually kind of neat when the planes do fly overhead. Of course, I'm partial to this resort because I was married there. This resort also has a private island with a lovely restuarant and a pool. There is also plenty of private sunbathing on this island, so be prepared if you walk around a corner. Your eyes may get more than they bargained for!

Sandals Inn is the smallest of the three and I haven't heard much about it.

You can find a ton of information at www.sandals.com Have a wonderful time!

 

[Lynn CC]

You should take a look at www.sandestin.com
It's a golf and Beach resort you can do as little or as much as you want.
It's pretty reasonable, well kept and beautiful there. You don't have to leave the resort for anything!
DH is going next month on a boys golf trip, he has so many guy friends to travel with, they've been going different places for years. ...Sure wish I did

 

[mom2rb]

These sound like so much fun! I always thought they would be more money. I guess I will now have to start planning a no kids trip.