Beaches All-Inclusive Resorts

[KristiKelly]

We usually go to the beach the week that school lets out and a few days right before school starts back. DS9 is dying to see clear blue ocean water (not what we see at Myrtle Beach). DH & I are thinking about skipping the beach trips and taking the kids to the Carribean.

Have any of you been to any of the Beaches Resorts? We are thinking about taking the kids for 4-5 days over the summer.

For a 1 bedroom it is going to cost around $5000.00 not including air fare. We have 3 kids so we are looking at the 1 bdr. suite (and because we've been spoiled by DVC ).

Does anyone know if they ever run any specials or codes similar to what we can find on Mousesavers? Any websites similar to DISboards?

If you've been, did you enjoy it? Would you go back?

We are considering these resorts because of the family friendly atmosphere and the really nice pools & slides (again, we've been spoiled by Disney).

Are there any other resorts in the Carribean that would be equivalent but maybe a little cheaper? I don't want to break the bank because we still plan to go to WDW in Nov and I need to by my APs.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I know you can often find last-minute deals on Expedia, Travelocity and Funjet.

(I've got my eye on the Couples Swept Away Resort right now in Negril.)

I have friends who took their children to the Beaches Boscobel in Ocho Rios and they all had a blast.

 

[JunieJay]

We looked at Beaches and decided we could take two trips to the the Mayan Riveria for what we would pay at Beaches. The Beaches resorts get mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com as well. I have found tripadvisor to be VERY reliable when it comes to resorts/hotels.

We ended up staying a week at the Iberostar Quetzal for a week last Easter. Its a lovely resort, SPARKLING clean (and I am a very picky person for cleanliness), with nice amenitites, a beautiful beach with turqoise blue waters. Its all inclusive. We paid about $4000 for the four of us, including airfare. We booked through funjet.com. There was plenty of things to do for both kids and adults, but it wasn't one of those resorts where you are forced to participate if you don't want to. There are also off resort excursions that cost extra - we went snorkling as a family, and DH and the Dad from a family we met when parasailing. The resort is fairly small and shares its amenities with its sister resort, the Iberostar Tucan. Over the week we were there we got to know many other familes from all over the world. My kids still have pen pals they met on that trip - two boys from England, and another family we met (who live outside Philadelphia) have become our good friends. They actually visited us here in Washington, D.C. in November of last year. The Quetzal/Tucan just breeds that sort of friendliness, but again, if you wanted to be left completely alone, that would be possible too.

I know many others here on the DIS have stayed at the Iberostar resorts. They are all lovely and are very highly acclaimed on tripadvisor. Check them out if you can, I don't think you would be disappointed.

 

[wdwmom2]

Check this site out www.applevacations.com . I enjoy this site just for "windowshopping"!

 

[KristiKelly]

Thanks for the websites. We are just looking, we saw Beaches on a Travel Channel show. We really like all-inclusive and thought the Sesame St. characters would be fun for DD19 mo. but the price is a bit much.

 

[HJENTINA]

Hi KristiKelly,

Just to let you know, I am a Travel agent and while the Beaches
resorts are beautiful, I stayed at Beaches Negril, twice, the price
is really out of this world, I know you said that the Sesame Street
charaters are a plus that you would like to see, but you have to pay extra
to have breakfast with them, even though the resort is All-inclusive.

A very nice family resort in Jamaica is the Rose Hall resort, and if you
are looking at Mexico, Dreams Cancun or Dreams Tulum also are family
resorts with alot for the kids to do. Fell free to pm me if you have
any questions.

Lori

 

[Honu]

Beaches is expensive because all the activities are included in the price, so you won't pay extra to snorkle, scuba, sail, etc. If you are a really active family and do all that stuff, like we are, it's probably worth the price. We've never gone because the airfare for all 7 of us from California with the resort fee is just too much to swallow. If you like to relax, lay around the pool and beach and do a few excursions, you're better off in a regular all-exclusive. And JunieJay is right about Iberostar in Mexico. We love the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo.

 

[Beth76]

I know many others here on the DIS have stayed at the Iberostar resorts. They are all lovely and are very highly acclaimed on tripadvisor. Check them out if you can, I don't think you would be disappointed.

I stayed at the other Iberostar "campus" in Playa. There they have the Del Mar, Beach, Lindo and Maya. I would really recommend Iberostar too. My only problem with returning is that we were there during Hurricane Wilma and while the resort did everything they could to take care of us, I was still left traumatized. As much as I'd love to go back to the Lindo and take my kids I honestly feel I would have a panic attack if I ever saw that place again. If we do ever decide to go back to Mexico, we'll stay at the Toucan/Quetzal.

As far as Beaches goes, look at tripadvisor.com. I really really really want to go to the one in Turks and Caicos, but it is sooooooooo expensive. Our trip to Mexico (just DH and I) was no more than $3000 total, for the week.

 

[Sherlee]

We went to Beaches in the Turks & Caicos last August for five nights. It was myself, my DD(11), my college roommate, and her DS(10). It was unbelievable and wonderful! I have had it on my "list" for several years and finally took the plunge. We went the week before school started (last week of August) and their fall rates had just started. Have you considered two connecting rooms as opposed to a one bedroom suite? That is what we had and we paid $1472 for each room, one adult with one child. They were also running a promotion that did not charge the kids the adult price, since we did not have a second adult in our rooms.

I have been to several Caribbean islands and this is the best ever! I have never seen water so blue and the people are sooooo friendly (employees and other guests). There were alot of people from Great Britain. The beach was amazing, we felt so safe even walking far from the property. There are vendors on the beach, but they don't bother you, you go to them. Once a week, Beaches brings them on to the resort property and sets up their own market. There was some beautiful artwork, as well as t-shirts and trinkets.

The food was really good! Each night the buffet had a different theme, we went on BBQ night, lots of ribs and chicken. The seafood restaurant was our favorite and we went there twice. We also went to the tex-mex type, which was also very good - loved the nacho bar. Finally, we went to the Italian restaunt, too. Not the best, but still pretty good for a pasta bar/buffet. I would have liked to try the Japanese, but we just ran out of nights and we all wanted to go back to the seafood on our final night. We did not go to either of the adults only since this trip was kid focused and especially since we did not have our husbands with us! I could go on and on about all of the food. The kids loved Bobby D's, they could go in there all on their own and get all of the chicken fingers, burgers, pizza and milk shakes that they wanted. My daughter was the first one at the kids swim up bar every morning to get her wake up chocolate milk shake! We also started each morning with an early morning trip to the pastry shop, and that was before heading to breakfast. Let's just say that you won't go hungry.

The activities on property are endless, but you can see all that on the website. There is a tour desk for off property activites. My friend took her son deep sea fishing and said it was the best money she ever spent, he had amazing tales to go back to school with. I took my daughter on a snorkel trip, mostly just to get off property to see some more of the island and we also went over to one of other islands. Each day we would pick one pool and pretty much park ourselves there for the day, taking advantage of that areas bars and restaurants.

We did sign the kids up for the kids club on the first day, but they never went. The club had lots of great activites, but we felt totally safe with them going to the arcade and into Bobby D's on their own, as long as they stuck together and one of us mom's were posted at that pool area. They also had fun in the other pools that weren't as kid oriented.

This was one of the best vacations ever and my post is getting really long, so I will end it with just three words: swim up bar...

 

[athurstance]

We just got back from a week at Beaches Negril. There are 4 of us (DH, me and two boys) - we had 2 interconnecting rooms. I can't recommend it highly enough. We had a fabulous time. The boys are aged 12 and 14 and they were busy all day with activities. As it is a family resort it is mainly families there and children are made very welcome.
The staff at Beaches were fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble and always a smile. Our rooms were great - quite spacious - and only steps from the beach. We had the grand luxe beachfront.
We will be going back definitely. The only change I would make is next time we will have a concierge level suite - you get room service and in-room mini- bar which we didn't have. The room service doesn't bother me but water and soft drinks in the room would be good. Although when I asked in the restaurant they happily supplied me with several bottles of cola and water to take back.
The food is good - not gourmet but reasonable. I'm not a big fan of buffets but The Mill is a very good version - we ate there for breakfast and sometimes for lunch. The Tex Mex is very good and the Seville a bit posher for dinner. There is also a Japanese restaurant and plenty of fast food outlets.
It's not cheap. We flew from the UK and its easily the most we've paid for a weeks holiday - more than a 14 night cruise in fact (although drinks haven't been included on our cruises so that adds extra). Was it worth it? Yes I think so. We were very sad to be leaving at the end of our week and can't wait to go back.

 

[Jennifer S]

I'm with Beth and JunieJay. We stayed at an Iberostar in Mexico last June and absolutly loved it. We are going back next year. Look into it.

 

[KristiKelly]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will look into Iberostar. Dh & I were talking last night about it. I suggested for $5000.00 we could be 50 more DVC points .

I'm with Beth and JunieJay. We stayed at an Iberostar in Mexico last June and absolutly loved it. We are going back next year. Look into it.

Hi Doodle Mom!!! How's your dog doing? Annabelle's is great and full of herself. She is almost 3-1/2 and is finally starting to settle down a little bit. I hope you are all doing well.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've been to Beaches, and it's very nice. We did the 1 bedroom suite, and it was very costly (although the full bar and drinks in the fridge for the kids was nice). I would definately save the $ and get 2 connecting rooms, since you don't spend much time there (we got the suite because at the time, both kids were still napping). It was beautiful, and very safe (I actually hired a nanny to take my 2 and 4 year olds to dinner, since we were there for a wedding). The flight in and out was a nightmare (Turks and Caicos).