Christmas Travel ideas - All inclusive resorts?

[biggroofy]

We've been on Disney Dream, Disney Wonder (Alaskan cruise), and Disney World Resorts (Grand Floridian) in 2011. Also booked Disney Magic & Fantasy for 2012. So, for the upcoming Christmas, I (yes, only me) wish to have a more laid back, relaxing vacation and also an escape from the mouse

About my travel party (or my family) I have ME (35), DW (33), DD (4), DD (8), and the grandpa and grandma (70). Everyone (except me) were addicted to sail on Disney Cruise, and now it is my last chance to find something nice to tell them that It's NOT a small world after all - there are more fun places to go

Grateful if you can offer some Christmas Travel ideas. We can travel anytime between Dec 20 - Jan 6, and personally I preferred All Inclusive resorts (although I've never been to one). I checked Beaches by Sandals, they are either sold out or only the most expensive rooms available.

I've heard that Mexico offers good quality and service than Cuba/Jamaica, but a bit concerned about the safety. Also, to please my kids, I would like something fun (kids club, waterslides, etc).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Susan2771]

Do you have a budget in mind?

 

[biggroofy]

No particular budget, maybe $4-5K per person. Worst case scenario - if we end up travel to WDW or DCL again during Christmas, it won't be cheap anyhow.

My wife suggested the new DVC in Hawaii, but I think 5+5 hour flight is a bit hassle for the kids. I would prefer something (if possible) within 5 hour DIRECT flight from Toronto.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

We travel to Mexico yearly and always have a great time. We go for about 10 days all inclusive for less than $2000 per person including flights. We have also gotten 10 days for as low as $1100 per person including flights. We have never gone over Christmas due to the increased price (i'm to cheap to pay the premium )

We have stayed at some okay and some great resorts. The kids love Mexico and we are going again in Feb. We have never felt unsafe there. We go to the Maya Riviera or Cancun area and generally stay at the resort other than a bit of shopping or some excursions. My kids loved the kids club, the beaches, the pools and being able to eat whenever they wanted.

My dream is to take them to Beaches Turks & Caicos so i'm saving for that as its gonna be expensive.

 

[2forMe]

No particular budget, maybe $4-5K per person. Worst case scenario - if we end up travel to WDW or DCL again during Christmas, it won't be cheap anyhow.

My wife suggested the new DVC in Hawaii, but I think 5+5 hour flight is a bit hassle for the kids. I would prefer something (if possible) within 5 hour DIRECT flight from Toronto.

Wowzers..that is high per person!!! I would suggest looking inot Beaches or Club Med resorts. They are better than your average all inclusive and have great kids clubs.

 

[mtmbyck]

beaches Turks and caicos was by far THE BEST vacation my family has ever had. Yes, we love Disney but it was so much better. more relaxing. Kids loved the diner where they could order greedy food and ice cream floats all day.

There's a waterpark, seseme street characters, amazing restaurants (like more then 10) and the accommodations at the Italian Village were spectacular. It's a pricey trip at Christmas but drops as of Jan 1st. We were there first week of Jan 2 years ago when Florida had the deep freeze. It was cloudy or rainy almost every day and we still loved it!

got a good deal through west jet. Will no doubt run a family 10k but if you can save the money it is so great. Oh they also had a swim up bar for kids in the waterpark! The details were awesome. There was an xbox games room with about 50 machines. There's a disco/lounge for teens. I could rave about it for hours.

 

[biggroofy]

Thanks!

I am considering Beaches Negril because Turks is almost sold out (except the very expensive rooms).

2forMe, of course I do not have to use up my budget

 

[tgropp]

I see by your budget that you can go pretty well anywhere. May I suggest the island of St Lucia. Beautiful island and the peole are amazing. If I went ot an all inclusive at Christmas, it would be there.

 

[biggroofy]

I see by your budget that you can go pretty well anywhere. May I suggest the island of St Lucia. Beautiful island and the peole are amazing. If I went ot an all inclusive at Christmas, it would be there.

Thanks for your recommendation, tgropp.

Unfortunately, even if I set the budget higher than usual, there are not much choices when it comes to All inclusive. Most Beaches/Sandals cheap rooms are gone, if I go with Air Canada Vacations package, it can even go beyond 5K/pp.

I checked Turks & Caicos and also St. Lucia, either no flight or no availability.

Is there anywhere else I should check? Sunwing? Westjet? Anywhere else?

One concern is that I cannot take 6:00am flight Earliest departure is 9:00AM

 

[tgropp]

Thanks for your recommendation, tgropp.



Is there anywhere else I should check? Sunwing? Westjet? Anywhere else?

One concern is that I cannot take 6:00am flight Earliest departure is 9:00AM

Are you keen to the idea of flying out of Buffalo or Detroit. It is a small inconvenience for the monies saved and more air schedules. You may have to book everything yourself (hotels and transfers) but that can be easily done through Holiday House. Good luck on your planning. If I had my way, I would do a family vacation every Christmas

 

[2forMe]

You can try itravel2000.com or even just stop in at a store front travel agency and pick up brochures etc. There are many many companies besides air canada and west jet that sell all inclusive. Also a good site for reviews is debbies carribean..just google it.

 

[minnie56]

I like Barbados, St Lucia, St Martin, Aruba..I am told the Mayan Riviera has some wonderful resorts.Someone I know has pretty much done them all! All the 5* ones anyways...

I would book Air Canada Vacations or Westjet Vacations. They tend to have the better locations in the resorts in their contracts.

 

[sandraB]

We were hesitant to visit Mexico for safety reasons, but we felt safer there than most Caribbean countries we have visited, including St.Lucia and St.Thomas. The Mayan Riviera is wonderful, the beaches are beautiful and there are lots of eco type parks that are amazing for kids! The entire area caters to tourists, and it doesn't disappoint. Another beautiful island I would visit again is Barbados. Wonderful.

 

[sandraB]

We were hesitant to visit Mexico for safety reasons, but we felt safer there than most Caribbean countries we have visited, including St.Lucia and St.Thomas. The Mayan Riviera is wonderful, the beaches are beautiful and there are lots of eco type parks that are amazing for kids! The entire area caters to tourists, and it doesn't disappoint. Another beautiful island I would visit again is Barbados. Wonderful.

 

[mtmbyck]

My colleague did Beaches Negril 2 years in a row. They loved it. It is a better price and we have considered that but I hate the idea of the 2hour bus ride to and from the airport. But it has many of the same amenities that Turks did. But I really would pay the extra to have a separate room for the kids. I find a week too long for my DD's (15 and 12) to live in the same room with DH and I. Let me know what you decide but I guarantee you'll love beaches! There are great reviews on trip advisor.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Just an FYI for my TO friends. Im seeing a 5 star on targetvacations.ca
Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan.

Signature Vacations
Oceanview Room
All Inclusive
Out: Oct 18 – 4:40pm - 7:55pm
Ret: Oct 25 – 8:40pm - 2:59am
$365.00 +$347.00 Taxes

Works out to under $1,350 for 2 people ...

 

[tgropp]

Just an FYI for my TO friends. Im seeing a 5 star on targetvacations.ca
Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan.

QUOTE]

Our Disney Mexican cruise for next Feb has removed Mazatlan from their itinerary as they deem it unsafe for their passengers. I think that I would still go to the mayan Riviera though.....but Mazatlan could be just as safe