Need all inclusive resort recommendations for DH's 50th

[eeyoresmom]

We have never done an all inclusive,but want to do a week for DH's 50th. Probably the second week of April 2013. Can anyone recommend a more upscale, active resort? We will be flying in from New England. We are open to any location, but definitely want a more upscale,active place. I have been looking online but I have been disappointed in the past after comparing a hotels website to reality Would love some advice from people who have actually staid there. A beautiful beach is high on the priority list, but we need lots of other activities since we will be there a full week. Thank you for your help oh, we would like to keep it at or below $3000 .I think we would choose less days to stay at a great place.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

The Royal in Cancun resort. We went there last year for our tenth anniversary and it was amazing!!!

 

[dimimi]

We stayed in Playa Del Carmen. We stayed at Iberastar and Sandos. Both were great. We were surprised how much we loved the all inclusives.

 

[pigletto]

I will be watching this thread with interest. We are kicking around ideas for a Christmas/40th birthday trip. We know we have fun at Disney, we know we like cruises. I worry we'd be bored to death at an All Inclusive but my SIL assures me we wouldn't.

 

[shoney]

Adults only???

If yes, I would look at Secrets Wild Orchid/St. James in Jamaica. Just celebrated our 20th there....fantastic! can give more info if you want!


There are so many great ones ....

Do you want large or small?
Close to an airport or longer drive?
Dinner reservations or not?
Great beach? or OK beach...meaning sand is nice but water quality not perfect?
Lots of pools?
Free room service?
Wristbands or no wristbands?
Top shelf liquor?
Beach grills or only restaurants for lunch?
There are so many deciding factors and finding one that meets your needs will be easy if you know what you are looking for.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Adults only???

If yes, I would look at Secrets Wild Orchid/St. James in Jamaica. Just celebrated our 20th there....fantastic! can give more info if you want!


There are so many great ones ....

Do you want large or small?
Close to an airport or longer drive?
Dinner reservations or not?
Great beach? or OK beach...meaning sand is nice but water quality not perfect?
Lots of pools?
Free room service?
Wristbands or no wristbands?
Top shelf liquor?
Beach grills or only restaurants for lunch?
There are so many deciding factors and finding one that meets your needs will be easy if you know what you are looking for.

Would prefer a larger resort
Are airport transfers usually included? Need advice on this one.
Would like some flexibility in dining.
Yes to great beach.
No to lots of pools as long as there is one really good one.
No to free room service.
No to top shelf liquor.
What do you mean by beach grills? Cookouts on the beach sound lovely!
Adults only YES.
Thanks for the help. This is really hard with so many options.

 

[shoney]

Would prefer a larger resort
Are airport transfers usually included? Need advice on this one.
Would like some flexibility in dining.
Yes to great beach.
No to lots of pools as long as there is one really good one.
No to free room service.
No to top shelf liquor.
What do you mean by beach grills? Cookouts on the beach sound lovely!
Adults only YES.
Thanks for the help. This is really hard with so many options.

OOOOoooo...you are stumping me! The better ones so to speak will give you top shelf liquor, free room service, so you may just have to deal with that

Now that you said adults only...that narrows it a bit.

Airport transfers are often included or a small upgrade fee for shared busing, but it adds time, so some ppl don't want a long transfer. My first AI 20 yrs ago, had a 2 1/2 hr transfer...I swore never again and I've stuck with it.

I would get on tripadvisor...

Look at Secrets Maroma...no ressies, wristbands, great beach

Iberostar Grand is very popular but they have dinner ressies...not ok by me! others love it and you will have access to an entire Iberostar complex

Others that are popular...Excellence (both locations in Mexico) and El dorado

In jamaica....sandals and couples seem to be popular...haven't been to a sandals in 20 yrs so I can't comment

Again, I really loved Secrets Wild orchid/st james, it is made up of smaller cove beaches so no long walks on the beach. It was private...no outsiders or beach vendors to bother with.

Hope that helps...let me know if you have any questions...i do advise that you go on tripadvisor not just for reviews but to post on the forums.

 

[aidansmommy]

We did Secrets Excellence in Riviera Maya. Adults only, lots to do, very nice pools, and you choose whichever restaurant you want to eat at out of five different places I believe. Good luck with your choice!!!

 

[eeyoresmom]

OK,the Secret resorts are closer to $4000 for 6 nights so over budget. I am very close to booking Excellence resort in Punta Cana. I have been researching them for around a year and $3000 including air is a great price. I'm hesitant to book however, because of the resorts remoteness. We may want to explore a bit and I've been reading this is pretty remote.ugh! Maybe we should look at some of the less expensive resorts for location, experience? Sigh,really overwhelmed.Thank you for all your input. It has provided me a reference and jumping off point!

 

[Darcy03231]

Upscale- Young Island Resort or Petit St. Vincent. Both are amazing, but you'll definitely go over budget.

Upper Scale - Secrets Maroma - also probably over budget, depending on the time of year.

Really Nice - We like the Iberostar resorts. We've stayed in several and never been disappointed. Definitely not on the scale of the others above, but nice.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Love Sandals Whitehouse.

DH and I were at Secrets Wild Orchid 2 years ago and neither of us were impressed. We like a resort with a great beach and Secrets beach is man made. Plus the room set up was weird. We didn't like that either.

Whitehouse is on the southwest area of Jamaica. It is the only resort there, so no locals bothering you. The resort is set on a peninsula so the beach is huge and private. All rooms are oceanfront.

DH and I are returning for the third time in April. If u need anymore info feel free to PM me.

 

[shoney]

OK,the Secret resorts are closer to $4000 for 6 nights so over budget. I am very close to booking Excellence resort in Punta Cana. I have been researching them for around a year and $3000 including air is a great price. I'm hesitant to book however, because of the resorts remoteness. We may want to explore a bit and I've been reading this is pretty remote.ugh! Maybe we should look at some of the less expensive resorts for location, experience? Sigh,really overwhelmed.Thank you for all your input. It has provided me a reference and jumping off point!

Have you checked the discount sites...

www.allinclusiveoutlet.com
www.bookit.com
www.cheapcaribbean.com

Also, if you can switch to May, the rates are usually lower.

Adults only tend to be more $$$.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Have you checked the discount sites...

www.allinclusiveoutlet.com
www.bookit.com
www.cheapcaribbean.com

Also, if you can switch to May, the rates are usually lower.

Adults only tend to be more $$$.[/QUOTE

yes, thank you. Have been playing around with all inclusive outlet site all day. My problem is still picking the resort! Getting closer,though.We have decided on Cancun over DR since we want the option of exploring off resort.

 

[disney4us2002]

My bf and her dh go to Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort in Cancun every single year and have been bugging us to go with but they go when we can't get away. Anyway, they LOVE this place and swear it is the best they've tried. As their kids are grown, they have been to many all-inclusives and this is the only one they have returned to for the past five years.

 

[DisneyObsession]

We went to the Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, MX. It was wonderful! we had a relaxing, perfect vacation. I highly recommend this resort!

BTW...this trip was to celebrate my 50th!!!!

 

[A10560]

Excellence - Punta Cana

I send clients there all the time. My last client to go (August) compared it to what you would see on The Bachelor.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Excellence - Punta Cana

I send clients there all the time. My last client to go (August) compared it to what you would see on The Bachelor.

The Excellence Resorts were what got us thinking of an all inclusive. They are wonderful Unfortunately we decided on Cancun and the one there is far away from other things we want to do.

 

[eeyoresmom]

We went to the Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, MX. It was wonderful! we had a relaxing, perfect vacation. I highly recommend this resort!

BTW...this trip was to celebrate my 50th!!!!

I found this resort after MANY hours looking. Watched youtube videos and fell in love. Went to book and got a message saying "Sorry, price has gone up $300". Yuck. Still looking for a good price on it. It meets all of our wish list except it is not adult only.

 

[PatriciaH]

The Riu Palace in Playa del Carmen is a nice resort-we have stayed there. The Iberostar Lindo (Playa del Carmen also) is nice and they have an adult only option in that complex The Iberostar Grand. The beach can be rougher here than at the Riu Palace, but I hated all of the jet skis around the Riu area the last time we stayed there. They stunk and were loud. Beaches Turks and Caicos is beautiful but $$$. They keep kids occupied so you can still have a good time as adults. Sandals resorts are great but again over your budget. I would def. go to Mexico over DR. Much more to do off site (ruins-Coba/Tulum/Cichen Itza, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, etc.) Other islands (other than Jamaica) are probably going to be over your budget. BVI or Grenada would be so nice.

 

[shoney]

The Excellence Resorts were what got us thinking of an all inclusive. They are wonderful Unfortunately we decided on Cancun and the one there is far away from other things we want to do.

There are 2...one in cancun and another in Puerto Morelos. PM is a great little town....lots of snorkeling there.


If you are looking at family resorts...Barcelo Maya Palace is nice and on a great beach...but much further south.