OT-All-Inclusive Tropical Resort that's affordable???

[loveysbydesign]

HI all,
My dh and I have always wanted to go somewhere like Jamaica. The problem is there are so many places to choose from. We're hoping to have a new baby by next summer so we would like to go someplace relaxing, instead of to WDW next fall (perhaps Oct.). Everyone here has such a wealth of knowledge that I figured I'd post OT here and I'm sure I'll get some great responses...even though I know MANY of you will say that we should still "go to WDW anyway"!!
Can anyone recommend a family-friendly (our kids would be 8, 5 and appx. 4 months old) all-inclusive resort in Jamaica or somewhere else that is tropical and relaxing and would fit into our budget (we'd prefer to spend around $2000)??? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[mytwotinks]

I can't wait to see the suggestions. Any ideas of places that don't cost a fortune to fly to? That can really add to the cost when you are talking about 4 air tickets.

 

[momandseandodisney]

I would sugesst Dom. Republic or something?

I am in canada though, and that is the one of the "cheap" islands from here

 

[dabute]

$2000 for what exactly? Do want to spend $2000 with airfare included? For a week? What airport are you flying out of?

I’ve traveled to Jamaica several times. I’ve also been to Mexico. I stayed exclusively in all-inclusive resorts. I can give you some suggestions, but I need more information.


Jen

 

[kimberh]

I'm interested in what is going to be said on this Thread. I suppose a cruise is out? We love cruising and there are some REAL Bargains out there right now.

 

[mdhkitten]

I'd say take a Disney cruise, or maybe try a Beaches resort that has the Sesame Street characters (that looks like fun ). Or have you tried going to www.skyauction.com, and seeing if they have any good trips up for auction? Good luck!

 

[Ella's Mom]

We really like the all-inclusives in Riviera Maya (Cancun area of Mexico). The Iberostars are great with kids. The Barcelo Maya Tropical has an awesome kids pool area with little waterslides. If the $2,000 you're wanting to spend needs to include airfare, you might not get a very nice resort and you probably wouldn't be able to stay very long. I probably wouldn't travel out of the country with kids if I couldn't stay a week. All-inclusives are wonderful. I'd be concerned about hurricane season in the fall. I'd hate to get stuck in another country with little kids.

 

[loveysbydesign]

My dh says now maybe we should look into going in April of 2007 instead...even though I may be preggo at the time. so it would be me, dh, ds-7 and dd-4. We would prefer it to include airfare, a friend of mine recommended the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego Bay, but it seems like it would cost too much for us. We would prefer to go for 1 week but would consider a day less if necessary. I know someone else who stayed at Punta Cava (sp?) in Dom Rep. but she said there weren't many kids there. We just want someplace tropical that has a fantastic beach that is nice enough that we can actually go into the ocean and swim, play with the kids etc. I've hheard that some places the resort and beach are nice but once you go into the water it;s not very pleasant!

 

[dabute]

a friend of mine recommended the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego Bay. I've heard that some places the resort and beach are nice but once you go into the water it;s not very pleasant!

If you are looking for a nice beach this is not the place for you. I stayed here once and was really disappointed with the beach.

I really don't think your going to be able find anything decent for $2000 total. Especially for April. That's Spring break time. I priced how much it would cost for 2 adults and 2 minors to fly to Montego Bay from Pittsburgh,PA on travelocity(not sure we you are flying from)in April and it was $2100. Just for the airfare!! The prices will probably come down in the future, but maybe to $300 pp which is still $1200 w/o a hotel.International airfare is expensive in part because of all the extra arrival and departure taxes. They $2100 price tag included $400 in just taxes. Also you will need passports (if you don’t already have them) the new law requiring them for travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada goes into effect at the end of the year. That will be a few hundred dollars.

but it seems like it would cost too much for us.

I went to the Holiday Inn website and for one week in April, with your party size it was $450 per night.

If I were you I would look up prices on funjet.com or applevacations.com. You can get an idea of how much these type of trips cost. They sometimes have some good deals. Last year we went to an all incluvive in Mexico for $1350 for two including airfare. It was a really nice resort also. We did go in September though.

 

[twinz]

How about a Cruise? I know that Royal Caribbean Cruises goes out of Pennsylvania PA, but only go to Bermuda (which can be expensive). Also Norwegian Cruise Lines goes out of NYC, and Boston. NCL can be pretty reasonable. Cruises are good because you get to see a lot and unpack once. plus all your food on board is included (can you tell I sell cruises?). Any questions...just ask.

 

[loveysbydesign]

OK...after discussing more with dh, we've decided that we are open to any month to travel next year except for May-Sept. Now we need to figure out where exactly to go and when will be cheapest to go and whether we want to go when I'm pregnant or with a 4-6 month old (assuming the baby comes when we hope it will!!!)

How about a Cruise? I know that Royal Caribbean Cruises goes out of Pennsylvania PA, but only go to Bermuda (which can be expensive). Also Norwegian Cruise Lines goes out of NYC, and Boston. NCL can be pretty reasonable.

We did just go to WDW and on a 5 day RCCL cruise this past May. We are open to cruising, however as you mentioned it is expensive to cruise out of Philly (even though we are oly 1 hour from there) I'm afraid that if we choose to cruise it will be EXTRA expensive as we will have to book a cabin for 5 instead of 4 or book 2 cabins...I think it would cost us over $3000 to do that. (I briefly priced them) I have to check into skyauctions and see what they have to offer. My friend says I should wait until I'm pregnant before I start researching prices and stuff.....but I'm anxious now-LOL!!!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I'm not going to say that it can't happen..however airfare is going to take up a huge amount of your budget. Would you be getting 4 tickets or 5?

which airport would you be flying out of? that would determine for me where is an easy/affordable place to get to.

ex. if you fly out of an airport that has JetBlue you may be able to get a flight to the bahamas for little money..

)r if Air Jamaica flies out of your airport maybe a deal to Jamaica. I just came back from Jamaica in May from touring different hotels. We stayed in a different hotel every night and toured quite a few. (I am a travel agent)

 

[loveysbydesign]

We can fly out of Philly or Newark, we live 15 minutes from ALlentown but they're getting too expensive to fly out of there!!! We would need 4 tickets.

 

[castleeto]

I'm not sure how close you are to any of JetBlue's cities, but they fly to 6 cities in the caribbean, and have GREAT fares!

Edit- I see you just posted Newark. JetBlue flies from there to Puerto Rico. If you get a hotel that's a little out of the way from San Juan there are some wonderful beaches! Or they start service from Pittsburgh to NY soon, so maybe you could get a connection through there to Aruba, the DR, or the Bahamas.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We can fly out of Philly or Newark, we live 15 minutes from ALlentown but they're getting too expensive to fly out of there!!! We would need 4 tickets.

Jetblue does not fly out of phl, and does fly out of ewr (newark) however they only offer to different areas of Florida or San Juan.

If you fly out of EWR Continental does alot there and they have flights to Montego bay with all taxes/fees for 4/ $1,380. Taxes alone on that fight run
$346.80.

There is a cute all inclusive that I had visited on a travel agent tour called StarFish. Located about :40min? west of Montego Bay. It is affiliated with SuperClubs.
Starfish is all inclusive, which you can buy different brackets.
Basic is for eating the buffet and grill ...I believe?
Upgrade is for specialty restaurants and kids camps.

They have a trapeze there..water sports, own little island you can swim/walk over to..really cute.... And you pay per head there, Not by the room. So if you have 5 people and the room capacity is 4 you get two rooms or a cottage type thing. They had a machine with self serve pina coladas & strawberry daquiri's..If you want alcohol in it just bring it over to the bar and ask for some rum. (Great for the kids) Large pool w/ slide, swim up bars, even tables inside the pool with stools, etc.. The prices were very reasonable. I would ask your travel agent about it, or you could private message me and I can help you. I also have some pics of the resort. I am a travel agent and book clients where ever they want to go, but only personally recommend places I have been to or stayed at.

Good luck!

 

[kimberh]

We flew to Aruba in Mar 05 and our air was $860. per person, Spring break! We were staying in a timeshare for free or we would not have went. This was also before the Natalee Holloway Murder. Now, I would really have to think about Aruba. We love Grand Cayman, sometimes there are specials with the hotels including air with their rooms .

 

[pamrob]

You might check about the cabins on cruises. A little over a year ago we were able to book a family suite that usually only holds 6 with a party of 7 because the youngest was under 2 and was in a portacrib. This was on Royal Caribbean. YOu may be able to book a 4 person room with a crib for a little one and not have to get a larger cabin.