BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE VACATION

AI's are good if you have every intention of just chilling at the resort and relaxing! I've done 2 AI's in Cancun, Mexico and LOVED it. Laying on the beach or pool, and always having a drink in my hand--or just walking into a restaurant and ordering 3 dinners if I want and picking at them all! LOL

We're doing an AI for our HM. Couples in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Kind of like Sandals--only a little more intimate. I've known many Sandals HMer's and they love that resort!!

FYI--the only think I DON'T like about a cruise--is that while all the food is AI--the drinks are not. You can just add all the drinks to your final bill at the end of the cruise--but it can add up!! So if you like to drink, the cruise can get costly. Yes at AI resorts the drinks can be watered down--but if you give a little tip, the bartender can hook you up!!!

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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A cruise may not be the way to go then. All of your drinks go on your room and then you have a huge tab at the end of the trip.

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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oh geez-- i didn't realize that was a big thing for you. i don't drink a lot-- i like quality stuff so for me 'house wine' was NOT a good thing-- hmm, i know they have packages on cruises where you pay a flat rate and can drink till you drop-- maybe try that? otherwise, stick with the all inclusives

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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oh geez-- i didn't realize that was a big thing for you. i don't drink a lot-- i like quality stuff so for me 'house wine' was NOT a good thing-- hmm, i know they have packages on cruises where you pay a flat rate and can drink till you drop-- maybe try that? otherwise, stick with the all inclusives

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No Don't get me wrong, I am a VERY picky eater & drinker and do not want crap
I was just saying leaning towards the All-Inclusive because of the drinking

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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oh geez-- i didn't realize that was a big thing for you. i don't drink a lot-- i like quality stuff so for me 'house wine' was NOT a good thing-- hmm, i know they have packages on cruises where you pay a flat rate and can drink till you drop-- maybe try that? otherwise, stick with the all inclusives

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Tell me more about this flat rate drinking! Ive never heard of that!

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Posted by melbalalala

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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oh geez-- i didn't realize that was a big thing for you. i don't drink a lot-- i like quality stuff so for me 'house wine' was NOT a good thing-- hmm, i know they have packages on cruises where you pay a flat rate and can drink till you drop-- maybe try that? otherwise, stick with the all inclusives

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Tell me more about this flat rate drinking! Ive never heard of that!

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Um.........Yeah Info please

i am definitely in the minority here. . . BUT i loved the AI in Aruba. . . a lot of people say there is such great food in Aruba you shouldn't do an AI - but we went out to eat 3x but it was STILL worth it bc of the breakfust, lunch and ALL THE DRINKS. . . I was drunk ALL DAY LONG. . . and didnt even realize it until i realize that in all the pictures i wasn't standing NEXT to the people I had just met - i was kind of standing ALL OVER THEM!

BUT ANYWAY we stayed in the Tamarijn AI in ARuba ( and are going back for our HM) GREAT FOOD, great beach

I have to warn everyone though it is NOT luxurious. . . it is clean and RIGHT on the beach. . . but it is definitely NOT a 5 star hotel or anything - every room is directly on the beach. .

it is pretty inexpensive - so instead of like a week at a more 'glamorous' place we are staying 2 weeks there

sorry i am babbling but i loved it so much! lol

ive been to a few all inclusives. hands down the best was the iberostar paraiso maya in cancun/riviera maya mexico.

every room there is a suite with a shower and a whirlpol tub. theres 24 hour room service (food is OK). but the restaurants are really what made this AI better than others. the iberostar paraiso complex has 4 hotels (i think theyre building a 5th) on one property. maya is the nicest of them all. if you stay there you can eat at any of the 17 or so restaurants on the complex. however ONLY if your a maya guest can you eat at the two gourmet restaurants. and i know, you think AI you dont think gourmet..but i am a super picky eater and really, it was truly gourmet. both are french-esque type food. but the quality FAR surpasses any ive seen at an AI. hands down. plus the complex is just fabulous..

so heres my vote for the Iberostar Paraiso Maya

I loved Occidental X-Carat resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The food and service were both great!! The resort is very large and a little confusing. THe price was great too!

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Posted by D's Girl

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Posted by melbalalala

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

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Posted by D's Girl

See that is the thing why I wanted all-inclusive, not so much the food, but the drinking. FH and I like to party and the bar tabs would be insane!

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oh geez-- i didn't realize that was a big thing for you. i don't drink a lot-- i like quality stuff so for me 'house wine' was NOT a good thing-- hmm, i know they have packages on cruises where you pay a flat rate and can drink till you drop-- maybe try that? otherwise, stick with the all inclusives

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Tell me more about this flat rate drinking! Ive never heard of that!

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Um.........Yeah Info please

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oh, sorry melissa and bari-- didn't mean to leave you hanging but FH and I went out to dinner with FSIL to chile's (but then we had to leave b/c the kitchen went on fire and it would have been an hour until our food lol) so then we went to Friday's which was great-- anywho: i wish i knew more details but it was my daddy who told me about it. i'll have to ask him-- my mom and dad do not drink at all so he only knew b/c the last cruise they went on (this past january) with my aunt and uncle-- my uncle (who is borderline alcoholic) got that 'program' and he told my dad that it is offered on all cruises and for people who drink a lot it comes in handy-- so def ask about it-- i wish i knew more specific details but i think it's just cheaper (only if you drink a LOT) than buying each drink and running a tab...

and i don't mean to sound 'snobby' with what i said about the alcohol being cheap at AI's-- it's just that when we went there was nothing but house wine, one kind of beer, etc--- and we like really nice italian imported wine and FH only likes guiness and heinken-- so for us we were a little let down, we had no idea it would be so limited and 'generic'-- maybe it's not like that at all resorts, idk-- something to look into.

I've been to a few al's in the past few years - FH and I went to Grand Cayman - which I wasn't thrilled with - but if you stay at the westin it really is beautiful.
Next was DOminican Republic - we stayed at Sun Village Resort - had a really great time we went last august - drank all day ate all day - only problem was the liquor was limited and I love stoli raspberry and they only had stoli, they had a pretty good selection but not great.
In Feb we went to Cozumel - stayed a melia cozumel which is part of the Sol melia chain ( paradisus , paramount etc) That was another great trip - the resort was so nice you could drink anything they had at the bar - any vodka, any beer, sangria, pinot you name it- if they had it you could drink it
that was a great vacation - much much better then I thought it was going to be - the service was excellent, the food was great and the place was very very clean
I've also stayed at radisson in the Bahamas which I LOVED and I stayed at the ATlantis in Bahamas which I thought was nice but not my favorite
So there it is - let me know if you have any questions
ALSO I hear Sandals is the way to go - my sister just went to Turks and caicos and loved it - my good friend was married there 3 years ago and raves about along with everyone that attended

FH and I just bought time share with Starwood hotels ( Westin, 'W', Shereton, St regis, The Luxory COllection) so we may use that for our HM - but have no idea where to go - maybe Italy?

Thanks Ladies

Bari - did you decide where you're going? I'm in the same boat as you, so just wondering if all the suggestions helped. I'm still confused!! Great suggestions though!

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Posted by rachel212

Bari - did you decide where you're going? I'm in the same boat as you, so just wondering if all the suggestions helped. I'm still confused!! Great suggestions though!

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Not even close to decided
But, I wanted to get an idea from everyone so at least I know where to begin when I sit down with the Travel Agent.

I swear I am drugging my FH, putting a blind fold on him and we are going to Tahiti

I honestly feel you pain. My FH wants to strangle me. I am obsessed over this I can't seem to decide. I am stuck on Anguilla and Turks and Caico's. Has anyone been there - other than Cap Juluca and Cuisinart. I think they're a little too pricey