I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
coldasice217
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I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
OK, so by this point I'm sure everyone is aware of the drama-rama surrounding my HM situation. Me and FH have been talking about it more rationally, and tonight we are going to do more extensive research, with the hopes of making a decision to give the TA the yay or nay to book the Sandals room.
So here's my sticky wicket. Now that I actually RESEARCHED, the Sandals resort in Antigua has been getting really bad reviews, especially compared to other Sandals resorts. I know that you can't please everyone, and that some people will always complain, but this was more than a few, it was a 50/50 split between absolute rave reviews 5 stars and 1 star bashing, and that made us a little uncomfortable.
Looking at the all-inclusives at Aruba, it seems like the service is better, but that the hotels itself aren't as luxurious or updated.
There are other Sandals in Jamaica that get better reviews, but we do have more safety concerns there. There is the one in Nassau, Bahamas that might be a plan B, and also seems very nice, but Antigua still seems more beautiful. St. Lucia unfortunately is out, because with an average of 10.2 inches of rainfall in December, we cannot take that chance.
FH also wants to consider the US Virgin Islands, because his aunt went there on her HM in the early 90s, and was married in the beginning of December as well. No real all inclusives there though.
So, we've already made this choice once before...pick someplace pretty that are PITAs to deal with over someplace that will bend over backwards for you but isn't so pretty to look at. Hmm...I wonder what I could be referring to
I guess what I'm asking is for any first hand reviews or heresay reviews of Sandals, specifically Antigua and Royal Bahamian, Aruba Occidental and Riu, and anything on St. John, St. Thomas, or St. Croix.
TIA!!!
PROBM
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
i went to sandals in jamacia royal carribean and thought it was beyond awful!!! i also visited did not stay at sandals montego bay and i thought that was pretty gross as well
gina409
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
stop researching and go to whatever place looks nicest on the computer
ritas2008
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
Posted by PROBM
i went to sandals in jamacia royal carribean and thought it was beyond awful!!! i also visited did not stay at sandals montego bay and i thought that was pretty gross as well
RIU in Aruba is absolutly STUNNING AND ALL INCLUSIVE.
I highly highly recommend it.
The best part about Aruba is that you arent stuck in one resort. The town is large, fun,and a few minutes away and at night you can stroll to the other hotels and people watch. Its absolutly the most perfect island I have ever been to.
Hands down
allegracristina
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I've heard great things about the RIU also.
JennyAPH
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
My cousin went to the Sandals in Antigua and she loved everything but the food. But she is also the pickiest eater I have ever met so I am not sure I would judge by her. I actually have stayed at a few all inclusive resorts where the food was terrible and I have heard that sandals is supposed to be a million times better....I am going to sandals st lucia and taking my chances!!!
Besides from that she said it was beautiful and fun and relaxing and everything you need in a honeymoon...
littlepixie12
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
Dont go to the one in Bahamas... seriosuly save the money and go elsehwere.. plus IMHO, bahamas isnt one of the nicer islands... What about St. Criox, St. Thomas or St. Lucia?
bag19
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
FH and I stayed at Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica and it was GORGE!!!!!! it's kinda PITA to get to bc you fly into Montego Bay and the resort is clear on the other side of the island, but the privacy, seclusion and untouched beaches are well worth the trip. There were plenty of restaurants to choose from and even though we stayed in a standard room, we felt like we were on a HM (or I did anyways). There are 2 pools and we stayed in the NON-main pool. It wasn't super crowded and they didnt force you to play pool volleyball haha. I don't think you should dismiss Jamaica right away. There are other Sandals besides Montego Bay like Dunns River or Negril (which I heard is beautiful also). We were between Sandals Whitehouse and Sandals in St. Lucia for our HM and the only reason we went with St. Lucia over Jamaica was bc we had been there already and wanted to do something new and special. Its definitely worth a look though! I hope you can go on the HM of your dreams!!! You will find a place!!!
Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
my cousin went to Sandals, St. Lucia for her honeymoon quite a few years ago and absolutely loved it. She had nothing but great things to say about it.
lizzie217
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I stayed at Sandals in the Bahamas a few years back and honestly I think it is way overpriced for what you get. The RIU in Jamaica is great (came level as Sandals..even better but much less $$) Out of all the all inclusives the absolute BEST, cleanest, most amenties etc that I have been to was Excellence Playa Mujeres for my HM out of this world...I would DEF recc this place over Sandlas...JMHO HTH
coldasice217
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
Posted by littlepixie12
Dont go to the one in Bahamas... seriosuly save the money and go elsehwere.. plus IMHO, bahamas isnt one of the nicer islands... What about St. Criox, St. Thomas or St. Lucia?
Do you have any recommendations on those islands? We are also considering any of those three, but weren't sure about hotel selection.
AFutureBride
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I booked Sandals Negril which gets great reviews on Tripadvisor. Sandals Whitehouse also gets good reviews but it is VERY far and secluded. If you never want to leave the resort this may be the place for you.
With Negril we are still secluded from the cruise goers (which dock in MO BAY and gets very busy) but still have many options for activities: waterfalls, Rick cafe etc...
I think Jamaica is pretty safe despite what I've heard from others.
MaggieLuvsJoe
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I'm kind of partial to Aruba since that's where we are going but..........the weather in Aruba is the same all year round which is a plus for you. And they do offer all-inclusives anddddd you don't have to stay on the resort, so you can venture out.
We're not going with an all-inclusive but I hear the RIU is beautiful and the Occidental as well, actually, we stayed at the Occidental in Punta Cana and loved it so I'm guessing the Aruba one must be even better.
BeLissa
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I'm not sure if they have any in the areas you are looking to go, but Iberostar is also a really great all inclusive chain, better than the Riu for the areas we've researched and been to (mexico and DR). They usually have several hotels at each location ranging in niceness, we stayed at the Iberostar Bavaro in DR and it was great, and the Grand Paraiso in Riviera Maya is supposed to be amazing, but Mexico is obv not a logical option right now. But maybe look into where they have other resorts?
Juhgail
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
good luck in your search.
FutureMrsG
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
My sister and brother in law LOVE the Sandals in the Bahamas...they actually liked it better than St. Lucia-
megsher
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
One of my bfs had her honeymoon at the Royal Bahamian and said it was the best vacation ever. She loved it!
I went to a wedding at the Breezes in Bahamas and it was very nice, but the water was cold in February.
pandafish519
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
Posted by ritas2008
Posted by PROBM
i went to sandals in jamacia royal carribean and thought it was beyond awful!!! i also visited did not stay at sandals montego bay and i thought that was pretty gross as well
RIU in Aruba is absolutly STUNNING AND ALL INCLUSIVE.
I highly highly recommend it.
The best part about Aruba is that you arent stuck in one resort. The town is large, fun,and a few minutes away and at night you can stroll to the other hotels and people watch. Its absolutly the most perfect island I have ever been to.
Hands down
i am SOOO excited that you wrote this! i just switched our HM to this resort b/c of all the pig flu!
Amberrenee6705
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
When we booked our wedding/honeymoon in Jamaica, our travel agent said Sandals isnt at all the way they make it seem. He always got bad reviews from it. Thats when he suggested Couples. It's almost like Sandals, being that its all-inclusive but he said the reviews from there are amazing. He even said they dont advertise like sandals does because they get so many returning customers, they dont need to. We went there less than 2 weeks ago and it was AMAZING. We went to Couples in Negril Jamaica, but there are a few others on the island you can look in to. Check out Couples.com. The travel agent we used was discount-all-inclusive.com (tom cowall) who was amazing. Any questions, let me know! :o)
kmiller
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Re: I have decided to be mature and an adult..and need opinions!
I am booked at Sandals Antigua and I hope it is good. i know a lot of people are extremely picky and I am really not..so i am sure it will be fine.
