All Inclusive or not?
Jan 26th, 2005, 10:47 AM
#2
I have the same question! I have never done an all inclusive. I like to dine in different restaurants and enjoy different types of meals. But as my kids get older and eat more, I am thinking about trying an all inclusive. No worries, and it is all taken care of before I go. You can eat, drink and use the activities as much as you want. I wonder where a really good one is? Anyone?
Jan 26th, 2005, 10:54 AM
#3
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Have been on two AIs. However, I don't think I will do so again.Nothing wrong with the hotels- just that I felt a little trapped and we "escaped" a few evenings. This does make it quite expensive.But then I don't have kids demanding drinks, ice cream etc all day! BTW I found I ended up paying the same for AI as for accomodation only. However I could choose where I ate on accomodation only!
Jan 26th, 2005, 11:14 AM
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We've done both and like both. You will always have people that say stupid things like, "The AI's are buffet only". Not true. These people either have never been to one or they paid $200 a week somewhere. And you know what? Even the non-AI's have had breakfast buffets. Which my husband loves as he eats a couple of plates of fresh fruit. Culinary wise, I've had some very good food at some of the AI's. They change the menu daily at each of the restaurants. I've been at Non-AI's where I've spent $8.00 for a Bloody Mary that was so bad I couldn't drink it. And yet, I've had some very high quality dinner wines at AI's. With an AI you always know what your cost is upfront and they have entertainment. We usually have a big breakfast and go off to explore the island and return and grab a burger. There are nice AI's and although I've never been to one, I'm sure there are bad. There are places I would not do an AI. For instance, GC is known for exceptional food and I think that would have been very limiting for us if they had had an AI there. For the most part, I will say that I think AI's go above and beyond your expectations. As fiona said, when we have done non-AI's, we too have spent the same amount just for the hotel as we have for an AI.
Jan 26th, 2005, 12:33 PM
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We love A/I resorts. for us, it is the way to go. We've only had good experiences.
The big plus for us is knowing what our vacation is going to cost us before we even leave home. That makes budgeting for the trip much easier (and we do have to budget).
Also, we don't want to worry where our next meal is coming from, or how are we going to get there. We've stayed at A/I resorts that have more than one restaurant, so the meals don't get boring. As was already mentioned, the buffets do change with each meal.
Of course, you still can go other places if you really want to. We have always felt we got our money's worth.
The big plus for us is knowing what our vacation is going to cost us before we even leave home. That makes budgeting for the trip much easier (and we do have to budget).
Also, we don't want to worry where our next meal is coming from, or how are we going to get there. We've stayed at A/I resorts that have more than one restaurant, so the meals don't get boring. As was already mentioned, the buffets do change with each meal.
Of course, you still can go other places if you really want to. We have always felt we got our money's worth.
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Jan 27th, 2005, 12:50 PM
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Girlonthego: We have stayed at Breezes in Nassau 3 times. Children under 17 were not allowed there when we went (don't know if that rule has changed). Last May we stayed at Beaches Turks & Caicos. We did not have any children with us, but we really loved the place. We are going back this May. It is a great place for kids.
Jan 28th, 2005, 07:15 AM
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girlonthego, I think I mentioned Sugar Bay to you about a week ago. The other AI's that we have stayed at have been adults only. I liked Sugar Bay. There were nights when some of us couldn't decide on which entree to have and the staff gave us both! The bars have top shelf alochol and there is a self serve pop station and ice cream for the kids. The beach is private.
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:32 AM
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We go non-AI in Jamaica (I did do a Sandals once in my early 20's so I guess I can compare).
We spend about the same $ but we spend it differently. We use it to eat when and where we want (and so far, all the drinks we want, lobster, appetizers, etc has not cost more than AIs we've priced). It is important to me to be able to go eat wherever i want and in Jamaica that's easy to do, espeically in Negril where there are literally hundreds of differentplaces to eat that are reasonably priced.
We also spend $ on stuff that isn't usually included in an AI, like rent a jetski or take day trips to waterfalls or rivers or whatever. We like to hire our own driver/guides, we don't like to take scheduled group tours.
I think we usually get a larger space this way as well, we almost never rent a normal hotel room such as I am comparing AI price to, it's always a cottage or suite or villa with a living area and kitchen as well as bedroom, when we have our children with us that's especially important.
I personally feel we get a better value and more choices by doing it non-AI, so that's what we do.
I can understand the appeal of pre-paying for everything but we want to do so much that isn't included that even if we did AI we'd still be paying for our trips and such so it's not worth it - for us.
We spend about the same $ but we spend it differently. We use it to eat when and where we want (and so far, all the drinks we want, lobster, appetizers, etc has not cost more than AIs we've priced). It is important to me to be able to go eat wherever i want and in Jamaica that's easy to do, espeically in Negril where there are literally hundreds of differentplaces to eat that are reasonably priced.
We also spend $ on stuff that isn't usually included in an AI, like rent a jetski or take day trips to waterfalls or rivers or whatever. We like to hire our own driver/guides, we don't like to take scheduled group tours.
I think we usually get a larger space this way as well, we almost never rent a normal hotel room such as I am comparing AI price to, it's always a cottage or suite or villa with a living area and kitchen as well as bedroom, when we have our children with us that's especially important.
I personally feel we get a better value and more choices by doing it non-AI, so that's what we do.
I can understand the appeal of pre-paying for everything but we want to do so much that isn't included that even if we did AI we'd still be paying for our trips and such so it's not worth it - for us.
Jan 28th, 2005, 11:16 AM
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I've actually done more AI trips than non but I prefer non AI. The biggest mistake I made was doing AI in Anguilla - obviously I didn't do my homework there. Did non AI in Cayman and that is the best choice there because of the great restaurants. Did AI in Mexico becuause we were in an area not close to many choices. Have done both AI and non in Jamaica and would never do AI there again for the same reasons Liza mentioned. I like eating at odd hours on vacation and if I only want dessert one night for dinner, I want to be able to do that without feeling like I have to eat because it is paid for. I like snacking a lot in Negril along the beach and going on a search for the best dirty banana, the best lobster and the best snapper.
Jan 28th, 2005, 05:02 PM
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girlonthego (answer to your questions)
We have been very satisfied with all the food we were served at both Breezes and Beaches. I will admit we are not picky eaters. If you are really looking for "high class gourmet" food you may be disappointed. We however, have not been disappointed, or bored with the food, we liked it. The buffets served a different menu every day. Since my husband hates to spend a lot of time sitting in a restaurant (at home or abroad) we eat almost all our meals at the resort's buffet. Oddly enough, we don't eat at buffets very much at home.
As for deals: I don't know much about finding deals. I use a local travel agent to book my island trips, and she has been able to give me some kind of discount (I don't know what kind you would call it). I've been reading on another travel forum (that is frequented by a lot of travel agents) that Sandals/Beaches is no longer going to give agents discounts (that they can pass on to customers). The travel agents are not happy about this news. I have not talked to my agent lately, but I imagine that is the discount she has passed on to me. Anyway, the cost of our trips has been between 3500 - 4000 for 5 nites (that includes the airfare) from Baltimore. Each year the cost has risen slightly.
Hope this helps some.
We have been very satisfied with all the food we were served at both Breezes and Beaches. I will admit we are not picky eaters. If you are really looking for "high class gourmet" food you may be disappointed. We however, have not been disappointed, or bored with the food, we liked it. The buffets served a different menu every day. Since my husband hates to spend a lot of time sitting in a restaurant (at home or abroad) we eat almost all our meals at the resort's buffet. Oddly enough, we don't eat at buffets very much at home.
As for deals: I don't know much about finding deals. I use a local travel agent to book my island trips, and she has been able to give me some kind of discount (I don't know what kind you would call it). I've been reading on another travel forum (that is frequented by a lot of travel agents) that Sandals/Beaches is no longer going to give agents discounts (that they can pass on to customers). The travel agents are not happy about this news. I have not talked to my agent lately, but I imagine that is the discount she has passed on to me. Anyway, the cost of our trips has been between 3500 - 4000 for 5 nites (that includes the airfare) from Baltimore. Each year the cost has risen slightly.
Hope this helps some.
Jan 28th, 2005, 05:52 PM
#18
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mlb,
I've done all inclusive with both hotels and villas. My take is you generally pay more ultimately than ala carte. You have to think there's sometimes you just skip a meal, I do frequently though rarely dinner....breakfast and/or lunch more typical. Are you big drinkers? Big drinkers might do well with all inclusive and thats actually how the prices them to lean...figuring people on holiday are going to drink. Lastly, all inclusive is too limiting...here you are in some great place and you're out and about and see a neat restaurant you'd like to try but you feel married to that all inclusive you are paying for. My advice, go ala carte unless the price is too good to pass up but then again if its that good you can probably forgo an all inclusive meal and eat out at some local place and not feel bad about it.
Happy travels.
I've done all inclusive with both hotels and villas. My take is you generally pay more ultimately than ala carte. You have to think there's sometimes you just skip a meal, I do frequently though rarely dinner....breakfast and/or lunch more typical. Are you big drinkers? Big drinkers might do well with all inclusive and thats actually how the prices them to lean...figuring people on holiday are going to drink. Lastly, all inclusive is too limiting...here you are in some great place and you're out and about and see a neat restaurant you'd like to try but you feel married to that all inclusive you are paying for. My advice, go ala carte unless the price is too good to pass up but then again if its that good you can probably forgo an all inclusive meal and eat out at some local place and not feel bad about it.
Happy travels.
Jan 28th, 2005, 10:06 PM
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KXR
Anguilla Great House had an all inclusive plan years ago that we did. It was right after it switched from Pineapple back to The Great House. I don't know if they even offer it now or not. The food was okay but we know we missed a lot of great restaurants. The bartender was great so we did have great drinks. We did eat at Scilly Cay and a couple of little spots on Shoal Bay.
Anguilla Great House had an all inclusive plan years ago that we did. It was right after it switched from Pineapple back to The Great House. I don't know if they even offer it now or not. The food was okay but we know we missed a lot of great restaurants. The bartender was great so we did have great drinks. We did eat at Scilly Cay and a couple of little spots on Shoal Bay.
