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Old 08-06-2017, 01:58 PM   #1
stazzy33
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My family is looking at going to an all inclusive this November. We are currently looking at Jamaica, but are open to all recommendations. I have found searching online to be a little overwhelming so I was hoping the CP braintrust would have some ideas.



The trip will be two 30 something couples, and my parents who are in their 60s. So we are looking for something that will appeal to all age ranges and have enough things to do off the resort to keep us busy.
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Old 08-06-2017, 02:14 PM   #2
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bahamas
Swim with dolphins, great casino and shows, amazing market and tones of great restaurants around the area that are dirt cheap. I have stayed at Atlantis and sandals emerald bay or beach or something like that. I actually liked the sandals more but that is probably because we had a Butler that literally did everything for us from booking boat rides and tours to ironing my clothes for nights out. It was also nice knowing that everyone at the resort was a couple and that removed the ######bag tourists constantly getting plastered and hitting on everyone. I will be going back next year but will be at Atlantis due to that fact i have a daughter now and there is more to do for children there.

I cannot comment on Jamaica as i have not been there but i can say i would go to the bahamas 10 out of 10 times over Mexico and Cuba.
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Old 08-06-2017, 03:27 PM   #3
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We stayed at the Grand Palladium in Montego Bay last year and it was incredible. A little pricier than some of the other resorts but worth every penny IMO. Huge pools, lots of bars, great restaurants and room service.
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Old 08-06-2017, 03:53 PM   #4
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check the weather for different locations because November is rainy season in some places.
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Old 08-06-2017, 03:59 PM   #5
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check the weather for different locations because November is rainy season in some places.
This. Check historical weather patterns in prospective destinations. The last thing you want is for the weather to suck.

Or sometimes its good, it can mean that your resort may not be full or that you can maybe get a discount.
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Old 08-06-2017, 04:21 PM   #6
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Excellence at Playa Mujeres in Mexico north of Cancun. Great resort IMO for the type of trip you described, I was very impressed when we stayed there, we go again any time.
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Old 08-06-2017, 04:41 PM   #7
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Stayed at the Luna y Mares in Holguin Cuba...loved it. Food was decent, beach was great, price was attractive...

Whatever you shortlist, google 'Debbie Caribbean Resort Reviews' and read up on your list...
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Old 08-06-2017, 05:13 PM   #8
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From my experience, unless you are staying at the really high end resorts the food is generally pretty disappointing. The food is sufficient if you are on a week long bender but I wouldn't expect anything to rave about. Outside of that the resorts are pretty decent.
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Old 08-06-2017, 05:24 PM   #9
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When reading reviews on any all-inclusive pay the most attention to the food parts. I'm not a good snob, but I do like variety and try to find AI's with lots of restaurants.

Jamaica is a good pick for AI resorts as there are quite a few options. While Negril ones have some of the best beaches, MoBay resorts are definitely most central to everything on the island, while I've never stayed in the Ocho Rios area but I believe this is where the cruise ships port.

As for more specific ones I've stayed at Sandals Royal Caribbean and it was ok. Hardly any sandy beach but the food was good. Plenty of options too as we had access to Sandals MoBay as well with a short shuttle ride. It is also by the airport (both of these Sandals are) so you will see and hear airplanes but honestly your forget about them after a day.

The other one I've stayed at is Riu Tropical Bay close to Negril. The food at this one was definitely the best (little BBQ shack was great) and the beach and water were perfect for lounging or swimming (it's in a bay so very calm). The few lounge shows we went to at night were entertaining but we didn't venture off resort (once to snorkel). I have no idea what this place is like now because this was 17 years ago so things I'm sure have changed.

We've decided to head back this March and are headed to the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall. I like the location (MoBay and close to golfing) and the food options look good.

Anyways that's my experience with Jamaica AI's. Really the only thing I would be leary of is Cuba AI's. I have yet to have a consistent number of people enjoy the food there over the years. We get a lot of travellers looking for clothes and sandals for their trip and the food is always the downside for the Cuba trips.
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Old 08-06-2017, 05:40 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarygeologist View Post
From my experience, unless you are staying at the really high end resorts the food is generally pretty disappointing. The food is sufficient if you are on a week long bender but I wouldn't expect anything to rave about. Outside of that the resorts are pretty decent.
I dont know, I've always had good food but exactly like you said, nothing to rave about.

If you're looking for Haute Cuisine then you either shouldnt be going to Mexico or you should be looking at a restaurant off the resort.

The story I always enjoy telling is about when I went to Cuba and this couple from Ottawa just would not STFU about how terrible the food was.

It wasnt really, I thought it was pretty good, but he kept ordering steaks and various other dishes that are not the specialty of a small island nation.

If you want something good, get what they're good at.

"How come you always get seafood?"

I dont know pal, you see a lot of cows wandering around? We're on an island.

Going to Mexico the food has always been 'good' and thats about the best you can ask for, if your palate requires more than that then perhaps the hotel restaurant or the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet are the wrong places to look.
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Old 08-06-2017, 07:36 PM   #11
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I'll echo what others are saying about food. The resort I stayed at in Jamaica for my friends wedding was really nice, but the food was pretty disappointing. They had these massive buffets full of... hamburgers, hot dogs and spaghetti. boring. And hanging out at the resort is cool for like a day or two, but after that it will probably get a bit dull. Try to go off resort, whether it's for a sightseeing tour, shopping trip or just to explore and it will make the trip much more fulfilling.
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Old 08-06-2017, 08:43 PM   #12
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I've stayed at the same all inclusive in Mexico (Playa Del Carmen area) a couple times and it's been great. Lots of pools catering to different crowds, helpful staff, free bike rentals to bike around the resort, recreation (yoga, volleyball, daily group runs, etc) and great restaurants. The room service menu is huge and tons of drinks available.

That being said it's very Americanized and nothing like authentic Mexican culture. You'd have to leave the resort for that. I assume most resorts are like that.
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Old 08-06-2017, 08:58 PM   #13
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I've always found it very disappointing how all inclusives always serve bland American style food. Real local cuisine is cheap to make and would taste so much better. The resorts always cater to the demographic that wants to sit in front of a food through for a week.

Basically unless you are at a high end resort with great a la carte restaurants, expect to be disappointed with food and drinks.
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Old 08-06-2017, 09:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
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I've always found it very disappointing how all inclusives always serve bland American style food. Real local cuisine is cheap to make and would taste so much better. The resorts always cater to the demographic that wants to sit in front of a food through for a week.

Basically unless you are at a high end resort with great a la carte restaurants, expect to be disappointed with food and drinks.
Be adventourous, go off resort and eat at some local places. Best tacos I've ever had in my life were from a cart on the side of the road in Puerto Vallarta, $1 each
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Old 08-06-2017, 10:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
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That being said it's very Americanized and nothing like authentic Mexican culture. You'd have to leave the resort for that. I assume most resorts are like that.
It's hard to be super accurate when ignoring the crippling poverty generally experienced by the majority of Mexico. Honesty about the state of the country of Mexico doesn't help book a return stay. Being reminded that your one week stay is equal to the annual salary of the guy who bussed your table is bad for business.
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Old 08-06-2017, 10:38 PM   #16
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We stayed at Riu Negril in July 2015 and 2016. The reason we chose to return the second year in a row was because we were bringing two seniors and two 17 yeat olds and we wanted to be familiar with the resort. The first time was very good, there wasn't too much rain, relatively clean resort with an awesome beach. The second time around I wasn't enjoying it as much. The beach was somewhat eroded due to rain and there were stingrays in the shallows--not the resort's fault of course. Both times we felt that the food was not great, the entertainment was "meh" and the beach vendors were allowed to bother us. In my opinion, the staff were not as polite as I would have liked. We did the dolphin cove thing and Rick's cave, which were OK.

This year we went to Mexico--we stayed at Barcelo Grand resort which had five hotels in the complex. We were allowed to use the facilities at four of the five hotels (food, pools, entertainment). The staff were great for the most part, everything looked clean and the beach was pretty good--the sea wasn't very calm, though. Since this was the first couple's getaway for me and my now fiancée, we decided not to take part in any excursions. From what I could see, there is a lot to do and much of it is along the highway. We were not bothered by anyone at the beach other than two offers from the Dolphinarium staff from across the road. The food was very good, i thought, but the drinks were not. I am not sure if i can blame Mexico, but i got sick a week after i came back. The doctors couldn't find any of the usual suspects in terms of travel related illnesses so i won't try to pin this on the travel.
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Old 08-07-2017, 09:13 AM   #17
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For an older or more mature crowd looking for excellent food and a great pool check out
'Valentin Imperial Maya' in Mexico. We went there for our Honeymoon and it was a nice set up. It's an adult resort, and the food is amazing. You do need to have decent apparel for the restaurants though.
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Old 08-07-2017, 10:22 AM   #18
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Mexico will be the cheapest by leaps and bounds, it's why it's so popular.

Everyone will have differing opinions but from my experience and others I have talked to Mexico is great on the cheap or large groups but if you have been anywhere else like Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks etc it is not comparable when it comes to the experience off resort. Mexico resorts are really good, it's leaving the resort when you need to do your homework.
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Old 08-07-2017, 06:19 PM   #19
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If you are going to an all inclusive then does it actually matter where the resort is? Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico what difference does it make, you will eat the same food, swim in a small patch of the same ocean, ignore the same staff in a polite Canadian way.

Left to my own devices in Jamaica I'd end up getting robbed and shot in Kingston as its the home of the music that has dominated my taste since I was 15, theres no way I'm spending my time in a resort that looks like every other resort in the world
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Old 08-07-2017, 10:03 PM   #20
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If you are going to an all inclusive then does it actually matter where the resort is? Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico what difference does it make, you will eat the same food, swim in a small patch of the same ocean, ignore the same staff in a polite Canadian way.

Left to my own devices in Jamaica I'd end up getting robbed and shot in Kingston as its the home of the music that has dominated my taste since I was 15, theres no way I'm spending my time in a resort that looks like every other resort in the world
Barely any Americans in Cuba...but other than that you're right.
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