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NBR: All-inclusive resort recommendations?
I know I could ask this on the travel board but I prefer ideas from the local ladies. Help me brainstorm.
We are planning a "40-moon" sometime later this year. We both turn 40 this year and we never really had much of a honeymoon so we're combining them into one relaxing, re-connecting vacation. We have done some research but I thought I'd ask around for more ideas.
- We prefer a place with no kids.
- We're thinking somewhere in Mexico / Caribbean but we aren't stuck on any specific location.
- Pretend money is no object. Of course it will come into play when we have to pay!
- We haven't yet decided if we're going in the summer or fall.
Mostly, I'd love to know of specific resorts where you've stayed in the past few years that you liked. We can work with a travel agent to find something in our budget at that location or a similar location.
Thanks!
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Re: NBR: All-inclusive resort recommendations?
We went to Sandals for our honeymoon during one of their 60% off sales. We did Sandals Royahl Bohemiem resort. Sandals is 18 and over, couples only (except for wedding parties). It has a ton of restaurants, a seperate private island across the little inlet. It is in Nassau, Bahamas. We could see Atlantis from the beach there. It was amazing. We were treated very very well. We got a room upgrade for no charge (6 levels of room upgrade!). We relaxed. We did not leave the resort. We felt no need. I love the pool bars. We loved karoake in the pub. The food was great at the restaurants and even at the buffet.
We chose Sandals based on quality of reviews and we chose Bahamas bc it is the shortest flight from the mainland. We didn't want to be on planes our whole vacation and I am a nervous flyer.
My cousin went to Sandals St. Lucia for her honeymoon. They had a blast! They did some of the excursions like zip line and what not. We aren't into that stuff but they are and said it was amazing.
Welcome to the world Finley Michael - born 2/13/2010
Baby Sister is coming soon!
We went to Mexico for our Honeymoon... Rivieria Maya to be exact... We went to the Palace Resort out there called Aventura Spa Palace... It was amazing! I dream of the day I can go back there without any kiddos.
The Palace Resort Company has places throughout mexico and they are an awesome company. Some are adults only and some allow kids. Aventura is adults only, they also have one in Playa del Carmen thats adults only as well as Cancun too. They are very good to their employees, they have tours of the grounds and where the workers work and hang out. Its really cool. They drive their employees to and from their houses to work...
If I were to do it again I would go to the resort in Playa Del Carmen, where they have a beach. Aventura was on a lagoon. So no beach.
I could go on and on about them...
HTH! Have fun planning!
We went to Sandals St.Lucia for our honeymoon and it was AMAZING! We've had quite a few friends go there since we went and they have all had nothing but rave reviews too. We stayed specifically at the Halcyon (there are 3 Sandals resorts in St.Lucia). We found that this one was by far the least crowded, it did have an older crowd (meaning older than us, we got married when I was 21 and he was 23 lol) I would say the majority of the people staying at this resort were late 30's+. It was very relaxing, had fun stuff to do that was included (water sports such as tubing, catamarans, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc.) We also did an open jeep tour as an extra excursion and they also had some other stuff like zip lines, horseback riding, etc.
We also had a private couples massage on the beach....uhm it was heavenly! The food and drinks were great, I think there were like 7-10 restaurants between the 3 resorts and they had shuttles to take you to the other resorts restaurants. The service/staff there was awesome and I would highly, HIGHLY recommend it! I want to go back so bad and I *still* talk about how much fun and how relaxing that trip was! We stayed in a beach front room which was a little more expensive than a traditional room but it was nice b/c it had a fully stocked and refilled bar in the room which we took full advantage of and we had breakfast in bed and had extra concierge service. Honestly though at the Halcyon I would say that any room would be good since its a pretty small resort regardless of where you stay you will be super close to the beach. We also really liked that it wasnt crowded so finding a great seat at the pools was easy, getting a chaise lounge on the beach was never a problem, we didnt have to wait for dinner reservations, etc. We went in January and I would REALLY recommend going that time of year as the weather was amazing (80s and sunshine everyday, very little humidity).
The biggest downside to St.Lucia is the airfare. There are only about 2 flights a day that go there and I think they dont even go everyday so that it limits the days you can go and return. We had an even more difficult time since we used frequent flyer miles but it was still managable. We booked through the Sandals website and waited until they had a good deal-- so no recommendations on travel agents. GL with whatever you choose I am sure it will be fun!
My parents just got back from a vacation in Cancun and they loved it. My mom said it was one of the best vacation's she's been on. They stayed at the CasaMagna Marriott and my dad booked the trip last minute through JetBlue. They decided not to do all-inclusive, but my mom said that they didn't spare any expense and the entire trip TOTAL was under $4000. This included airfare, hotel (they upgraded when they got there), all meals and all drinks. They actually enjoyed the trip so much that they are taking the whole family next February!
Just another option, because I would never think to look for a vacation on a site like JetBlue. Have fun!!
Didn't your mom tell you she had a child with your dad secretly and sent me off to california.. you should remind her of this and that I should be included in this trip.. haha
For our honeymoon we went to Sandals Ocho Rios Jamaica. It was amazing. We stayed for 7 nights. Had two personal butlers (1 day and 1 night) that we could reach with cell phones. They would come to our room and pick us up in golf carts and drive us all over the resort. If we were at the beach and I had forgotten something in the room we could call them and they would get it and bring it to us. It was all inclusive and the drinks flowed freely and the food was amazing. Room service whenever, full stocked fridge, there were multiple resturants to go to. Also there was a shuttle that could take you to the different resorts in the area and you could dine at their resturants also.
We also climbed a waterfall, went on a Bob Marley cruise, snorkled, went on a glass bottom boat.
It was so wonderful. I can't wait to go back.
My H booked it through First Discount Travel out of Cinci. I believe the lady's name that helped us was Michelle but it was 2 years ago so idk if she is still there.
El Dorado Royale resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Awesome private casitas, great food, great nightlife and activities, tons of pools, relaxing spa. We had a blast here on our honeymoon and are actually planning on going back next summer for our 5-yr. anniversary. Can't wait!!
Totally saving all these recos... H owes me after all the crap of the last month and a half! I told him that too... poor guy probably thought I was joking about the need for either an all-inclusive or a cruise to get away this fall for our anniversary and a "thank you for waiting on me hand and foot for the last 3ish months of your pg" gift!
LOL... he LOVES me.
FWIW, if $ was no object, my dream (and read that as I have not yet gone, b/c money is important now) is to do the overwater bungalows in Bora Bora. One day...
Elijah Matthew - 5/3/07 ~ Adalyn Rosemary - 3/23/11
*Photos by Kacy Cierley*
We've been to a few all-inclusives.
We went to Couples Negril (Jamaica) for our honeymoonn - no kids - wonderful! Great service, great rooms, great food, great drinks - wonderful!
Our favorite though was a trip we just took to Puerta Vallarta. We stayed at Dreams. There were kids, but they were all very well behaved, never interferred with us and we don't have kids so I think the would bother us more than parents lol. Food was the best we've ever seen at all-inclusive, drinks were great, atmosphere beyond wonderful, rustic Mexico town closeby, but the resort is secluded between jungle and mountains. It was just amazing, we'd go back in a heartbeat.
We'd go to Couples Negril again to. We've been to Cancun (Rio Cancun), but would go to these two places for a romantic getaway before we went back to Cancun.
Hmmmm, wonder if I can work on the hubby for a trip again soon....
We went to Secrets Excellence in Punta Cana for our Honeymoon in 2005. Loved that place, but I will tell you the ocean was nearly unswimmable as the waves were intense (but the pools were fabulous). We booked that one through Apple, and we lived by the "golden apple" ratings when finding a resort.
We went to a Beaches resort in La Romana in 2007 after we closed on our condo (we'd spent 3 mos straight rehabbing our current house and trying to sell our condo.. it was a much needed vacay away from it all). Anyway, I believe that resort is now a Dreams Resort, but we really loved it there too. We booked that through cheapcaribbean.com, and even though the site sounds cheesy, we were really happy with the vacation and the 'all inclusive' nature- it included travel insurance that we wound up needing on our way back (nothing they did... just the airline's fault).
I would highly recommend either site for booking your vacation- those ones are truly all inclusive. You pay for your parking at the airport and the rest is covered. GL!