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talk to me about Caribbean AIs
we did our big european adventure last year (Spain for two weeks) so this year we want to keep it very basic and low key. We love the beach and are looking to do a nice beach vacation in May. just relaxing, some cocktails, good scenery, maybe a few hours of sighting seeing or a boat cruise or something but not a go-go-go type of vacation.
we have never done an AI before (we did Cusinart in Anguilla for our honeymoon, and have been on 1 short cruise (never again) to Nassuau and have been to St. Thomas. I visited Grand Cayman years ago but would like to hit a new place).
i like the idea of an AI in theory, but i fear it is going to be a waste of money in the long run. on the flip side, getting an apartment and cooking on our vacation does not appeal to me one bit (we did get an apart. in spain but mainly use the fridge for beer, and snacks, we ate tapas the whole time too not huge sit down meals out).
so i am curious what your AI experience was like (we are looking at Couples Negril in Jamaica right now but open to suggestions.). we are looking to spend around $3k which seems doable with deals that are out there but i always see people who end up doing a week in "xyz" cool destination for that amount of money so i am torn on what to do. (we are on east coast so flights to Carribean aren't terrible). we like good food and cocktails so we would indulge in that aspect of the AI.
we have pretty flexible skeds when it comes to traveling (no kids or school or anything like that to worry about) so we are keeping a close eye on last minute deals too.
if you went to an AI and loved it why? and if you went and hated, what sucked? if you avoid AIs at all costs i am curious why too.
Re: talk to me about Caribbean AIs
I have done 2 AI's and absolutely hated them. One was in Jamaica, and the other in Cozumel. I really think it depends on what kind of traveler you are and what your expectations are as to whether or not you will love an AI. I have very high expecatations and really enjoy more Four Seasons type experiences so AI's fall very far off the mark.
Some of the things I really didn't like where having to make reservations for dinner in the "nicer" restaurants, and being limited as to how many times you could eat in each one. The food also wasn't good at either place. Next was the selection of drinks, at both of the AI's the wine list was literally 1 or 2 types of wine, and unless your idea of an amazing cocktail by the pool was either red or blue slushy with rum you were drinking water.
The service levels are also lacking, it was along the lines of a Holiday Inn or similar where as I really enjoy being pampered on vacation.
I do have friends that have done AI's (Secrets and something else) and really enjoyed their time on the resorts. So that's why I say it really depends on what kind of traveler you are and what type of experience you are looking for.
Like pp said, I think it depends a lot on the type of traveler you are.
I'm an active traveler and like to stay busy and see and experience new things on vacation. We went to an AI once and I hated it. I thought it was terribly boring and the dining options were limited and the food was mediocre.
We've talked about trying an AI again sometime (my husband likes that sort of vacation). If we did it again, I would go to a bigger resort with more dining options, more activities, more to do off the resort, travel in a good weather season (it rained a lot during our vacation), and go for a long weekend only.
We went to one in Jamaica in 2002, before I was a foodie. The food was pretty much for people who eat because they are hungry. Now, I like to experience a location through their food, so AIs are off the table for us. Some of the pricier ones might have good food, but I still like to go to local restaurants. I'd venture a guess that Couples won't have anything better than decent food.
We're going to Providenciales (Turks & Caicos) and renting a two b.r. condo for less than $3000. (We're going with friends and their 2 y.o. so we picked a very tame location. It'll be mostly beach time and SCUBA.) We can cook, and probably will most nights just b/c I'm not a fan of dragging a toddler out to dinner every night. (And this vacation is so lowkey that there isn't much else I need to be doing.) But even if we weren't, I like having at least a fridge so breakfast (especially) and lunch doesn't have to be out everyday.
To me, so much of the fun of many islands is soaking up the culture (often at a bar overlooking the water!), so I wouldn't choose to go to an AI there.
If I wanted a completely easy vacation where not having to worry about food is the most important thing, an AI might fit the bill. But since I think about food all daggone day, I would be irked to be wasting my calories on subpar meals.
"We're going to Providenciales (Turks & Caicos) and renting a two b.r. condo for less than $3000. (We're going with friends and their 2 y.o. so we picked a very tame location"
is $3k with flights and food budget and your share of the condo or is that just for condo total? i have read the food in the island is very expensive. how long is that trip?
That's the whole condo for a week in April, but not flights. Depending on when you go, you can get a 1 br there (Leeward Resort) for $1500-$1900. Flights are about $600-700pp)
The food is pricey, which is one reason I will likely cook. I can't relax enough if I'm spending $50 on burgers for 2, ya know?
For you since you're flexible, I'd see what deals pop up for non-AIs. There's so much out there that's hurting b/c of the economy and if you go during a shoulder season you can catch a deal.
I have been to 4 differernt AI's. The last trip DH and I took last month we didn't do an AI and determined next time we'll for sure do AI. DH and I like to just lay on the beach and have people bring us drinks and we are not foodies. We also are not big on going off of the resort so for us an AI is perfect.
There are different tiers of AI's and I've been to 2 middle tier and 2 high tier AI's and you could definately tell the difference in the food. So make sure you book a higer tier AI.
On our last vacation where we didn't do AI (we used hotel points), and it drove us crazy having to pay everytime we ordered a drink or food. At an AI, you can order a drink and just walk away if you're ready to move on to the next pool. This time, we had to wait for the server to make her round again so we could close out before we could leave and sometimes that would be 40 mins later as on the islands they are on island time. Also, with an AI you know what the price of your vacation is going to be and don't have to worry about how much it's actually going to be. Drinks and food are pricey at resorts that aren't AI (each drink was $9 on our last vacation which adds up when you're drinking all day).
What are the higher end AIs that you liked?
They are actually in Mexico and not the Carribean.
The Royal in Cancun. 5 diamond resort. Food was great with many dining options. Place is newer and kept up well. All rooms are ocean view.
The Grand Mayan in PV. I went there about 7 years ago so not sure what it's like now, but then the food was good and resort was clean.
Places on our list we'd like to go to next and have gotten good reviews on this board: El Dorado Royale and Excellence.
I don't love AIs, but I don't hate them either. It just really depends on the type of vacation I want, so it definitely sounds like an AI will suit you well given what you're looking for.
We also stayed at the Royal in Cancun and loved it - great rooms, service, food. I really don't have any complaints about it.
Some others I have been eyeing for our December trip or would like to look into more (that might be in your budget):
Secrets Maroma (Riviera Maya)
Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita (RM)
The Body Holiday (St. Lucia)
The Caves (Negril) -- no beach, but I love the look of the cliffs
Guana Island (BVIs)
And one more - it's definitely out of the $3k budget, but I love the look of Petit St. Vincent. They are food and non-alcoholic drink-inclusive.
Ive been to several AIs and like anything else, you definitely get what you pay for. Two of the places were just awful, but they were mid-level and I only stayed there due to work-related conferences. The others were for vacation and luxury AIs. My favorite are the luxury boutique resorts, but there are some very good branded resorts as well. Just make sure that you do your research. Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?
I love to travel and used to avoid AIs like the plague. Then I realized that there is something nice about not having to carry your wallet everywhere. Also, my husband and I are not opposed to eating off property if the notion strikes us. So for our upcoming trips to Mexico and Jamaica( long awaited honeymoon...okay really only six months since we did have a DW, but it feels like six years) we decided to go for AIs with the understanding that we're also going to explore off resort places too.
we are looking right now at Jamaica but also considering Antigua. DH and I talked with some friends who have done AIs and they explained they use it as a "home base"....it is good to grab breakfast, relax by the pool/beach, do whatever activities but if they want to head off for dinner "in town" so be it. i like that idea.
we are studying trip advisor and doing some searches now. what would you consider higher end/luxury AIs? the BodyHoliday one the PP listed looks amazing to me.