Ladies who have done the AI Resorts...

Srahness · January 2012

If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to me about the $$$ please. I have been pricing some of them and they have ranged from about $7500- $10,000 for a week for just the two of us. That seems crazy high to me, but I don't have a lot of vacation planning experience for frame of reference. Is that inline with what you paid for an AI or does that seem high?

Mrs.MillerJune2008 · January 2012

That is way more than we paid, but it may depend on what you're looking and what amenities you're looking for. Plus we booked ours during a special. I think we would have paid closer to that to go to a Sandals resort; we went to a smaller AI and I think we paid closer to 3-5 - don't remember exactly.

Mrs.MillerJune2008 · January 2012

Oh, forgot, we went to Jaimaica. Does your price include airfare?

Jennrs · January 2012

That's way more than we paid! We paid $2750 for everything (airfare, transport to and from airport, trip insurance, and the AI stay). Granted, we did go during hurricane season, so we saved some money that way. We booked through funjet.com and we were very happy with them.

naylon511 · January 2012

You can go to an AI for waaaay less. Some are more expensive than others, sure, but you can go for A LOT less.

Jennrs · January 2012

I just used funjet to check out prices for you.

If you fly out of Oklahoma City on October 8 and stay at El Dorado Royale for one week the total cost of everything (flight included) would be $3091.94. Not bad for a one week stay in an AI paradise!

Srahness · January 2012

Jennrs:
I just used funjet to check out prices for you.

If you fly out of Oklahoma City on October 8 and stay at El Dorado Royale for one week the total cost of everything (flight included) would be $3091.94. Not bad for a one week stay in an AI paradise!

I will have to check out this funjet, I have never heard of it. That is a much better price! I was totally floored when I saw the prices, because I didn't think I was looking at anything super fancy. Thank you!

Temp364615875002474 · January 2012

If you're looking at Sandals, it can definitely be as pricey as you're mentioning (or more!) if you book some of the upper level stuff. But, if you kind of monitor pricing you can get a great deal - I've noticed they'll randomly lower rates sometimes. We've done two trips for 11 days each at a higher level room at Sandals, and both trips were definitely under $7,500 including airfare.

Although now that I'm looking, it seems like their prices have gone up A LOT! I think it all varies on location and which resort you choose. I still say you can definitely do a nice trip for a week for somewhere between $2k-$5k - shop around for deals and rates. Smile

Srahness · January 2012

Mrs.MillerJune2008:
That is way more than we paid, but it may depend on what you're looking and what amenities you're looking for. Plus we booked ours during a special. I think we would have paid closer to that to go to a Sandals resort; we went to a smaller AI and I think we paid closer to 3-5 - don't remember exactly.

I think that I was looking at a Sandals resort, and I do think that included air fair. I am glad to know that is way high because I was really bummed about it.

Srahness · January 2012

naylon511:
You can go to an AI for waaaay less. Some are more expensive than others, sure, but you can go for A LOT less.

I was hoping that was the case, I only spent a little time pricing around but I was like Holy Crap! I am going to check out that funjet that jennrs suggested.

alliapistor · January 2012

You should also look at www.cheapcaribbean.com We booked a vacation in Aruba two years ago through this website and it was definitely the cheapest for the resort we wanted.

$7500+ sounds waaaayyyy high to me. We've never done a full week, we usually do a Thursday to Tuesday because of limited vacation days. But I think the most we have paid is around $3000 for 2 people including airfare. Your location may be driving airfare up though. I would try pricing airfare and the resort separately to see if that is any cheaper.

But certain locations are more expensive than others. Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Mexico tend to be cheaper. (Generally, I find a lot of the Spanish speaking countries to be cheaper.) Any of the Virgin Islands, Bahamas or Turks & Caicos tend to be more.

Temp364615875002474 · January 2012

alliapistor:
But certain locations are more expensive than others. Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Mexico tend to be cheaper. (Generally, I find a lot of the Spanish speaking countries to be cheaper.) Any of the Virgin Islands, Bahamas or Turks & Caicos tend to be more.

This is true! Puerto Rico is also an amazing destination, and the price is extremely reasonable. I know they have some AIs too....

Srahness · January 2012

alliapistor:
You should also look at www.cheapcaribbean.com We booked a vacation in Aruba two years ago through this website and it was definitely the cheapest for the resort we wanted.

$7500+ sounds waaaayyyy high to me. We've never done a full week, we usually do a Thursday to Tuesday because of limited vacation days. But I think the most we have paid is around $3000 for 2 people including airfare. Your location may be driving airfare up though. I would try pricing airfare and the resort separately to see if that is any cheaper.

But certain locations are more expensive than others. Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Mexico tend to be cheaper. (Generally, I find a lot of the Spanish speaking countries to be cheaper.) Any of the Virgin Islands, Bahamas or Turks & Caicos tend to be more.

Thanks, good to know! I don't have a specific location locked down but I was mostly looking at the Bahamas/Turks & Caicos so that makes sense.

I will also check out the page you recommended, thanks!

star678 · January 2012

For 5 days/ 4 nights at El Dorado Seaside in September/ October, we are looking at $1982 for the AI stay and airport transfers. Flights for us are around 1200, so we're looking at $3200 for everything.

613marriedlady · January 2012

I used bookit.com to book our AI trip. We paid 1900 for 4 nights, flight, 2 excursions and RT airport to AI transportation. We went to Playa Del Carmen, from CA, so not sure if that helped the flight cost.

RazzleDazzleJAM · January 2012

When we went this past summer to Mexico we paid $2100 for an 8 day 7 night AI in Playa del Carmen Mexico (this included transfers and airfare too). We didn't stay at a top of the line place or a brand name but the food, drinks, service and room were awesome. Our favorite part was it had an AWESOME white sand beach with chairs right on it. We stayed at Reef Playacar and Megan's sister helped us with booking it. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know.

alliapistor · January 2012

I just wanted to put in a plug for the Riu resorts (www.riu.com ). I have stayed at two of them now and was impressed with both of them. I stayed at the Riu Grand Macao in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and the Riu Palace in Aruba.

Whatever you do - stay away from Breezes Montego Bay. Bad, bad, bad.

Casperdy · January 2012

We've gone to Mexico and the Dominican Republic... both cases we flew direct from Charlotte, NC. Both were 6 nights, 7 days. Both were right around $3k for everything.

scrgl · January 2012

We pay under 2k for five nights including flight and airport transfer to an ai in Mexico flying out of Wichita. Check out bookit and Travelocity for the best rates we have found!

678Sara · January 2012

alliapistor:

$7500+ sounds waaaayyyy high to me.

This. DH and I are staying at Cancun Palace (in Cancun, obvs) for 7 nights - and it's costing us about $4K for both including flights.

ColleenS629 · January 2012

We definitely haven't paid near that much! We stayed at The Excellence Punta Cana twice ($5k including airfare for 13 days, ~$2500-3000 for 8 days including airfare) and The Excellence Riviera Maya for 8 days for about $2500-$3000 including airfare. The one in Mexico is typically a little more expensive, I think, but we booked it during Liberty Travel's Mexico sale so it ended up being cheaper. I LOVED The Excellence and would definitely recommend it to anyone. They have like 13 bars (including a pool bar) and 10 or 11 restaurants, you can order room service no matter what room category you are (I believe Sandals requires you to be in a certain room category to order room service), the rooms are great, the beaches are beautiful, the food is delicious, and the staff is so nice and accommodating.

Loveofjoe11 · January 2012

I've been looking at AI for a babymoon and I've found between 2-4k.

Srahness · January 2012

Thank you all ladies, I will look into the places you recommended.

Ladies who have done the AI Resorts...

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