All inclusive or a cruise? One better than the other?

[Lovefuninthesun]

I totally agree with you. I don't know why people feel they have to make a AI sound boring.

 

I have never, ever been bored on a vacation!:D

Even the years that we booked a week on the beach and sunned by the pool all day, every day, I was not bored. I love to read, nap and -- hey! people-watching is an art form! I have now graduated to fashion police field reporting, as well!;)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I would be bored staying at one place for an entire week.

 

That is what has always held me back too.

 

I like the fact that you can see at least 3 different places during the week.

 

I like the entertainment on cruise ships and no way an AI could match what they have on a ship but with Carnival going backwards the gap is getting smaller as far as the entertainment.

 

Bill

[SeagoingMom]

When we started cruising, it was mostly all inclusive, and we stopped going to land AI's.

 

Now that they are separating the best from the good, and now charging for the best, we have upstarted our AI visits once again.

 

Cruising, once for the privileged, has become common.

And we commoners feel very privileged (and thankful) to be able to cruise!

 

But to the topic, which AI's are you now visiting?

[Isasprings]

I did AI in Punta Cana Dominican Republic and Cancun Mexico

I like both cruise and AI.

I never get bored on vacations but AI is more expensive.

A 4 day cruise out of Miami cost around $190 and maybe less

I try to do an AI this summer but was a lot of $$$$

[stlouistravelers]

I think most of the pros and cons have been stated. My two cents worth is that the destination is important and the level of service rating that the place has. Tripadvisor has great reviews and pictures. Just remember that people from all over the world come to AI's so the food may or may not be spiced to your liking. I have been on 10 AI's and prefer them to cruising but that said my last vacation was a cruise and my next two are cruises. Given that I don't have to pay for airlines the cruises come out pretty cheap. Had I have to pay for the airfare then I get the AI's much cheaper for the level of accommodation I prefer.

[Leo's Rule]

I went to an AI for the first time in June. It was a quick, last minute trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The price was really cheap- $250 for 3 days with round trip airport transfers. I discovered in that short time that all inclusives are NOT for me! I would have been booooooooored out of my miiiiiiiiiiiiind if I had one more day there and would had to have found a snorkeling trip or tour or something. The food was good, but not great, not as good as on a cruise. I had to add salt and pepper to EVERYTHING. The drinks were blah, even when I tipped and flirted with the bartenders. :cool: Very, very cheap liquor used. I couldn't wait to have a real drink when I got home. The shows at night were like a high school dance recital. Nightlife was nonexistent, so I hopped on the party bus when it came by. At least on a cruise, there is always something going on pretty much at all times of the day and night. This wasn't exclusive to my resort, as I talked to people on the party bus and the plane home and lots of other people said the same thing about theirs. Also, the majority of the guests were from Europe. I hardly met anyone that spoke English. On cruises, I enjoy talking to everyone and meeting new people. Didn't happen here. If you find an AI at a good price, give it a try, but know that it will be much slower paced than a cruise. Be sure to read reviews on trip advisor before booking.

 

OMG...my friend's sister is celebrating her 40th birthday next year and has planned a trip at an AI in Punta Cana. I'm skeptical simply because the resort doesn't get rave reviews; I'm told the Hard Rock is where we should be (but I'm not planning the trip).

 

Anyhow, to comment on your observation of the weak alcohol; an employee on the ship (Valor) told me that you have to make sure that International liquor is included in your stay because you will end up with the cheap stuff.

 

Which resort did you stay at? Her sister has booked our stay at the GRAND PALLADIUM BAVARO.

 

I've read they do a bait and switch and try to place you in the older building. I think what I hate most is the hotels have the same friggin name!!!!

 

I'm on the fence about this one...I don't know if I can do it.

[Blk_Amish]

That is what has always held me back too.

 

I like the fact that you can see at least 3 different places during the week.

 

I like the entertainment on cruise ships and no way an AI could match what they have on a ship but with Carnival going backwards the gap is getting smaller as far as the entertainment.

 

Bill

 

I haven't been that impress with the entertainment on most cruises except for the Quest show on RCL.. Not all a/i are created equal. I have been to Couples that surpasses any cruise I have booked. There is an A/I to match your cruise experience except for the ports but won't necessarily be cheap. One activity like bingo might be replaced with snorkeling, rock wall with a scenic hike to a waterfall, and top shelf liquor at some resorts. Grand Palladium or Riu provide countless pools, theme restaurants, endless bars and with room suites not coffins.

 

Cruise vs A/I - do you want the one that sails (except the booze) or stay put (without the ports)?

[Blk_Amish]

When we started cruising, it was mostly all inclusive, and we stopped going to land AI's.

 

Now that they are separating the best from the good, and now charging for the best, we have upstarted our AI visits once again.

 

Cruising, once for the privileged, has become common.

 

I thought is was once for the old and retired.

 

There is one constant, people paying next to nothing but expects everything.

[TeresaJ]

We have done both AI and cruises. While I admit the ease of AI planning beats a cruise, we actually prefer cruising. I have never gotten bored at an AI, I have no problem laying by the pool all day. Our kids prefer the cruise line kids club and I think entertainment is much better on a ship. Cruising is fun for the ports and food is better, IMO.

[Leo's Rule]

Reading over some of the responses, I can't believe you all were bored at an AI. I do realize some offer better entertainment than others, but there is always something to do.

 

My last AI I didn't spend enough time on the property to really enjoy all they had to offer. As much as I love the water, I'm not a lounge by the beach type of girl...I want to snorkel, jet ski, parasail (although that may not be in my future; each booking was always cancelled)...something.

 

I love to explore and see how others live.

 

Whether on a cruise or an AI, I prebook excursions...and you have to learn how to bargain...and utilize discounts too.

[Sh1035]

I have done sandals in antiqua and st Lucia and felt we were spoiled :) That being said we paid over 5k for the week. Our cruise on the liberty in September is about 1500 for a balcony. All drinks and excursions are extra!!!

 

One thing about sandals is we did not spend any $$$ and never really left the resort. I can't say I was bored or felt like I missed anything. It was nice having 6 different restaurants and water activities included. However, except for a few nights there was nothing to do but drink.ouch......

 

Not to mention I probably saved at least 5k with no casino.

[SeagoingMom]

I am very interested in this topic, as I, too, have been considering AIs for quite a while, but never taken the plunge, so to speak. This is mostly because I do not feel I have very good info about any given resort. I read Trip Advisor, and so many resorts get some negative reviews (some very negative!), even if the majority are very positive. I guess I am scared off by the idea that things could go drastically wrong and we would be "stuck" in a place with a very inconvenient and possibly expensive need to relocate.

 

On the other hand, I feel I know what to expect on a cruise.

 

Even if I were experienced with land-based resorts, I would not enjoy, I think, having to do all the necessary research to pick one in a different place each time, as I do not think I am the kind of person who would want to return to the same one time and again -- although how could I know? :)

 

I feel as if I would want to use a very experienced travel agent to steer me in the direction of a nice resort -- but finding travel agents isn't that easy either!

 

So my request is: for all of you who have been to AI's you have been happy with (or those they have not liked), please give the rest of us the benefit of your wisdom and experience and make recommendations, with some accompanying pertinent info. I would love to read your views!

[Waterloomarc]

I find the choices of AI's overwhelming. For me a cruise seems easier. I can book it quite far in advance, and barring bad weather on departure/return day can pretty well plan on the ship out sailing bad weather.

 

I WANT to try an AI but just can't bite the bullet to make it happen.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[winddawn]

I have never been to an All-inclusive Resort on land, nor have I ever travelled outside the US other than on a cruise, and one 2.5 week trip to SE Asia.

We are considering booking an all inclusive this year over a 7 day on the Dream that we had planned.

 

Is one better than the other? Pros and Cons? I love cruising, which makes me weary to venture into uncharted territory of a land-based vacation in the islands.....

An advantage to cruising is unpacking once to visit multiple destinations. I have done both, and prefer cruising because I love being on the water. But with the trend in cruising to charge extra for lots of things that are likely included with an AI, the AI may be a better value. An advantage to the AI is the cost of drinks is included. Drinks are very expensive on a cruise. And if you like to gamble, many AI destinations do not have casinos.

 

Hope you enjoy your vacation!

[CruisinCrow]

I am very interested in this topic, as I, too, have been considering AIs for quite a while, but never taken the plunge, so to speak. This is mostly because I do not feel I have very good info about any given resort. I read Trip Advisor, and so many resorts get some negative reviews (some very negative!), even if the majority are very positive. I guess I am scared off by the idea that things could go drastically wrong and we would be "stuck" in a place with a very inconvenient and possibly expensive need to relocate.

 

 

So my request is: for all of you who have been to AI's you have been happy with (or those they have not liked), please give the rest of us the benefit of your wisdom and experience and make recommendations, with some accompanying pertinent info. I would love to read your views!

 

Here are the AI's we've been to, all wonderful:

Sandals (Royal Caribbean, La Toc, Royal Bahamian, Whitehouse, Antigua)

Beaches Turks and Caicos

Couples Swept Away

Excellence Riviera Maya

Beach Palace

 

My favorites were Sandals Antigua and Couples Swept Away. My husband's favorite was La Toc in St Lucia.

 

Don't let Trip Advisor scare you. I actually wrote a blog about how to read Trip Advisor reviews without getting freaked out. :) I hope it helps.

http://susancrow.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-read-trip-advisor-traveler.html

[winddawn]

That is what has always held me back too.

 

I like the fact that you can see at least 3 different places during the week.

 

I like the entertainment on cruise ships and no way an AI could match what they have on a ship but with Carnival going backwards the gap is getting smaller as far as the entertainment.

 

Bill

I stayed at an AI in Jamaica that had great live entertainment. Lots of reggae music. And performers, pool parties, beach parties, pig cooked in the ground, crab races. It was tons of fun.

[LandlockedCruiser01]

So my request is: for all of you who have been to AI's you have been happy with (or those they have not liked), please give the rest of us the benefit of your wisdom and experience and make recommendations, with some accompanying pertinent info. I would love to read your views!

Sure, I'll chime in. My bad AI experience was at one of the Riu hotels in Punta Cana. I don't remember which one exactly, and I prefer it that way, lol. Please note that it happened in 2003 or 2004, so my review is quite dated, especially considering that I barely turned 21 at the time. I paid around $800 + taxes (per person, regardless of occupancy) for 7 nights and a round-trip flight.

 

The property was gorgeous, with many two-story buildings, stone walkways, tall palm trees, and elegant lighting. There was a swimming pool, a buffet restaurant, and a beach. But the room was kind of falling apart, although not enough to bother me, and the water pressure was pretty weak. The hotel nightclub had local professionals hanging out there, and I don't mean doctors and lawyers.

 

If you're college-aged, and therefore barred from drinking on cruise ships, and can come with a big group, this AI is for you. Everybody else, stay away.

[Blk_Amish]

 

So my request is: for all of you who have been to AI's you have been happy with (or those they have not liked), please give the rest of us the benefit of your wisdom and experience and make recommendations, with some accompanying pertinent info. I would love to read your views!

 

Where do you want to go, Jamaica, Mexico or DR. These are major A/I destination.

 

Mexico - great deals, many resorts are pool centers, meaning fantastic pools but so-so beach at time.

 

Jamaica- more expensive or similar accommodation but better beaches. Many of the A/I have private access beach so hassle free.

 

DR- never been but many of my friends loved the beach, resorts, but not crazy about the food.

 

Jamaica - Couple Sansoci, Beaches, Sunset Jamaica Grand (love location, great for family and couples), Sunset Beach and Spa, Sunset at the Palms

 

Mexico -Grand Sunset Princess and a few smaller ones I can't recall

 

Price range -$160 per night huge swim-out suite, kids 13 and under free (Mexico) to Beaches $500+ per night, family of 4 (Jamaica).

 

There are people who go to the $160 per night resort but expect the Beaches or Couples treatment. Look at all the reviews and see if there is a common problem. Always keep in mind someone's good or bad experience won't necessarily be yours.

[CDNJehn]

In the area of unlimited booze vs pay as you go...I actually kinda LIKE that the booze isn't unlimited on the ship because I NEED LIMITS!!! Someone needs to step in and tell me to STOP drinking! LOL. I'm not good with "all you can's". Eat, drink, tan, ... ;)

 

Our last vacation we rented a condo on north Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. We ate lunch at a different restaurant every day and made dinner at the condo. Way better than gaining a pound+ a day at a resort. Depending on where you go (if it's relatively safe) I prefer a rental because you actually get to EXPERIENCE the country that you've travelled to. Not a manufactured 'city', like many resorts are. I hear about people going to safe places that say they NEVER left the resort and feel sad. I can lay in the sun on my deck if that's the case. I travel to see other cultures.

[PA Beachlovers]

We have an AI booked in between two cruises on the Breeze, the AI is in Cancun where we visited last year but not all inclusive and had a great time. This will be our first AI and the reason we booked it, got a great deal by booking almost a year out and after comparing the price to another cruise this won. With all the drinks and food included and we packaged it with the airfare, it was about the same price as a cruise with airfare but we won't have a sign and sail card to pay for at the end and no casino to lure us in. We do prefer cruising though because you get to see many different places in one week.

[stlouistravelers]

We also stayed at the Palace Resorts and loved it! You can use the facilities and eat/drink at any of their properties and there were at least 3-4 in the Cancun area. They also offered free shuttle transportation to all of them. We stayed at the Moon Palace which is outside of Cancun, and took the shuttle into Cancun proper (so to speak) where the action is. It was nice to go eat, drink, use the beach, etc. at one of their properties instead of paying to do so on another property closer to the action. Everything Pokergirl34 said ITA with.

 

When we stayed at the Sun Palace all of the excursions were included in the price. Is that still true?

[larkz]

When I take a land based vacation, I like to set off self-guided adventures. I don't see myself being a good fit for an AI, where much of the value comes from dining and activities that they have on site. I don't drink, so any alcohol in the package is meaningless to me.

 

I did look into Anthony's Key Resort, but just wasn't enthralled with that versus booking my own hotel(s) and activities and dining.

 

The ship lets me relax each night and take an adventure in a different place each port day. I'll be spending a week on San Pedro, Ambergris Island (Belize) sometime in the next year or two, but even there it will be my own bookings and activities.

[KillaFee]

They are very different. I enjoy both. My wife prefers AI's.

 

AI advantages:

More relaxed, no hurry to be anywhere. You can do absolutely nothing but lay by the pool or beach all day. Everything is included so no surprises at the end! No tipping at most. We love Couples Sans Souci in Jamaica. We typically stay 10 days at a time. After 9pm the resort is very, very quiet except for beach party nights. This is the most relaxing vacation I've ever had.

 

Cruise advantages:

Being on the ocean, new ports almost every day, more things to do, with these extra things comes more "busy time". While we still vegetate on deck while at sea there are still the temptations to wonder the ship especially at night.

 

Both are very good. It all depends on what you want at the time. We do both so we cover it all! :D

 

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!!! We were at Couples Swept Away last September and it was 100%, without a doubt, the most amazing and relaxing vacation I've ever been on!! We are now obsessed with Couples and are planning on San Souci for 2015 (because unfortunately, CSA doesn't have an AN area....story for another day!) We're doing another adults only AI in a few weeks for our anniversary in the Dominican but also booked a cruise for November. We really enjoy them both. If I had to pick just ONE........given the stress that is life sometimes....I'd have to pick an AI for the pure relaxation aspect.

 

Background....I'd been on 20+ cruises growing up and into my adult life and only tried an AI three years ago, and now I'm addicted. AI's are romantic and lots of 1-on-1 time w/spouse or family and mostly beach, pool, drink, relax time....on cruises there's so much to do and sometimes it can get a bit busy and unrelaxing, if you will, so it really depends what you're looking for.

 

Laura

[kelee79]

I'll admit that I'm frugal when booking vacations (some may call it cheap) because the more frugal I am, the more I can book.

 

My first AI was the Grand Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. Great layout, wonderful beach. I'd go back if I had kids (which I don't), as for me, that was the only downfall. We booked because they had a great special. Only stayed 4 days, didn't want to leave.

 

Secrets Silversands in Puerto Morelos, Mexico...wouldn't go back because the beach sucked. We booked what I'd like to call the "Swine Flu Special" when no one wanted to go to Mexico...we paid maybe $500 a person, with roundtrip airfare included, for 8 days. Everything was nice except for the beach, but I got terribly sick towards the end of our stay (not blaming the resort...just really poor timing) and that seems to tarnish my memory of that place.

 

The Jewel Dunn's River in Jamaica was GORGEOUS and I would totally go back but for my rule against going to resorts more than once. No complaints whatsoever. We booked that one when they had changed names and offered specials.

 

Last year we went to Now Larimar in Punta Cana, DR. Loved it, although probably my least favorite in the food department. Loved the DR way more than I anticipated. They knew it was my birthday, which happened to fall on their weekly beach party evening. They truly made it feel like the beach party was for me and I was partying with 300 perfect strangers but they were all my friends by the end of the night. Nothing will ever top that!

 

Every one of these places had some terrible reviews on Trip Advisor. I learned after the first one to read the complaints with a grain of salt. I'm guess I'm just not negative as some people...I can't find that many things to complain about. I'm lucky enough to be on vacation in some gorgeous tropical location with people bringing me drinks and food...a little bit of chipped paint isn't going to ruin my trip.

[wannago35]

When we stayed at the Sun Palace all of the excursions were included in the price. Is that still true?

 

For some reason I don't remember all excursions being included, but I do remember getting one for free (out of a few choices) and we did the day trip to the Mayan Ruins.

 

We also stayed at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios (first vacay together) and then Couples Swept Away in Negril and Couples Ocho Rios for our honeymoon, both were very nice and we got a free massage at each for our honeymoon. Beaches were fabulous at all three spots.