The Tris Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I've had a good year (thankfully), and I have decided to give my girlfriend and myself a trip for Christmas (to be taken between Jan 1-Mar 1). My current criteria is 1) warm with beaches and 2) total cost of ~$3,500. I have been to Mexico numerous times and am not interested in going back there. I am really considering anywhere in the Caribbean or Central America. I am open to packages, all-inclusive, or piece meal. Would love some recommendations and suggestions. Right now, DR and Costa are my front runners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I enjoyed Aruba,great water and beaches Belize is supposedly a decent deal,never been though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 What about Puerto Rico? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I second Aruba. We opted to stay at the Tamarijn all-inclusive resort. Pros: walk out onto your balcony and onto the beach, Casino nearby, if you're into that thing, and a nice gym. Cons: Food was repetitive and so-so, the bed wasn't the most comfortable. Walking out onto the beach was a big thing for us, and unfortunately there aren't that many options when it comes to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rictus58 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I've only been to the Caribbean once. This past august with my wife. We went to Jamaica. We stayed at Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay. It was an All Inclusive. We paid about $2.3k for the package. It was a nice resort. But I have nothing to compare it too really. Two of the good things: -Close to the airport so we didn't spend hours on a bus getting to the resort. Only 15 minutes. -No Kids at the resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 If ya like seclusion this sounds nice http://www.cocoplumcay.com/belize_all_inclusive.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD5 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 The DR is kind of dirty, and dangerous. Poverty is everywhere. Costa Rica, Nassau(Bahamas), and St. Martin are all better choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I'd highly recommend Turks and Caicos. My wife and I went there in October during our honeymoon. We stayed on the island of Providenciales at a resort called The Windsong. It's considered a "boutique" resort, presumably because it isn't full of kids and isn't heavily crowded. The atmosphere was very relaxed. We literally sat on the beach all day drinking rum punch without anything to do but watch the waves. The snorkeling there is supposed to be spectacular (I'm not a snorkel or scuba buff by any stretch of the imaginantion) and The Windsong has a preserved reef right in front of their resort. The little snorkeling that we did didn't go to far from shore but we did manage to see plenty of colorful fish, turtles and such. There wasn't much of a night life but we were on our honeymoon so we weren't looking for crazy nights (with other people). We did go to a bar called "Danny Buoy's" to watch the Redskins/Colts game and while it's billed as a sports bar, the reception was terrible (which you have to understand being on the islands) and it was filled with locals. There was a brief moment at that bar where we did feel out of place and a bit in danger. Turks and Caicos is a lesser known vacation destination but it's definitely growing. I started a thread earlier this year to see what people knew about it. I got a lot of information from that thread. Here it is if you're interested in learning more about Turks and Caicos: http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?326581-What-does-ES-know-about-Turks-and-Caicos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shk75 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I've had a good year (thankfully), and I have decided to give my girlfriend and myself a trip for Christmas (to be taken between Jan 1-Mar 1). My current criteria is 1) warm with beaches and 2) total cost of ~$3,500. I have been to Mexico numerous times and am not interested in going back there. I am really considering anywhere in the Caribbean or Central America. I am open to packages, all-inclusive, or piece meal. Would love some recommendations and suggestions. Right now, DR and Costa are my front runners. The DR and Costa Rica are nice but are more suited towards budgets smaller than 3.5K. If you are gonna spend that much I would recommend the smaller islands if you want something more relaxing and romantic. Turks and Caicos is a good suggestion as is Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, St Vincent. These places are a little harder to get to which is what makes them more quiet. However, if you want the big resort with clubs, casinos, and everything else Aruba is a good compromise although the beaches there are not quite as nice as the smaller islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Depends on what you want. Some people want an all-inclusive place that they never leave, others want an island or region that they can explore. I went to Antigua and was bored, because there is nothing there but hotels, beaches and goats. Beautiful hotel, lovely beaches, healthy goats, but that's all. People drink and go to the beach and drink some more. I didn't like Cancun for the same reason, but really enjoyed Puerta Vallarta because it had some character. My favorite Caribbean island is Barbados, but if you want a mega-resort then it is not the place to go. It is full of small hotels, villages, churches and history. Ps - Don't go to Guadeloupe - its a humid pit full of flying ****roaches and hostile French people. Have you thought about Hawaii? It is just about the safest bet possible for a nice vacation. Maui (in particular) was created by God to ensure that Americans would have hassle free wonderful vacations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Grand Cayman, Costa Rica, or Belize would be my top ones... I've heard Turks and Caicos is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosher Ham Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I would go with Hawaii or Grand Cayman. Second options would be Barbados or Turks and Caicos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rypien 91 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 My wife and I went to St. Lucia, Sandals Resort and loved it. So nice and all-inclusive. Very pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSkins561 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I have been to St Lucia, Jamaica 2x, Dominican and Mexico, St Lucia was by far the nicest ( we were there for 2 weeks ) . I thought Jamaica was a ton of fun, Dominican and Mexico were ok. Like Predicto said, if you're looking to explore, a place like Jamaica isn't the place for you. If you want an inexpensive place to kick back on the beach, have some drinks and eat good food, Jamaica is a good choice. The food in Dominican was horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 My father in-law owns a three bedroom, three full bath condo with a seventy foot veranda in Marigot Bay St. Lucia. If you email him with my name (ill provide that to you in pm form if you like) im sure he would cut you a good deal. His house is titled "Pelican House". http://www.pelicanhousestlucia.com/ http://www.rainforesthideawaystlucia.com/ http://www.marigotbeachclub.com/eating-and-drinking/doolittles-restaurant-and-bar.html Marigot is a private bay in St. Lucia with a restaurant right on the beach under your house,(Doolittles) and a five star restaurant in the bay a couple doors down. Rainforest Hideaway. Its close to the main city of Castraes and there is a lot to do on the island. I caught a fifty lb wahoo while fishing, sat under a waterfall heated by a volcano (not diamond falls either, the locals took us to a lesser known one!) we snorkled and my father inlaw dives at the base of the Piton Mtns. I took a day and climbed the Piton Mtns as well. We met a famous artist by the name of Zaka, and toured his studio in the old French capital of Soufrière (no longer the capital), and even spent a day relaxing at a resort called Ladera, one of the best in the world. http://www.ladera.com/ There is much much more to do then just that though, and if you do go, may I recommend eating at Coal Pot... really great place. http://www.coalpotrestaurant.com/ I have a couple of friends who are Rasta's that if you needed a tour guide or needed anything at all, they would be glad to "run errands" for you. Pelican House also comes with maid service, and porter service to and from the airport. Send me a PM if it interests you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 dude go to atlantis in nassau, that is pure paradise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tris Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 So right now it's looking like the leader in the club house is the Paradisus Resort in Punta Cana (DR) http://www.paradisuspuntacana.travel/ The price is just under $400/night for two people all-inclusive, and Air Tran has direct flight service to Punta Cana from Atlanta for $189 one way. So all in, including some frequent flyer miles, I'm looking at around $2,600 for 5 nights. It gets me in under budget and still allows me to potentially do some extra activities (and have some $$ for the casino). Has anyone ever stayed at this resort or at another Paradisus resort (they have 2 in DR and one in Costa Rica)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD5 Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 So right now it's looking like the leader in the club house is the Paradisus Resort in Punta Cana (DR)http://www.paradisuspuntacana.travel/ The price is just under $400/night for two people all-inclusive, and Air Tran has direct flight service to Punta Cana from Atlanta for $189 one way. So all in, including some frequent flyer miles, I'm looking at around $2,600 for 5 nights. It gets me in under budget and still allows me to potentially do some extra activities (and have some $$ for the casino). Has anyone ever stayed at this resort or at another Paradisus resort (they have 2 in DR and one in Costa Rica)? I have been to Punta Cana twice in the last few years. As long as you stay in the resort, and have a bodyguard when you leave the resort--someone you can trust, you will be fine. There is extreme poverty right outstide that gate, and the bad element preys on American tourists. Don't even think about leaving the resort without an armed bodyguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 There is extreme poverty right outstide that gate, and the bad element preys on American tourists. Don't even think about leaving the resort without an armed bodyguard. THIS. The people I have known who went to DR, this is their review/impression as well. It's great on the resort as long as you don't mind staying there for the duration of your stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tris Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 I'm not planning on it. I have no interest in seeing the "real" DR. Give me prepackaged, commercialized luxury and I am fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD5 Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 THIS. The people I have known who went to DR, this is their review/impression as well. It's great on the resort as long as you don't mind staying there for the duration of your stay. I don't believe people know how serious the poverty is until they have been there. The big sight-seeing place in that area is called "the mountain of Jesus." It's a big mountain, with a statue of Jesus at the top. Everyone goes. What they don't tell you, is the poverty between the bottom and the top is like nothing I have ever seen before. None of the houses on the way up have windows. Families stand by the road and beg for money as you pass. And they use their front yards as bathrooms--literally. 2 pm in the afternoon, and you look out your cab window to see someone squatting. Not very romantic. And if you do go, avoid the capital city, Santo Domingo at all costs. In that city, children ages 4-10 beg at every street corner. They will knock on your cab windows with a frown on, barely clothed. If you give them money, they are taught to immediately frown again, and ask for more. Stay on the resort. The problem with that, is you will never know what island you are on. I would suggest the Bahamas, specifically Paradise Island. Atlantis is there and is expensive, but you don't have to stay at Atlantis. There are plenty of nice hotels all around the area. And very safe. You can go anywhere you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tris Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 FWIW, I have been to the DR before, on a mission trip, and stayed in church in Azua. I have seen the plastic sided houses next to the moutains of trash and walked through the slums. I know what it is like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McD5 Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 FWIW, I have been to the DR before, on a mission trip, and stayed in church in Azua. I have seen the plastic sided houses next to the moutains of trash and walked through the slums. I know what it is like. There you go. Then you are fine. If you are up for it....and still have the time before xmas, you may want to look at some of the vacation sites. There are some crazy deals in similiar Jamaican resorts right now in Montego Bay. Incredible prices, and it might be somehwere new for you. If not, enjoy your vaction. Any vacation is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSkins561 Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 So right now it's looking like the leader in the club house is the Paradisus Resort in Punta Cana (DR)http://www.paradisuspuntacana.travel/ The price is just under $400/night for two people all-inclusive, and Air Tran has direct flight service to Punta Cana from Atlanta for $189 one way. So all in, including some frequent flyer miles, I'm looking at around $2,600 for 5 nights. It gets me in under budget and still allows me to potentially do some extra activities (and have some $$ for the casino). Has anyone ever stayed at this resort or at another Paradisus resort (they have 2 in DR and one in Costa Rica)? I lost 7 lbs in the Dominican Republic, the food is dreadful. One night they had, fish meatballs on the buffet, Sandals seems to be the most consistent when it comes to decent food. I would stay away from the cheapest, especially in the Dominican. ---------- Post added December-20th-2010 at 11:07 PM ---------- Oh yeah, and stay away from the Casinos in Dominican, talk about rigged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan1311 Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 We've been to a few islands in the Caribbean and, hands down, Grand Cayman is our favorite. We've been there a few times. The water is beautiful, the people are friendly, and it's a very safe island. We stayed on the East End, which is off the beaten track. If you want romance, and fun, try the Sandals in Negril. It was a blast. We stayed at the Sandals in Montego Bay, but didn't like it nearly as much as the the one in Negril. We liked the Sandals Grande is St. Lucia also. There are 3 Sandals resorts in St. Lucia, and the Grande had the best beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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