Jamaica

[sanchezf]

If you get the chance, walk the falls. Its a great experience.

That sounds nice, Which resort is that at?

 

[LusbyMom]

No casinos......There is one in Ocho Rios but it is off the resort in the city. If you want secluded beaches with an emphasis on the water and privacy, Whitehouse is for you!

THey have a few shops on the resort, and you can pay to go on a shopping tour. Most of the stores are selling either novelty souveniers or watches/jewelery. But you get it tax free and they will haggle with you...plus most of them give you free booze while you walk around in their store!

Oh DH loves to haggle! When they say premium drinks are included does that include all alcohol? I am going to check out Whitehouse now, I don't think I have even seen that one yet.

 

[LusbyMom]

I've always wanted to take a cruise to Alaska but I get sea-sick. Is a cruise ship big enough that you wouldn't even know that you're on the water? I think I'd be ok as long as the boat isn't rocking too much.

I was talking to my brother and SIL about that last night. I don't want to feel like I am on a boat... they said you could feel it moving and sometimes when you were walking you would dip sideways. But others on the cruise that had been before said it usually isn't that bad. They just went a few weeks ago when that tropical storm/hurricane was out there.

 

[thurley42]

Oh DH loves to haggle! When they say premium drinks are included does that include all alcohol? I am going to check out Whitehouse now, I don't think I have even seen that one yet.

oh yeah all alcohol and most of the prizes you win during activities are bottles of Appleton!

you don't have to spend a cent once you get there if you don't want. all food, alcohol, and activies are free.

you can do extra tours, get scuba certified, and purchase gifts, photos, spa treatments, etc. but all the food and booze is included in your cost.

 

[RareBreed]

I was talking to my brother and SIL about that last night. I don't want to feel like I am on a boat... they said you could feel it moving and sometimes when you were walking you would dip sideways. But others on the cruise that had been before said it usually isn't that bad. They just went a few weeks ago when that tropical storm/hurricane was out there.

Unfortunately there's only one way to really find out and that's to go. I would hate to miss out on everything because my head is permanently stuck in the toilet. Green is not a good color on me!

 

[thurley42]

Thank you

Is that the best way to book: directly through Sandals and not a travel agent?

we've gone through Sandals/Apple Travel Agency because of the SSG points and discounts they offer.

 

[LusbyMom]

Unfortunately there's only one way to really find out and that's to go. I would hate to miss out on everything because my head is permanently stuck in the toilet. Green is not a good color on me!

Maybe you should take a trial cruise? When I was looking at cruises I saw a "cruise to no where". I believe it left from Norfolk and spent 2 days out at sea. It was about $200 I think.

That could give you the chance to experience a cruise ship before you sink a bunch of money into a long cruise to Alaska.

 

[thurley42]

That sounds nice, Which resort is that at?

Dunns River Falls...you can go on that tour from any of the resorts, but Dunns is right there...no hour long tour bus ride.

 

[RareBreed]

Maybe you should take a trial cruise? When I was looking at cruises I saw a "cruise to no where". I believe it left from Norfolk and spent 2 days out at sea. It was about $200 I think.

That could give you the chance to experience a cruise ship before you sink a bunch of money into a long cruise to Alaska.

Great idea. I will look into that.

 

[camily]

oh yeah all alcohol and most of the prizes you win during activities are bottles of Appleton!

you don't have to spend a cent once you get there if you don't want. all food, alcohol, and activies are free.

you can do extra tours, get scuba certified, and purchase gifts, photos, spa treatments, etc. but all the food and booze is included in your cost.

I won a bottle playing bingo.

 

[angelbaby]

You can expect about the same in the Bahamas. They do haggle you to buy stuff and little kids all dirty asking for money and trying to sell you things. I think that is to be expected at most of the places like that.

We are looking to stay at an all inclusive resort and probably never leave the resort

I told hubby I would like to go to an all inclusive and just stay in there also. I hope you guys pick something you really like. It is hard to choose when you look at all the resorts.

 

[Old Timer]

That sounds nice, Which resort is that at?

The bicycle side trip at Sandal's at Dunn's River Falls was great. It was a bit of a bus ride, but breakfast and lunch was included in the cost of the excursion and you got to see quite a bit of things along the way, including a banana plantation. The ride was 18 miles (I think), but all downhill and ended up at a neat little swimming hole with a small waterfall.

 

[CalvertNewbie]

are you serious? You need to come out into the real world a little more....the Bahamas and Mexico are the exact same way....Mexico being a LOT worse.

This is reality, how the rest of the world lives outside of the US and most of Europe.

That's absolutely true. Until we leave our country, we really don't understand how people are living elsewhere in the world. Sadly, many of these vacation spots that we love are such poor countries that depend on us tourists in order to survive. I've been to all three of these places and experienced similar things in each country - locals pushing you to get your hair braided, to buy their beaded jewelry, etc. I expect that when I travel to the Carribean or Mexico.

I went to Jamaica (Sandals Dunns River) and would go back in a heartbeat. They only time we left the resort was to be shuttled by the Sandals bus to the other Sandals resorts (included in the price) and when we took the booze cruise on a pirate ship to Dunns River Falls. The captain let me drive the ship and it was amazing. By the time we got to the Falls, the rum punch had really gotten to me! Honestly, I'd stick to the resorts there unless you're on a guided tour but at no time was I afraid. The locals aren't allowed in the resort but they'll ride up to you in the water on their jetskiis. We rented jetskiis from them and had a blast.

For our honeymoon, we went to a Sandals resort in St. Lucia and again, loved every minute of being there. Sandals may seem a little pricey at first but when you leave your money & wallet in the room the entire trip and never have to pay for food, drinks or entertainment during the entire trip, you realize that the price is well worth it.

 

[camily]

I think we tipped our bartender $70 or $90 at the end of the trip. We kept telling him we were going to do it the last day. I don;t think he believed us. You should seem the look on his face when he got the tip. He just kept saying we were "fine and honest people". He said so many people tell them that and then they never see them again. When I heard how much they make in comparison to the trip cost, it was appauling! There was NO WAY I could leave there without tipping him good. He was the best bartender too. You figure to him, that one tip was about what they make a month. Yes, everything is included (even gratuity) but in reality, they never see it. They go back home to the little shacks you see on the side of the road.

 

[CalvertNewbie]

Let me know what you decide. We just can't make a decision and keep looking and looking. They all look so beautiful.

It's hard to make the decision because there are so many nice places out there. We went to Sandals because we liked the idea that it was couples only and no kids. Who wants screaming kids on a nice romantic vacation?

One of the things I like best about Sandals resorts is that you stay at one resort but you can use all the ammenities of the other Sandals resorts in the area, included in the price. It was nice to check out the other resorts and go to their bars, restaurants, pools, beaches, etc. When we stayed at Jamaica Dunns River Falls, there were two other Sandals resorts close by so we got to party at three resorts for the price of one. We were happy to find that the resort we stayed at was the nicest of the three (nicer beach & pool with a waterfall). The shuttle bus runs all day and well into the night.

Let us know where you decide to go. I'm sure where ever you guys go, you'll have a great time. After reading this thread, I'm ready for a vacation too!

 

[LusbyMom]

It's hard to make the decision because there are so many nice places out there. We went to Sandals because we liked the idea that it was couples only and no kids. Who wants screaming kids on a nice romantic vacation?

One of the things I like best about Sandals resorts is that you stay at one resort but you can use all the ammenities of the other Sandals resorts in the area, included in the price. It was nice to check out the other resorts and go to their bars, restaurants, pools, beaches, etc. When we stayed at Jamaica Dunns River Falls, there were two other Sandals resorts close by so we got to party at three resorts for the price of one. We were happy to find that the resort we stayed at was the nicest of the three (nicer beach & pool with a waterfall). The shuttle bus runs all day and well into the night.

Let us know where you decide to go. I'm sure where ever you guys go, you'll have a great time. After reading this thread, I'm ready for a vacation too!

I really really want to go NOW We have to get passports first, which is something I want to do this week. I figure I shouldn't book anything until we have them in hand.

We have been home about a week from an almost 2 weeks vacation to Disney and my sister just arrived at Florida/Disney today. I am so jealous and am ready to go back there too.

 

[camily]

I miss Jamaica.

 

[CalvertNewbie]

I really really want to go NOW We have to get passports first, which is something I want to do this week. I figure I shouldn't book anything until we have them in hand.

We have been home about a week from an almost 2 weeks vacation to Disney and my sister just arrived at Florida/Disney today. I am so jealous and am ready to go back there too.

Wouldn't it be nice to have endless money and just spend your life travelling? We went to Mexico (just for 4 days) in February and haven't gone anywhere since. I had never been there before but would love to go back. Now I'm preggers so we wouldn't waste the money on an all inclusive resort because I can't drink and hubby wouldn't drink too much because he'd feel guilty. But once the baby is here and old enough for Grandma & Grandpa to stay with, I feel another all inclusive coming our way.

 

[camily]

I really really want to go NOW We have to get passports first, which is something I want to do this week. I figure I shouldn't book anything until we have them in hand.

We have been home about a week from an almost 2 weeks vacation to Disney and my sister just arrived at Florida/Disney today. I am so jealous and am ready to go back there too.

I leave Saturday for Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

 

[LusbyMom]

I miss Jamaica.

Which resort was this one?