Where in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico?

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » January 10, 2007 9:47 am

What about All Inclusive resorts in Mexico? What is the best?

photogal · Post by **photogal** » January 10, 2007 1:05 pm

Just dont go during hurricane season (did that, sucked) and stay away from Carnival (did that, sucked). Other than that I dont have much advice. I really need to give it a try again. We had a crappy time. Everyone seems to like Royal Carribean and they have that new HUGE boat that looks way cool!!

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » January 10, 2007 1:09 pm

Windjammer cruise of BVI! We stayed a few days at Cane Garden Bay before the boat took off. Was wonderful!

(Or Grenadines....but that is more expensive to get to. However it is a heavenly area)

Oh and we always go to the Caribbean during hurricane (summer) season. Less crowds and USUALLY the weather is fine.

green1 · Post by **green1** » January 10, 2007 2:08 pm

I will second the Windjammer cruise. We were on the Yankee Clipper and went through the Grenadines. Beautiful and not corwded. However, if you want casinos, shows, ballrooms and 3000 of your closest friends, this is not for you. The ships are small, our ship had 30 crew and 60 passengers. The larger ones can have up to 300 passengers.

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » January 10, 2007 3:41 pm

I will vote for the Windjammer Cruises over the big ships because the size allows you to get to know everyone on board, they go to ports that the big ships can't get to, they are more informal and they are the only cruise line that I know of that will allow the passengers to have input on what ports are visited. On my first Windjammer Cruise we (the passengers) decided that we wanted to go to St. Barths rather then Saba and so the captain checked to see if that was possible and we did it. RCCL, CCL, NCL, et al. won't do that one.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » January 10, 2007 4:05 pm

We usually go in early March, our anniversary.
You'd think it would be a problem with spring break but we never notice a difference in crowds. Eastern was my fave but both were lots of fun.
We did Carnival first and Royal Caribbean ever since.
Royal Caribbean is our fave of the two.

I've been looking into windjammer and barefoot cruises but from what I've seen so far, most of them you have to fly to an island and leave from there. Seems to me that if you spend that much money you'd be better off staying somewhere for a week.

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » January 10, 2007 4:36 pm

Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?

INeverGoAnywhere · Post by **INeverGoAnywhere** » January 10, 2007 4:40 pm

Sidew13 wrote:Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?

Naaaaa, you need to find a place called Flipflops.....

What do you two want to do?
What do you two want to see? besides me......

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » January 10, 2007 4:57 pm

INeverGoAnywhere wrote:
Sidew13 wrote:Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?
Naaaaa, you need to find a place called Flipflops.....

What do you two want to do?
What do you two want to see? besides me......

No clue really

never been outside the US.
This would be our 10 year anni get-a-way

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » January 10, 2007 6:56 pm

It really all depends on your budget and what you want to do. All inclusives are nice. The large chain all inclusives are too big to be real bad. Check out Club Med if that is what you are looking for they have some nice properties in the carribbean.

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » January 10, 2007 8:33 pm

Skibo wrote:It really all depends on your budget and what you want to do. All inclusives are nice. The large chain all inclusives are too big to be real bad. Check out Club Med if that is what you are looking for they have some nice properties in the carribbean.

Well we don't have a bottomless budget, and some of the cruises we saw were around $2500 - 1 week Caribbean room with balconey. I'm thinking $3k range

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » January 10, 2007 8:44 pm

Two things to remember with cruise costs- alcohol and shore excursions add up, and they take away the bottles you buy on shore when you get back on the boat until the last night.

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » January 10, 2007 8:47 pm

Sidew13 wrote:Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?

Yes- Sandals Montego Bay a few times. Can't wait to get back there! Everything is included.

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » January 10, 2007 8:48 pm

shakerofsalt wrote:
Sidew13 wrote:Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?
Yes- Sandals Montego Bay a few times. Can't wait to get back there! Everything is included.

Including alcohol?

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » January 10, 2007 8:53 pm

Sidew13 wrote:
shakerofsalt wrote:
Sidew13 wrote:Mallory mentioned all-inclusive resorts. That to would be an option. I've wondered about Sandals. Anyone ever been?
Yes- Sandals Montego Bay a few times. Can't wait to get back there! Everything is included.
Including alcohol?

Any alcohol you can imagine! Top shelf, bottom shelf, out of a blender, out of a keg, bottle- heck, even out of your own stocked bar in your room if you book an upgrade from the basic rooms! We figured alcohol would be the thing to make a cruise too much $$$ for us! Plus as much food as you can eat plus more!

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » January 10, 2007 8:55 pm

Yes...all inclusives include food, alcohol, tips (although I tipped when I was in Mexico and the staff was especially gracious and attentive!)

Cozumel was awesome and the AI was great...

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » January 10, 2007 8:58 pm

sunseeker wrote:Yes...all inclusives include food, alcohol, tips (although I tipped when I was in Mexico and the staff was especially gracious and attentive!)

Cozumel was awesome and the AI was great...

We have tried to tip at Sandals, but they all refuse with a smile on their face and say that they will be fired immediately for taking tips. we couldn't even get the housekeeping staff to take a tip when we were in our room with her and no one else was there to see. She said they all love their jobs and how well Sandals treats them to risk it.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » January 10, 2007 9:03 pm

my experience was at an independent AI in Cozumel.....they took the tips without any hesitation...but I didn't feel obligated to do so....I fell in "love" with this older 60ish bartender who was just an amazing person to talk to....I made sure I tipped him really well...he would have my bloody mary waiting on me every morning at 10:00am....

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » January 10, 2007 11:03 pm

Well if you're think all inclusive, there are some lovely ones in Playa Del Carmen. And quite reasonable.

Also there are some in the Dominican Republic. Haven't been to any of those, but we have a BNer there who might be able to give you advice.

However don't rule out the Windjammers....they loads of fun and VERY reasonable. And you don't have to work on the boat (which is a myth that lots of people seem to believe)

nolestaylor · Post by **nolestaylor** » January 11, 2007 12:55 am

Have been to several AI in the past few years, and they are all pretty good. mexico was good but the dominican republic was truly amazing. last year we did costa rica. and with the budget you are talking you should kave your choice of places to stay. We have planned this year to for jamaica. and the price was inder 2500. look the Superclubs website. at these resorts EVERYTHING is included. GOLF SCUBA you name it.

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Where in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico?

Take a Cruise or stay at an All-Inclusive resort

Where in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico?