Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

Do you think all-inclusive vacations are worth the money you save or do you prefer spending more to get a bit of a nicer hotel, nicer food, etc.? If so, can you suggest your favorite in ALL beach locations/

I'm taking my BF on a 3-4 day trip in February or March. I've been to Jamaica all-inclusives that were fairly cheap and hotels a la carte in Turks & Caicos, St. Maarten, etc. that were pricier.

Would you rather spend more money and not do all-inclusive or do you think all-inclusive has everything you need?

I'm just weighing my options and looking for the best situation for us.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

Personally I don't love all inclusives.
I like to explore & I have had some experiences with sub par food at all inclusives.

I'd rather pay more and stay at a nice hotel.

Personally I love Barbados & Aruba - and I wouldn't stay AI on either of these islands since there are so many great dining choices.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I have never been to an all inclusive before but I have done a ton of carribean cruises on some higher end lines.

This year I did my first land carribean trip and we went to st. Barts in April. It will blow you away, it is the most amazing place! We are going again in December
Look into it if you want something magical

Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I think it depends on where you go - in some places, AI is the only way to go while at others - there are so many good dining choices.

We've done AI in Cabo and Cancun and ended up spending more than we would have at a regular hotel since we went out a few nights. Also - we can only drink so many frozen drinks in a week and prefer wines and beer that aren't usually offered in the package.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I like experiencing all that a certain country has to offer in terms of restaurants and activities. So an all inclusive would be wasted on DH and I.

Depending on what you're looking for I highly recommend Anguilla. Beautiful beaches, super nice people and amazing restaurants.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I am not a fan of all inclusives. I would much prefer to pay a la carte and pay more for higher quality food and drinks.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

We just did a long weekend in Aruba and loved it!

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I think it really depends on many factors. DH & I are big drinkers on vacay so all-inclusive is great for us if it includes drinks. We still take a night and go out to a local place but we prefer having everything in one spot and not having to worry about spending anything above and beyond what we already spent. One of the best all-inclusives I've ever been to was in St. Maarten, I went with for a girl's weekend with a friend to Sonesta Great Bay. I felt like the food was varied and the options were good for an all-inclusive when we went. It was also very close to a shopping, restaurants, etc.

Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

We went to the RIU Palace in Aruba for our honeymoon and LOVED it! A lot of people told us that we shouldn't do AI in Aruba because there are so many good restaurants, but we loved it! We had breakfast and lunch at the resort everyday and had dinner at the resort 5 out of the 10 nights. It was worth it for us because we both like to drink so we didn't have to worry about a bar bill.

The resort is beautiful and so is the entire island. It's paradise! I'm dying to go back again!

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

Thanks all! My BF and I aren't really drinkers at all and probably won't drink more than a glass of wine or so at dinner. So I guess I should factor that in.

All that responded, can you give me recomended hotels for Aruba, Barbados, St. Barts? Also, are there any hiking/adventure side trips you can do at these locations?

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

I think it depends on where you are going & how much you drink.

If the island has more than all inclusive to offer, I would probably just book a regular hotel. We also like to get out and see the area and wouldn't drink more than 2 drinks in a day.

I don't have hotel recommendations but I have been to Aruba & Barbados on cruises.

We biked in Barbados & I think you can also horseback ride.

In Aruba we snorkeled--Aruba is more of a desert climate.

We did hiking type trips in St. Johns, St.Lucia, and Dominica.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

We stayed at the Radisson in Aruba. Upon entry, it was not the most impressive looking hotel we've ever stayed at. But we paid to upgrade ourselves to a full ocean view room in the Aruba tower. Our room was gorgeous with a great view. The beach there was absolutely beautiful with plenty of palapas. We would definitely stay there again. There are a couple if day trips you can take- boat rides, snorkel trips and ATV trips.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

Marriott in Aruba!

Walk to 30 restaurants can't beat it!

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

We went to Couples Jamaica (Sans Souci, Swept Away and Tower Isle) and it was pricier but the food was delicious. I'd choose TI or SA if you want the best though. I would choose something like that again. We got our money's worth in activities and food. I love that food is so accessible. We want to relax and have everything at our fingertips when we go away.

I've been to a couple of AI in Mexico and the food was crap. Someplace like that I would chose non AI and go to restaurants.

Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

The Hyatt in Aruba is amazing!

ETA - I'm interested in hotel recs for Barbados as well - we stopped there on a cruise and I fell in love with the island. Now that there are more non stop flight options from NY, I'm dying to go back for a week.

Message edited 10/29/2013 10:10:28 AM.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

we stayed at an AI in Riviera Maya. it was worth the money for AI because the resorts are so big and we were not near a town we could walk to for food. We spent all our time at the resort. We stayed at Now Sapphire resort. It was a good value - when we were booking it was one of the more affordable luxury 4 star options. It was a beautiful hotel.

We stayed on Isla mujeres at a hotel called Privilege Aluxes with an all inclusive option. We were able to get the AI plan for $30 more a night, this made it worth it to have drinks and lunch included. Bfast would have been included regardless. I'd say if you can get the AI plan for less than $60 a night, it is worth it. Otherwise, just pay out of pocket. We did not do dinner at this hotel. We were a minute walk from TONS of great affordable restaurants. This trip we will do again because it is really a great value. When i look for AI trips, this is always the cheapest option I can find for a nice hotel on a beach with drinks and food included.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

It works if it is high quality all inclusive. Check out Secrets. Fabulous food and top notch service.

Re: Caribbean/Island---best experience/value?

We really liked Le Blanc in Cancun.