All Inclusive resorts

[iowdivnut]

My brother, sister and I are looking to do an all inclusive vacation. Anyone out there have any experience with any of these resorts? My brother and I dive so we need to be able to dive atleast a few days. I said everyday, but the wives were a bit cool to that idea!

[Matt P]

Ok, I'll start...

My wife & I spent a week at Sandals, Montego Bay in Jamaica. I dive. She does not. Dives were included. All gear & air fills are provided. There were exactly 2 dives a day. One in the the morning and one in the early afternoon. It was very nice to be able to walk onto a boat and have all the gear set up and ready to go.

The diving itself was ok, not really that great. I saw some large stingrays which was really cool. There were lots of ferns & fans, a few lobster. The most amazing thing was the huge coral structures. The bottom was barren and sandy. Then, a huge coral pillar would just up 30" from the bottom.

The resort was disappointing. Our front door was about 600 ft from the airport runway. No, not 600 ft from the airport. The runway at the airport! I would suggest Negril over Mo' Bay if you ever go to Jamaica. The food wasn't bad. The seafood was really good.

Hope that answers your question. Anything in particular you wanted to ask?

[thor]

I've been to an all inclusive in the Dominican Republic, and although I tend not to stay at such places, it was great. It all depends upon where you are going.. which is where?

[From_Arizona]

Palace Resorts in Mexico -
We have first hand experience at both the Moon Palace (Cancun- large resort) and Adventura Spa Palace (All adult -Riviera Maya)...in fact we will return in July 2008 for our next family travel. This will be our 4th week long stay at the Palace Resorts.

We learned to dive while staying at the Moon Palace, great instruction, created a class for just my husband and I so we got great 1:1 time with instructor. They brought the DVD player to our room so we could watch the DVD and complete our bookwork - we then moved on to AquaWorld in Cancun for the OW certification. Isla Mujeres was the area for the cert dives, cannot wait to go back and head out south of Playa Del Carmen next time.

The hotel is top rate, rooms, service, multiple restaurants and drink all included. Plenty of included tours for those that dive and onsite activities as well as spa delights for those that don't. Really enjoyed the all-inclusive and found they are at the top of the list for the Quintana Roo area.

[tarheeldiver]

Originally Posted by From_Arizona

Palace Resorts in Mexico -
We have first hand experience at both the Moon Palace (Cancun- large resort) and Adventura Spa Palace (All adult -Riviera Maya)...in fact we will return in July 2008 for our next family travel. This will be our 4th week long stay at the Palace Resorts.

We learned to dive while staying at the Moon Palace, great instruction, created a class for just my husband and I so we got great 1:1 time with instructor. They brought the DVD player to our room so we could watch the DVD and complete our bookwork - we then moved on to AquaWorld in Cancun for the OW certification. Isla Mujeres was the area for the cert dives, cannot wait to go back and head out south of Playa Del Carmen next time.

The hotel is top rate, rooms, service, multiple restaurants and drink all included. Plenty of included tours for those that dive and onsite activities as well as spa delights for those that don't. Really enjoyed the all-inclusive and found they are at the top of the list for the Quintana Roo area.

I agree the Palace Resorts are the best at AI anywhere I've stayed also

[tlmainer]

For the past 10 years we have done all inclusive to Cozmel, Cancun and this Sunday, Playa Del Carmen Mexico. We like the all inclusive. Food is good, drinks are unlimited and some have on site scuba shops. The women can hang out by the pool or on the beach. Alegro Cozumel is AI and has a drive shop. We are staying at Grand Coco Bay in Playa this next week and they also have a dive shop. The nice thing about having on site dive shop is you can save a lot of time not loading up gear, taking taxi, unloading gear etc and you get back sooner to make your wives happy! We always book through "Funjet" and the cost is approx. $550 per person from Houston for 6 days/5 nites and includes all taxes, transfers and tips, unlimited food and drinks.

[Damselfish]

AIs are not known in general for providing the best diving at a destination but some will be better than others. Some people have experiences they are happy with but you will often hear complaints like having difficulty getting on dives or not having that many dives to get on or not as many included as they expected at an "AI"; going to sites that are not that good (possibly because they often have a lot of casual divers and can't have them do or are afraid to have them trash the better sites; people being herded on short dives. So check into those sorts of things at AIs you are considering. If you find an AI you'd really like to go to but hear things you don't like about their diving program, you might also consider doing your diving with an outside op. It may not be as convienient, but many ops will pick you up and take care of your gear so it may not be that much trouble.

[kroorda]

Check out Beqa Lagoon Resort, in Fiji. For the money, it's one of the best places around (and a simple 9 hour flight from LA. Look at Beqa Lagoon Resort (Marlin Bay) - homepage
Happy travels. PS: At Beqa, you'll find: exceptional diving, very comfortable & friendly accomocations, peace & quiet, and great food. They make a great vacation!

[iowdivnut]

Thanks everyone! You've given some good information and places to look into.

[Soonerwink]

I took my Family to Cozumel and stayed at the Allegra Resort there. There were 4 of us and I am the only diver. The food was pretty good, and they have a great beach. And best of all they have a dive shop on premises, Dive Palancar. I usually did 2 am dives every day and I also did 1 night dive. I was always back at the resort before noon. I would highly reccomend them.