Carribean all-inclusive advice

[Pete]

OK, first I finally mailed SD his money (his paypal account was confiscated because he does illegal stuff).

Second, I have decided on the Punta Cana coast of Dominican Republic.  My miles work out to fly there easier than Cancun, and the hotels are less than half the price.  Win Win.

Now, trying to choose between a half dozen properties that are seemingly indistinguishable...but I think I am going to choose the one with 27 holes of golf on the property.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

OK, first I finally mailed SD his money (his paypal account was confiscated because he does illegal stuff).

Second, I have decided on the Punta Cana coast of Dominican Republic.  My miles work out to fly there easier than Cancun, and the hotels are less than half the price.  Win Win.

Now, trying to choose between a half dozen properties that are seemingly indistinguishable...but I think I am going to choose the one with 27 holes of golf on the property.

Good luck.   My brother honeymoon at Punta Cana, and they did not really feel safe off resort.   Not much to do beside tour rum factories though.

[Skipper44]

It has been a while, but there is not much of anything to do in Punta Cana.  I would take this as a positive, you won't feel like you missed anything by not straying from a layout, golf, eat and drink vacation. 

Another thing I liked about Punta Cana was it is a little airport just for the tourists so you land, get you bags and 20 minutes later it is cocktail time at the resort - no long bus/cab rides like you can get in some other destinations (Playa for example).

[Pete]

It has been a while, but there is not much of anything to do in Punta Cana.  I would take this as a positive, you won't feel like you missed anything by not straying from a layout, golf, eat and drink vacation. 

Another thing I liked about Punta Cana was it is a little airport just for the tourists so you land, get you bags and 20 minutes later it is cocktail time at the resort - no long bus/cab rides like you can get in some other destinations (Playa for example).

Ya, the travel time was a huge plus.  I'm not traveling on a Saturday, and Saturday is the ONLY direct from KC to Cancun...and the other flight options had me landing around 9pm, and not the resort until 11pm...waste an entire day traveling.  I can be on the beach at Punta Cana by 4pm.

[steve dave]

that is weird.  I can be in cancun on multiple different flights by 10AM-1PM out of omaha.  the kc airport sucks ass.  

[Pete]

that is weird.  I can be in cancun on multiple different flights by 10AM-1PM out of omaha.  the kc airport sucks ass.  

I mean using my miles.  I have free flights on Delta and USAir...not American...so I'm screwed on Cancun.

[steve dave]

that is weird.  I can be in cancun on multiple different flights by 10AM-1PM out of omaha.  the kc airport sucks ass.  

I mean using my miles.  I have free flights on Delta and USAir...not American...so I'm screwed on Cancun.

oh, ok.  you are going to get raped on an all inclusive though.  they will charge you triple what you could get it at a package rate.  this is the only time I would advise not using miles.  I bet you can stay and fly for a couple hundred more than they are going to charge you to stay there. 

[Skipper44]

It has been a while, but there is not much of anything to do in Punta Cana.  I would take this as a positive, you won't feel like you missed anything by not straying from a layout, golf, eat and drink vacation. 

Another thing I liked about Punta Cana was it is a little airport just for the tourists so you land, get you bags and 20 minutes later it is crocktail time at the resort - no long bus/cab rides like you can get in some other destinations (Playa for example).

Ya, the travel time was a huge plus.  I'm not traveling on a Saturday, and Saturday is the ONLY direct from KC to Cancun...and the other flight options had me landing around 9pm, and not the resort until 11pm...waste an entire day traveling.  I can be on the beach at Punta Cana by 4pm.

When I went, it was a cheap 4 day trip when my wife was getting her masters so we did a Apple Vacations out of STL.  We drove over the night before, did a stay and park deal at the Drury across the street from the airport.  Enjoyed an evening in St. Charles, got up and enjoyed a tasty Drury breakfast spread, got on the airplane and 2.5 hours later we were enjoying mojitos by the beautiful Caribbean.   

The drive back to KC on the return was typical I-70 semi dodging but the whole trip was under $1k.

Also, another positive of Punta Cana is there almost no shopping (unlike every St. whatever) so while you are shooting a slick 98 the little lady will have to entertain herself the old fashioned way, with DR pool boys.

[Trim]

that is weird.  I can be in cancun on multiple different flights by 10AM-1PM out of omaha.  the kc airport sucks ass. 

Both those airports suck if they don't have people walking around smoking joints.

"Anybody could have a trace [of THC]," Arum said. "If you're in a railroad station or an airport and somebody is smoking a joint and you walk by, you can have a trace. Boxing commissions, knowing that, have elevated the level [of testing] for marijuana so that it doesn't pick up the traces.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6431673

[steve dave]

Mexico safer than Wichita

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/05/06/opinion.mexico.travel/index.html?hpt=C2

[Tobias]

Mexico safer than Wichita

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/05/06/opinion.mexico.travel/index.html?hpt=C2

umm, wichita is mexico (at least a part of it).  wichita is kinda sorta dangerous for the yucatan but not too bad. 

[Pete]

that is weird.  I can be in cancun on multiple different flights by 10AM-1PM out of omaha.  the kc airport sucks ass. 

I mean using my miles.  I have free flights on Delta and USAir...not American...so I'm screwed on Cancun.

oh, ok.  you are going to get raped on an all inclusive though.  they will charge you triple what you could get it at a package rate.  this is the only time I would advise not using miles.  I bet you can stay and fly for a couple hundred more than they are going to charge you to stay there. 

Not in the Dominican Republic, my man.   

[mocat]

Pete, what did you end up doing?

SD, why did you suggest NOT using miles to get to your All-In of choice?

[steve dave]

SD, why did you suggest NOT using miles to get to your All-In of choice?

I've only been to an AI once so I'm no expert but from what I've seen the rack rate for a room at these places is really high. they will deeply discount the rooms if booked as part of an air/hotel package through expedia or whoever. Like, you will essentially be paying the exact price for the flight but the room rate will be cut in half.

[ChiComCat]

Will be at the hard rock all in in riviera maya at the end of the month. Will report back

[Emo EMAW]

@mocat seems too cool to do an AI type gig

[mocat]

normally yes, but this trip is all laying on the beach and boozing and not really exploring

[daBish7]

I stayed at the Hard Rock Punta Cana this summer and I highly recommend it.  The resort is huge with like 15 pools and 10 restaurants. Casino has a sports book and night club.

[mocat]

i was also thinking about a non-all in in st maarten, looks elite af

[Emo EMAW]

You want privacy, man, IMO.  AI and privacy do not coexist.

[daBish7]

St Maartin is a really cool place. Lots of restaurants and the beaches are really nice. It also seemed to be in better shape than a lot of islands in the carribean.

If privacy is something important to you I would recommend going at the slow times of the year.

[puniraptor]

You want privacy, man, IMO.  AI and privacy do not coexist.

we did an AI in belize that was awesome and private.

kinda pricey tho

[mocat]

every single post in this thread is contradictory 

[pissclams]

i have a friend leaving next week for st lucia, looks pretty elite

[Dr Rick Daris]

mocat- when are you wanting to go? what miles do you have? is mexico in the mix or just carib?