Brewerfan Vacation Destinations

[fondybrewfan]

My wife and I are starting to plan a vacation for this November. We are looking at someplace warm obviously, Florida, Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii. We are both young (24 and 23) and have no kids. I would be interested if anyone has any recommendations or if anyone would like to share their vacation experiences either good or bad. We are leaning towards an all inclusive type of deal so I would be especially interested if anyone has had any experiences with those types of places. This is the first time I actually have to plan a vacation, it is kind of nerve racking. Would anyone recommend a travel agent? I have basically been looking online through expedia, travelocity, as well as various other websites (like Sandals) Any tips would be great and like I said I am always up for a vacation story even if it went horribly wrong

[aracko]

You looking to party or to just get away somewhere quiet on a beach where there isnt much to do? At 24 I guess I wanted to party so I am thinking there is no better place for that than Jamacia.

[Menotti80]

i've done the all-inclusive thing in punta cana (dominican republic). i would recommend it, although i'm sure there are better places to go. it was a decent price though... (roughly $1000 for 6 days - all inclusive)

[GoudaBrew]

My girlfriend and I are headed to Jamaica in May. We'll both be 24 at the time of the trip. We're staying in Negril (a peaceful laid back town about 90 minutes from Montego Bay). We decided not to go the all-inclusive route. It would be nice to have all our drinks and food taken care of ahead of time, but we decided we wanted to be at a smaller place with less young kids and families. Plus we'll be "forced" to venture out our hotel more. We're staying at a little place right on the beach (I think it's called 7-mile beach or something).

 

I recommend expedia. It was a little cheaper than Orbitz. We have a direct flight from Chicago, and for 5 nights it's only costing us $525 each (includes flight, shuttle from airport, and the hotel room). If we would have booked it 2 weeks earlier it would have cost about $100 less (definitely book early). Keep in mind this hotel is no frills. No TV or phone in the rooms, but it got great reviews on expedia's website.

[Invader3K]

I've done the all-inclusive thing a couple times with my wife, once in the Mayan Riviera part of Mexico, and the other time in the Dominican Republican. I really liked it both times. The resorts we stayed at were both fairly upscale, and did not allow kids, something I could definitely appreciate (nothing against children, but I don't have any and don't need to see any while on vacation).

 

For me, it basically boils down to whether you want to just stay at the resort and relax, and stick to the activities the resort offers, or if you want to do sight seeing. It helps if you like to drink and eat, of course http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif It seems like there's quite a bit more sight seeing options in Mexico than a lot of the Caribbean places. I mean, when we were in the DR, there was basically one very small nearby village to visit on a four wheeler day excursion (which we did and was a lot of fun), but that was about it. Oh yeah, there were also some shanty type shops to visit by taking a long walk down the beach, but not exactly exciting sight seeing, you know? By contrast when we were in Mexico, we went on a shopping day trip to Playa Del Carmen (after we had to visit a way out of our price range jewelery store first, which was protected by armed guards...), saw some ancient Mayan ruins, and an actual modern Mayan village, etc.

 

Definitely search the online ticket and booking websites. You can usually find good deals with enough research.

[aracko]

My girlfriend and I are headed to Jamaica in May. We'll both be 24 at the time of the trip. We're staying in Negril (a peaceful laid back town about 90 minutes from Montego Bay). We decided not to go the all-inclusive route. It would be nice to have all our drinks and food taken care of ahead of time, but we decided we wanted to be at a smaller place with less young kids and families. Plus we'll be "forced" to venture out our hotel more. We're staying at a little place right on the beach (I think it's called 7-mile beach or something).

 

I recommend expedia. It was a little cheaper than Orbitz. We have a direct flight from Chicago, and for 5 nights it's only costing us $525 each (includes flight, shuttle from airport, and the hotel room). If we would have booked it 2 weeks earlier it would have cost about $100 less (definitely book early). Keep in mind this hotel is no frills. No TV or phone in the rooms, but it got great reviews on expedia's website.

 

Be Careful dude - Jamaica is not really the best place to be wandering about checking out local spots. No disrespect to the people of that country but its a rough place where people do what they have to do to get by. Maybe my perspective is off base.

[fondybrewfan]

We are more in to rest and relaxation but I would also be up for snorkeling, boating, kayaking, etc. There is a Sandals resprt in Negril that caught my eye just because the reviews on Expedia were so good, just about everyone loved it, however it is on the expensive side. We were thinking about Mexico as well but I would assume we would need to apply for a passport pretty quickly because at least from what I hear the whole process is a little backed up right now.

[GoudaBrew]

We were thinking about Mexico as well but I would assume we would need to apply for a passport pretty quickly because at least from what I hear the whole process is a little backed up right now.

That's what we thought about the passports too. Everyone was saying 6-8 weeks at least and up to 3 months. We got ours in about 10 days! We didn't pay for the express route either. Maybe we just got lucky.

 

It's funny the passport guy at our post office said he'd been to Negril about 20 times and had nothing but great things to say about the locals. He just said to be polite, and you won't get hassled much. Everything I've read said that Negril is one of the more safer places to visit in Jamaica (compared to Montego Bay and Ochos Rios). Obviously stay off the beach at night, and use common sense when venturing out (like any city you'd visit). And most resorts have security guards on duty during the day.

 

[elbobbo82]

My wife and I have done the all inclusive thing in the bahamas and also Ixtapa in Mexico. The Bahamas was great, and I would definitely reccommend it to anyone looking for a vacation. I don't know about the new rules, but at that time (2004) all you needed was a birth certificate to travel there. Mexico was not bad, but we stayed there in August, and while the temps weren't bad, it was the fact that there were mostly Mexican families on vacation there due to it being their time off from school. So there wasn't a lot of intermingling because of the language barrier. All in all though, I would reccommend the all-inclusive experience, because aside from maybe not getting to see the local restaurants, all the activities are going to be out in the community anyway, so you really don't lose anything. Also if you are looking for quiet and relaxation, definitely find a place with no kids.

[aracko]

You can rush a passport - I think its 20 bucks extra.

[GAME05]

in Negril, if you stay at your own hotel, you've still got the option to buy a day pass from one of the all-inclusive resorts. Negril is better safety-wise than places like Kingston, but like aracko said, safety is a big concern in Jamaica.

 

what a lot of people do if there's one or two activities they want to spend the most time doing, they pick a particular Caribbean island that most fits those needs, whether it be relaxing, scuba diving or hiking or whatever.

 

elbobbo, you need a passport for the Bahamas now, need one for anywhere in the area that's not Puerto Rico or the USVIs. And it's June of 09 that you'll need a passport for Mexico and Canada.

 

I work for a travel company that puts out destination reviews from around the world. I suppose I won't post our website in the interest of not pushing my own company on this site, but if anyone wants to PM me, i'll send you the link (no fees to it, btw). we're super-low on Google at this point, so nobody really knows the site exists.

[heresrobin]

I really enjoyed the Grand Cayman Island. Calm, crystal clear waters that are excellent for snorkeling or scuba diving. On the West side of the island, you will find Seven Mile Beach and it's a little bit more touristy, but great beaches nonetheless and that's where you need to go for the best snorkeling/scuba. The East side is a little more isolated. It's a smallish island, so you can probably explore most of it in a week if you are so inclined. I also hear it's a great place to go if you have a little money laundering to do.

[NeedMoreFans]

This is the first time I actually have to plan a vacation, it is kind of nerve racking. Would anyone recommend a travel agent?

The first time I actually planned a vacation was our trip to Germany. It was tough, but we did it all on our own...no travel company or travel agent. The hardest part was figuring out where to go and booking rooms in hostels. I'd recommend doing a lot of research and reading.

 

I just planned our second true vacation, and I'm a bit nervous about it. This is the first time renting a car for me. We're headed to Arizona. Like you, I wanted somewhere warm, but I didn't want to go to Florida or anywhere in the Gulf (plus my wife needs her passport updated due to her name change, and we didn't want to risk the chance of her not getting it back in time).

Not that I've ever been, but I've heard good things about Mexico, like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. I've also heard good things about the smaller islands down there, like St. Martin, St. Kitts, etc...

[gypcasino]

I was on Grand Cayman a few years back as one of the stops on a cruise.We rented a car and drove to a place called Rum Point. The beach was just amazing.

[Invader3K]

Be Careful dude - Jamaica is not really the best place to be wandering about checking out local spots. No disrespect to the people of that country but its a rough place where people do what they have to do to get by. Maybe my perspective is off base.

I used to work with a guy who worked in Jamaica for several years. Basically, he and his coworkers lived in a house, and they were bused directly to work and then back (he worked for some kind of booking agency), and he made it sound like all he could basically do was stay inside or walk around their property, that was about it. Didn't sound like a place I'd really be anxious to explore.

 

[bobbledude25]

I just got back from Hawaii! Anyone that has never gone seriously should go at least once in there lifetime!

[brewers4eric]

My wife and I did our honeymoon in Jamaica four years ago. If you go there, you will want to stay at a four or five star resort. It is an indicator of good security. The island is beautiful but it is the last place that you want to be when security at the resort breaks down and/or a hurricane hits. Most of the resorts are fenced off, and the beaches are patrolled to prevent drug trafficking. Some of the locals get around the security force by standing in the ocean.

 

It is a good idea to go all inclusive in Jamaica and to book any side trips through a service like Apple Vacations. The good resorts will have three or four spots to eat. We had the option of three on-location restaurants, a sea side locale, and transportation to another local restaurant. If you don't go all inclusive, you may end up shelling out $30 for a burger and fries and a couple of Red Stripes. All inclusive where we were at meant that we didn't have to carry cash, we ate a buffet three times a day, and all of the drinks that we wanted were included. Apple vacations had a rep meet us at the airport and someone to plan side trips at the resort. It alleviates some of the hassles that you might have arranging transportation, plus it also insures that someone knows where you are at.

 

You'll get a case of culture shock as soon as you fly in. There is basically no sort of visible rescue equipment at the airport. Taxi rides are comparable to a roller coaster ride in the US. Goats will be standing next to the road and your driver will be weaving in and out of traffic avoiding pedestrians. Everything operates on tips and the economy operates on tourism. Someone is always there to take your money.

 

We stayed at the Wyndham Rose Hall in Montego Bay, which has a waterpark and a good stretch of beach. Negril is the solitary couples spot on the western edge of the island. We did a catamaran ride to Dunn's River Falls, but the highlight of the trip for us was a raft ride down the Great River and a tour of a banana plantation. We had lunch next to the river and caught a lesson on how to make an authentic daiquiri. It was great because we were the only couple on the tour. That, however, is also why Jamaica is scary. We were by ourselves in a taxi out in the middle of nowhere.

 

Jamaica was a great trip, but be careful. Most of my preconceived knowledge of the island was based upon some 1980's Steven Segal movie where he had to kill a couple of twin drug dealing thugs named "Screwface". Have a good trip, but just remember to keep your safety in mind, even though Segal threw Screwface down an elevator shaft and killed most of his henchmen with a combination of martial arts moves and automatic weapons. If a barrel chested Iowa farm boy can survive a trip to Jamaica, you can too.

[fondybrewfan]

The more I read this the less likely that we will be going to Jamaica.

 

Hawaii I believe is to expensive. Does anyone have an opinion on the safety and other accomodations of the Domincan Republic or the Bahamas. I also hear a lot of good things about St Kitts

[Hammer]

My wife and I went to Riveria Maya, just south of Playa del Carmen in Mexico. We stayed at the Adventura Spa Palace Resort and LOVED every minute of it. It was all inclusive, every type of booze/beer that you could ever want and ALL ADULT. Now, there wasn't any hanky panky on the pool side but there weren't any kids knocking over your drinks near the pool (or pee-ing in it!!) either. I would recommend this place every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Here is the link...

 

http://www.palaceresorts.com/Resorts/AventuraSpaPalace/Index.asp

 

We booked ours through Apple Vacations and were very pleased.

[aracko]

I know of a place in Florida that can match them Sunset for Sunset and was very cheap and relaxing. If its the other accomidations, In Mexico you can get what you need from most of the sunglass salesmen.

[Dnye23]

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, especially if you hotel is on the lakeshore. Yea it gets crowded down there at times, but I don't think it is as much in November. I'm going there for our honeymoon at the end of April and cannot wait. It's a great site to look out into the gulf and see Land's End of the Baja. You can also take a taxiboat to Land's End and walk across to the Pacific side. Unbelievable place, so that is my recommendation.

[OldHoss]

I've only done all-inclusive once. I like to explore and find the little out of the way spots. Thus, the all-inclusive is just not for me.

I've done the bahamas twice. Once in Eleuthera and once in the Abacos. If you don't mind arranging your own accomodations/schedule, I'd recommend either.

Eleuthera

Abacos (you'll need to rent a boat to go from island to island)

In both places, we only met the most friendly and kind people -- both locals and tourists. I can't wait for my kids to be old enough to go back.

Send me a message if you want more detailed info about my trips.

[TracyThom]

Bumping this thread instead of starting a new one. My wife and I are going on our first cruise in a couple of weeks. (Yes, with Carnival Cruise lines. Lightning can't strike twice in a one month timespan, can it?) We haven't been on a real vacation together without the kids since our honeymoon fifteen years ago. Needless to say, we are stoked.

 

Does anyone have any advice or tricks of the trade to make the experience better? We are taking a 7-day cruise that departs San Juan and has stops at St. Thomas, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Barbados, and St. Maarten. We have only booked one excursion thus far. (An island tour of St. Lucia) The whole point of the cruise is to relax, so we plan on spending a lot of time at the beach at each port. Of the islands I mentioned, are there any must see or must do attractions? Thanks!

[logan82]

Snorkeling in St. Thomas? I went snorkeling in St. Croix years back. Not the same island but pretty close.

[valpocrewsader]

If I may piggyback on the bump, my wife and I are in the process of planning a northern California trip and could use any input anyone has. We need to be in the Sacramento area for a family reunion in June, so we're thinking about flying into San Francisco a week early, spending one or two days seeing sights like GG Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, etc, then driving out to Napa/Sonoma/Whatever valley for a couple days of wine country. We're also considering a Reno or Lake Tahoe excursion after we've made our stop in Sacramento. ...Then ultimately fly out of San Fran to come back to WI?

 

If anyone has any thoughts, I'm all ears...