Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Is there any all inclusives that y’all would recommend that is inside the United States or a place that doesn’t require passports?

 

Planning a honeymoon through this and essentially if I go to a country that requires passport I have to quarantine 14 days before returning to work. Would prefer somewhere with a beach.

 

 

Any help is appreciated.

Posted

Florida is great and has some all inclusive options. 

The whole point of all inclusive international travel is the low cost of the all inclusive aspect. The reason you don't see a lot of all inclusive US resorts is people want high end experiences here.

Even at resorts with "top shelf" all inclusive they will make simple drinks well but nothing else. 

If you are staying in the US you are going to get the experience you pay for. Just figure out what beach vibe you want and just choose a place and deal hunt. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted
1 minute ago, immamac said:

Florida is great and has some all inclusive options. 

The whole point of all inclusive international travel is the low cost of the all inclusive aspect. The reason you don't see a lot of all inclusive US resorts is people want high end experiences here.

Even at resorts with "top shelf" all inclusive they will make simple drinks well but nothing else. 

If you are staying in the US you are going to get the experience you pay for. Just figure out what beach vibe you want and just choose a place and deal hunt. 

Well and they're more common in places where no or little English is spoken and food and beverage may be suspect.  They basically cater to ugly Americans.

Americans don't need to do that.  We're full.

Posted
US Virgin Islands.  I don’t really like all-inclusive places, so no firsthand knowledge there, but a brief google search tells me that there are a few available.


My ex wife and I did Caneel Bay/Little Dix 17 years ago. They were Rosewood Resorts and had all-inclusive packages. Rosewood has sold and I’m not sure who is running them now but St John is awesome. Highly recommend.
Posted
1 hour ago, Bevo VIII said:

 

Is there any all inclusives that y’all would recommend that is inside the United States or a place that doesn’t require passports?

 

Planning a honeymoon through this and essentially if I go to a country that requires passport I have to quarantine 14 days before returning to work. Would prefer somewhere with a beach.

 

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Beach? Mountains? Budget? There are some high end places in the US.

Posted
All-inclusive in my opinion is a bad plan and is 2nd only to cruise ships on the list of "things i've never done and will never do".

Our thought process was not having to go out to multiple different restaurants and bars depending on location. And all inclusive met our wants as far as that. Are they as crowded as cruise ships get?
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, C-Man said:

 


My ex wife and I did Caneel Bay/Little Dix 17 years ago. They were Rosewood Resorts and had all-inclusive packages. Rosewood has sold and I’m not sure who is running them now but St John is awesome. Highly recommend.

 

Right now Caneel Bay won't open until at least 2022. Little Dix Bay does appear to have opened back up.  Bitter End Yacht Club is still being rebuilt from Irma.

Edited by VABuckeye
Posted
All-inclusive in my opinion is a bad plan and is 2nd only to cruise ships on the list of "things i've never done and will never do".

Did an all inclusive for the first time in Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago. Picked it partly on the rave reviews on the dining. No Mexican food was served, ever. However, the nightly pasta buffet made all the pasty midwesterners happy. Never again.
  • Hook 'Em 3
  • Like 1
Posted
3 hours ago, Bevo VIII said:


Our thought process was not having to go out to multiple different restaurants and bars depending on location. And all inclusive met our wants as far as that. Are they as crowded as cruise ships get?

Can accomplish that without all inclusive...in Vegas.  In full disclosure, I did all inclusive once and hated it.  Never again.

Hell, I think I might just go to the Post Oak in Houston given the circumstances and your criteria.  About 5 or so great restaurants on property.  Amazing rooms, get a cabana at the pool every day and call it good.

Posted
33 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:


Did an all inclusive for the first time in Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago. Picked it partly on the rave reviews on the dining. No Mexican food was served, ever. However, the nightly pasta buffet made all the pasty midwesterners happy. Never again.


fucking a

 

also, had our room broken into by hotel staff and they stole my wife’s phone. 

Posted
7 hours ago, Bevo VIII said:


Our thought process was not having to go out to multiple different restaurants and bars depending on location. And all inclusive met our wants as far as that. Are they as crowded as cruise ships get?

Plenty of places to go that are not “all inclusive” if convenience is the driving factor vs. the fixed price aspect of all inclusive.

Hell, New Orleans or Vegas meet that criteria and your walks form the hotel to plenty of bars or restaurants would be commiserate with an “all inclusive”.

Multiple Vegas properties have enough options inside their doors that you’d never have to walk outside and would never duplicate a meal or bar for days. 

Some place along 30A or plenty of beach resorts on the south east coast would qualify as having numerous dining options a short stroll from your door.

Unless you mean “lock my wallet in the safe once I arrived on site” type of all inclusive, that may not be the best descriptor of that which you seek. 

Posted
6 hours ago, CooterBrown said:

Did an all inclusive for the first time in Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago. Picked it partly on the rave reviews on the dining. No Mexican food was served, ever.

wut. 

Posted

Best way to all inclusive in the US is to fine a destination hotel/spa with a solid restaurant that either has golf and a beach or is in a major city so you’re close to arts, entertainment and dinning options.  Not really all inclusive but you can fuck a lot with few headaches planning stuff to do.

Posted
Key West? Get a hotel room on Duval Street and there are a million options within a short walk

I like this idea a lot and doing a quick search I came up with these 3 hotels. If any of y’all have experience with them let me know.

 

 

 

Hyatt Centric Key West

 

Southernmost Beach Resort

 

 

Pier House Resort and Spa

Posted

All inclusive are profitable for the hotel.  Not for the consumer/sucker.  Otherwise they wouldn't do them.   But I get where the OP is coming from. 

  • Like 1
Posted
On 9/6/2020 at 3:26 PM, CooterBrown said:


Did an all inclusive for the first time in Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago. Picked it partly on the rave reviews on the dining. No Mexican food was served, ever. However, the nightly pasta buffet made all the pasty midwesterners happy. Never again.

I think we went to the same resort. The bar food all had hotdog in it. Hotdogs and beans, hotdogs and noodles, hotdog pizza. It was a fucking beating. 

I lost 10 lbs on that trip and drank like a fish.

Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, Grade of D as in David said:

I think we went to the same resort. The bar food all had hotdog in it. Hotdogs and beans, hotdogs and noodles, hotdog pizza. It was a fucking beating. 

I lost 10 lbs on that trip and drank like a fish.

It was the Royal Haciendas.  Facilities and amenities were top notch. Drinks were strong. However, the food was designed for unadventurous midwesterners.  There was Italian night, Chinese night, BBQ (pulled pork and ribs) night, etc.  I just remembered there was one single Mexican dish available at breakfast...chilaquiles made to order. I got that every day.  There was no mexican food available at lunch or dinner which was very disappointing.  That's the last time I will trust TripAdvisor food reviews.

Edited by CooterBrown
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Bevo VIII said:

I like this idea a lot and doing a quick search I came up with these 3 hotels. If any of y’all have experience with them let me know.

 

 

 

Hyatt Centric Key West

 

Southernmost Beach Resort

 

 

Pier House Resort and Spa

Stayed at the Southernmost a few years ago. It is at the quiet end of Duvall. We got a “beach” side room, but the term beach is a little bit of a stretch in Key West. If you’re looking for a nice beach, you will have to drive back towards the main land. Key West would not even make the  bottom of my list of places to go for my honeymoon unless you’re just looking for a party. If you want to split time there and maybe Miami, I could see it I guess.

Rent a house on the north end of Anna Maria Island, rent a house on Sanibel, South Seas at Captiva, the Omni on Amelia Island, Savannah with day trips to Tybee, the Sanctuary at Kiawah with day trips to Charleston, Wild Dunes at Isle of Palms, the Henderson in Destin, and a few others are all places we have been that beat out Key West. The Sanctuary, Wild Dunes, and the Henderson all consistently make the lists of top Beach resorts and you can eat on site without leaving.

Edited by Brew
Posted
On 9/6/2020 at 9:12 PM, Mrs Whiggins said:

Not first hand info, but Catalina Island may have something like what you’ve got in mind. 

Schedule it around the Wine Mixer. It's a rowdy crowd.

Posted (edited)
14 minutes ago, Brew said:

Stayed at the Southernmost a few years ago. It is at the quiet end of Duvall. We got a “beach” side room, but the term beach is a little bit of a stretch in Key West. If you’re looking for a nice beach, you will have to drive back towards the main land. Key West would not even make the  bottom of my list of places to go for my honeymoon unless you’re just looking for a party

Going to agree with brew on this one.  I've been to key west 3-4 times.   Do not go for beaches.  Even the beach at Pier House is pretty sad.  Pier House is nice.  Really nice.   Go to Key West for fishing, sailing, drinking, some history, food is pretty good.  It's New Orleans on an island.  But there are also some great little B&Bs where you can sit under the trees by the pool, sip drinks and bang the new wife all day. 

Btw.  Not sure if it will be an issue right now but Key West has become a common stop on the cruise circuit.  The city fills with cruise people and it's a beating of epic proportions. 

Edited by midtown
Posted
4 hours ago, Brew said:

Stayed at the Southernmost a few years ago. It is at the quiet end of Duvall. We got a “beach” side room, but the term beach is a little bit of a stretch in Key West. If you’re looking for a nice beach, you will have to drive back towards the main land. Key West would not even make the  bottom of my list of places to go for my honeymoon unless you’re just looking for a party.

I stayed at Southernmost for a wedding a couple of years ago.  The property was ok, not great.  Pool was just ok.  The only thing to really do there is walk out to Duvall and get drunk all day/night.

4 hours ago, Brew said:

the Sanctuary at Kiawah with day trips to Charleston

Was just there 2 weekends ago and it was much nicer than Key West (if not just going to party).  Decent beach, better pool, great food on site, and great golf in the area if you are into that.  There were also great restaurants that were a short shuttle ride away.

Posted
On 9/8/2020 at 8:51 AM, Bevo VIII said:

I like this idea a lot and doing a quick search I came up with these 3 hotels. If any of y’all have experience with them let me know.

 

 

 

Hyatt Centric Key West

 

Southernmost Beach Resort

 

 

Pier House Resort and Spa

I stay at the Hyatt Centric 3-4 times a year. Great hotel and location (north end of Duval - Pier house is right next door). Southermost is nice but at the other end of Duval, a little further away from the bars/restauraunts.

Posted (edited)
22 hours ago, Brew said:

Stayed at the Southernmost a few years ago. It is at the quiet end of Duvall. We got a “beach” side room, but the term beach is a little bit of a stretch in Key West. If you’re looking for a nice beach, you will have to drive back towards the main land. Key West would not even make the  bottom of my list of places to go for my honeymoon unless you’re just looking for a party. If you want to split time there and maybe Miami, I could see it I guess.

Rent a house on the north end of Anna Maria Island, rent a house on Sanibel, South Seas at Captiva, the Omni on Amelia Island, Savannah with day trips to Tybee, the Sanctuary at Kiawah with day trips to Charleston, Wild Dunes at Isle of Palms, the Henderson in Destin, and a few others are all places we have been that beat out Key West. The Sanctuary, Wild Dunes, and the Henderson all consistently make the lists of top Beach resorts and you can eat on site without leaving.

I missed this was for a Honeymoon, so I would probably skip Key West, it wouldn't be awful but as mentioned above it is more of a party place. I agree beaches are not good anywhere in the Keys. 

South Seas is nice, a few restaurants right on property, and once right at the entrance. You can rent a golf cart and drive to others on Captiva. Beaches are good and sunsets are world class.

Edited by Ogie Ogilthorpe
Posted
15 hours ago, Bevo VIII said:

After researching more the US Virgin Islands may be a better choice. St Thomas seems like a cool laid back spot.

St. John is a million times better than St. Thomas.  Check out the Westin on St. John if you absolutely have to do all-inclusive.  That said I would rent a condo at Grande Bay where you can walk to everything Cruz Bay has to offer.

Posted
St. John is a million times better than St. Thomas.  Check out the Westin on St. John if you absolutely have to do all-inclusive.  That said I would rent a condo at Grande Bay where you can walk to everything Cruz Bay has to offer.

Actually was looking at that last night.


Doesn’t have to be all inclusive but would like amenities and excursions close to resort
Posted

If you stay in Cruz Bay there are busses to take you to the beaches.  Most notably, Trunk Bay which has a snorkeling area and is a drop dead gorgeous beach.  You can rent a day charter to go around St John.  I recommend Rockhoppin Adventures.  If you take your passport you can visit some of the BVI on a day charter or you can just tool around St. John and snorkel.  If you do that have lunch at Lime Out VI.  If you looking for a rowdy time and do a day charter into the BVI there's Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost van Dyke and further out on Norman Island is The Willy T which is the single most raunchy and rowdy bar I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.  Anything goes so if kids are with you do NOT go to the WIlly T after 3 PM.

In Cruz Bay there are plenty of bars and restaurants you can walk to.  The Beach Bar and Joe's Rum Hut are now open again.  For dinner Extra Virgin is a must.  It's probably the best meal on the island right now with Zozo's closed due to Irma.  Rent a jeep and go across the island to have lunch at Skinny Legs.  Morgan's Mango also serves up a very good meal.  There are plenty of other bars and restaurants in Cruz Bay but those are the highlights.

Trunk Bay

spacer.png

spacer.png

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
  • Like 1
Posted

More along the line of my companies policy and having to quarantine 14 days before returning if we go somewhere that requires a passport
You can go to a US Hotspot and no quarintine or go to a country with less than any city in Texas and have to quarintine. Makes perfect sense
  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Have you considered not telling your company?

Regarding all-inclusives, you might try finding a high end non-all inclusive place you like and then seeing if they will give you an unadvertised all-inclusive deal. We did that at the Andaz Playa Papagayo in Costa Rica. It is a great hotel with fantastic food. In fact just typing this made me think about their beef carpaccio and chicken chimichurri and literally start drooling. Their top restaurant is definitely 5-star. You might be able to arrange something like this at the Andaz in Maui. It probably won’t be cheap.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...