Beaches/Sandals/Grand Pineapple

[bvibert]

Maybe I am not drawn toward sitting in the sun all day because I'm whiter than rice (white rice even) and I start to sweat at around 71 deg F.

Last time I went to the beach on Cape Cod with my girlfriend, I had on 45 spf and began to burn after about an hour and a half. Without going in the water.

I'm pretty pale myself, and I burn very easily. I'm also not a big fan of the heat or sitting around and doing nothing. However, I did have fun when we went to Antigua (as much as I hated having to go in the middle of ski season :smash. We didn't do a ton of sitting around doing nothing, but we did spend some time on the beach..

 

[Marc]

Okay, three way white off.

I listen to Barry Manilow while I iron my socks.

Beat that, suckas.

 

[deadheadskier]

Okay, three way white off.

I listen to Barry Manilow while I iron my socks.

Beat that, suckas.

I was the author of the Stuart Smalley series for SNL :uzi:

 

[andyzee]

Okay, three way white off.

I listen to Barry Manilow while I iron my socks.

Beat that, suckas.

I never got sunburn on my pee pee.

 

[WakeboardMom]

Okay, three way white off.

I listen to Barry Manilow while I iron my socks.

Beat that, suckas.

I've been to see the GoGo's twice. My iPod is embarrassing.

I live in NH.

My parents are white, Irish Catholics from Boston.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've been to see the GoGo's twice. My iPod is embarrassing.

I live in NH.

My parents are white, Irish Catholics from Boston.

If that's you in the Avatar pic, you might as well concede. You call yourself pale? Better lay off the melanin otherwise you won't have a horse in this race.

 

[WakeboardMom]

If that's you in the Avatar pic, you might as well concede. You call yourself pale? Better lay off the melanin otherwise you won't have a horse in this race.

It's a perfect illustration of why I'm so white. Everything affects me. I'm 52...hot flashes...!! That's hilarious.

Okay...I'll give ya the winning entry that I was honestly reluctant to post, but it's true: At night you could read a book by the light of my butt, it's so white.)

(On a serious note...lotta skin cancer in my family.)

(Oh...and you're avatar. LOVE IT!! You may have bumped into me playing skee ball or at the Paradise...)

 

[billski]

Are the all-inclusives worthwhile if you aren't much of a drinker?

Haven't tried one yet...may have to wait until the kids are grown...

It can work well for families, and be relaxing for the family, if you pick the right one. What is nice is that you don't have to plan much of anything except what time you want to go to dinner. We did it with teens and a pre-teen. In Antigua the Jolly Beach Resort had it's main dining room, where you could eat essentially when you wanted to, so we could split up, depending on activities. But, there were 3 other restaurants that you could make reservations that were style-specific, like Italian, Seafood, etc.

Optional tours run through the resort, or outside of it can work well too. You just show up at the main entrance, they shuttle you to the activity.

The Smoothie machine available all the time was s big hit with the kids.

There was always some activity organized on the beach and/or poolside, some activities for kids, some for adults. There was always a nighttime activity that was either rated G at jolly (including a fun on-beach bonfire, music, dancing) or at another all inclusive in Central America, an early show for kids, a late show for everyone else. Depending on the resort, there were beach toys you can check out for the day or by the hour, everything from hobie cats to horseshoes, volleyball games, etc.
Food and activities were the main attractions to all inclusive.

The last vacation we mixed it up with half at all inclusive and with half on-the go.

I find all inclusive best for the sedentary, stay-put kind of vacation. I also enjoy active vacations, but for us, that is a deliberately separate experience.

 

[billski]

Got me looking back through the pics from Antigua. Our daughter was so cute!


We stayed at Halcyon Cove.



Smokey's boat that we went out on for snorkeling (a local):


This was the Sandals next door:

When were you there? We were in Antigua March 2008. Lucky for us, bad for you, it was raining in the northeast, so I didn't feel so bad missing skiing. Did you see the volcano in Montserrat?

I think Sandals Antigua has the smallest beach in the world.
We spent a day on Eli's boat snorkeling and eating. Done that at another resort too. That's fun.
Further up shore there's a nude beach club, if that's your thing. We saw it from the boat.

 

[mondeo]

Okay, three way white off.

I listen to Barry Manilow while I iron my socks.

Beat that, suckas.

Plus you're an engineer.

 

[ZYDECORICH]

We stayed at the Atlantis in the Bahamas for our honeymoon. I didn't really care for it that much. It was too fabricated and fake throughout the resort. I vowed to not do a commercialized resort again. We didn't go back to the Caribbean until this year for our 10th anniversary. We went to Negril Jamaica with 4 other couples and stayed at a small private resort with about 6 or 7 huge villas. September is the offseason (school and hurricanes) so the vacation ended up being about $2K. Our villa was 5,000 square feet, and we had a private bartender and chef, private pool, etc. The beach was beautiful:

We had a great time just laying on the beach getting served rum cocktails and Red Stripe for 5 days. One thing about Jamaica though - the locals can be relentless trying to sell you everything under the sun. Within 30 minutes of being on the beach the first day I could have bought ganja, coke, mushrooms, fruit, necklaces, CDs of Reggae music, rented a wave runner, etc. Also, trust your driver if you leave the resort. The towns can be a little intimidating. It's a 3rd world country and these people are just trying to make a living, but it can be a little exhausting as they hound you to buy something from them. Still, I had some great conversations with some of the locals.

We're actually thinking about the Dominican this summer. Supposed to be wicked cheap. All I really need to have a relaxing time is a cocktail and nice beach so we're seriously considering it.

Have been going to Negril for 20 years and it has changed much from those early days but still a blast. the more laid back places are great, there are some great places along the cliff section that begins at the end of the seven mile beach on your way to the famous "Ricks Cafe", one of them is the "RockHouse" which is just awesome. The first time we went it was just a few huts on the cliffs but now it has been upgraded without losing it's charm. great endless pool built right into the cliffs. secluded ..nice... check this out it's worth it... http://www.rockhousehotel.com/escape.php

 

[severine]

Looking like this may happen this year instead of next.

So here are other thoughts...

Websites you like to use to book vacations: Is it better to go with the resort itself or someone else?

Travel outside peak season: I realize hurricane season so-called officially begins June 1st.... So late May or mid-August travel would be potentially problematic, though that's when we can go. Does anyone have suggestions on destinations that would be less likely to be affected where maybe they went in this time of year?

Perhaps some budget options, too? Looking to do 4-5 nights for $2K or less.

 

[severine]

When were you there? We were in Antigua March 2008. Lucky for us, bad for you, it was raining in the northeast, so I didn't feel so bad missing skiing. Did you see the volcano in Montserrat?

I think Sandals Antigua has the smallest beach in the world.
We spent a day on Eli's boat snorkeling and eating. Done that at another resort too. That's fun.
Further up shore there's a nude beach club, if that's your thing. We saw it from the boat.

We were there Feb 2006. It was only a couple of days as tag-alongs for my SIL's wedding at Sandals. My poor FIL had to miss out on the family dinner afterward since our 9-month-old daughter was not welcome on site (they made an exception as it was for her to attend the ceremony). We mostly stayed on site between Halcyon Cove and visiting at Sandals, but did take a trip into St. Johns for a few hours. I could have skipped that. And yes, Sandals Antigua did have a very small beach and it wasn't all that nice... we had these cute little shelters at Halcyon Cove and only bordered Sandals' beach.

 

[bigbog]

Jamaica is a trip. We were able to talk a local into renting a wave runner to us for half the day for like $60. Again, September and nobody was there. We told him sixty bucks was better than having the machine sit idle on the beach. :lol: We all took turns ripping around on it. That was the extent of any activities for us. Of course wave runner guy proceeded to get himself arrested that day and his "boy" kinda hassled us a bit to get the wave runner back, but it was all a part of the experience! :lol:

Well played Greg, although the wave runner was probably the to-be get-away vehicle...ya' could've held out for more $$$ for an early return...but then again..you might've gotten in the cross-hairs of a semi-automatic..;-)

 

[billski]

Looking like this may happen this year instead of next.

So here are thoughts...

Websites you like to use to book vacations: Is it better to go with the resort itself or someone else?

Travel outside peak season: I realize hurricane season so-called officially begins June 1st.... So late May or mid-August travel would be potentially problematic, though that's when we can go. Does anyone have suggestions on destinations that would be less likely to be affected where maybe they went in this time of year?

Perhaps some budget options, too? Looking to do 4-5 nights for $2K or less.

Random thoughts:

If I had to choose, I'd take Mid-May. If you really want to get anal about this, go to the National Hurricane Center.

Pick a chart, flip a coin, have a ball. Here's 2008"

We were rather particular about location and offerings, so we have been booking our offshore vacations directly with the resort for the last few years. It's much easier to communicate directly with someone at the resort - you can get concrete answers faster and have greater flexibility.

If you're on a budget, pick an Island that has a direct flight. That will save you on $ and time. Antigua does not. Lots of people pick the US Virgin Islands because of that. On a budget, you might also consider Pureto Rico. The have some really nice spots. Sometimes trip consolidators offer the best price (least flexibility) by chartering a plane fixing a date and filling it up. Something to look into.

Also, you will pay more or less depending if you're on the Atlantic side or Carribean side, so pay attention. The Carribean side is where all the placid blue shallow beaches are in general - a better choice for the kids. Of course there are exceptions.

 

[severine]

Thanks, billski. Kids are staying home for this one, though.

My cousin mentioned Cancun and I know Riviera Maya was mentioned in this thread so I'm checking that out right now through Apple Vacations (also mentioned in this thread). Can put together a really nice trip on the cheap there!

Any more input?

Definitely looking to try somewhere new so it won't be Antigua.

 

[billski]

Any more input?

.

Not really. We do moderately complex trips that end up not being budget travel, so I don't know. I'm also not an Island person, even though we've gone a few times now, my wife is more into the research than I am. Seek out discussion boards for islands of interest. So many people are ga-ga over hot weather vacations that there is a lot of traffic, opinion and reviews out there.

I was intrigued by Panama after hearing it's about 1/4 the price of Costa Rica (but a long flight). Apparently after the General took flight, they've really done a turn around. The cheapest rooms are about $10, but it's worth upgrading to a $30 room for luxury, no joke. Tourism industry is there, just not as developed. You can build your own trip and activities for really small change.