December 1-2 weeks beach and all inclusive

December 1-2 weeks beach and all inclusive

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red_slr

Original Poster:

17,123 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
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The last few years we have slinked off to Cornwall for Christmas. We have not been away for a proper beach holiday since we got married back in Dec 09.

Its our 10 year wedding anniversary in December plus we are both 40 within a couple of months and I want to surprise the mrs with a nice trip away. Had a quick look online and way, way too many options.

Do people rate Sandals?
Mexico seems to have a lot of all inclusive places?
Any other places I should be looking?

I have seen a couple of places in Greece that rate highly but unsure if the weather will be good?

Max flight time 10 hours really. 25-30c and no rain would be the ideal. Want all inclusive assuming I don't need to mortgage my soul for the pleasure...

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
red_slr said:
Do people rate Sandals?
I do, but it was from 2010, so they might have changed.

red_slr

Original Poster:

17,123 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
Thanks, which one did you go too?

Adenauer

18,564 posts

235 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
red_slr said:
Do people rate Sandals?
Mexico seems to have a lot of all inclusive places?
Only with socks.

Mexico, cheap, hot, humid, mad, great fun.

Edited by Adenauer on Wednesday 17th April 15:01

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
red_slr said:
Thanks, which one did you go too?
No worries. We had about 9 nights or so here:

https://www.sandals.co.uk/grande-antigua/

I am already a qualified scuba diver, so just had to do half an hour in the pool to prove I wasn't a liability, then I could join them on the (included) dives. I did maybe 2 or 3 mornings, each with two dives, and was back for lunch with the missus.

She did the introduction to scuba for a small fee, and we did two dives together. (Shallower, in the afternoon, still went close to a small wreck and saw turtles and a huge grouper.)

We also had a go at the little sailing catamarans one afternoon, which was easy and quite fun with my (limited) sailing experience. Also included in the price. We did an organised tour to the rain forest Go-Ape style thing, but it would have been easier just to hire a car and go yourself.

We did hire a car for a day to go have a look round the island. Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour were worth getting off resort for a day. I wouldn't expect you'd need a car for more than a couple of days though.

Food was good and varied, no kids there was nice too. Lots of honeymooners and older couples who's kids had grown up. Pleasant, friendly staff.

GT03ROB

13,210 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
I've done Sandals 3 times in the last 4 years. Done Ocho Rios in Jamaica, St Lucia La Toc & Grenada. In the other year we went to small AI in Antigua,

Sandals seems expensive but actually I think it's not too bad value, when you look at what is included. There is a lot of choice of food, the drinks are decent not local stuff. Your room is fully stocked with whatever you want. Scuba diving if it's your thing is free. I would pick the smaller Sandals resorts as the bigger bigger ones can be a bit how shall I say..... full of very loud young americans hell bent on getting pissed on the cheap.

La Source in Grenada was altogether a league above Ocho Rios. Much more compact, better in every respect. The AI in Antigua was not part of a chain just a small family run place, very quiet. Good food but no choice of restaurants like Sandals, drinks were all local stuff & no stocked bar in room (suite).

Went to the Seychelles a few weeks back, has a feel of the Carribean to it, but pricey, very pricey. Consider Costa Rica too, went last year and thought it was great.

Edited by GT03ROB on Wednesday 17th April 14:47

RS MOJO

34 posts

139 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
Try Mauritius. Went there in Oct for honeymoon and it was bliss. 12 hour flight, but if timed right not too bad - considered others you listed myself.
Main reason is Mrs doesn't like it too hot, and it was ideal.

BRISTOL86

1,097 posts

104 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
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Maldives ticks all those boxes depending on budget. Not sure about Dec but we went in Jan and the weather was marvellous. 27-29 but felt like 35, we had one day where it rained for a few hours but that aside was permanent sunshine.

red_slr

Original Poster:

17,123 posts

188 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
I am leaning that way now. Flights from UK to Doha then onward to Maldives.
Just trying to find somewhere that's reasonable cost wise as it seems £1000 a night is not uncommon!!!

Kenty

5,029 posts

174 months

Wednesday 17th April 2019
quotequote all
Try Veligandu or Gangehi islands
Veligandu is best but both have a lot to offer.
You need to work out if you need AI, only really big drinkers will come out anywhere near evens.
Snorkelling, food and trips are great but you probably won’t get overwater villa if on a budget.
If you do go to any other island make sure you get a seaplane transfer, great iconic experience.

GT03ROB

13,210 posts

220 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
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red_slr said:
I am leaning that way now. Flights from UK to Doha then onward to Maldives.
Just trying to find somewhere that's reasonable cost wise as it seems £1000 a night is not uncommon!!!
Just be aware that while Doha is a nice airport, it is still a pain to do the flight change & really stretches out the journey. Your journey time will really increase from the 10hrs you quoted. We did the Seychelles via Doha in business, I wouldn't go as far as to say never again, but would say go non-stop if possible even at higher cost.

red_slr

Original Poster:

17,123 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
I would want to fly from our local airport, there are no regular direct flights to anywhere long haul other than Florida, Jamaica, Cancun, Dubai, Doha, Singapore and that's about it.

There are occasional flights to places like Barbados but when you actually drill down into it there might be a direct flight every 3-4 weeks and the rest of the time its a flight to New York then a connection and sometimes a stop in Jamaica too.

I think its going to be Mexico or the Maldives having more of a look round last night.

twing

4,997 posts

130 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
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Some great deals around for Riviera Maya and Runaway Bay for the end of this year. Have a look at the Grand Bahia at both.

danzltiu

585 posts

201 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
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I would recommend Sandals. Have been to 2, Antigua and the Grande St Lucia in the last year. No complaints whatsoever and the fully inclusive is just that. You could check in without a dollar in your pocket and if you stay on site never need to put your hand in your pocket. Food and drink excellent.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Friday 19th April 2019
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We've been to Sandals in Jamaica 3 times. Royal Caribbean is my favourite, it's smaller and a little more intimate. Have also stayed at Ocho Rios which is much bigger and was still great. Sandals staff are excellent. Have looked to try St Lucia and Barbados but I can't get back to where I live (US Midwest) in one day so we always end up going to Jamaica out of laziness.

Just had a week at Excellence Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. That was also very good.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Tuesday 23rd April 2019
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GT03ROB said:
red_slr said:
I am leaning that way now. Flights from UK to Doha then onward to Maldives.
Just trying to find somewhere that's reasonable cost wise as it seems £1000 a night is not uncommon!!!
Just be aware that while Doha is a nice airport, it is still a pain to do the flight change & really stretches out the journey. Your journey time will really increase from the 10hrs you quoted. We did the Seychelles via Doha in business, I wouldn't go as far as to say never again, but would say go non-stop if possible even at higher cost.
Is Doha affected by the tensions in the area, and selective "no-fly" zones? I thought this was making the flight to Doha a lot further, as they have to route around a large country or something?

GT03ROB

13,210 posts

220 months

Tuesday 23rd April 2019
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
GT03ROB said:
red_slr said:
I am leaning that way now. Flights from UK to Doha then onward to Maldives.
Just trying to find somewhere that's reasonable cost wise as it seems £1000 a night is not uncommon!!!
Just be aware that while Doha is a nice airport, it is still a pain to do the flight change & really stretches out the journey. Your journey time will really increase from the 10hrs you quoted. We did the Seychelles via Doha in business, I wouldn't go as far as to say never again, but would say go non-stop if possible even at higher cost.
Is Doha affected by the tensions in the area, and selective "no-fly" zones? I thought this was making the flight to Doha a lot further, as they have to route around a large country or something?
In & out of northern europe is no big change the corridors generally took you across Turkey then down through Iran anyhow. Heading south to the Seychelles the "right" route would be over Saudi, but they now follow the gulf down to the Straits of Hormuz then head south, probably makes 30mins different.