Steve Trotter |
|
|
|
travel
writing - AAA
Going Places
|
|
The
Beauty of All-Inclusive Escapes
Drifting barefoot along a stretch of white powder beach to the beat of
a lazy surf is so liberating. Especially without the burden of a
wallet. by Steve Trotter That, in a nutshell, explains the perennial popularity of All-Inclusive vacations. Everything but the souvenirs and side excursions has been paid for long before you even sink your toes into that inviting sand. By pre-paying the total cost of your vacation, you will never have to reach for your wallet. Except when you remove it from your room safe when your time in tropical heaven is up. The beauty of an All-Inclusive vacation is that it gives you the freedom to eat, drink and play without getting stressed out about what it’s going to set you back. The All-Inclusive concept has traveled a long way since 1950. For years, Club Med cornered the market on All-Inclusives. Those days have sailed into the sunset, yielding a wealth of All-Inclusive vacation opportunities for vacationers. Today, the Caribbean is overflowing with All-Inclusives, Ultra All-Inclusives, Super Inclusives and Spa-Inclusives. Each category differs in the quality, quantity and frequency of what they include in their respective prices. The New Oxford Dictionary’s definition of All-Inclusive is as clear as the Caribbean Sea: “including everything or everyone.” The travel industry is more liberal in defining the term, meaning that each All-Inclusive resort has the freedom to write its own definition. That said, let’s take a closer look at the wide and wonderful world of All-Inclusives. As a rule of thumb, All-Inclusives include activities, non-motorized water sports, entertainment, three buffet-style meals, alcohol and non-alcohol beverages. Ultra-All-Inclusives Sandals and Beaches resorts include gourmet à la carte dining at several theme restaurants, entertainment, golf, various land activities and water sports, scuba diving for certified divers, premium alcohol, snacks and luxury accommodations. Sandals is couples only, while Beaches serves up fun for the whole family. Beaches Turks & Caicos even offers a ’50s-style diner with burgers and malts and a teen disco (parents optional). Jamaica’s SuperClubs Super-Inclusive AAA Four Diamond resorts Grand Lido Negril, Negril, Grand Lido Sans Souci, Ocho Rios, and Grand Lido Braco, Trelawny, offer all the amenities of Sandals plus 24-hour room service, unlimited champagne and premium liquor, manicures, pedicures and valet service. Grand Lido Negril includes a sunset cruise aboard M/Y Zein, Princess Grace’s 147-foot honeymoon yacht. For those of you with dreams of celebrating your own fairytale wedding, Grand Lido offers weddings in paradise free of charge; they will take care of everything from marriage license, minister and tropical flowers to live music and wedding cake. SuperClubs Breezes, with Super-Inclusives in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Curaçao and Brazil, is a mid-range resort popular with value-conscious vacationers. Spa-Inclusives Le Sport and Rendezvous in St. Lucia and La Source in Grenada, include a variety of spa treatments, activities, water sports, opulent accommodations and fine cuisine tailored to calorie-conscious clients. The number and frequency of spa treatments vary with rates. For those of you with a desire to experience the most upscale All-Inclusive in the world, a place New York magazine called “An Island Unto Yourself,” put Musha Cay in your vacation planner. Tucked away on 150 unspoiled acres in the Exuma Chain of the Bahamas, Musha Cay can be your very own private tropical island paradise, complete with your very own staff of 30. The price for you and 23 of your closest friends to relax in the lap of luxury? $43,000. Per day. Meanwhile, back in the real world, it’s a competitive paradise out there, teeming with All-Inclusives hunting for one thing: your business. This is great news if you don’t take all at face value and ask the right questions. If a good night’s sleep is important to you, ask what kind of mattress you’ll be getting. Sandals, for example, uses Serta. If you want to sail, ask how many boats there are: the more boats, the more time you get to enjoy the open sea. Are food, alcohol, soda, juice and bottled water available free-of charge between meals? Are they available 24/7? Is there an extra charge for à la carte dining, or dishes such as lobster? Are there restrictions on how many evenings you can dine à la carte? Is tipping completely included? Exactly what taxes and service charges will there be? What land and water activities are included? Are there any restrictions on activities? “If scuba is included, ask if there is a limit, other than for safety reasons, on the number of dives you can make,” advised Sandals Resorts David Roper, Director of Industry Relations. Is airfare included? What if you can find better rates on your own or want to use your frequent flyer miles? Do you have any specific medical concerns? Is there a doctor (or registered nurse) in the house 24/7? And last but not least, don’t forget to ask what is not included. “It is an important question to ask,” advised SuperClubs’ Executive Chairman John Issa. An All-Inclusive escape can be everything you dreamed it would be. back to the top
- AAA Going Places
|