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All inclusive family vacation
#22397
09/07/2013 12:43 PM
09/07/2013 12:43 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
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Want to take family ( 2 adults, 3 kids, 8,6 and 4) somewhere warm and sandy over Christmas break. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Dave
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: Showdavid]
#22398
09/10/2013 11:24 PM
09/10/2013 11:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,228 Somewhere out there
kneafseym
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,228
Somewhere out there
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You can't go wrong in the Cancun, Riveria Maya area. We go 1-2x year. Customer service is great at even the lower end resorts. We have a now 8 year old and she loves the kids clubs, it is her vacation away from us.
Xmas is very crowded, we always leave the Saturday just before the holiday, the prices are a lot lower that week. I think you probably won't get great deals. Watch for the 90 minute time share presentation that lasts 3 hours, many places but not all expect you do to this to get a great price on the trip.
Bottom line for us, we shop the deal rather than the location, all the locations and staff will be good. The variable on the places is if they have the same buffett every day or al la carte menu also name booze vs local brands. For a week, who cares.
Dreams was one of our favorites, very high end. But we also loved Sea Adventure (formerly Blue Bay), it was a 3 star, but the most kid friendly we have been to.
Mike
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: kneafseym]
#22399
09/11/2013 09:27 AM
09/11/2013 09:27 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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I don't have any specific recommendations for resorts, but some general bits of info and cautionary notes. Christmas break is going to be WAY busy at all resorts and prices sky high. Also, be aware that flights are going to be full and usually over booked, which can make for some stressful flying. Before you get your heart set on a particular country or destination, suggest you check out the air connections. If you can get a non-stop somewhere, I personally would put that destination at or near the top of my list. I have friends who booked a family getaway (with adult family members, flying from different places) at Christmas one year. Several of them missed a connection due to bad weather. They ended up losing two whole days of their vacation because, once they missed their original connection, they literally couldn't find any flights with open seats to get them there. It wasn't a matter of the airlines not trying to help them get there, but there literally were not any open seats for days..
As far as particular resorts, we don't have any kids, so can't really help much with that. I assume your kids have passports?? If not, get them. Your main options are going to be Mexico (mostly Cancun), Jamaica and the DR. With Jamaica and the DR, recognize that the hotel could be a long way from the airport, which you may not want to deal with, with three small kids. Most vacation flights for JA fly into MoBay, so if you're looking at JA, look for someplace that's not real far from MoBay. For the DR, be advised that there are about 3 major airports there, so check air routes from your area. Hope that helps a little bit.
Carol Hill
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#22400
10/01/2013 05:56 PM
10/01/2013 05:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
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Thanks so much for the guidance. We've already blown off anything during Christmas break, so were probably going middle of January for my wife's birthday. At our kids ages, a week out of school won't kill them. We'll get the homework in advance and have them do it down there. Airfare is just ridiculous, even after the holidays. We've gone back and forth between an all-inclusive, a villa and a charter boat. Just can't get all the stars aligned. Do any last minute deals come up this time of year? I fear that everything is at to over capacity. Coming from Chicago, it seems the minimum airfare anywhere is a thousand bucks apiece...minimum.
Dave
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: swg]
#22403
10/03/2013 07:05 PM
10/03/2013 07:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
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Thanks very much Sue In contact with Bonnie and we're working on a trip mid January. This forum is a travelers dream! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
Dave
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: swg]
#22405
10/03/2013 10:07 PM
10/03/2013 10:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
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Looking forward to a week of fun and sun with our little ones. Took a trip last February, just adults on a BVI bareboat. Great trip, but missed the kids. Promised them this year they would come along. They're begging to be on the sailboat, but not ready to have them onboard a pitching cockpit, so a cruise may be the best solution. Soon though.. Can't wait to have them at the helm sailing in paradise! Thanks again for the great advise!
Dave
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: Showdavid]
#22406
10/09/2013 08:56 PM
10/09/2013 08:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,457 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,457
Finger Lake Region
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Our favorite resort is in the Playacar gated community just a few minutes south of Playa Del Carmon, on the Yucatan - the Iberostar Tucan. An AI resort in a gorgeous jungle setting (complete with a variety of animals including monkees) situated on a beautiful, clean beach. The staff is excellent, and their kids program is amazing. After entertaining the kids all day they have the kids entertain you at night before the main show. We're a couple, and although this is a family resort we love it there. Can't recommend it enough for you, take a look at the reviews on tripadvisor, and you can see pics and videos on this site. You fly into Cancun which s an easy flight from most parts of the US, and it's a 50 minute transfer to the resort but worth it. And if you'd like more to do the prime excursion spots are nearby, and PDC offers shopping. Just a thought - I love Tortola and the BVI, but the other part of our time is spent here. If you look at a cruise be sure to research well as a cruise is very different than a land-based vacation. We cruise too, but you really need to select the right ship and the best itinerary for your family. Carnival has an exceptional kids program, as does Disney of course. But the adults need to enjoy them selves as well! Edit - here's the Tucan link - http://www.ib-board.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=03n5adool1h6nihq743vgg91c4
Last edited by crmoores; 10/09/2013 09:03 PM.
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: crmoores]
#22407
10/10/2013 07:31 PM
10/10/2013 07:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,457 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,457
Finger Lake Region
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Sorry, that's Playa Del Carmen !
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: All inclusive family vacation
[Re: crmoores]
#22408
10/12/2013 07:19 PM
10/12/2013 07:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
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Thanks crmoores,I think we have decided on a cruise. They'll keep the kids occupied all day, Dreamworks characters on board and plenty for the adults. Through a recommendation from a fellow TTOL'r, hooked up with Bonnie from Cruise One. Highly recommend her for any future cruising plans. Very thorough and knows her stuff. Also a TTOL sponsor.
Dave
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