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Sandals Resorts
Posted: Jan 4, 2015
Just wondering if anybody has visited any of the Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. There are so many beautiful places. I watched a video on Emerald Bay in Exuma. Anybody been there?;
No, there's a trip advisor review from yesterday sm - IMO
[ In Reply To ..]for Emerald bay that says they're covered in bed bug bites and much of the amenities that were to be included were inaccessible.
I would really, really research a resort like that before I put the money down.
Sandals Resorts - NYMT
[ In Reply To ..]Thanks. I will need a lot of research on all these places.
Sandals - My thoughts
[ In Reply To ..]I have not stayed at their resorts, but my thought is that an all-exclusive like that would be very pricey. My suggestion would be to not attempt to book your trip on your own and get help from a travel agent. You can get package deals that include air fare and lodging without all the frills. You might even be able to rent a condo or bungalow - your are not going to be spending much time indoors anyway and won't need a fancy room. Most hotels provide continental breakfasts and if you have a fridge or kitchenette in your room you can do some of your own meals and eat dinner out. Bugs? Well I think that goes with the locale.
Not just bugs ... BEDBUGS. - They go with NO locale.
[ In Reply To ..]Bedbugs are a serious issue. Unfortunately, they are cropping up all over.
You do not want to take them lightly. They hitch along in your clothes, your shoes, your purse, and your luggage, to infest your home. Sprays don't work. Getting rid of them is unbelievably expensive. It requires a professional company and often repeated treatments.
Well, one very recent review at that property was written sm - IMO
[ In Reply To ..]while the person was still there because it was such a horrible experience.
From the reviews on many of the Sandals properties, the constants are: run-down lodging, inability to make dinner reservations and the restaurants are empty, little or no pool service, terrible food, employees who seem to hate their jobs.
I do know of a couple who stayed at one of the Sandals in Jamaica and when they came back they said it felt like they were in a compound because there were high fences all around the property and they were told it was only safe to travel to and from the airport. The locals use boats to come into the beach area to sell weed and beg for money.
I would never put down the type of money the people who wrote the reviews did for an all-inclusive vacation. They could have spent less and had a 5-star experience in Florida at any resort property, one couple said they spent $10K for their vacation. They could have stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida for less.
Daughter went on her honeymoon there, years past we - did loads of Club Med, so similar
[ In Reply To ..]Three times to the Bahamas, Paradise Island, Turks & Caicos, Eluthera and then Club Med in Mexico, 3 Cancun trips, 1 to Playa Blanca and 1 to Ixtapa Mexico, all with Club Med. What I liked about it was you pay up front, everything (then) included meals, activities, nightly entertainment, just a blast. Sure Sandals is the same. Fond, fond memories of these great times.
A friend of mine and her BF went to one of those once - and all inclusive is misleading
[ In Reply To ..]They were not there very long and got quite bored with the "all includeds." Unfortunately all the sides trips or other activities were $$$$$. I would not opt for one of these period. I would make my own plans unless I wanted to be sitting on a beach 24/7.
All-Inclusives - see msg
[ In Reply To ..]The idea of all-inclusives is so that you don't HAVE to leave the place--all your food, drinks and water activities are there if you want them. They're not for everyone. FYI: Some people like relaxing all day.
We did a couple of these--while I wouldn't want to make a steady diet of them, I do like to go once in a blue moon.
How about a cruise? - sereneone
[ In Reply To ..]I always enjoyed cruising. You get all your food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as room and transportation from island to island in the price. The side trips can be a bit pricey but you can always research and get better deals if you want. Plus you get to see more than one place.
How about norovirus? Cruise, once, never - again
[ In Reply To ..]My daughter and I took a cruise for 3 days while in Greece. Talk about feeling trapped. You see 1 Greek island, you've seen them all. This was a huge ship, no dingy and yet 3 meals per day, nothing in between, no crackers, no sodas. Even though daughter was around teen and now grown she has never wanted to take another cruise. No thanks!
not a typical experience - n/m
[ In Reply To ..]n/m
So, Did You Get Norovirus?? - see msg
[ In Reply To ..]Your heading suggests you got norovirus, but nothing in the body of the post. Does that mean the cruise was just crummy, and you feel it's not worth the risk for norovirus?
That "cruise" you took isn't typical in terms of food and drinks. Most legit cruises have food and drinks available almost 24/7, if not 24/7.
I've been on about 5 cruises. I liked them all, but you don't really get to see the island you're on. It's not wise to go off for long periods of time on your own--if it's not a cruise-scheduled excursion, the boat WILL LEAVE port without you at the scheduled time.
We don't spend money on excursions, but we will take a cab tour of the island for an hour or so, getting back several hours before ship leaves port for that stop.
My "cruise" was enough for 2 to say never again - 24/7 food to me is not worth
[ In Reply To ..]it to me to catch something floating around on the ships. Countless now days have the same issues, people extremely sick, no help, cannot get off. You can play Russian roulette but not this person. My Club Med travels started after the cruise, in fact. Have excellent memories of times there. One trip remember dessert night where pies, cakes, cookies, put on tables that were at least about a block long for the guests. My children learned how to fly on the trapeze and juggle, one July 4th served barbecue (4 whole hogs) cooked overnight by the employees there, one time a marlin caught, hung up and guess what was on the menu that night? I did not eat as not fish eater but plenty to go around. One night at Ixtapa my children and grandchildren with us was steak night. You ordered which steak you wanted, T-bone, rib eye, filet and then they cooked over the fire for you. Yum! We enjoyed scuba, waterskiing, nightly free entertainment, activities like relay games on the beach, crab races and no cost extra to me. Noticed someone said paid for such but I never did. I loved how I could pay 1 price and just show up, have someone at the airport to meet me, get my luggage and away we went. Talk about fantasy land. Now back to the real life.
Norovirus - - cruise versus resort
[ In Reply To ..]Cruise ships are required by law to report any and all illness on board - motels and resorts do not - that's why you don't hear about a resort in Cancun or in Disneyworld having norovirus - when it's going around those places, they don't have to report it, let alone worry about treating it.
We have cruised 6 times and stayed in a foreign country at a resort 3 times - so far, we have been healthy.
As far as which to choose, find a travel agent you feel comfortable with and let them help you decide. First and foremost, what do you want to do during the day? sit around and eat all day - welcome to cruises - if you want to see a different country every day - cruise - if you want to sit on a beach all day - resort - it all depends on what you like to do.
As far as resorts having to tell if others sick - do you not think that would be known
[ In Reply To ..]with how people talk, that is a big DUH to me. If the norovirus was as prevalent in Disneyworld or hotels, do you for 1 minute think it would not show up on, say a place like TripAdvisor? Many, many people use that site and make decisions based on what others say. I do not need a travel agent, I am my own now and have been for years. I do not have to let others help me decide on how to spend my time/vacation. As far as foreign lands, 7 times to Mexico, once to Greece, once each to Euluthra, Paradise Island, Nassau, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Turks & Caicos, Canada, Alaska twice and have now visited almost all 50 states, lacking only about 6 or so. Strange what people think. I have been to many a resort and never just sat on a beach all day. That, in my opinion, would not be much of a resort. People could just drive to the ocean, get out and take a seat in that case and cost a lot less while you're at it.
I have been on 2 cruises with Royal Caribbean - sm - XXX
[ In Reply To ..]did not get sick with either, great time. Yes, shore excursions other than going into town cost money, but you don't have to do something at every port, and some trips inland are free with the cruise line transporting you especially to shopping sites. Would love to go on another one of these days, but not on my "to do" list right now, maybe in five or so years if financially feasible.
Cruising is the most un-green travel - possible.
[ In Reply To ..]Besides wasting huge amounts of fuel, they dump all your garbage in the ocean. There are so many bad things about them, I don't see how anyone with any social conscience could ever take a cruise. And I don't see how those ships could ever be really cleaned in the short time in port. Nasty.
Who says? - see msg
[ In Reply To ..]Who said they dump garbage in the ocean? There may be exceptions to the rule, but they properly dump their garbage at the ports.
The ships I've been on have people cleaning all day long, all over the ship. They don't just clean the day you're in port. You can barely go 2 steps without seeing someone cleaning elevator buttons, stair railings, etc.
The cabins get cleaned twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. Unless you're in your room, of course.
Look online. I have read many articles about how bad - cruise ships and their garbage are
[ In Reply To ..]I can think of nothing not completely wasteful about cruise ships.
And this more recently. Cruise ship pollution is my - personal pet peeve
[ In Reply To ..]http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/tourism/fl-cruise-ship-report-2014-20141210-story.html
Don't take my word for it, - read this...
[ In Reply To ..]http://oceana.org/en/our-work/stop-ocean-pollution/cruise-ship-pollution/overview
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