I am not sure if there is a factual answer to this, and in fact if you have any experience with all-inclusive resorts I would be happy to hear your advice/experiences, so Mods if you feel as though it should be moved, please do so.
My GF and I are thinking of going on a trip for her break from med school. We want to go somewhere warm (not that this winter has been overly cold where I am), somewhere with a beach, beer and rum, activities wouldn’t hurt. As she is a med student, and I am still paying off student loans and have had my hours slashed, we have a limited budget. Therefore it is important, to me at least, to know what the difference is between 2-3-4 stars and half stars.
Is it how nice the room is? How nice the beach is? How many employees are there to serve you beer and rum? How good the food is? How plentiful the food is? How far from things such as clubs/beaches it is? What activities there are? What activities are included in the all-inclusive? What activities you have to pay for?
This is heading for IMHO, but I’ll do the best I can. For the factual part, the star ratings generally do not tell you how nice a hotel is, they tell you what services are offered. This is standardized by law in many European countries but not in the U.S. Different ratings systems use different criteria, e.g., AAA diamonds and Mobil stars.
There are lots and lots of all-inclusives in all kinds of climates. A key differentiator for you might be air fare rather than the resort itself, if you’re on a budget.
Most all-inclusives include three meals a day and all activities. Some exclude motor sports, like water skiing. It used to be that alcoholic beverages were extra but a lot of places are including them now. The most well-known chain of all-inclusives is Club Med. Originally geared towards young singles, they have a few for families. I took my wife and daughter to Eleuthera, Bahamas, when my daughter was about 1.5 years old (that one is no longer operating as a Club Med). It was not luxurious but it was a good value and lots of fun. At that time, if you wanted alcohol you would buy these beads, and use the beads to buy drinks. The room had no TV or telephone. We also went to one in Florida that was more upscale and more expensive. They included three meals, shows (put on by the staff), exercise sessions, exercise room, child care during the day (which you don’t care about), sailing catamarans, water skiing, swimming pool, snorkeling, circus training (Club Med is big on providing acrobatic training for some reason).
The-all inclusives are really nice psychologically because when you go to a pay-for-room-only place, you feel like you just have your wallet out all the time.
Once you’ve established what activities and services a place has to offer, the only way to tell for sure what the quality of a place will be is to talk to someone who’s been there. There are travel sites on the web where people write their own reviews, and travel agents know tons about this kind of stuff (I know, with the web, few people think about using travel agents anymore but they know their stuff).
Ok, so stars basically mean nothing? (I am going to be leaving from Canada, but I assume it will be similiar to the US system). Well not nothing, but its not necessarily one of the best indicators of quality.
I was under the impression that for most all-inclusive, flight was included as well. One reason we want all inclusive is because then we know how much we would be spending, much easier to budget.
Where we go doesn’t matter much, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, Bahamas (but that is last on the list, I have a friend who lives there, been there 4 or 5 times). I hear about last minute travel, and if you don’t care to much where you go, just when you go, it can be a great deal, is this true?
Mods, this thread probably does belong in IMHO, I shoud have posted it there in the first place, if you could be so kind? Thanks.
All inclusives sold in Canada usually mean airfare and seven nights , usually between 900 and 1700 based on double occupancy, check your travel agent for details on what you purchase or plan to purchase.
I can’t speak to the last minute deals , but I have been to every one of the countrys you mention , with the exception of the Bahamas. Of the three , the one I would go back to in a heart beat is Mexico , specially if I can get acupulco again.
It was the best bang for the buck money wise.
Declan
Stars are a general guide to quality: a four-star resort is usually better in all respects than a three-star one (if they are both being measured by the same rating organization). But the ratings are subjective, so you can’t really say what exactly the difference is. And any particular trip can vary: you could get a crappy room at a five-star resort and have a miserable time, or get a great room at a three-star resort and love it.
Still, the more stars, the better your chances of getting a great place to stay.
Rather than looking at a stars rating, go to TripAdvisor.com, pick a location you might be interested in, and start reading user reviews. Keep in mind an occasional bad review should be taken with a grain of salt, just like with a rave review that seems a little TOO glowing (these could be entered by competitors or employees of the resort).
I used the above and found an awesome place at Negril, Jamaica. It might be a little more expensive, but for us it was worth it.
Another thing to look for is what you want out of your trip. If you want a vacation free from children (we did), look for a resort that is adults/couples only. If you want something a little more subdued (we did), consider Swept Away or something like that. If you want louder, more risque, consider Hedonism.
Above all, check out the tripadvisor.com reviews to get some ideas of what to expect.
No, but you have to find out the criteria being used by whoever’s giving the stars. There is not an industry standard, but the big players I mentioned should give their criteria. Here are the criteria for AAA/CAA:
Diamond Ratings:
One Diamond: These establishments typically appeal to the budget-minded traveller. They provide essential no-frills accommodations. They meet the basic requirements pertaining to comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality.
Two Diamond: These establishments appeal to the traveller seeking more than basic accommodation. There are modest enhancements to the overall physical attributes, design elements, and amenities of the facility typically at a moderate price.
Three Diamond: These establishments appeal to the traveller with comprehensive needs. Properties are multifaceted with a distinguished style, including marked upgrades in the quality of physical attributes, amenities, and level of comfort provided.
Four Diamond: These establishments are upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish. The physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail.
Five Diamond: These establishments reflect the characteristics of the ultimate in luxury and sophistication. Accommodations are first class. The physical attributes are extraordinary in every manner. The fundamental hallmarks at this level are to meticulously serve and exceed all guest expectations while maintaining an impeccable standard of excellence. Many personalized services and amenities enhance an unmatched level of comfort.
Varies. Some places will offer a package including air, or give you the option to get your own flights. Other places don’t but travel agents can create packages for you.