Because of Marty's physical problems we have given up on the idea of going to Japan. Has anyone been to a really nice resort that we could go to for a week? We like good food and nice beaches.I have been looking at some all inclusive resorts on the internet in the Dominican Republic.
The resorts look nice but the people they show in the pictures are all so young. I guess that is supposed to make the places more appealing.We like people too and would like to have a few others around in our age group.We are not looking for a romantic hide away.Since we are going on PARTY in December we would rather not go on a cruise.

Bette, the Dominican Republic, especially the Punta Cana area, is very very relaxing. I would suggest Secrets Excellence, Paradisus or Riu Palace. Secrets is adult only, no children, so it is really quiet.

I have stayed at Riu Palace, which was probably the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken. We sat on the gorgeous beach under a palm tree for a week :)
All three of these resorts are all-inclusive. Secrets has the most ala carte restaurants of the three mentioned. Paradisus has the better casino and Riu Palace has great public rooms and probably the prettiest beach I have ever seen.

Don't let those pictures fool you, the people in those brochures must be from another planet as they are all so perfect!!


Which resorts were you looking at?

Secrets was the one that we were looking at. It is rated very high. I was just checking airline schedules from San Francisco and ugh! We could almost go to Africa.Is it too hot in the summer?
We might have to put it off until September but I keep thinking about those hurricaines.Marty has some car shows in May and June that he has already booked. God forbid he should miss one.

Bette,

Have you considered Hawaii?- I've been there in July and the weather is PERFECT then. There are many resorts there as well.

Bette,
While in St. Martin, my sister & I took a taxi to La Samanna to check out " The resort to die for ". It was breathtaking. Secluded w/ perfect beaches, gorgeous flowers and tight security...not that St. Martin is dangerous. If you want a caribbean resort this is the one.

I understand Marty's fascination w/ car shows...I have that addiction too!

Kathy, are there any all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii? I have been wondering that for some time now but have never researched it.
Hawaii is on our list of to-do's but it is as foreign to me as Alasaka is at this point, there seems to be so many choices!

Karen, we stayed at an all inclusive at Kona, Hawaii on our honeymoon (almost 5 years ago). The resort is called Kona Village and most of the rooms are in individual grass thatched cottages called "halles". They are scattered along the beach and also clustered around one or two lagoons. We enjoyed the food in the main dining room but they also had another restaurant (sort of a step up) but you had to pay. The best part - they request that you put away your cell phones while there, no TV's, no telephones (except a few public ones). Also no locks on the doors but each cottage had a safe for valuables. It was a relaxing vacation. I want to go back!!

Karen,

Colleen said it perfectly that she will run out of life expectancy before she runs out of itinerarys.

Hawaii is a must do. No resort required. Even if you just go to Maui or Oahu, the packages are great - rental car, hotel and breakfast. There are great places to eat and the scenery is wonderful. You haven't lived if you haven't had fresh fish from Mama's Fish House on Maui or seen the sunrise at the top of Haleakala Volcano.

There are some gorgeous new hotels ( not all inclusive) very close to home in Cabo ..
We really feel in love with Las Ventanas
http://www.allaboutcabo.com/
go to hotels/resorts/villas, check out 5 and 6 star ratings on the "corridor"

The Caribbean in the summer can be wonderful. Weather is great (OK maybe a hurricane or two...)and the rates are usually significantly lower. Lots of options! Happy Planning!

We stayed at La Samanna. Very nice.

There are many good resorts and islands out there and they aren't full of young people wearing a size zero. If you are in search of beaches and restaurants head to Antigua. A number of all-inclusives if that's what you like, but if not, there are many other choices as well. Everything from a Sandals (an AI with four restaurants and four bars)to Curtain Bluff (Classic continental cuisine and a more mature crowd). Good luck in choosing!

Trish

We heard lovely things about Caneel Bay in St. Johns and the Marriott and Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. Our friends go back there all the time.

On a totally different aside, you can come and visit us if any of you come to Oahu! :)

Thank you all for your input.
Claudia the reason that I didn't want to go to Cabo is that I love turquoise water like they have in the Caribbean. I also wanted to keep Marty away from those expensive fishing boats.I would love to go to a place with nice coral. We enjoy snorkeling although the Great Barrier Reef ruined us forever. It was so perfect.
Karen we are seriously considering Secrets. I had selected it before your post. We just have to decide if we can stand that long of an airplane trip for spending only a week there. We were concerned about the weather. We have always been to the Caribbean in April or May. If we do end up going in the summer I like that it is all adults. I get a little tired of hearing Marco Polo all day unless it is coming from my grandchildren of course.

Betty, I have heard fantastic things about Secrets. Besides several ala carte restaurants, there is the 24 hour room service and I think the rooms are all suites. You will feel like you are on a cruise!
I have some friends who have stayed there and just loved it.

I will put in a vote for Caneel Bay on St. John, USVI. It has like 5 beautiful beaches to enjoy and the rest of the island is tropical and lush. Great restaurants, beautiful beaches and no high pressure sales people. You can also take day excursions to St. Thomas, Virgin Gorda, Van Jost, Peters Island, etc. I have also been to Little Dix Bay resort on Virgin Gorda, BVI which is beautiful, but the island itself, imho, is not as pretty as St. John. Both resorts have websites.

Hello Betty, couldn't resist this topic. My huband and I have been to the Caribbean three times. Our very favorite island and resort is Anguilla, short ferry ride from St. Martin. The most wonderful resort, on a gorgeous beach, with fabulous food is Malliouhana. I know CapJaluca gets all the publicity. But this resort is absolutely beautiful. With loads of amenities. We stayed there once. For a week, the other trip we stayed at BlueWaters. Lovely villas, right on the beach. Reasonable . What I like about Anguilla is the peace, (no cruise ships!!)the beautiful people, no crime, great beaches and snorkeling. It is pricey, but well worth it. JR

Jeanine: I am dying to experience Anguilla - we have gone to St Barts since 1983 and I still love it but have looked at Rendezvous Bay on Angilla - are you familiar with it? Now I will look at Blue Waters - Joanna

Hawks Bay in Grenada fabulous..
The Grenadines islands.. are gorgeous.. white soft sand and tourquoise <sp?> warm. water. and Carib or Caribe? not sure has a red label.. beer.. fresh Carib lobster.. yes!!!!!!!yes yes :D

We have decided on Secrets in Punta Cana for a week in July.It is costing a fortune in Frequent Flier miles because Marty insists on going first class.I have to pay double miles of course because nothing was open doing it the cheaper way. It costs 120,000 miles each.
We thought that maybe after the 7 days we should move to another resort on another part of the island. We do that sometimes and it is kind of fun. It is like taking two vacations.