We have to agree with 2nutz on this except for when we stay at Hedo,seems to be no serious dress code there,grin!!Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel
We have to agree with 2nutz on this except for when we stay at Hedo,seems to be no serious dress code there,grin!!
LOL you guys kill me
I think that love2travelchic said it best...
"one thing money cant buy that I experience at the Non-AI is the real Jamaica vibe the gorgeous beach the authentic food beach entertainment hanging with the locals as I didn't get this staying at the AI"
One of the great joys for us is walking barefoot down the beach to someplace new for lunch or dinner every day, chatting with the beach vendors, buying fruit or patties or whatever else we need or walking to a reggae show on the beach at night. That's why we keep coming back to Negril.
It's difficult to understand staying within the walls, eating at the same places every day. The real Negril is outside the gates.
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For us, non-AI does not end up costing less. When you take into account airfare, hotel, meals & drinks we spend more. We buy booze at the store and make the majority of our own drinks, but we still spend more. We also don't stay at the cheapest place on the beach, so we could do it for less if we had to. One of the big factors is airfare, keep an eye on WestJet, they have some great airfare deals out of Ottawa (if you're lucky enough to catch them) & many times they're direct flights.
We've done 2 non-AI trips now, have 2 more booked and I doubt we'll ever go back to an AI in Jamaica again. Just because it isn't cheaper doesn't mean it isn't better!
After honeymooning at Sandals, we tried a cheaper AI in Negril and found ourselves spending most of time eating other places and out and about. We went non-AI a few trips ago and for us it works out cheaper since we like to get out. Our big expense is massages which you would pay for whether you are AI or not. We've found the beach masseuses to be just as good and much cheaper than the spas at the AIs.
Wow - lots of good feed back! Thank you all!
Back to price though - last year, we paid $1955 Canadian for 10 days at RPTB. That included airfair. So, roughly $200 / day for EVERYTHING. I just can't seem to find a non-AI that can beat it.
As for the experience, yes - the best time we had was just beach-bumming on the long stretch.
So that was $2000 per person, correct? If you paid $1955 for both of you, that is incredibly cheap.
Airfare is a big factor and your proximity to a major airport. What month did you go? September and October seem to be the cheapest months, as it's the slowest.
From Saskatchewan, I've paid just over $1000 pp for flight in Feb; $845 last Nov; $725 in April; and $593 for this coming Nov.
My upcoming Nov trip, I got a deluxe room on Booking.com at Coco for $74/night, tax in, for 6 nights and Mirage @ $80/night, tax in for 3 nights. So, including shared transfer with Clives @ $60 return and a $50/day budget for food/drinks for one, I'm paying just under $200/night for everything (flight included). It's expensive to travel from Saskatchewan. I could save sometimes a couple of hundred bucks booking the limited non AI choices of air/hotel packages on Expedia, etc., but hotel choices are very limited, and sometimes the good flight times are not available. I'd rather pay a couple of hundred dollars more per trip not have to do 3 connections with red eye flights, etc. and be able to choose from more than 3 hotels. Don't get me started on single supplement costs. As soon as you punch in that you're a solo traveler, that advertised price soars on packages, AI or not.
Sure, I could probably find an AI stay for the same cost ($200/night). But after having experienced non AI in Negril, I think I would hate being cooped up at an AI. And I just don't have the budget to pay for things twice (food and drinks, when going off AI resort), and I'd be bored sitting around at a resort everyday. I don't want to play games around a pool everyday, I want to experience some of the country I'm visiting. I don't think your RPTB price would be available from Saskatoon, I'd probably be getting Fun Holiday for that price. I'd much rather stay where I want to stay, buy my own bottle for my room, than stay somewhere just because the food and drinks are included. It also depends alot on if you use all the other activities that are included. I know people who like to scuba daily, so when they stay somewhere that includes scuba, it makes it worth it. Your average traveler who goes to relax on the beach, eat and have a few drinks, most often the AI costs more. (unless you're buying champagne, imported alcohol etc. - I buy some red stripe, rum cream and coco mania rum, $11 for 33 oz, cheap!)
I tend to agree with what most are saying.... and always keep in mind that if you like to drink alcohol and don't like to walk the roads looking for places to eat, then go with the AI.
St. Anthony's Kitchen
Totally agree .. the whole A/I vs. non A/I thing is a crapshoot ..
air carrier/hotel quaility /food /drink & even time of year travelled ..ALL factor into it ..
Personally we've never done the A/I thing .. & most likely never will -wherever we travel
..just a matter of personal choice
& YES .. although we budget like most here @ $100.00 per day ..
We just perfer the freedom of the "non wristband"
Do we spend more going Non A/I ??..
It's a never ending debate
TandJ lets break down the #'s... what would a typical RT flight cost for you both?(Just the flight).
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