Alex

Hello,

I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
to worry about their limited finances.

Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
most beautiful beaches?

Thanks very much,
Alex

Russ

I went to Jamaica and I think you get a much better deal NOT doing AI.
You're stuck eating their mediocre food unless you pay more for other
food, and you don't get to experience the 'true jamaica' unless you
don't do AI. I'd recommend they stay in Negril at a place like the
Blue Cave Castle in the Penthouse suite. It's beautiful up there with
an awesome view of the cliffs! We paid $50 a night for that room last
Thanksgiving.

On Thu, 26 Sep 2002 08:11:43 -0400, alex wrote:

    >Hello,
    >I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    >wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    >resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    >honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    >most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    >to worry about their limited finances.
    >Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    >luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    >most beautiful beaches?
    >Thanks very much,
    >Alex

Anonymoose

Hi,

fiancé and I went to Couples Negril and can heartily recommend it for a
totally No Problem Mon luxurious romantic couples experience.

a few tips.

when you get on the plane to jamaica take off your watch... you won't
need it until you have to leave.

make sure you've got a pocket full of US 1$ bills... they're the perfect
tip for porters at the airport etc... and handy for beers etc. at the
airport too.

consider flying to negril from mobay... it's worth it.

ttyl

akia

alex wrote:
    > Hello,
    > I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    > wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    > resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    > honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    > most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    > to worry about their limited finances.
    > Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    > luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    > most beautiful beaches?
    > Thanks very much,
    > Alex

Nick And Judy

Sandals Negril would be fabulous: great beach, food, service and amenities.
"Anonymoose" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi,
    > fiancé and I went to Couples Negril and can heartily recommend it for a
    > totally No Problem Mon luxurious romantic couples experience.
    > a few tips.
    > when you get on the plane to jamaica take off your watch... you won't
    > need it until you have to leave.
    > make sure you've got a pocket full of US 1$ bills... they're the perfect
    > tip for porters at the airport etc... and handy for beers etc. at the
    > airport too.
    > consider flying to negril from mobay... it's worth it.
    > ttyl
    > akia
    > alex wrote:
    > > Hello,
    > >
    > > I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    > > wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    > > resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    > > honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    > > most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    > > to worry about their limited finances.
    > >
    > > Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    > > luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    > > most beautiful beaches?
    > >
    > > Thanks very much,
    > > Alex

King Pineapple

"alex" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello,
    > I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    > wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    > resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    > honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    > most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    > to worry about their limited finances.
    > Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    > luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    > most beautiful beaches?

I spent a week at Grand Lido Sans Souci, just east of Ocho Rios, and it was
outstanding. It's luxurious but not overly so (I stayed in "C" Building,
which was old but clean). It's more laid-back than the other AIs in JA, even
though you *can* hear loud parting going on some nights til 1 AM.

It has a spectacular main beach in Little Cove, and a separate clothing
optional beach on the west side of the resort (this beach has a MUCH better
view of the coastline and mountains, but is not a real sandy beach, more
rocky). The C/O beach has its own bar and grill, so the C/O people don't
have to walk all the way over to the main beach to get drinks and jerk
chicken.

The food is outstanding and includes a lot of local dishes, even curried
goat, and there is a 4 day a week beachfront restaurant called "Bella Vista"
that only serves local JA dishes. There is a beach grill right on the main
beach that serves jerked stuff from 11 AM til 10 PM, a beach bar next to
this, and several other bars scattered about the grounds. There are also a
French restaurant and Italian restaurant on the premises.

E-mail me if you need further info.

Craig

Chuck Fluri

We stayed at Superclubs Breezes Runaway Bay. Much the same story as the one
below. It's attached to a public beach so you can walk down quite a distance
if you don't mind being accosted by the locals trying to sell you their
crap. If you don't want to deal with them, the beach on site is guarded and
locals are not allowed on (although some might occasionaly pop out of the
water trying to sell you drugs and stuff).
Negril beach is crawling with vendors on the south end and the north end is
mostly boring, high end all inclusive resorts like Sandals and Beaches.
Also, I found the bugs to be real bad in Negril after dark. I would wear
deet (Deep Woods Off) all the time, long pants, socks and shoes and they
would still manage to bite. Wearing insect repelant for two weeks straight
wasn't pleasant either. I prefer the Ocho Rios or Runaway Bay area mostly
because of the reduced pestillence factor. I'm sure others would disagree,
rapping off about "the real Jamaica" being closer to Negril and b.s. like
that. If I want the real Jamaica I'll go up into the hills where tourists
seldom venture, like Alexandria, or Browns Town or maybe Moneague not a
tourist trap with a different flavour like Negril. As far as tourist traps
go, I really prefer the north coast. What ever you decide, enjoy!!

Chuck

"King Pineapple" wrote in message
news:_oMk9.1737$-
[email protected]...
    > "alex" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Hello,
    > >
    > > I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    > > wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    > > resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    > > honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    > > most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    > > to worry about their limited finances.
    > >
    > > Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    > > luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    > > most beautiful beaches?
    > I spent a week at Grand Lido Sans Souci, just east of Ocho Rios, and it
was
    > outstanding. It's luxurious but not overly so (I stayed in "C" Building,
    > which was old but clean). It's more laid-back than the other AIs in JA,
even
    > though you *can* hear loud parting going on some nights til 1 AM.
    > It has a spectacular main beach in Little Cove, and a separate clothing
    > optional beach on the west side of the resort (this beach has a MUCH
better
    > view of the coastline and mountains, but is not a real sandy beach, more
    > rocky). The C/O beach has its own bar and grill, so the C/O people don't
    > have to walk all the way over to the main beach to get drinks and jerk
    > chicken.
    > The food is outstanding and includes a lot of local dishes, even curried
    > goat, and there is a 4 day a week beachfront restaurant called "Bella
Vista"
    > that only serves local JA dishes. There is a beach grill right on the main
    > beach that serves jerked stuff from 11 AM til 10 PM, a beach bar next to
    > this, and several other bars scattered about the grounds. There are also a
    > French restaurant and Italian restaurant on the premises.
    > E-mail me if you need further info.
    > Craig

King Pineapple

"Chuck Fluri" wrote in message
news:aWQk9.68079$Bj.6213644@re-
ad2.cgocable.net...
    > We stayed at Superclubs Breezes Runaway Bay. Much the same story as the
one
    > below. It's attached to a public beach so you can walk down quite a
distance
    > if you don't mind being accosted by the locals trying to sell you their
    > crap. If you don't want to deal with them, the beach on site is guarded
and
    > locals are not allowed on (although some might occasionaly pop out of the
    > water trying to sell you drugs and stuff).

This is absolutely NOT a problem at the main beach at Sans Souci. It's in a
cove protected by a point of land (which itself is privately owned and not
part of the resort) so locals cannot get on the main beach. They CAN get on
the C/O beach rather easily however.

    > If I want the real Jamaica I'll go up into the hills where tourists
    > seldom venture,

Yeah, we did the same thing, and drove up into the hills behind Ochi to see
the little hamlet of Walkers Wood, where they make Walkerswood Jerk
Seasoning. Sadly, the factory doesn't offer tours (yet) but it was nice to
get out and see the back country...

Craig

lsuth

We loved the Couples resorts. We have been to both Couples Ocho Rios and Couples Negril. There is also Couples Swept Away in Negril which we haven't been to yet.

The nice thing about Couples is they even include off site tours. If you are staying more than 7 nights you can do the double take. For example start off in Couples Ocho Rios and half way through your stay they will fly you over to Couples Negril. That way you get to see both sides of the island.

Evrything is included. Food drinks, tours, activities, airport transfers, etc.

Negril has the better beach but Ocho Rios offers more tours.

You can view my trip reports and pictures on my web site at;
www.garion.tzo.com/lynn/couples.htm

Robert Kozubal

In article ,
"King Pineapple" wrote:

    > "alex" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Hello,
    > >
    > > I am helping my sister to plan a honeymoon in early January. I was
    > > wondering if anyone could recommend his/her favorite all inclusive
    > > resorts in Jamaica. They want to spend one week as typical
    > > honeymooners, in a couples oriented place with a spectacular beach (the
    > > most important amenity) and with everything included so they don't have
    > > to worry about their limited finances.
    > >
    > > Which ones have the loveliest atmosphere (not necessarily the most
    > > luxurious), the best and most varied food, and most importantly, the
    > > most beautiful beaches?
    > I spent a week at Grand Lido Sans Souci, just east of Ocho Rios, and it was
    > outstanding. It's luxurious but not overly so (I stayed in "C" Building,
    > which was old but clean). It's more laid-back than the other AIs in JA, even
    > though you *can* hear loud parting going on some nights til 1 AM.
    > It has a spectacular main beach in Little Cove, and a separate clothing
    > optional beach on the west side of the resort (this beach has a MUCH better
    > view of the coastline and mountains, but is not a real sandy beach, more
    > rocky). The C/O beach has its own bar and grill, so the C/O people don't
    > have to walk all the way over to the main beach to get drinks and jerk
    > chicken.
    > The food is outstanding and includes a lot of local dishes, even curried
    > goat, and there is a 4 day a week beachfront restaurant called "Bella Vista"
    > that only serves local JA dishes. There is a beach grill right on the main
    > beach that serves jerked stuff from 11 AM til 10 PM, a beach bar next to
    > this, and several other bars scattered about the grounds. There are also a
    > French restaurant and Italian restaurant on the premises.
    > E-mail me if you need further info.
    > Craig


Just returned yesterday from Grand Lido Sans Souci. This was our second
stay there in as many years (honeymoon last year & anniversary this
year). We love this resort. I can't think of a bad thing to say about
it. The staff, the food, the service are all great. Unfortunately
however, if you're looking for a SPECTACULAR beach, this resort probably
isn't the place. While the beach is nice, it is rather small. On the
plus side, as pointed out earlier, it is well protected, so you aren't
pestered by some of the locals trying to sell you just about everything
you can imagine as you sometimes are at other resorts.

One tip, be sure to check around for prices. They can vary greatly from
one travel agent to the next. You can usually get the best pricing from
the agents that specialize in all inclusive resorts (we used
all-inclusive-travel.com). Also if you decide on a SuperClubs resort, I
would suggest finding one of their Diamond Agency partners as they have
more clout with the resort and can sometimes get you room upgrades and
other ammenities.

Photos and trip report are comming soon.

Feel free to email me for more info

Bob

Alex

Robert Kozubal wrote:
    > >
    > Just returned yesterday from Grand Lido Sans Souci. This was our second
    > stay there in as many years (honeymoon last year & anniversary this
    > year). We love this resort. I can't think of a bad thing to say about
    > it. The staff, the food, the service are all great. Unfortunately
    > however, if you're looking for a SPECTACULAR beach, this resort probably
    > isn't the place. While the beach is nice, it is rather small. On the
    > plus side, as pointed out earlier, it is well protected, so you aren't
    > pestered by some of the locals trying to sell you just about everything
    > you can imagine as you sometimes are at other resorts.
    > One tip, be sure to check around for prices. They can vary greatly from
    > one travel agent to the next. You can usually get the best pricing from
    > the agents that specialize in all inclusive resorts (we used
    > all-inclusive-travel.com). Also if you decide on a SuperClubs resort, I
    > would suggest finding one of their Diamond Agency partners as they have
    > more clout with the resort and can sometimes get you room upgrades and
    > other ammenities.
    > Photos and trip report are comming soon.
    > Feel free to email me for more info
    > Bob

Thanks for the info. Considering prices and availability, beach, and
level of partying, we have narrowed it down to Couples or Sandals in
Negril, and then tentatively chosen Couples, because it is less
expensive and while it has nightlife, seems to have a bit of a more
intimate atmosphere as well. It isn't set in stone by any means, and we
are still looking and listening, so by all means continue to comment on
these choices!

As far as travel agents go, I have been very disappointed this week, as
I always have been each time I have called a travel agent over the
years. My experience is that their rates are often not much better than
just booking the air and hotel yourself. Each time I ask for a price
quote, I am astonished that they offer more or less the same rate as I
can get directly from the hotel. And when they do get a cheaper
airfare, it isn't cheap enough to justify paying the entire package up
front, which is what they always require.

Finally, I have heard some horror stories from friends who traveled on
packages who found themselves overbooked at the hotel they chose, and
moved to another less desirable property on arrival. In those cases,
the clout of the agent did not help at all. In fact, they were being
bumped to accommodate those who weren't on a package, just as the
airlines feel free to bump those in economy for those paying a higher price.

That said, I would absolutely love to know a really good agent for
Jamaica and all inclusives if anyone has repeat experience with one.
There must be good agents out there who really can get deals, but I just
haven't found them. I will definitely check out the ones you suggest,
and I thank you for writing.

Jamaica Jim Jordan

Alex...

    >> As far as travel agents go, I have been very disappointed this week, as I
always have been each time I have called a travel agent over the years. > Finally, I
have heard some horror stories from friends who traveled on
packages who found themselves overbooked at the hotel they chose, and moved
to another less desirable property on arrival. In those cases, the clout of
the agent did not help at all. In fact, they were being bumped to
accommodate those who weren't on a package While airlines do over book -- since
their computer models show how
many passengers will end up being "no shows" I don't find in my travels that
many (if any) Caribbean resorts actually overbook their rooms. What needs
to be understood is that -- with the exception of the larger Caribbean
resorts which have in-house reservations departments and accept bookings
directly from vacationers (and they do end up overbooked, too) -- most rooms
are booked by travel agents around the country. These reservations are not
immediately forwarded to the resort -- they may be grouped together and
forwarded on a weekly or other basis. That means that at any point in time,
there may be more rooms reserved for a particular time period than there are
rooms available. Therefore, when the guests arrive, what is a resort staff
to do? The only alternative is to try and shuffle the arriving guest -- or
a soon-to-depart guest -- to another property until a room becomes
available.

As a matter of fact, on my last two trips to Negril, the resort where we
were staying ended up being overbooked on our final weekend. We accepted a
voluntary bump to another resort for one night -- and received a voucher for
free nights the next trip. While you might have felt inconvenienced if it
had been you, I was delighted -- we ended up with free nights for our next t
rip and then got more free nights that time, too!

    >> just as the airlines feel free to bump those in economy for those paying
a higher price. <<

Huh? I don't think you really mean what you typed -- did you?? I just
took a voluntary bump September 15th on a return flight from Brussels -- and
I dare say that the folks who were ticketed in first class or business class
on the original flight, and who were paying higher fares, were not seated in
our freed-up economy seats! If a flight is overbooked, the seats that are
made available are filled with folks who booked that class of service, not
with folks who paid more!

    >> That said, I would absolutely love to know a really good agent for
Jamaica and all inclusives if anyone has repeat experience with one. There
must be good agents out there who really can get deals, but I just haven't
found them. I will definitely check out the ones you suggest, and I thank
you for writing. <<

I'm sure you'll get a bunch of suggestions. I'll recommend Go Classy Tours
in Palm Harbor, Florida. I personally use Go Classy Tours exclusively and
for a couple of reasons! In the first place, the folks there give the
ultimate in service -- and not just to me -- but to all their clients! I
was in Jamaica once, when my dad fell and broke his hip. My daughter had Go
Classy Tours' phone number and called 'em. Andrea Hutchinson (the
president) got all the information and sent me a fax at the resort, telling
me not to worry. That was on a Friday -- on Sunday, Andrea went into the
office -- on her own time -- called my daughter and got an update on my
father's condition and faxed me again! You find any other travel agency
that would care enough about their clients to do that!!

In addition, Go Classy Tours primarily represents all inclusive resorts all
over the Caribbean. Therefore, the folks there know the resorts, know
personally the
managements at these resorts and have in most cases been to these resorts
themselves. They can call directly to a general manager at a resort and get
things for their clients that most travel agencies could never obtain. And,
given their expertise, they can also obtain information from you and match
your
party up with the best resort -- for y'all -- with respect to activities,
costs, location, etc.

Also, they book more clients into many of the all inclusive resorts than any
other single agency. Therefore, they can -- and often do -- get the very
lowest
possible rates and their lower rates are passed along to their clients.

And, last, with regard to being bumped (and other problems that can be
encountered traveling), in most instances, since Go Classy sends so many
clients to the various resorts, seldom do those clients get bumped. But
should that happen (or anything else) the client can call Go Classy to be an
advocate -- it's happened before and I don't know of any cases where Go
Classy didn't intercede for their clients.

Should you decide you want to check out Go Classy Tours, I would suggest you
visit their web site at
http://www.goclassy.com.

Good travels.
--
Jamaica Jim Jordan
http://www.jamaicajim.com
Reply to [email protected] only

Alex

Jamaica Jim Jordan wrote:
    > Alex...
    > >> As far as travel agents go, I have been very disappointed this week, as I
    > always have been each time I have called a travel agent over the years.
    > First off, I'm not a travel agent. That said, I'm sorry that you've had bad
    > experiences with travel agents every time you contacted one. I personally
    > prefer using a travel agent for my travel requirements -- air, land
    > packages, cruise packages, etc. -- to insure that I have an advocate on my
    > side should something go awry, either with the airline or the resort.

Well I wouldn't know how great they are at advocating for you with a
resort, but my own personal experience is that with air tickets, I have
been much better off with the airlines. The last time I booked a flight
with a travel agent, when there was a problem, the airline could do
nothing to help me thanks to the fact that the reservation was from a
TA. The TAs office was closed when I called for help, and I was stuck.
I would never do that again unless that TA gave me some kind of
emergency number that could reach a human being 24/7.

    > I
    > also have found that I get better rates, fares, etc, when I utilize the
    > expertise of a travel agent. They are the professionals -- at least the
    > ones I use -- not Yours Truly. I can't find some flights that they can, and
    > it's worth it to me to depend on the travel agent to see that I get good
    > rates, convenient schedules, as well as superior service.

Well, last year I planned a trip to Aruba. I got better rates than the
TAs every single time I called the airlines.

    > >> My experience is that their rates are often not much better than just
    > booking the air and hotel yourself. Each time I ask for a price quote, I am
    > astonished that they offer more or less the same rate as I can get directly
    > from the hotel.
    > That may be your experience, but it hasn't been mine -- and at my advanced
    > age, I've done my fair share of traveling over the years. The thing is, if
    > you do your own booking directly with the resort, you'll more than likely
    > end up paying "rack rate" and you'll find these are is the highest rates
    > there are.

No, I have never paid rack rates. And just to test your theory, I just
called 3 large agencies that do packages to Jamaica, and their rates for
Couples were not lower than the rates I was offered by calling Couples'
800 number. Their packages were not cheaper than the sum of a typical
airfare that I could book plus the "rack rates" you mentioned that I
supposedly was offered. The 800 number offered me $2550 for 7 days.
The 3 travel agents with their "package" deals advertised in the papers
offered me the exact same rate.

    > Any good, reputable, professional travel agent will -- or at
    > least they "should" --be able to provide you with good discounts from rack
    > rates. (If they can't -- or don't or won't -- you're dealing with the wrong
    > travel agent!)

That hasn't been my experience. I think that people just assume they do.

    > >> And when they do get a cheaper airfare, it isn't cheap enough to justify
    > paying the entire package up front, which is what they always require.
    > If you do book your air travel with a good travel agent, they will have to
    > confirm the price to the airlines right away, or the ticket won't be issued.
    > And, you are right, most travel agents do require that land packages be paid
    > for -- at least within a set number of days -- and they do this because the
    > resorts require them to forward the payment, to confirm the reservation.
    > However, if you go ahead and book direct, you do realize the resort is going
    > to require payment up front, too, don't you? So, it really is no difference
    > one way or the other.

Plenty of difference. If I book with an AI resort, then I have to pay a
deposit for maybe 1/3 up front, and pay the balance a month before
arrival. If I book with a non AI resort, I only have to put a deposit
for one night up front. I pay the balance when I leave.

    > >> Finally, I have heard some horror stories from friends who traveled on
    > packages who found themselves overbooked at the hotel they chose, and moved
    > to another less desirable property on arrival. In those cases, the clout of
    > the agent did not help at all. In fact, they were being bumped to
    > accommodate those who weren't on a package
    > While airlines do over book -- since their computer models show how
    > many passengers will end up being "no shows" I don't find in my travels that
    > many (if any) Caribbean resorts actually overbook their rooms. What needs
    > to be understood is that -- with the exception of the larger Caribbean
    > resorts which have in-house reservations departments and accept bookings
    > directly from vacationers (and they do end up overbooked, too) -- most rooms
    > are booked by travel agents around the country. These reservations are not
    > immediately forwarded to the resort -- they may be grouped together and
    > forwarded on a weekly or other basis. That means that at any point in time,
    > there may be more rooms reserved for a particular time period than there are
    > rooms available. Therefore, when the guests arrive, what is a resort staff
    > to do? The only alternative is to try and shuffle the arriving guest -- or
    > a soon-to-depart guest -- to another property until a room becomes
    > available.
    > As a matter of fact, on my last two trips to Negril, the resort where we
    > were staying ended up being overbooked on our final weekend. We accepted a
    > voluntary bump to another resort for one night -- and received a voucher for
    > free nights the next trip. While you might have felt inconvenienced if it
    > had been you, I was delighted -- we ended up with free nights for our next t
    > rip and then got more free nights that time, too!

The people that were bumped were bumped at the beginning of their stay.
They arrived only to be told there was no room and that they were being
bussed to another hotel. The hotel they were bused to was across the
street from the beach instead of on the beach. Their travel agent
couldn't or perhaps wouldn't do anything about it.

    > >> just as the airlines feel free to bump those in economy for those paying
    > a higher price.
    > Huh? I don't think you really mean what you typed -- did you?? I just
    > took a voluntary bump September 15th on a return flight from Brussels -- and
    > I dare say that the folks who were ticketed in first class or business class
    > on the original flight, and who were paying higher fares, were not seated in
    > our freed-up economy seats! If a flight is overbooked, the seats that are
    > made available are filled with folks who booked that class of service, not
    > with folks who paid more!

The seats that are made available are definitely filled by folks who
paid more. Economy seats are at many different prices, with some
costing almost as much as the next class of service. Elite level
frequent flyers will also get preference for those economy seats.

    > >> That said, I would absolutely love to know a really good agent for
    > Jamaica and all inclusives if anyone has repeat experience with one. There
    > must be good agents out there who really can get deals, but I just haven't
    > found them. I will definitely check out the ones you suggest, and I thank
    > you for writing.
    > I'm sure you'll get a bunch of suggestions. I'll recommend Go Classy Tours
    > in Palm Harbor, Florida. I personally use Go Classy Tours exclusively and
    > for a couple of reasons! In the first place, the folks there give the
    > ultimate in service -- and not just to me -- but to all their clients! I
    > was in Jamaica once, when my dad fell and broke his hip. My daughter had Go
    > Classy Tours' phone number and called 'em. Andrea Hutchinson (the
    > president) got all the information and sent me a fax at the resort, telling
    > me not to worry. That was on a Friday -- on Sunday, Andrea went into the
    > office -- on her own time -- called my daughter and got an update on my
    > father's condition and faxed me again! You find any other travel agency
    > that would care enough about their clients to do that!!
    > In addition, Go Classy Tours primarily represents all inclusive resorts all
    > over the Caribbean. Therefore, the folks there know the resorts, know
    > personally the
    > managements at these resorts and have in most cases been to these resorts
    > themselves. They can call directly to a general manager at a resort and get
    > things for their clients that most travel agencies could never obtain. And,
    > given their expertise, they can also obtain information from you and match
    > your
    > party up with the best resort -- for y'all -- with respect to activities,
    > costs, location, etc.
    > Also, they book more clients into many of the all inclusive resorts than any
    > other single agency. Therefore, they can -- and often do -- get the very
    > lowest
    > possible rates and their lower rates are passed along to their clients.
    > And, last, with regard to being bumped (and other problems that can be
    > encountered traveling), in most instances, since Go Classy sends so many
    > clients to the various resorts, seldom do those clients get bumped. But
    > should that happen (or anything else) the client can call Go Classy to be an
    > advocate -- it's happened before and I don't know of any cases where Go
    > Classy didn't intercede for their clients.
    > Should you decide you want to check out Go Classy Tours, I would suggest you
    > visit their web site at
    > http://www.goclassy.com.

Thank you very much for this recommendation. I will check them out
right now!

Chuck Fluri

I've often looked into booking my holidays seperately, directly with the
hotel, directly with the airline etc. and I've found the package holiday
prices to be much cheaper when booked through a travel agent, in Canada
anyways.
We'd just recently booked an AI at the Starfish Trelawney for October which
was only $150CDN pp($100US) more than what the airfare alone would have
cost. That's all inclusive with ground transfers included. I know there is
no way I would have been able to book the hotel and ground seperately and
saved. This is a typical case in Canada.
"alex" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Jamaica Jim Jordan wrote:
    > >
    > > Alex...
    > >
    > > >> As far as travel agents go, I have been very disappointed this week,
as I
    > > always have been each time I have called a travel agent over the years.
    > > First off, I'm not a travel agent. That said, I'm sorry that you've had
bad
    > > experiences with travel agents every time you contacted one. I
personally
    > > prefer using a travel agent for my travel requirements -- air, land
    > > packages, cruise packages, etc. -- to insure that I have an advocate on
my
    > > side should something go awry, either with the airline or the resort.
    > Well I wouldn't know how great they are at advocating for you with a
    > resort, but my own personal experience is that with air tickets, I have
    > been much better off with the airlines. The last time I booked a flight
    > with a travel agent, when there was a problem, the airline could do
    > nothing to help me thanks to the fact that the reservation was from a
    > TA. The TAs office was closed when I called for help, and I was stuck.
    > I would never do that again unless that TA gave me some kind of
    > emergency number that could reach a human being 24/7.
    > > I
    > > also have found that I get better rates, fares, etc, when I utilize the
    > > expertise of a travel agent. They are the professionals -- at least the
    > > ones I use -- not Yours Truly. I can't find some flights that they can,
and
    > > it's worth it to me to depend on the travel agent to see that I get good
    > > rates, convenient schedules, as well as superior service.
    > Well, last year I planned a trip to Aruba. I got better rates than the
    > TAs every single time I called the airlines.
    > >
    > > >> My experience is that their rates are often not much better than just
    > > booking the air and hotel yourself. Each time I ask for a price quote,
I am
    > > astonished that they offer more or less the same rate as I can get
directly
    > > from the hotel. >
    > > That may be your experience, but it hasn't been mine -- and at my
advanced
    > > age, I've done my fair share of traveling over the years. The thing is,
if
    > > you do your own booking directly with the resort, you'll more than
likely
    > > end up paying "rack rate" and you'll find these are is the highest rates
    > > there are.
    > No, I have never paid rack rates. And just to test your theory, I just
    > called 3 large agencies that do packages to Jamaica, and their rates for
    > Couples were not lower than the rates I was offered by calling Couples'
    > 800 number. Their packages were not cheaper than the sum of a typical
    > airfare that I could book plus the "rack rates" you mentioned that I
    > supposedly was offered. The 800 number offered me $2550 for 7 days.
    > The 3 travel agents with their "package" deals advertised in the papers
    > offered me the exact same rate.
    > > Any good, reputable, professional travel agent will -- or at
    > > least they "should" --be able to provide you with good discounts from
rack
    > > rates. (If they can't -- or don't or won't -- you're dealing with the
wrong
    > > travel agent!)
    > That hasn't been my experience. I think that people just assume they do.
    > >
    > > >> And when they do get a cheaper airfare, it isn't cheap enough to
justify
    > > paying the entire package up front, which is what they always require.
    > > If you do book your air travel with a good travel agent, they will have
to
    > > confirm the price to the airlines right away, or the ticket won't be
issued.
    > > And, you are right, most travel agents do require that land packages be
paid
    > > for -- at least within a set number of days -- and they do this because
the
    > > resorts require them to forward the payment, to confirm the reservation.
    > > However, if you go ahead and book direct, you do realize the resort is
going
    > > to require payment up front, too, don't you? So, it really is no
difference
    > > one way or the other.
    > Plenty of difference. If I book with an AI resort, then I have to pay a
    > deposit for maybe 1/3 up front, and pay the balance a month before
    > arrival. If I book with a non AI resort, I only have to put a deposit
    > for one night up front. I pay the balance when I leave.
    > >
    > > >> Finally, I have heard some horror stories from friends who traveled
on
    > > packages who found themselves overbooked at the hotel they chose, and
moved
    > > to another less desirable property on arrival. In those cases, the
clout of
    > > the agent did not help at all. In fact, they were being bumped to
    > > accommodate those who weren't on a package >
    > > While airlines do over book -- since their computer models show
how
    > > many passengers will end up being "no shows" I don't find in my travels
that
    > > many (if any) Caribbean resorts actually overbook their rooms. What
needs
    > > to be understood is that -- with the exception of the larger Caribbean
    > > resorts which have in-house reservations departments and accept bookings
    > > directly from vacationers (and they do end up overbooked, too) -- most
rooms
    > > are booked by travel agents around the country. These reservations are
not
    > > immediately forwarded to the resort -- they may be grouped together and
    > > forwarded on a weekly or other basis. That means that at any point in
time,
    > > there may be more rooms reserved for a particular time period than there
are
    > > rooms available. Therefore, when the guests arrive, what is a resort
staff
    > > to do? The only alternative is to try and shuffle the arriving guest --
or
    > > a soon-to-depart guest -- to another property until a room becomes
    > > available.
    > >
    > > As a matter of fact, on my last two trips to Negril, the resort where we
    > > were staying ended up being overbooked on our final weekend. We
accepted a
    > > voluntary bump to another resort for one night -- and received a voucher
for
    > > free nights the next trip. While you might have felt inconvenienced if
it
    > > had been you, I was delighted -- we ended up with free nights for our
next t
    > > rip and then got more free nights that time, too!
    > >
    > The people that were bumped were bumped at the beginning of their stay.
    > They arrived only to be told there was no room and that they were being
    > bussed to another hotel. The hotel they were bused to was across the
    > street from the beach instead of on the beach. Their travel agent
    > couldn't or perhaps wouldn't do anything about it.
    > > >> just as the airlines feel free to bump those in economy for those
paying
    > > a higher price. >
    > > Huh? I don't think you really mean what you typed -- did you?? I just
    > > took a voluntary bump September 15th on a return flight from Brussels --
and
    > > I dare say that the folks who were ticketed in first class or business
class
    > > on the original flight, and who were paying higher fares, were not
seated in
    > > our freed-up economy seats! If a flight is overbooked, the seats that
are
    > > made available are filled with folks who booked that class of service,
not
    > > with folks who paid more!
    > The seats that are made available are definitely filled by folks who
    > paid more. Economy seats are at many different prices, with some
    > costing almost as much as the next class of service. Elite level
    > frequent flyers will also get preference for those economy seats.
    > >
    > > >> That said, I would absolutely love to know a really good agent for
    > > Jamaica and all inclusives if anyone has repeat experience with one.
There
    > > must be good agents out there who really can get deals, but I just
haven't
    > > found them. I will definitely check out the ones you suggest, and I
thank
    > > you for writing. >
    > > I'm sure you'll get a bunch of suggestions. I'll recommend Go Classy
Tours
    > > in Palm Harbor, Florida. I personally use Go Classy Tours exclusively
and
    > > for a couple of reasons! In the first place, the folks there give the
    > > ultimate in service -- and not just to me -- but to all their clients!
I
    > > was in Jamaica once, when my dad fell and broke his hip. My daughter had
Go
    > > Classy Tours' phone number and called 'em. Andrea Hutchinson (the
    > > president) got all the information and sent me a fax at the resort,
telling
    > > me not to worry. That was on a Friday -- on Sunday, Andrea went into
the
    > > office -- on her own time -- called my daughter and got an update on my
    > > father's condition and faxed me again! You find any other travel agency
    > > that would care enough about their clients to do that!!
    > >
    > > In addition, Go Classy Tours primarily represents all inclusive resorts
all
    > > over the Caribbean. Therefore, the folks there know the resorts, know
    > > personally the
    > > managements at these resorts and have in most cases been to these
resorts
    > > themselves. They can call directly to a general manager at a resort and
get
    > > things for their clients that most travel agencies could never obtain.
And,
    > > given their expertise, they can also obtain information from you and
match
    > > your
    > > party up with the best resort -- for y'all -- with respect to
activities,
    > > costs, location, etc.
    > >
    > > Also, they book more clients into many of the all inclusive resorts than
any
    > > other single agency. Therefore, they can -- and often do -- get the
very
    > > lowest
    > > possible rates and their lower rates are passed along to their clients.
    > >
    > > And, last, with regard to being bumped (and other problems that can be
    > > encountered traveling), in most instances, since Go Classy sends so many
    > > clients to the various resorts, seldom do those clients get bumped. But
    > > should that happen (or anything else) the client can call Go Classy to
be an
    > > advocate -- it's happened before and I don't know of any cases where Go
    > > Classy didn't intercede for their clients.
    > >
    > > Should you decide you want to check out Go Classy Tours, I would suggest
you
    > > visit their web site at
    > > http://www.goclassy.com.
    > Thank you very much for this recommendation. I will check them out
    > right now!

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