Discussion essential for those planning on attending. What are your thoughts? WE NEED TO DISCUSS!
I want to throw something out there about this whole trip... that Nicolette and I discussed today on the way to shopping. Basically, in my mind we have two years, close enough, before the actual event occurs. From everything I am finding out thus far about holidaying in tropical locations... we continue to gather more and more knowledge and possible solutions to meet the majority of people, more affordable / flexible solutions to meet as many needs as possible. Nicolette says that if we continue to toss things around, then that will only piss people off and cause confusion... Me I am the opposite, with the opinion that we are already saving as off a month ago, yet we only need to have a firm decision on location and accommodation 12 months out from the trip (approximate dates are important for now, which a poll is running), as that is only when you can book places, airfares, etc... you have to be within a 12 month window basically, as companies can't foresee further as airlines typically only have 12 months in advance for schedules... and holidays are often planned to that.
People keep presenting really good information, and to me personally, I don't have a problem with change this far out from the event, as stated, we have already begun saving, so the rest is here nor there as we know approximate costs and that is what we are saving to at this point. I understand that there are people who would like to attend, though may not be able to afford a week or two in a tropical location, but could afford to scratch together a couple thousand for 2 or 3 days with others on this forum.
There are people planning on coming from across the globe, so I am avid that discussion is flexible if that is what others want. I am happy to just pull my head in on this also and accept what has already been voted, ie. location being the Bahamas. That is certainly where we started discussing... but new and constant information keep arising, and I don't plan on introducing great changes to that general location, ie. the Caribbean.
For example:
The Caribbean has a few Club Meds, some more restrictive than others, some for families, some for adults, etc. (I have linked the following direct to the Club Med appropriate page)
- [DLMURL="http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-the-caribbean-martinique-buccaneer-s-creek_p-115-l-US-v-BUCC-ac-vh.html"]Buccaneer's Creek, Martinique[/DLMURL]
- [DLMURL="http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-the-caribbean-bahamas-columbus-isle_p-115-l-US-v-COLC-ac-vh.html"]Columbus Isle, Bahamas[/DLMURL]
- [DLMURL="http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-the-caribbean-guadeloupe-la-caravelle_p-115-l-US-v-CARC-ac-vh.html"]La Caravelle, Guadeloupe[/DLMURL]
- [DLMURL="http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-the-caribbean-dominican-rep-punta-cana_p-115-l-US-v-PCAC-ac-vh.html"]Punta Cana, Dominican Republic[/DLMURL]
- [DLMURL="http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resorts-the-caribbean-turks-&-caicos-turkoise_p-115-l-US-v-TURC-ac-vh.html"]Turkoise, Turks & Caicos[/DLMURL]
Buccaneer's
- Family resort
- 2nights, 1 adult, no travel $1298
- Marketed for Beaches...
Columbus Isle (Bahamas)
- Inflexible for duration either 8 nights or 14 nights.
- Adults only - Quiet.
- You have to buy with flights, no choice with this island.
- Marketed for Honeymoon & romantic escape
- Reasonable price for duration.
- During Winter months the water is sometimes cool : 20-22 °C /
68-71,6 °F. In Summer the sea is very warm : its temperature can reach 29°C /
84,2°F in August.
La Caravell
- Quite expensive for lesser time spent.
- Family resort
- Marketed for Warm water year round swimming
- 2nights, 1 adult, no travel $1478
- In the West Indies you can swim the whole year round in a delicious tepid water : the temperature can reach 28°C (82,4°F) from July to October and does not fall under 26°C (78,8°F) during the dry season.
Punta Cana
- Family resort
- Marketed for Spa getaway & watersports
- 2nights, 1 adult, no travel $1016
- The temperature of the sea is always pleasant, it seldom goes under 26°C (78,8 °F) during the "cool" season and 28-29 °C (82,4 °F - 84,2 °F) between July and October.
Turkoise
- Adults only
- Marketed for Water sports, beach and scuba / diving
- Just below Bahamas
- 2nights, 1 adult, no travel $600
- The sea temperature ranges from 23°C (73°F) in winter to 27-29°C (80,6/84,2 °F) in summer.
Now... sticking with what the majority asked for, a holiday and beaches, and even staying within the Bahamas / Caribbean area... obviously the further towards the equator the better the weather and water.
I would love to try and meet the cost with location for as many as possible, and the majority of forum participants reside within USA. Obviously we must also make it a holiday location with beaches, as those travelling are paying a lot more than those within the USA to attend, so it needs to be a good location, good accommodation, etc... though also attempting to keep the costs down because they can get very expensive, real quick.
Doing some comparison costs with someone like Club Med, being all-inclusive, it doesn't matter if you are single or partnered, as the cost is the same per person. Single, you get the same room as a couple, for half the cost... as it is a package deal on a per person basis. Like Turkoise, one adult, 2 nights, $600. 2 adults, 2 nights, $1200. This does not include travel to the island though...
Quite honestly, I like the information that we are learning as we go here with more input, more experience shared from those living and who have travelled these parts.
Some more research on Nassau as an example, and it is quite dirty compared to other places in the Bahamas, as Shoka also pointed out. The paradise island part seems to be quite a clean place, but the actual main central part of Nassau.... not so great. Paradise island though is going to set you back around $400 per night, just for accommodation in most places, minimum, but I also did find a relatively good place which offers a semi all-inclusive package, as it doesn't include flights, transfers, laundry... just accommodation, food, basic drinks and entertainment.
- JK Harris
- Tends to be more friendly for singles if they pair up to share rooms, as the cost is not based per person, but more per room / package, ie. one adult, 2 nights, basic room, $576 vs. 2 adults, 2 nights, basic room, $676.
- Again, getting to location costs + transfers, etc on top of this.
Finding lots of options in and around the Bahamas, but really need lots of honest feedback from those planning to attend.
If you're not planning on attending, then you really have no need to be discussing this IMHO.
