The feel of sugary sand between your toes, a soft cool breeze caressing your face, the most pristine turquoise waters spreading out to infinity, a great tasting rum based concoction in your hand. These are just a few of the many reasons that countless tourists flock to the Caribbean each and every year. So once they decide that they want to embrace a fun in the sun vacation, they are left with the agonizing decision of where to stay. Should they go to an all-inclusive resort and have their every whim taken care of or should they pick out a smaller, more intimate hotel that epitomizes an island getaway? Both of these options are full of wonderful advantages and potential inconveniences.
First of all, if you choose to go with an all-inclusive resort option, then be prepared to pay more for your lodging then if you stayed at a smaller, boutique style hotel. The prices are typically higher at a resort, because you are indirectly paying for all of the perks that they offer, even though you may not use all of them. Many all-inclusive resorts include all of the food and drinks that you consume as well as free entertainment and equipment rentals. Thus, you will never have to buy food at an all-inclusive resort, because all of your meals are comped and they typically have places to pick up small snacks to tied you over until your next meal. Also, many adult centered resorts offer you an unlimited amount of alcohol during your stay. This is a great perk, because it allows you to experiment with local drinks that you are unfamiliar with as well as save you a fortunate on bar expenses. These resorts will usually offer a wide array of activities for you to do while you are staying with them. These activities can range from tai chi classes, to organized games to diner theater to concerts and dancing. They truly make an effort to keep you busy, that is if you ever decide to get out of that relaxing hammock. One other great perk that resorts offer are the use of their equipment. Many hotels will allow you to barrow a set of snorkel gear or a surf board for free. This can save you the money of the rental and/ or the hassle of lugging the stuff down there. These benefits can make your stay very cost effective. You may not have to pay for any additional food or entertainment on your trip and thus saving you a ton of money on your trip.
The big drawback to staying at a resort is that people tend to spend their whole trip at the resort and never venture out. This is tragic, because they never get to experience this exotic land that they have traveled thousands of miles to get to as well as the unique culture that goes with it. This sequentially leads to a missed opportunity to have some truly remarkable experiences that comes with visiting a different culture. Also, people have a tendency to get burned out on eating at the same restaurant over and over again. Many resorts have caught on to this redundancy and have incorporated a larger selection of restaurants to select from. In fact, the last resort I stayed at had eight completely different restaurants to choose from, with a wide range of cuisines ranging from traditional island fair to ethnic options like Italian, Chinese, and Mexican. Thus, they are able to keep things fresh and engaging to their clientele. However, this variety of dining options does vary from hotel to hotel, so do some research before you book your resort. This way you can allow for more diversity in the food you plan to consume.
When you stay at a smaller, more intimate place, you have more freedom and can eat at a multitude of authentic restaurants. This is especially true, when you stay at a hotel that is centrally located, and thus in close distance to a variety of restaurants. By eating at locally owned restaurants, frequented by locals, you can have more memorable and meaningful experiences. This experience is generally lost on those who stay at the larger resorts. They are typically surrounded by tourists and thus they get a completely different experience then one who dines and interacts with locals on their turf. Of course, the drawback to the smaller boutique hotels are the lack of amenities. They may not have a pool or a work out room or a masseuse or a private beach, thus making the customer have to leave the hotel to seek out their entertainment.
So should you stay at the big fancy resort or the cozy mom and pop ran B.& B.? If you want more authentic experiences and save some money in the process than go with the smaller boutique option. If you want convenience and all of those lavish perks, than go big! Everybody has different ideas and expectations for their trips and thus, only you can make the appropriate choice for yourself.
When in Montego Bay, Jamaica try these out these two wonderful options:
The El Greco www.elgrecojamaica.com
The Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa www.palladiumresorts.com
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