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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 6:49:57 PM
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Bosco
Posts: 6895
Joined: 5/8/2006
From: Another day..another seedy hotel
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Wifey...do you want to just chill? Then stay at an AI.
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A world of my own
I'll make it my home sweet home...
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 6:53:17 PM
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SchnauzerDog
Posts: 6349
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I'm like minded. I don't prefer AI's but you cant' judge AI's by the food choices of only one. I was really impressed with one I stayed at last Nov. Amazing food choices. Fresh and hot. You may really like it.
< Message edited by SchnauzerDog -- 3/6/2013 7:04:53 PM >
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 6:55:11 PM
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Bosco
Posts: 6895
Joined: 5/8/2006
From: Another day..another seedy hotel
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PS..go stay at Club Med Columbus Isle and report back..
I remember back reading about the early days of club med, long before the AI craze, when you used beads to pay for everything.
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A world of my own
I'll make it my home sweet home...
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 7:02:30 PM
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Beachey
Posts: 4356
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: CaLGary
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Liza they are all different in their own ways. Like everything generally speaking, the more you pay the better the amenities will be. So the higher end resorts are generally better in the food and drink catagories. As always pick a resort then do a ton of research and ask questions on the message boards to see what others have experienced at a given place. Remember to disregard the wildly over the top reviews as well as the totally trashing reviews and look somewhere in the middle for the real truth on any given property.
Are you guys looking at any particular resort or just putting out your feelers to see what is available??
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Got Er Dun!!!
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 7:08:30 PM
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shape shifter 47
Posts: 10063
Joined: 9/27/2005
From: St. Louis Area..Northern Roo...
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CRT....good beach...resort is small enough you don't have massive crowds....food and drinks great....nice long beach to walk south on and with luck...the old beach bar is just down between CRT and the old Meava.....
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Banking off of a northeast wind, sailing on a summer breeze
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 7:46:49 PM
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panesh
Posts: 1470
Joined: 11/27/2009
From: San Rafael, CA
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ABR is like the Motel 6 of AI's. Very good for what it is and it doesn't pretend to be something else.
Some of the AI's are outstanding with their service if that's what you want. You want top end go to Casa Magna or the JW. Playacar is wall to wall AL's. Endless booze, the more you pay the better the food, usually. That being said I would stay at an AI only if someone else paid for it. We've been there done that and far prefer no AI. Condos, casita, small hotels, that's what we're about now. We can do what we want, when we want.
< Message edited by panesh -- 3/6/2013 9:18:09 PM >
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 8:27:22 PM
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Vancouver Sundog
Posts: 5885
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: North Vancouver
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quote:
Was that the Iberostar on Coz? We are probably coming down for CAFB and I'm having a little anxiety about the choice of staying at the AI.
yep, that's the one
Only pet peeve with them was there lunch at the sports / snack bar wasn't great
The buffet was at the main entrance of the resort, a 10 minute walk from the beach
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 8:33:23 PM
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Tamie
Posts: 238
Joined: 7/29/2012
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We like AIs because we don't stay at them the whole time.  We use them more as a home base where we don't have to shop for food and drinks or make our own meals. When we're on resort, we get pampered and can enjoy a variety of activities if we feel like it, and have a beach to relax on when we want. We rent a car so we spend close to half our time off resort, and that gives us the freedom to enjoy all the sights, sounds, and tastes the area has to offer. When we were looking, many well reviewed AIs were priced in the same range as a condo, some much less. Because the AIs are so reasonable, we never feel like we're paying double when we're out and about, since we still get such value out of the included food and drinks that we do partake in.
We prefer the smaller, adult-only resorts for ease of navigation and more privacy. There are a lot of AIs out there in every service level, some with very grand offerings. Look for which ones that check all your boxes, and check the reviews and you'll find the perfect one in no time!
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 8:39:02 PM
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Vancouver Sundog
Posts: 5885
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: North Vancouver
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yes, main buffet at Coz (Iberostar) was good - better than Bahia
Great little resort
We had a ball driving around the island in our bug
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/6/2013 10:57:19 PM
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reefhugger
Posts: 8900
Joined: 8/25/2004
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Sorry, Wifey, can't talk you into it... especially not In Cozumel! Stay in a condo closer to town. Enjoy all the island has to offer... especially the great variety of food options (different foods and price range). Meet up with your AI friends a few days when they go off-resort, or even go get a day pass one day to hang with them.
I've spend a lot of time in Cozumel, including several extended stays. While there's nothing wrong with an AI, I just can't imagine going there and limiting myself to a buffet and the a la cartes on a resort when I knew there are so many great options in town.
And when you drive around the island, please do mind the signage and the signs pained on the road and when you're driving, keep off the cyclopista. It's pretty obvious with big white bike icons painted on it and signs. The vehicle road is along side it, still with a great ocean view and the ability to get off at any beach clubs/beach bars/beaches you want.
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/7/2013 6:22:22 AM
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uphillklimber
Posts: 5527
Joined: 2/17/2005
From: Bryant Pond, Maine
Status: offline
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I always do an AI, well not always, but I prefer it. Eat out every meal, I can handle that! No cooking, no dishes, don't even have to set or clear the table.
I have stayed at the ABR, back when it was cheap enough that you could eat out and it'd still be cheaper than other places. And we did a couple times each trip. Breakfast was always at the resort, breakfast is breakfast.
Personally, I look for a bigger resort (gasp!!! ). To me, it means more dining and recreational options. I do get bored eating the same thing every day. If we stayed at the ABR, we figured eating out a couple times as their menu is limited. No problem.
Some good things about an AI as far as dining goes, if you don't like what you are eating, set the plate aside and get another plate of different stuff. If that doesn't work, go to another restaurant on resort and try that out. I've never gotten upset in the least if I didn't like what was on my plate, no problems, no worries. I'm a sampler anyways. I like to try everything! I have never not found food to my liking.
One trip, Jeannette and I were tired of the menu at ABR, so I said, I'll go look and see what I find. I found the bread bar and got several slices of various breads and crackers, then over to the cheese station for samplings of that, along with a stop for grape juice. A bit unusual, but very tasty and satisfying. Perhaps our most memorable meal, just because it was so different and hit the spot so well.
I've stayed at the Palladium, the CRM and the Iberostar on Coz and I would go back in a minute, their food was so good. In fact, I pretty much wrote off the ABR due to quality of food at the CRM, for less than the ABR. At the CRM, I had beef EVERY meal on resort. I was in heaven! They season it just so..... Our one meal off resort was at Pescadors. Never a bad meal that trip. AI!
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Lovin life,
Bob
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/7/2013 8:56:01 AM
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arkansasgurl
Posts: 324
Joined: 7/13/2011
Status: offline
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Without reading other peoples respones, I love AI and have primarily used AI. Here are some things to think about:
*Always think positive with anything. Use the 33% rule: You have a 33% for your trip to be just as good as prior trips, you have a 33% trip for your trip to be BETTER than any previous trips.....and you only have a 33% chance you won't have at least as good a time as usual.
*No budgeting! Yippee! We take $100 in one dolla bills for tipping and never have to worry if we jet ski on the second day of our trip will we have enough $ left to eat and drink the last day. Seriously. No keeping up with a walllet or a huge some of money for food and drink or thinking well, we can't really afford to get 'toasted' tonight it sjust too much $. Bascially, with AI, any $ you take is for tipping or playing. That is awesome. Especially if you were taking children.....they don't have to ever ask for $.
* The majority of AI's we have stayed at were middle of the road and we did not have to eat at a 'trough.' Most that even have buffets, if you ask...will make you whatever you want. Cat Royal Tulum had a beautiful buffet with fresh food of every kind, fresh fruit fresh yogurt....omelets made to order; every thing was fresh and delicious and in the A/C
*One AI we stayed at in St Thomas, Bolongo Bay has NO buffet. It is strictly ordering off the menu with no restrictions at all: They have filet mignon, lobster thermadore, Mahi Mahi sandwhiches to die for (the fish was thick as steak). We would order tables full of food and it was incredible.
*If the AI includes buffet and you DO request something be made for you, it will be especially fresh.
*You don't have to waste food, you get to try a bite of anything that looks good and then decide what you want to actually eat.
*We buy the type alcohol we prefer seperately even though drinks are included. If you drink, this will make your AI trip even better. You can still order drinks. You can ask the bartender to make you virgin versions and add your fave alcohol, etc. It is just a way to make it more special if you do drink.
*If you go AI, you can still go out and eat at your favorite placesa few times. You get the luxury of choosing, with out the worry of budgeting. Send me a PM if you have any questions or thoughts you would like to ping me for.
You are going to have a GREAT time! Keep remembering, AI does not prevent you from eating at a few of your favorite places it actually makes it easier.
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RE: Help Me Embrace AI - Please.. - 3/7/2013 9:22:09 AM
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scubasteve
Posts: 111
Joined: 12/3/2006
From: St Thomas Ontario, Canada
Status: offline
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We get flight, transfers, and resort all in a package up here. It is cheaper than pricing everything out seperately, so we also go out to eat a couple of times during the week. It depends on which AI you stay at, we stay at EDSS which is a 5 star, adults only, al acarte dining, top shelf drinks, beach and pool waiter service, and no wristbands. Just because you stay at an AI doesn't mean you can't go out to eat and explore the rest of the area. The only money you have to worry about after you get there is for souvenirs and tips. We stayed at a non AI in Bonaire which wasn't nearly as nice as EDSS and it ended up being more expensive in the end. My wife will never stay at a condo or villa because she says she doesn't go on vacation to grocery shop, cook, and clean. BTW we stayed at the Iberostar Cozumel in 2010 and loved it.
< Message edited by scubasteve -- 3/7/2013 9:45:30 AM >
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