AI vs. EP

I have not done AI since my first trip to Saint Thomas where I stayed at the Then \"Sapphire Beach Resort\" out on the east end across from Koki Beach. The food was good, but the only locals I met were hotel employees or ones at the dive company I dove with. One of the locals behind the front desk offered to spend the day with us, taking us to his home & tour some off the tourist way parts of the island, It certainly opened my eyes to what we were missing getting to know local people including lunch in a café where we were the only non locals & dinner at his parents house. We become fast friends & he visited us at our home several times, attending his wedding & having my wife & I be god parents to his first born. He now resides in NY a successful businessman & still a good friend. I often think how easy it would have been to blow him off staying on the beach with a staff to wait on me for another day. Never did AI again.

I voted for A.I. because the Hotel where we stay has good food and International drinks.
Some of my friends who have gone A.I. at other hotels have not been happy with their choice.
It all boils down to \"You get what you pay for\", you can not expect good food and drink if you pay $US 10 a day for the A.I. premium.

Definately, European plan. I would maybe do AI on my first visit to an area, but I want to see and experiance the country I am in, otherwise I would have stayed at home. Puerto Vallarta has too many fabulous restaurents. This Feb. will be our 7th or 8th time , and I have yet to get bored or run out of new (for me) places to go. I am already planning the places to go for dinner next year. Get a life, right. Viva PV

:D we prefer the european plan. we love to sleep in our hotel, but our days are not spent there. too much going on in this great town and way too many resturants to experience. plus you can find some great tasting low costing meals.

We also prefer an AI vacation . The AI choices in PV are excellent and we have been satisfied with all our AI vacations . We have discovered many Mexican foods while staying at these resorts - the variety of choices is wonderful. We also eat and drink off resort . A valuable tip for those booking an AI holiday is to remember to tip the staff. Not only because the workers deserve it but you will get better service which will enhance your vacation. :)

The thing is, it is what you want to make of your vacation. Lojo and I have been doing A I since we started going to Sandals resorts in Jamaica. we love the feeling of not having to reach for pockets, living on a budget etc. But what is nice about being in Puerto Vallarta, and the GCP, we have the best of all worlds. During the day, we can eat, drink, and be merry without to many problems, and if we want to go into town that night, no problem. And we are usually down there for two weeks every february... To us, AI really lets us have the best options for our money. and We too are \"rich\" nor are we \"poor\", we work hard for our vacations and when we are on vacation we play just as hard for those two weeks, come back to work to rest up, and start the planning all over again. so just flip a coin, and you will most likely be right with your decision, especially in Puerto Vallarta... Thanks for the survey Mogens. I think you have put together a good format for discussion here.

My wife and I prefer AI by far. I like to know that my vacation is all paid for before I leave home. We leave the resort when we want and do have the odd meal in town, but for the most part eat at the resort. I am not one to get up and have to go looking for a place for breakfast. I should add that we have only stayed in Nuevo, so it is a bit far to go looking for breakfast. I like to be able to get a drink when I want without having to keep money in my swim trunks or by my chair. We just like the all around convenience of AI.

Gary

With the kids allways, with just the two of us not allways. This time we stayed at the Riu which is AI in Nuevo but traved everyday to PV or Bucerios to eat lunch and when we came home in the evening we had dinner and lots of drinks. Its nice not having to reach for your wallet every five minuets.

Its nice not having to reach for your wallet every five minuets. MG you must eat fast & often. Reaching for your wallet every 5 or do you look like a bandit & are forced to pay before each course? LOL!

MG you must eat fast & often. Reaching for your wallet every 5 or do you look like a bandit & are forced to pay before each course? LOL!


Four kids and a wife gets expensive on the EP plan believe that. Im hungry ,Im thirsty. Its suposed to be a vacation. lol

Some day the only morning fruit on the menu will be prunes. :roll:

plus4
catnhat

I try to get my vegetables from my Bloody Mary in the morning. and if i ever say that i am too old to go to Puerto Vallarta or GCP, i best be dead and six foot under...

have a great day

What my wife and I have done for the last couple years and it has worked well for us is to stay at a moderately priced all inclusive (canto del sol and qualiton being the most recent)and having breakfast and sometimes lunch at the hotel. you can sit by the pool and have pina coladas and margaritas.we would eat at the hotel 2 or 3 times and the other nights eat at some of the better restaurants.after breakfast we would do our shopping and exploring and walk off our breakfast.we were able to eat at some very nice places and not break the bank.

holy moly Svedish, that is a great rate for FOUR weeks. wishing we could go for 4 weeks, and we are happy with two weeks in february. damn, girl that is wonderful... well enjoy your trip in November - December.

take care

We have done both and have found that for us the best way to go is AI - :lol: It is very convenient since we do not have to carry around money while at the resort and we know up front what our vacation will cost (approximately). We do spend time and eat, drink and party off the resort, but the bulk of our meals are at the resort. The thing you must remember about AI is not to go too cheap as then you very well might not be happy with what you get. :cry:

Either way you can have a good time!!

we think it all depends. we have never been to PV - we have been to PDC 2x, Cancun 2X and zihua/troncones. Only did AI once. It was sooooo cheap - we couldnt pass it up - last year cancun - we booked the Oasis w/ Apple for $300 per person!!! then, once we got there, we just upgraded for $50 to the Grand. what a steal that was!!! We only did it because we have been to the area many times.

I think if you want to feel \"real\" mexico - dont do AI!!! you wont get out and see enough.

I think if you want to feel \"real\" mexico - dont do AI!!! you wont get out and see enough.



I beg to differ on this comment. A vacation is what \"you\" the consumer makes of it. If you want to feel the \"real\" mexico as you say, then what difference does it make if you are on the AI plan, AE plan, or the ala carte plan. If you want to experience mexico you have to make choices as to how you want to experience it. We have been coming to Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta for over 12 yrs now, and we have been doing the all inclusive packages every time. yet we have experienced a lot of what the down town along the malecon has to offer, as well as some of the night life, tours, adventures, etc that were made available to us. We made choices on whether to stay at the resort or go off property. We fell into the all inclusive resorts when we used to go to Sandals Jamaica. We loved the adults only atmosphere that they had to offer, also the fact that we could go off property during the day with a good tour group, but wanted to be safe at the resort at night. But in Vallarta you can leave your resort during the evening hours and have a blast until the wee hours and make it back to your resort, hotel, or timeshare, etc. with very little problems. That is why we have been coming here for 12 yrs, and we have been staying at the Golden Crown Paradise for the last nine trips down. but this is just my opinion... but choices is what makes the world go round....