| Package holidays back in the 70's normally included | | | | because the resort is located on a hillside. There is only |
| meals and soft drinks. Having been on holiday | | | | one restaurant but serves fabulous food for breakfast, |
| numerous times during the 70's I regarded these | | | | lunch and dinner. There is only one bar but no shortage |
| holidays as 'all inclusive'. During the early 80's I lived and | | | | of drinks and never a queue. There is only one |
| worked in Spain for a couple of years, and after | | | | swimming pool but there are two small bays of golden |
| returning to the UK I got to like arranging my travel, | | | | sand and warm Caribbean Sea that are almost |
| accommodation and meals independently. From that | | | | exclusive to the hotel guests. We are holidaying there |
| time I had mainly taken 'independent' family holidays in | | | | this year with the same life long friends for both of our |
| Spain and the Balearic Islands. | | | | 40'Th wedding anniversaries. |
| Until good friends, who had been to Antigua, | | | | In 2005 my wife and I had the opportunity to take a |
| persuaded us to join them in 2004 for a summer | | | | two week holiday in January. Knowing that January in |
| holiday at a resort they had been to before, which | | | | the Mediterranean isn't as warm as I would like, we |
| was Coco Bay in Antigua. The holiday arranged was | | | | decided to try the Caribbean again. With a limited |
| an 'all inclusive' holiday with Virgin, but I had visions of | | | | budget we decided from brochures that the Dominican |
| the 70's type of 'all inclusive'. My fears were unfounded | | | | Republic was the place we would take our two week, |
| and I would thoroughly recommend 'all inclusive' | | | | January holiday and we choose a resort in Puerto |
| holidays. | | | | Plata with an 'all inclusive' package. The hotel was right |
| The down side to travelling to the Caribbean or the | | | | on the beach with sea views from the buffet |
| United States is that, from where we live in | | | | restaurant. A larger resort, with themed restaurants |
| Hertfordshire, the flights go from London Gatwick. This | | | | and again plenty of food and unlimited non-alcoholic |
| means an early morning start to reach Gatwick for a | | | | and alcoholic drinks. |
| late morning flight or travelling down to stay over night | | | | In July 2007 we booked another 'all inclusive' holiday to |
| at a hotel local to Gatwick. We have tried both options | | | | the Dominican Republic. This time we choose a resort |
| over the years but you should be aware that either | | | | call Punta Cana. We were meeting up with a Canadian |
| option will add a couple of hundred pounds to your | | | | couple we had met in the Dominican Republic the first |
| holiday. | | | | time in 2005. The hotel was part of the Bahia Principe |
| Apart from this additional cost we would recommend | | | | chain and the complex was large but very good. |
| 'all inclusive' holidays for a number of reasons, | | | | There was even a 'car train' to take you the length of |
| especially at this time as the exchange rates are not | | | | the complex. Again, excellent accommodation with |
| to our advantage. A true 'all inclusive' booked with one | | | | daily room service, good food and unlimited drinks. A |
| of the major travel companies will include, all meals, | | | | resort hotel I so recommend to the point we booked |
| breakfast, lunch and dinner at their buffet restaurants. | | | | the same hotel chain in Tenerife for January 2009 |
| There are normally other 'themed' restaurants you can | | | | which was excellent value for money. |
| visit within the resort as a way of change from the | | | | We were lucky to be able to take another holiday in |
| buffet. All soft and alcoholic drinks are included. Room | | | | October 2007 to Cancun in Mexico. We were invited |
| service is daily. The staff, without exception, are very | | | | to a wedding and again it was an 'all inclusive' holiday. |
| polite and friendly. | | | | Not only did we witness a prefect wedding but the |
| Coco Bay in Antigua is a small resort with | | | | accommodation, food and drinks were five star. |
| accommodation only for about 80 couples, no children | | | | We have had other holidays during this time period |
| allowed. Your accommodation is a small independent | | | | notably to Disneyland in Florida, Las Vegas in Nevada , |
| 'hut', it literally has a tin roof, basic, no TV, but | | | | Spain, Tenerife, Majorca, Minorca and but for value for |
| wonderfully comfortable. Bathrooms open out onto the | | | | money nothing beats a modern day 'all inclusive' |
| verandas as does the bedrooms. All have sea views | | | | holiday. |