Hi everyone. I'm new to these boards and new to all-inclusives. We are looking at booking a vacation for next summer at an all-inclusive. We have a pretty stringent budget. We are a family of 4, husband and wife, ages 41 and 42, and two kids ages 12 and 17.

Where is the best place to go and/or the places to stay away from? Our vacations for the last few years have been cruises, so the whole all-inclusive thing is new to us.

Thank you all in advance for your insight.

WOW - everyone here is such a wealth of information - really, thanks for the help.

Hey cruzin...

Well to start what's a "stringent budget"? Aside from excluding the most expensive all inclusive resorts you still leave a really broad question to be answered.

Also, just like most "lower priced or budget" purchases you might sacrifice a little in terms of quality...such as food. Not that's it's terrible but not as a good...

You might want to check out the Reef Club in Cozumel, http://www.reefclubcozumel.com, it's a reasonably priced all inclusive and it's nice. I have stayed here before, 2 years ago, and enjoyed the experience.

What other islands pique your interest in terms of visiting the Caribbean?

What type of atmosphere are you looking for?

Do you want to be located near a town (walking distance) or does being away from everything suit you better?

Any activities you specifically want to pursue (scuba diving, snorkeling etc)?

Perhaps we can start to help narrow down your choices...