My fiance' and I are getting married in October and we have an all-inclusive package booked at the HI Sunspree. We are only paying around $3200 total w/ air. We went to riviera maya last year and were torn before we left as to whether we should do an AI package or not. We loved it! We are both in our late 20's as well and like to party and we would have spent a fortune on food and drinks. Sure we left the resort a couple of nights to go experience some life outside the resort but we only spent around $120 the whole week. I was in Aruba two years ago and it is very expensive unless you want to eat burgers, fries and donuts all week. Even the drinks will kill you on price. So my vote is the AI plan, that way we can get sh*% faced and fat from eating and drinking all we want. Hey its vacation right why would you want the stress of having enough cash with you all the time. By the way Aruba is very safe and you can leave the resort and feel confident, so if you do go non-AI then you will be O.K. My advice is to go AI at the HI Sunspree for $3200 and still have $1000 for life outside the resort. Just think all the Balashi(local beer) you can drink... mmm good :)

Architect????? My husband and I are torn between the Riviera Maya and either Aruba or The Virgin Islands. Do you have any really good advice that will make our decision easier??? We want the best beaches and water possible, and the safety factor is an issue for us. I noticed you've been to Riviera Maya, so I thought you might be able to help. Thanks!!!

Crazykiki heres the deal with all of those places. My fiancee and I enjoyed Riviera Maya last summer a great deal. The waters there are the most beautiful turquoise ever and the beaches are beautiful white sand and not terribly overcrowded. We stayed at the Viva Wyndham Maya resort and were very impressed with what it had to offer. You can read my post on it under the Viva Maya reviews, I believe it was posted at the end of June 2004. What we liked most about Riviera Maya was the fact that we were so close to Playa del Carmen and Cozumel and that we could get out of our resort if we wanted to. My only slight dissapointment with the beaches was that the water was a little rougher than we had anticipated. For the most part you can feel pretty safe in this area of Mexico especially in the area of the Viva Maya because it is in an upscale residential neighborhood. I have been to St. Thomas and it was nice as well. It has a more Caribbean feel than Mexico, but Mexico is better. We were at Morningstar beach which was very uncrowded. The beach was narrow and the water depths dropped off very quickly though. We never had any problems with feeling safe there, however we have heard some complaints from others feeling differently. If you want the perfect beach with the most crystal clear water, no waves and the perfect sugar white sand to bury your feet in while drinking a cold Balashi then Aruba is for you. The water is so calm there on Palm and Eagle beaches that they rent rafts to float on all day long. Aruba is very safe and it also has numerous things to do outside your resort so Aruba definately gets my vote. The only down side is that Aruba tends to be a little more expensive all around, arifare, food, drinks, etc., but its worth it. Good luck choosing and I hope this helps. Sorry this was so long.

We did the AI at the Tamarijn and had the same privileges with the Divi. We spent just a little over $3,000 for flight, room, and all meals and drinks. The food is expensive and the drinks at restaurants can run about $8.50 for one mixed drink. We did eat in town one night and our bill was $96.00. I would definitely do AI. Aruba is expensive for food since so much is shipped in. By the way we went through Funjet Vacations (earlier replied it was Apple Vacations.) Did not intend to mislead anyone. Apple does not fly down there after March. I don't know how you are planning on traveling but the charter flights are much, much cheaper. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DRINK AND NOT BREAK THE BANK with and AI. We went around the middle of April. Most spring breakers gone except from people from the East Coast who have spring break later. It was families but no problem. There was a large mixture of people and we had a great time. I will definitely visit this island again.

Go all inclusive. We went to Aruba about 2 years ago and struggled with the same issue. It is well worth the money. Alot of the hotels will also give you a list of restaurants downtown that also allow you to eat out. We stayed at the Allegro and if you ask them about this service they will give it to you. After doing an AI trip I will always do an AI package if offered. The drinks and the breakfast/lunch alone is ususally worth the few extra hundred dollars. I think it is worth it!

We stayed at the Bacuti Beach Hotel in the Tara Suites -- beautiful! We ate breakfast in our room with food we bought at the local grocery store and made our own coffee. We "splurged" on dinner every night and spent less than $100. We like good food AND nice accomodations and didn't want to skimp on either. We simplified on our breakfasts and lunches and spent in 8 days around $1,200 total for food. Oh, we also made our own alcoholic drinks in our rooms and brought them down to the beach in plastic cups we bought at the supermarket. We didn't feel like we were being cheap -- just smart! Hope this helps you out...

I would definitely go AI. I had stayed at the Tam when it was called the Divi Divi (what a story with that place) for our honeymoon. If they fixed it up and you get a room closer to the pool, then you are o.k. We also stayed AI at the Americana which is futher up the beach and was really nice. Actually this part of Arbua - Palm Beach - is the best beach. Also you have the casinos in all the hotels, so if you get bored in one you can next door. At the Tam you can go over to Al Hambra which is the first casino in Aruba. Whatever you decide have a great honeymoon!

Same exact situation as you msmills. We ended up doing the Bucuti in the Tara Suites for our honeymoon, and are skipping the all inclusive. If you do research, you'll find the island has some awesome restaurants, that you wouldn't get to try without skipping the all inclusive route. Since you would be in a suite, you have a fridge and you can hit the grocery store and buy snacks for breakfast and lunch, along with beer and wine for times when you are in the room. Then splurge on some dinners.

I think if you budget it out, it won't be that huge a price difference, and get to experience alot more different types of food, and end up seeing more of the island as a result (as you aren't rushing back to get your inclusive meals). Just my opinion. Try this website for even more insights, www.aruba-bb.com

Alot of helpful people with great info.

msmills, I would go AI if I were you. I don't think you can eat and drink for 1200. Some drinks and meals at restaurants are very expensive and if you plan on doing any excursions, that could run you a few hundred dollars (many times drinks and meals are included with the excursions.)

This is vor crazykiki7------Definitely do Aruba. It is so much nicer than Riviera Maya. We were at the Barcello this past fall and it was a distance to go to Playa del Carmen, which we did not like (vendors practically chased you down the street and sometimes cursing if you did not buy from them). Aruba was much nicer to shop in. We caught a bus right at the resort for $2.00 a piece round trip and loved it. The water in Aruba was much clearer and calmer. Aruba is much cleaner, safer and you do not get hasseled at the airport in Oranjestad like you do in Cancun. I was approached by a guy wanting to see my voucher to leave the airport (my husband had been stopped by a time share person who represented herself as a govt. employee) and I had walked ahead of him. The guy was relentless until my husband caught up with us. Almost missed our bus to the resort which was 60 miles from the airport. Another con to going to Riviera Maya. I won't travel to Mexico again if I have to fly into Cancun airport.

There are too many great choices in Aruba to go all inclusive, this is just my personal opinion. Go to the following bulletin board, they have review on many of the dining choices. Also it is great for information....

www.aruba-bb.com

this is an exclusive aruba bulletin board...

have congratulations and have a great honeymoon!

Suzie