WWSND: AI for a DW

[Deleted]

My friends are having a DW in Cancun. We're going down and staying for 7 days. They've booked a $$$$$ all inclusive for the hotel, but the wedding is offsite somewhere. 

All of our Seattle friends will be staying at the $$$$$ AI, with the exception of our closest friends who will be staying at a nearby (5 minute walk) condo with their baby since the AI is adults only. 

We can afford to do the AI, but this also means 1 less trip within Europe for us this year. 

Either way, we're sharing a room/condo with my cousin because she doesn't want to foot the bill for an an entire room for the week. At the condo, we'd do a 2br condo. At the AI it'd be a 1br suite, plus pull out couch. (Cousin already says she doesn't care.) 

Plane tickets are running us around £700/person. 
The AI is $500/night, the condo is $175/night. 

Do we forgo a trip and splurge for the nice AI with most of our friends? Or do we take a trip and do a condo to stay near our BFFs?

If it makes any difference H will be home in August and will see most of these friends and I'll be home in October and will see all of these friends. B&G live in London and we see them often. 

WWSND? 

[MrsPotatohead]

I think you know my answer, but... omg definitely CONDO. no one gets to cut into my (imaginary) European travel budget

[tacocat]

What is the hotel? We were able to get our $500/night hotel for $250 using hotwire and betterbidding.com

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 9:16:34 GMT -5 tacocat said:

What is the hotel? We were able to get our $500/night hotel for $250 using hotwire and betterbidding.com

www.melia.com/en/hotels/mexico/playa-del-carmen/paradisus-playa-del-carmen-la-perla/index.html

$500 is already with H's work discount. 

[MrsPotatohead]

that's with a discount?! I could never stay at an AI

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 9:21:22 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

that's with a discount?! I could never stay at an AI

I don't think they're all this expensive. This is, far and away, the most expensive hotel in that area with H's discount. The next most expensive AI is like $270/night! 

We've stay at Melia's before and they are nice, but for this price I want to be chained to the lounge chair on the private beach with a top shelf margarita IV drip while someone spoon feeds me lobster dipped in gold leaf. There are daily activities (which take us away from the hotel) every single day too, so my dream probably won't happen. 

[minion]

Well do you plan on hanging out with the people at the AI a lot?

If we could swing it, we would stay at the AI. That way we could enjoy all the perks of staying there, with the friends. Food, drinks, pool etc. Would you have to by like a day use pass or something, if you weren't staying there and your friends just wanted to hang out pool side, and drink? Also then not having to worry about heading back to the condo etc. AI and big groups make a lot of financial sense, for us. Last time we were in Cancun group of about 15, my brother drank enough gin and tonics to cover his trip just because there was always someone to drink with (but that AI also only costs about $1100 a person including flights).

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 9:31:38 GMT -5 minion said:

Well do you plan on hanging out with the people at the AI a lot?

If we could swing it, we would stay at the AI. That way we could enjoy all the perks of staying there, with the friends. Food, drinks, pool etc. Would you have to by like a day use pass or something, if you weren't staying there and your friends just wanted to hang out pool side, and drink? Also then not having to worry about heading back to the condo etc. AI and big groups make a lot of financial sense, for us. Last time we were in Cancun group of about 15, my brother drank enough gin and tonics to cover his trip just because there was always someone to drink with.

My goal is to hang out with people who are staying at the AI as much as possible, but to also hang out with my friend with the baby too. The only problem is that pretty much every day there's a day trip, so I don't know how much people will be around. 

Good idea on looking for a day pass. I'll check in to that. Thanks! 

[minion]

Apr 28, 2015 9:21:22 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

that's with a discount?! I could never stay at an AI

There's cheaper ones! The one we stayed with in Cancun was about $1100 a person including flights, in a double occ room. The one we are staying in, in Puerto Vallarta in a few weeks was about the same. 

[spa]

Pssh I am a cheap ass I would do a condo, besides I am weird about my food and would want to cook for myself.

[mkate710]

If it were us I'd splurge on the AI

[minion]

Apr 28, 2015 9:34:39 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Apr 28, 2015 9:31:38 GMT -5 minion said:

Well do you plan on hanging out with the people at the AI a lot?

If we could swing it, we would stay at the AI. That way we could enjoy all the perks of staying there, with the friends. Food, drinks, pool etc. Would you have to by like a day use pass or something, if you weren't staying there and your friends just wanted to hang out pool side, and drink? Also then not having to worry about heading back to the condo etc. AI and big groups make a lot of financial sense, for us. Last time we were in Cancun group of about 15, my brother drank enough gin and tonics to cover his trip just because there was always someone to drink with.

My goal is to hang out with people who are staying at the AI as much as possible, but to also hang out with my friend with the baby too. The only problem is that pretty much every day there's a day trip, so I don't know how much people will be around. 

Good idea on looking for a day pass. I'll check in to that. Thanks! 

I asked H, and he said he would want to stay at the AI with all our friends. He also brought up how when we stayed at Sandals in the Bahamas (the only place we've stayed at with a similar price point) people couldn't even access the resort unless they had wrist bands. However, where we stayed in Cancun, you could just walk down the beach from resort to resort and look around. Just some things to think about.

[larzhope]

We would stay at the condo just on principle. It's one thing if you've always wanted to go to that particular resort and you picked it. It's entirely another that you're there for an obligatory event. Especially since you are seeing friends later in the year. I would totally prioritize my own vacation desires, and I know my H would agree w/ me.

#assholepartyof2

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 11:48:04 GMT -5 larzhope said:

We would stay at the condo just on principle. It's one thing if you've always wanted to go to that particular resort and you picked it. It's entirely another that you're there for an obligatory event. Especially since you are seeing friends later in the year. I would totally prioritize my own vacation desires, and I know my H would agree w/ me.

#assholepartyof2

This is where h is too, but I just don't know when I'll see my Seattle friends again.

Ugh, I'm so torn.

[minion]

Can you do a couple days at the condo and a couple days at the resort? Or do you have to book all the days in one place?

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 12:05:11 GMT -5 minion said:

Can you do a couple days at the condo and a couple days at the resort? Or do you have to book all the days in one place?

Possibly. I just need to get cousin on board for moving too.

[Deleted]

I would do the condo!! You say there's a day trip planned pretty much every day? Then you'll see all the other people on the day trip -- why pay all that extra $$$ for AI when you'll be spending less than half of each day actually on site?

Do the condo. Save the $$. Come see me in Paris in September

[karebear219]

I would stay at a condo. H would want the all inclusive.

[tacocat]

$500/night is so far above what we like paying I would want to do the condo.

Could you buy a couple day passes to visit the resort?

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2015 12:31:04 GMT -5 @ksta said:

I would do the condo!! You say there's a day trip planned pretty much every day? Then you'll see all the other people on the day trip -- why pay all that extra $$$ for AI when you'll be spending less than half of each day actually on site?

Do the condo. Save the $$. Come see me in Paris in September

There is, but I only want to do 1 of the day trips, sooooo yeah. With my irrational fear of boats I don't want to do a booze cruise and snorkel days. 

I'm trying to come see you in Paris in September. Send me your dates when you have them? 

H is emailing with some work peeps to see if anyone can work some magic for us to get us a better rate, so I guess we'll just wait until we hear back. 

[ilovebed]

I would stay at the condo so that you can spend more time with your BFFs. They might feel really left out and I bet they would really enjoy having some extra company. Plus, then you can do another trip later!