We are so not the kind of people who charge all-inclusive resort trips on their home equity lines in the middle of a recession. Really, we’re not.
And yet. . . here’s an audio slideshow, from our recent trip to Jamaica, where the preteen drank dozens of “free” virgin pina coladas and led sessions of afternoon volleyball in the pool.
Sadly, by the time we arrived back in Cambridge, the bill was awaiting. But that’s OK. This one was for the kids — a guilt trip, to be honest, to make up for uprooting them from their friends and schools in Roanoke. They’re used to complaining about our more typical cheap-O vacations where we drive everywhere (“Who drives to Canada from Virginia?!”) and camp (“I can’t even get a text!”) and stay with friends and relatives along the way.
As we were leaving the resort on Sunday, the teenager wanted to know: “If we took all our money and sold our house and everything, how long do you think we could live here?”
bethmacy
/ January 25, 2010Rebecca, I agree totally with you. Our kids are at the stage where their likes differ greatly with ours, and this one was for them.
My husband and I do plan to go back some day to the Caribbean and do the real deal.
A great piece in the Globe today, in fact, on some cheap — and authentic — getaways:
http://www.boston.com/travel/gallery/winter_getaways/
Rebecca Hash
/ January 24, 2010My heart goes out to you that you didn’t get to experience the true Jamaica…..the people of this country have alot to teach the rest of the world! I agree 100% with you about the resorts catering to our selfish and spoiled American whims….but the real Jamaica…ahhhh…..what a difference! I am a single white woman and have traveled all over this country many times…I felt safer there than on any NY, Chicago, Atlanta city street! Don’t short change yourself( or your children)…plan another trip to Jamaica…away from the resorts….and I bet your next article will be a truer reflection of their country and people. Nuff respect, mon!
Johnny M
/ January 24, 2010My wife and I very much enjoyed reading this article. We started going all inclusive in 2005 with a vist to Paridisus in Puerto Rico. We have since become Sandals Select members and have visited their resorts 8 times. Negril is our favorite.
All inclusive is the only way to go!
bethmacy
/ December 9, 2009Ahhh, thanks Cathy! I can’t believe the semester has gotten by without our seeing each other again. Let’s change that very soon, OK?
Cathy A.
/ December 7, 2009Love that use of the pronoun “we” and the reference to “all our money.”
And I wish you and Tom had been my parents, at least in the instance of “guilt trips” for disrupting our elementary and middle school life! (smile)
Ane most of all, it’s been great fun to read about your adventures north of the river. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! You’ve earned it and deserve the best … always.
Sam P.
/ December 4, 2009A vacation in Dominican Republic drew the same kind of comments from our kids this summer. It was better than Disney World, they said. Swimming with sharks, driving cars in the mud, horses, fun, fun, fun. Wish we’d seen Sugar before we went.