hi we have always looked further afield as we go in jan/feb because of work commitments. no matter where you go in carribien the price is always around the same £700--800 per person all inclusive.the weather is better and the beach's are ten times better.
if you want that bit of luxury for a special ocasion why dont you try a cruise around the caribbien with someone like first choice thompsons as you can pick these up for around £900 per person for two weeks.
hope this helped any info just ask

There is a lot of terrific value hols in the Caribbean. Go for it if you fancy it!

I personally have only done one Caribbean holiday - not because I don't like the look of places or whatever, purely because I have a lot of Europe I still wish to visit and long haul flights put me off a bit. That's pretty much the only reason.

Certainly worth looking out of the Euro zone for a holiday with the Sterling being so low against the Euro now.

If you take in to account that you will be AI then that makes it even more attractive.

We have booked cyprus but its cheaper to Barbados and Dominican Republic AI,we might swollow the deposit and change.

No, regardless of the state of the euro I think I can safely say that we'll be going back to Portugal again next year.
We just love the place and the people.

We're seriously considering abandoning Euro Zone next year. Apart from Turkey, which is one of our options, long haul destinations on my shortlist are : return visit to Dom Rep, Cuba, Brazil and maybe Barbados (have to win the lottery for the last one though)

Just come back from Turkey, not as cheap there as it used to be. At the moment I think your best bet is long haul AI. Think you get a much better deal, and you don't have to worry too much about extra spends!! Go for it

Funny that I should come across this thread as we have exactly the same dilemma at the moment, can't decide weather to go back to Turkey next May or try the Carribean (Cuba), we were amazed to discover that we can get 4 star AI in Cuba for £200 more than it would cost us to go AI to Turkey and that's for our family of 5! In fact we went to Lykia World in Turkey this year and that is actually coming out at £1,500 more than the 4 star hotel in Cuba for 2009. We always assumed the Carribean would be well out of reach for us. We think we have settled on Cuba but OH is still in two minds as Turkey is obviously a shorter flight, we have never flown long haul before.

I'm still wondering about 2009's destination too. As Marlou said in an earlier post Turkey's not as cheap as it used to be but the prices she paid for food and beer were still a fair bit cheaper than we paid in Spain at Easter and I suspect cheaper than we'll be paying in Crete in 5 weeks time. It's the long flight that's slightly putting me off a return trip to the Caribbean though last year's flight to Mexico wasn't too bad. My Caribbean shortlist consists of Dom Rep (return visit), Cuba and Brazil. We'll probably have booked something within 2 weeks or so of returning from our August holiday

twinkletoes, you won't regret going to cuba if its a good price, it was 2000 we went, but we got married in havana, so it was a wonderful, special holiday for us, we would go back next year as the prices are good, but, we want to experience another carribean island and jamaica was coming out nice and cheap for the three of us, mexico was even cheaper, but we want to go there 2010 for our 10th wedding anniversary, so , jamaica for us !
seriously, when you take into account what you'll spend in europe, and getting there, long haul is looking increasingly more desirable !!
shirley, don't worry about the long flight, it goe's quicker than you'd imagine !!!!!

I agree with Juby about the flight. We went to the Caribbean last year and I did wonder about the long flight. I certainly wouldn't worry about it again. Flying long haul with First Choice, the time went so quickly. More leg room and good entertainment made this a much more pleasant flight than spending 4 or 5 hours flying cramped to Turkey and Egypt.

juby5,

I.M.O. you get a better holiday for your money in the Caribbean all inclusive.

in the last 5 yrs weve done dom rep, cuba, mexico, and they were all @ £1100 - 1250 each.

when you consider that on all inc. you needent spend anything whilst your there if you dont want to.

weve booked brazil for july this year and that is in the same price bracket.

again, hope this helps, and happy holiday hunting...

Eifion.

Only reason I'm not discounting Turkey yet is that we did AI last year and to be honest we'd rather self catering. We feel that unless you're prepared to spend extra on trips to see the country you don't get the same feel of the culture as you do out and about self catering. IMO it's the cost of these trips that bangs the price up more than self catering.
I agree that as long as you stay put most of the time in your AI it works out cheaper than a self catering holiday in Eurozone

shirley h wrote:

you don't get the same feel of the culture as you do out and about

I think this is a key point, going AI in the carribean often means being in specific tourist zones, where there is security to keep out the unwanted. Which is a plus as well a minus, added safety but at the expense of the "feel" of the country. Being AI it is very tempting to stay by the pool or beach all day sipping your daquiri/mojito etc, and not get out and about in the country. Which generally means excursions which are often quite expensive compared to those in the Eurozone.

The long haul flights are generally not as bad as you expect, especially if you are used to short haul. Much better leg room, better IFE and the time does pass quite quick. The time difference can be a pain in the botty when you arrive but it isnt a real issue.

The only other thing to check up on is hurricane/wet season as the holiday looks like a bargin until you spend half your holiday in a tropical storm!

Happy hunting

We are considering Egypt next year (but will probably end up back in Majorca!), only a 5 hour flight,
much more to see than most Caribbean islands and looks to be good value for AI.
I know a few people who have been and raved about it on their return

AI is brilliant when you've got kids. I agree with shirley H though, if you don't go on the trips and get out and about, you might as well be anywhere. I also find that even if you're in a 5 * hotel, if its just 2 of you, it does get a bit boring at the end of a fortnight. Taking the euro into account we will probably spend far more on our SC holiday to Crete than what we would in the Carribbean, however we like the freedom of SC and OH would rather spend a little more and not feel so restricted.

Shirleyh, bite the bullet, and book Turkey, one of the best holidays we've ever had!! As you know, hubby can be a little fussy about his destinations, but even he'll tell you, we had a fantastic time. Don't think you'll get a better hotel, in regards to cleanliness and it's central location. Go for it GIRL. You won't regret it, I promise you!!!!!! And you don't want to miss out on seeing the Ice-cream boat do you????????????????????????????????????xx

at Marlou,

I'm definitely considering it Marlou, think I might have to convince your mother though! Although, I'm still a bit torn between the Caribbean. If we went to Turkey, I'd like to book the Baba again as it was ideal, as you say. We need to price up SC Turkey (taking spends into consideration) and one or two Caribbean islands. The thing that will push the cost of the Caribbean up is the cost of staying in London the night before, as we'd have to go from Gatwick. Never mind, as you know, I enjoy my research.

Hi I wish someone would just wave a magic wand and make a decision for me! We still can't decide whether to go back to Turkey next year with our 3 kids to AI 5star hotel or to Cuba AI 4 star hotel, Turkey is actually the dearer option (though not by much). Not sure if there will be much to do in the hotel in Cuba, it has excellent reviews and does have entertainment all day but there are no water slides and our kids love those (in fact I havn't noticed water slides in any of the hotels in Cuba, well the brochures anyway!) the hotel in Turkey also has excellent reviews but has water slides and is a shorter flight...ahhhhhhh....help..... I'm fed up researchin the two and thinking about which to go for!!! Any help GREATLY appreciated!!