Warning - Multiple people sick at Iberostar

[NancyLynn]

As for AI, if im not mistaken, isnt there the option to NOT do the AI thing at some AI resorts? I know at Fiesta Americana, we opted out.

Most places there is an opt out

Is the food really consistently that bad, across all companies? Is that true across the world, or just in Mexico?

It varies quite a bit. Scuba Club Cozumel was extremely good - particularly the evening meal which featured local specialties by chefs with varied native backgrounds. Breakfast and lunch had plenty of local options, but was not as spectacular as the evening meals (at least the breakfast and lunch also had food geared to the US palate - I don't recall the evening meal - I wasn't much interested in replicating US food so I didn't pay much attention) .

I jokingly called Fiesta Americana food Norte Americana food - geared toward US taste buds and not particularly on target, at that. It was plentiful and edible, but nothing to write home about (and since I was about 35 lbs into a 50 lb weight loss I really wasn't too unhappy that the food was not overly tempting ). I strongly suspect most folks go for the AI there because booze is included and that they expect to eat elsewhere a good bit of the time. (I didn't expressly price it - but the AI add on was low enough that I strongly suspect that if you bought more than one drink a day you'd exceed the added cost of the AI.)

 

[Gdog]

just had lunch at a hole in the wall cantina on 15th....for the 2nd day in a row. I didn´t see a name on it (just some dos equis signs). Everything was homemade. GREAT panuchos, shrimp tacos and salbutes. Lunch each day (with a beer each) was less than $10 total and some of the best stuff I´ve eaten on the island.

You will have to get the name and post it....id love to try it next trip!

 

[redrover]

Sound just like Belize! I forgot to mention the ants, which take over anything edible that's left out.

I even have to keep opened packets of breakfast cereal in the freezer, as otherwise they're taken over by weevils.

Yep, 10 yrs later and I’m still adjusting to the pointlessness of a well stocked pantry. The CostCo size looks is such a good deal; until you chuck 75%. Them grain critters find their way into EVERYthing, just not as fast when unopened.

 

[DandyDon]

Excerpting to address this part more...

As for AI, if im not mistaken, isnt there the option to NOT do the AI thing at some AI resorts? I know at Fiesta Americana, we opted out. Now, we just stay at Casa Mexicana, eat breakfast there because it is so good, then hit town to our favorite local spots for excellent local flavor. Would never go back to AI food.

Casa del Mar is not one I would recommend; it's okay, and many people like it; I just have my own taste and would not recommend any of the "resorts" I've tried. I just happen to have some experiences there with a group and looked at their rates different ways. Low season: mid-August to mid-December comparison*...

Room rate: $99 US/night + 12% taxes x 7 nights = $776 = $388 DO

Package: 2 tanks AM boat Dives per day of diving, 7 nights & 5 boat trips including taxes: $682 DO ($391 non-diver)

AI Package: 2 tanks AM boat Dives per day of diving, 7 nights & 5 boat trips, Breakfast, lunch & Dinner with UNLIMITED alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, including taxes: $929 DO ($582 non-diver)

So, it's $35/day more with AI diver, $27 non-diver, which makes no sense but probly isn't supposed to. I don't know how savy the Marketing people are there, but making sense is never supposed to be part of packages sales anyway - or there would not be a time share industry as we know it today.
​

I was there for only 3 nights before hurricane Dean cut our trip short and I tell ya - the one page menu was getting old.

* They used to offer a Full Breakfast, room and dives package; don't see it anymore. The actual dates for the AI package is only listed 9/18-10/3 for some reason, altho I'm sure it's available other times.

Great tip on the Hep A shots..didnt know they last lifetime, we are definately down with that now.

The CDC might be erring a little on the side of caution here: Health Information for Mexico | CDC Travelers' Health but much of their suggestions I consider good ones even for Texas even tho we are considered low-risk overall for Hep A vs Mexico overall considered high-risk, whether or not that applied to tourist areas is debatable.

Their suggestions to discuss with a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine...

Routine: Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG): Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors.

Hepatitis B: Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission (see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).

Typhoid: Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Mexico and Central America, especially if visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives where exposure might occur through food or water.

Rabies: Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, hiking, or work. Also, children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals and may not report bites.​

For me: I say at a comfy hotel with big rooms overlooking the dock, free bottled water etc, make my own coffee in room, in room snacks for breakfast, adjacent cafe for lunch, in town for dinner. Similar 7 nights/5 boat trips year round: $555.00 DO - almost $20 less/person/day for that time period during low season, great savings in mid or high season as they keep the same rate, first come first reserved.

 

[scubawife]

As for AI, if im not mistaken, isnt there the option to NOT do the AI thing at some AI resorts? I know at Fiesta Americana, we opted out.

If you stay at a All-Inclusive resort, you have no opt-out. However, there are a handful or hotels in Cozumel that do offer an OPTIONAL All-Inclusive package - Hotel Cozumel, Fiesta Americana, Casa del Mar, and a couple others. With these places, you can pay the extra $$ a day (fairly low amount) and eat and drink all you want, or, if you don't choose the package and still eat or drink at the hotel's restaurant and bar then you will just pay as you go.

The All-Inclusives resorts, like Cozumel Palace, Park Royal, Wyndham Reef, Iberostar, Grand, etc., don't have an opt-in/opt-out. It's just AI.

 

[ggunn]

Room rate: $99 US/night + 12% taxes x 7 nights = $776 = $388 DO

What is "DO"?

 

[DandyDon]

What is "DO"?

Double occupancy

 

[Diver Kat]

Last trip we stayed at Fiesta Americana. Booked a Grand Class room (sounds fancy - really isn't!) that included our breakfast. Our package also included a car. Paid $110 a night for the package. They wanted about $50 pp to upgrade to the AI. Didn't make any sense, especially when we already had breakfast included! Spent a big $16 on gas for the week, and had great meals in town, and spent a tiny fraction of what the AI would have cost us for a week of average buffet food. Just hope I can find the same deal at FA for our trip next March!

 

[peterbj7]

For the record, there are no AI resorts in Belize (so far as I know - certainly none on the northern atolls).

 

[driftin' by]

For the record, there are no AI resorts in Belize (so far as I know - certainly none on the northern atolls).

Uh, last I checked this forum is not about Belize. But FWIW there are many AI resorts in Belize:
Turneffe Island Lodge, Blackbird Caye Resort, Cayo Espanto, Kanantik Reef, Lighthouse just to name a few.