Ai vs on your own???

[funmom]

My husband and I will be travlling to Playa Del Carmen, we originally were going to stay at the Iberostar Lindo, but looking at all the things you can do and see we are wondering if we should just go it on our own. We are from Western Canada and flight alone will cost us 1000.00can. pp. So AI is a good deal. It is about $3200.00pp for 14 days at the Lindo, plus a couple of side trips and golf we expect to spend around $8000.00 for the both of us and that includes our flight.
Would we be able to do this for less if we go it on our own?, we enjoy drinking, eating, golfing, shopping, nightlife. I was thinking of getting a condo with 2 bedrooms(we have another couple coming with us) that way we can buy our own drinks and cook our food when(if)we want to. If any one has any ideas please let us know! Thanks

[denisea]

Originally posted by "funmom"

We are from Western Canada and flight alone will cost us 1000.00can. pp. So AI is a good deal. It is about $3200.00pp for 14 days at the Lindo, plus a couple of side trips and golf we expect to spend around $8000.00 for the both of us and that includes our flight.
Would we be able to do this for less if we go it on our own?, we enjoy drinking, eating, golfing, shopping, nightlife. I was thinking of getting a condo with 2 bedrooms(we have another couple coming with us) that way we can buy our own drinks and cook our food when(if)we want to. If any one has any ideas please let us know!

Ouch $8000 for 14 days. :o We spent 3 weeks in Playa over the holidays and our total cost was $5,279 USD (which is approx $7,008 CAN). This included everything --- housesitting, airport parking, spending money, etc. Now our airfare was on $479 USD pp (approx $636 CAN), however, even if you adjust for the $728 CAN, our trip would have been $7,736 CAN for 3 weeks as opposed to $8,000 CAN for only 14 days. So yes, I believe you can probably do better on your own. Click here and here for previous threads that discuss this same subject. I think you will find them helpful.

[annrawa]

We have done both. If you are worried about $ it is more reasonable to stay in town.

[Becky]

For comparisons sake, a very nice 2 bedroom 2 bath condo at Las Palmas (on the north end of town) goes for $690/week US. If you are splitting that with another couple, that's pretty cheap! It also gives you the opportunity to buy groceries and cook some of your own meals in the kitchen. This is definitely a great way to save money. And I highly recommend Las Palmas. I stayed there with my entire family (we have 4 kids) and it's a really great place. The price I quoted is for low season (April-December).

Becky

[funmom]

I estimated golfing into the $8000.00 budget. In Punta Cana it cost $150.00/round for one person, that included transfers, caddie and cart. My husband will definitley do more then one round this time and I will go as well. I am assuming that a round of golf at a nice course will be about the same price. I have no problems with getting a condo, finding a cheap seat sale a couple weeks before we go(right now from Edmonton it is $250.00 can. to Cancun up until Spring Break) and spending my money on golf, shopping and lotsa Tequilla! It is my husband that needs to be convinced, he wants to be taken care of, eat when he wants, drink when he wants and basically no effort or thinking vacation. If anyone has any ideas on compromise, let me know, please.
Also, if anyone knows of golf deals or packages with rental property or hotels tel me, or should I post that as a seperate question?

[skcazador]

have gone the AI route in Cuba, on our own in Hawaii, Puerto Villarta and Orlando . . . definitely prefer to go it alone.
We do NOT like to be tied to the hotel, prefer to eat all over town and not pay twice for meal.
From Sask. and 1 week in PCD will be <$3000 CAN + meals & tours.
Mar5-12/04

[Becky]

If he wants to eat and drink when he wants, then he probably wants to eat and drink WHAT he wants. In that case, AI would be limiting. The restaurants in PDC are on of the BEST things about it. The food is fabulous, and there are tons of choices everywhere. I think it's definitely better than AI.

[denisea]

Playa isn't exactly the best place to play golf nor is it the cheapest. My husband is an avid golfer who is studying to become a golf pro. He has a 3 handicap and takes his clubs absolutely everywhere with the exception of Playa. His opinion for what it's worth is that the Playacar course and other courses in the area are very overpriced for the quality of the courses. For your budget purposes, below are the current fees for both the Playacar Golf Club and the Golf Club at Moon Palace.

Playacar Golf Club

• Green Fee (18 holes) Includes 1/2 cart, snacks & drinks $150.00
  Junior Fee 12 years and younger $90.00
  Twilight Fee After 2:00pm 1/2 cart, snacks & drinks $90.00
  Extra Rider Shared cart, snacks & beverages $55.00
  Club Rentals
  • Cobra Steel $32.00
    Callaway Steel $32.00
    Taylor made Steel $32.00
    Taylor made Graphite $42.00
  Range Balls
  • Large bag (50 balls) $5.00*
    Small bag (25 balls) $3.00
  Bag Storage
  • Per night $2.00
    Per week $10.00
  Caddy fee Optional, per Group $30.00*
  Lessons Per hour, per person $45.00
  • • Every player must have a complete set of clubs
    • Twilight fee is good for the holes that you can play
    • No Rain Checks in Twilight

Golf Club at Moon Palace

• Green Fee (18 holes) Includes shared Cart $250.00
  Junior Fee 12 years and younger $150.00
  Twilight Fee After 2:00pm Shared Cart $150.00
  Extra Rider Shared cart, snacks & beverages $55.00
  Club Rentals
  • Cobra Steel $32.00
    Callaway Steel $32.00
    Taylor made Steel $32.00
    Taylor made Graphite $42.00
  Range Balls
  • Large bag (50 balls) $5.00*
    Small bag (25 balls) $3.00
  Bag Storage
  • Per night $2.00
    Per week $10.00
  Caddy fee Optional, per Group $30.00*
  Lessons Per hour, per person $45.00
  • • Every player must have a complete set of clubs
    • Twilight fee is good for the holes that you can play
    • No Rain Checks in Twilight

[mckinzie]

I agree with Denise on the Golf Club at Moon Palace. Stayed there once 2 years ago
and played 18 holes. After all the golf rental i had to pay around $350
at this AI. :x

[Beachwolverine]

Mom,

It's your vacation, so I hesitate to give advice, but I agree with denisea, Playa is not a good place for golf. I love golf and play frequently, but would never think of taking my clubs to PDC. Each fall we go to Destin in the Florida panhandle and that is our "golf" vacation - (although we eat and beach like we do in PDC also) great courses for 1/4 the price in PDC.

Also, if you are going to PDC in the hot/humid months, it may not be a good round under any circumstances. Per other post here, there is no problem getting a tee time (should tell you something) so why not decide once you get there?

Hope this helps and have fun - BW

[funmom]

Thanks, if I take golf out of the equation, it makes things way easier!(and cheaper).

[BobW]

It depends what time you go, but I've been watching the flights out of Vancouver for the last 4 months. If you can wait 2 weeks before you go there always seems to be flights at about half price if not less(Spring Break March 12 is higher). One flight on March 21 was down to $330 plus tax last week, this week it's up to $478, but I expect it to drop again. Don't listen to your travel agent when they tell you that you should book asap because there's not many seats. Every week since October has had discounted flights, so be patient if you don't mind taking a bit of a risk.

Rent a condo rather than an AI. We did that last year, this year we're renting so that we can relax and see the Mayan Riviera. Once you hit the buffet and bar at the AI it's hard to leave, you may as well be at the West Edmonton mall with a picnic basket and a cooler.

[funmom]

I think that is what we will do, is rent a condo and it on our own. We will pick our date and then hope for seat sales, if not, we will just pay the reg.fare. Hopefully it works out!

[John in DC]

I would echo what others have said about the Playa golf experience: The Playacar course is good but not great. I'd say it's worth about $60 or $70 US tops for a round. The Puerto Aventuras nine-hole is a reasonably good deal -- as many loops as you care to make for $45 (as I recall). It's comparable to a challenging and well-maintained muni. In short, Playa and the Caribe coast is great for many reasons, but golf ain't one of them.

[ryberg]

The Puerto Aventuras nine-hole is a reasonably good deal -- as many loops as you care to make for $45 (as I recall).

Some repeat guests of ours used to say similarly good things about that course, but came back disgusted recently saying they'd upped the fees to something like US $75, dumped the weekly discounts, and were requiring you to rent a cart during most hours for a chunk of change more. So might want to look elsewhere...

Steve