Drinking and Vacation

[suzyQ]

yazmon!

We are kindred spirits! My vacation also starts as soon as we hit the airport!!!! We usually start out with a uber spicy Bloody Mary and since we live in Orlando, the airport bars have Rum Punch, so we may even start with that to get in a Jamaican state of mind!!!!

I agree--vacation is our time to relax with the one we love without worries! Just enjoy, be respectful of others, and make friends with all the bartenders!

One Love!
suzyQ

[WillandAmy]

Go, have fun (sounds like you have definitely earned it), but don't be obnoxious (remember that she's earned the right to a good time too). Plus, I'd rather have a little less of a buzz each day than have to deal with the repercussions of having my wife pissed at me the entire time we are there (and after). I think your math is a little off also. Those rooms based on location alone would run you well north of $150 a night and with the quality of some of the food two people can easily consume more than $100 worth of food per day.

[Jimnmariann]

OMG I think we all need this vacation. Remember in Jamaica, no worries mon. Also no thinking too much or counting drinks or scheduling or analyzing. Just relax and enjoy paradise. Can't wait!

[TandT]

Like the OP, I'm a numbers guy - I'm always trying to "get my money's worth" - regardless of the vacation/destination

We had never done the AI thing before so I tried to do the same breakdown for our 6day/5night trip - had we stayed at a non-inclusive I went by these figures (based on past vacations)

$ 200 for Shuttle Service to/from Airport - figured $100 each way was a good guesstimate
$1000 "hotel": - figured $200/night for a hotel on the beach was a good starting point
$500 "airfare": - $125 per person each way
$900 in food: ($50 a day for lunch/snacks and $100 a day for dinner)
$100 in "excursions" that we were looking to do... I know they offer SOOO much more (Dunn's River would've been $20/person plus transport so I figured around $50, Snorkeling is usually around $20 bucks to rent the equipment at a beach hotel so there's another $50)

So I came to the conclusion that it would've cost me $2700 plus taxes to stay somewhere nice on the beach - NOT including any alcohol....

I looked into Cruises too... Nice balcony room for a 6day 5 night cruise is around 750-900 per person - so we we're looking at around $1650 for the cruise alone - then you have to factor in port charges, taxes, and tips - not including any excursions... I figured said and done would've been close to $2000 for a cruise - again NOT including ALCOHOL... which on the boats could be as much as $8-$12 a drink - plus tip! So I figured if the wife and I each had around 7 drinks per day (not that much considering it would be over a course of 14 hours... wouldve been 1 drink every 2 hours) it would have cost us close to another $1000 in alcohol... so total cost on the cruise without any excursions wouldve been close to $3000 plus tips for all of the staff.... and then you have to factor in the fact that we would've only had a day or two in jamaica so most of our time wouldve been spent on the boat and not on the actual island...

Couples All Inclusive just had so many things going for it that for the price it simply cannot be beat... Since we had never done the AI thing before I had figured that at least one aspect (if not more) would be lacking - maybe the food wouldn't be that great, maybe the drinks will be watered down, maybe the excursions wouldn't be that good, or maybe the dive/snorkeling equipment would be old/falling apart... How WRONG I was.... EVERYTHING was top-notch!!!

The one thing you cannot put a price tag on is the Service! Everyday we felt we were treated FAR better than we would have had we gone anywhere else... the staff is so happy, friendly and they really seem to care about you not only as people but they sincerely want to make sure your stay is unforgettable... We didn't want for a single thing the entire time we were there - anything we needed/wanted was always met with a smile and a "no problem, mon". Our Couples vacation blew everything else out of the water... it completely erased any doubts I may have had about an all inclusive... and actually changed my entire thought process... I can't imagine NOT going to an all inclusive now... especially Couples!!!! We will definately be making a yearly trip to our new 'home away from home'

Sorry for the long winded response... but to sum it up -

Don't worry about trying to figure out how many drinks you need to "get ahead" or "break even" - you're already way ahead with the resort, the food and the staff...... the drinks are just a bonus!!

[caviargal]

I am not a big drinker here or on vacation - and not concerned about getting my money's worth as that is not the primary reason we book AI vacations.

I don't drink at all during the day on vacation and only a very occasional martini before dinner and a couple of glasses with dinner. My husband will have a couple of drinks during that day and some wine at night.

I was actually surprised to read in this thread that drinking is such an important part of anyone's vacation.

[BarDar]

Tysver, Yazmon is a genius, but, TandT is an accoutant! I always tell my wife, because we snorkel every day, that right there we are not spending 25+2 per day! Do you know what that does to the price of drinks? They are practically free!!! I also dive....... that means that Couples is almost paying me to drink, if I take the dive cost and..... you get the point. When I go to Swept Away, I actually make money by drinking, so ,,,,,wouldn't I be kinda stupid not to make as much as I could! I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night!

[Moustache]

Two bits of advice from a veteran. #11 in October.
1) Drink like you are paying for it.
B) Never use the red flag, to make sure you can still walk to the bar.

[scorpiogal]

It is an interesting question and one I dealt with often in my past life - i.e. past marriage. I like to drink. He sort of liked a couple drinks. It became an issue because the more he commented and tried to temper me, the more I wanted to do everything and anything he didnt want me to do... LOL! (To clarify, I have never gotten falling down drunk, sick, or had alcohol negatively affect my vacation)

From your post, it sounds pretty innocent. Sounds as if your wife wants to be sure that the vacation focus is on you two as a couple and not on alcohol. Make her feel extra special and maybe she will be joining you at the bar!

[Jimnmariann]

TandT. You are right on.

[Amy Schedler]

I'm with ya, I've been a prison guard for 23 yrs,and i look forward to our vaca. the wife understands,i don't think she's always impressed,we've been married for 23 yrs. and i live by the in and out method,when she's in i treat her as the lady she is.so when i do something stupid she don't throw me out..just tell her dear you don't understand the pressure i'm under.L.O.L.does'nt work for me either.enjoy your vacation.

[randi&sherri]

just keep drinking the porkchops everyting will be cool

[randymon]

Greetings to all:

Not to put a damper on this conversation because everyone's idea of relaxation is personal. However, I am compelled to comment on this topic.

First - as has been stated in several posts, Bartenders are instructed NOT to fill any container with alcohol other than the glasses and plastic cups provided by the resort.

Second, and most important, overindulging is probably the single biggest issue managements faces on a regular basis. Whether you are traveling just the two of you, with a small group of friend or as part of a wedding group, over drinking inevitably leads to complaints and damages the romantic atmosphere we are trying to promote.

Everyone knows the more you drink, the louder you get... I'm Just sayin'.

Respect your fellow guests....

[Wally]

Respect your fellow guests....

Thank You Randymon!!!

[TandT]

Tysver, Yazmon is a genius, but, TandT is an accoutant!

that means that Couples is almost paying me to drink.....

Not an accountant... I'm a banker lol....

But this was the point I was getting at - they offer sooo much that I almost feel like they're paying us to drink lol...

We just got back on Saturday and while I definately had my share of drinks, I never got to the point of falling down or being beligerent... it just ruins everything when someone gets that drunk....

I'm a big believer in moderation - Just enough to get you there, but not enough to take you over the edge...

-T

[Bert]

"Respect" as Randymon says. Last time at CN, some hooligans took the signs from near the dive pool and spa and put them in front of someone's door at Building 1. Morons!

And here is a warning: drinking all day on the beach could lead to this type of unfortunate incident. (my wife shot the video and can be heard singing backing vocals )

[Cathy_Joe]

I am not a big drinker here or on vacation - and not concerned about getting my money's worth as that is not the primary reason we book AI vacations.

I don't drink at all during the day on vacation and only a very occasional martini before dinner and a couple of glasses with dinner. My husband will have a couple of drinks during that day and some wine at night.

I was actually surprised to read in this thread that drinking is such an important part of anyone's vacation.

I'm surpised too. I've always had the motto just because you can doesn't neccessarily mean you should! I guess to each his own, and everyone likes to vacation differently but I can tell you while I enjoy a martini at the martini bar and a nice glass of wine with dinner, during the day I may have 1 or 2 strawberry daquiris and the rest of the time it is water and diet soda. I rarely drink at home so to me this is living it up!

[tmulligan12]

Forgive my bluntness but the fact that you put this up here for discussion leads me to believe that this is an ongoing issue between the two of you. My ex was a drinker and overindulged every time that we were at any sort of gathering and it was both frustrating and disappointing. You may think that you're fine and just "having a good time" but your actions could be ruining your wife's trip. I definitely DO NOT agree with the "ask for forgiveness later" motto. I think that is a terrible idea. Why would you want to cause your wife any distress while on vacation? A vacation is a time for you to connect and rekindle your relationship. Drinking to excess will only put a wall up between the two of you. My advice.... respect what your wife is asking and do your best to adhere to it. That doesn't mean you can't have a good time. It means that you have to know your limits.

You know your wife and I'm sure that she is easy enough to read. If she is sending you signals that you've had too much, respect that. It's not just about you - it's about both of you! If she didn't think that this was a problem in the past, she wouldn't have brought it up about this trip. Why would you want to do anything that would make her unhappy?

I hope that you have an amazing trip! Remember... happy wife = happy life!

[jamaicamecrazy]

Respect your fellow guests....

here here... Another GREAT reason for everyone to not drink TOO much.
No one wants to be "that guy" (or that woman to be gender equal). I've seen some people make fools of themselves (usually at other resorts in the past... but not always)
You have to face these people the next day (maybe, if you get out of bed)
Feel good the next day and actually be able to enjoy other activities. Who wants to waste a vacation with a hangover?

[Tim&Janet82]

Tysver I know what you are talking about. I am also a detective but in a small midwest town. A DUI would be career ending and even being seen intoxicated could have very bad ramifications. Being on vacation where there is no one you know, not having to drive and being able to enjoy yourself without being under watchful and gossiping eyes of the public you serve is a great relief.

Like one of the othesr wrote I am a happy drinker. Never fall down, start fights, get sick or anything like that. Relax, enjoy yourself and consume as much as you want too. You will have to return to the grind sooner than you want too. Have one for us and we will have one for you at Negril in August. :-)

Guess I should clarify this post after reading some of the most recent comments. Drink all you want and have fun but don't be obnoxious and annoying to other guests or your wife, be respectful,be safe have fun and relax. Just be responsible and it will all be good. I hope no one took my original post any other way. If anyone did it was not meant that way. It is just this is the time to relax and forget all your worries back home.

Tim&Janet82

[Bert]

Yes randymon - respect!

Be careful folks...sitting in the sun & drinking all day could turn you into this guy! (hey - that looks like the CN Piano Bar...and that looks like me! Funny, I have no recollection...)

(note: I thought my post was deleted, thus the double post...what the heck, I left both up )

[BarDar]

Randymon and board, Tounge in cheek!!!!!

[Pamela]

. . . And here is a warning: drinking all day on the beach could lead to this type of unfortunate incident . . .

Oh my!

[Bert]

Likely a cocktail or two involved in this photo-op. Heck, I was at CN so there was definitely a cocktail or two involved!