Looking for something different? SANDALS!

Okay, so boats may not be your thing... you may not like the concept of cruising, you are afraid of water, whatever the reason. You like the all inclusive nature of a cruise though. So what to do? One word, SANDALS! We book cruises at Cruise Planners, but did you know we also do all inclusives like Sandals? We spend 7 absolutly awsome days at Sandals in St. Lucia and let me tell you, it was a treat. Everything is included: all of your meals and all of your top shelf liquor including tips. You like the champagne they serve you as you are seated by the staff in the lobby upon your arrival? Just ask for a bottle, and it is yours. Like the fillet you had at the Pier restraunt? Ask for another, and it is yours. Heh, and did I mention every one of Sandals resorts on St. Lucia has a pool bar you can swim up to and get a drink? Oh yea baby! Okay, so food and drink is all good, but what else is there for you? Glad I asked for you, because if you like to scuba dive this place is a treat. Your diving is included in the price of your stay and they make a trip out at least once a day. The staff was very professional, the boat was great, and they served some snacklettes and beverages on the trip. I liked that the tour of the reef was guided so you did not miss any hightlights. Even the gear they hooked us up with was first rate. If you dive you know how much a weeks worth of diving costs at a resort, and having this included was great. In addition to scuba, they had snorkeling, catamarans, tubing, kyacks, canoes, and other water sports there at no cost. We made friends with the all-day burger shack staff down from our room. This is where you went for snacks like chicken wings, burgers, pizza, nachos, and the like. This is also where I got addicted to Baron Foods West Indian Hot Sauce. It is a mustard based habinaro hot sauce that is out of this world. It is like the national condiment, and comes highly reccomended. One thing I will say about St Lucians in general is that they are VERY friendly and always show a smile. They are no pressure people and it shows. Even the beach vendors selling their wares are cool, I mean you say no and it's cool. You can have a conversation, talk it up, make friends. It was really refreshing, and after being on the island it really makes me want to go back again and again. A beautiful island full of really laid back friendly people, sounds perfect to me. Oh, and did we mention WEDDINGS ARE FREE AT SANDALS. Ask us for details, but yes they will marry you on the beach for free and have planning services for you. Funny thing, a couple was getting married on the beach on evening as we watched from on of the resaraunts. Then we noticed right down the beach was a topless sunbather (island no no). Ooops, I hope the groom wasn't distracted. Food was on par with cruise lines for the most part. The dinners were not in-and-out. They have 3 resorts in St Lucia, and each one has multiple dining locales each with it's own flare. You can come and go between all of the resorts as you please, and eat at all of the establishments as part of your Sandals stay. (Tip is, stay as the cheapest on on the island and take the free shuttle to the expensive resorts as you please). They prepare your meal when you order unlike a cruise ship who has times the cooking with the seating so it is hot out of the oven right as you order it. Dining is an evening out at Sandals, just be prepared. We at Japanese steak house, Itallian, American, Jamacian Style, Mexican, French you name it. We also has Champagne with every meal, Mont Pranasse, yea prob a dollar a bottle in the states but it was deliciously sweet and free. They have a concerige desk that can setup pay tours for you, like heli tours and nature shows. We did the mountain bike adventure in the rain forest where we went up to a waterfall and swam. OMG it was hot that day, and it was uphill. Boy did that waterfall feel good once we finally got there. The staff was great with the tour company, props to Rasta Hig, he is the man. So my vote for all-inclusive resorts is Sandals Halcyon in St Lucia, and WE CAN BOOK YA' THERE. Call and ask us about our trip, we would love to share our experiences with you.