Great area! Yeah, we were all tanned. I'll link you to our photos tonight, but it was a lot of fun. We stayed in the
Alegro Occidental.
A few tips for all inclusives at a resort:
*Take a bundle of $1's, I took 100, and that was about right for us.
*Tip the cleaning lady daily, we left $2. It makes a big difference on the little stuff.
*Tip the bar tenders at least every other drink. They will serve you first, and better drinks.
*Tip the waiters in the restaurants, much better service the next time ($1-$2).
*Bring an insulated mug for each person for your drinks. They will not get warm that way.
*Bring plenty of sunscreen, include one like SkinSoSoft that has bug repellent, especially needed at night.
*Bring a bit of money in small bills for trinkets, it makes negotiation easier if you are not using big bills.
*Don't forget the simple stuff like sun glasses, bathing suits, shorts and shirts appropriate for 80° days, and a sweater for 65° nights.
*Make reservations for the various restaurants the first full day you are there (they are free, but by reservation). They sometimes fill up fast. Do the same for excursions you might want to do, and negotiate. Usually they will give you a discount.
*Bring books or magazines for reading on the beach, I used a Kindle and it was great.
Bring a beach bag to keep your cameras and other items clean and out of sight when swimming. It is pretty safe to leave them by your chairs.
*Put out your towels early to get the best loungers on the beach or at the pool.
Mostly, just try to relax. The first day is usually a little harder as you get used to the services and what is where, but they do this all the time, so just ask. The servers are all friendly, and all speak at least some English. If you speak Spanish, all the better (my wife does).
Have fun and take lots of photos!
Jim