One of the ways I help my client is to look at different
options that could accommodate different budgets. Two examples of this are all
inclusive resorts and cruises because they have a variety of room/cabin options
at different price points.
For example, the Iberostar Paraiso complex south of Cancun, Mexico has five resorts along the same beach.
You have access to different levels of amenities
depending on which of the resorts you stay in.
You can choose:
Grand Hotel - An adults only luxury all inclusive resort
with unlimited a la carte restaurant options and exchange privileges at all five resorts
Maya or Lindo – A family all inclusive resort with unlimited
all – inclusive a la carte restaurant options at your resort and the Del Mar or
Beach. You also have exchange privileges at Del Mar and Beach. If you stay at Maya, you can access
Lindo restaurants. Maya guests cannot access Lindo restaurants. The Maya and
Lindo share the pool and beach area. The Maya resort has all junior suite. The
Lindo has standard rooms.
Del Mar or Beach – A family all inclusive resort. You have
restrictions on the number of nights you can eat at an a la carte restaurant.
No room service.
Your group could still meet on the beach together, enjoy the
pools together or get reservations at the a la carte restaurant at the lowest
level resort. The downside to this is that
the people who paid for the Grand Hotel probably wouldn't use them as much if the rest of their group was at the Del Mar or Beach Resort. This came up recently at a 40th birthday party
at an adults only all inclusive resort that offers a privileged club. Some of
the group paid for their preferred Club rooms, but the rest of the group opted
for a regular room. Those who paid for the preferred Club said that they didn't
really use the amenities because they were spending time with their friends.
Another option is to explore different lengths of trip. The
lower budget crew stays 3 nights and those with a higher budget threshold stay
longer and/or upgrade their room category for the second half of the trip.
In a similar way, cruises offer a good opportunity for
people with different budgets. You have a range of cabins choices from cabins
with no windows up to suites. When picking a cruise, it's important to make
sure that you can all be together for dining. For instance, Celebrity, Cunard, and
the Norwegian Haven have separate dining rooms depending on the cabin you book.
Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean or
the general Norwegian room may be a better fit to ensure you share the same
dining options.