Best Non Inclusives - a great original travel story by Jaklien on a beach holiday.

Best Non Inclusives
I’m not one for big all inclusive resorts where all you do is snap your fingers and an ice cold piña colada is being served to you while you’re lounging by the pool. Some people might like the fact that they don’t have to worry about trailing the streets of a foreign town trying to find a restaurant. The food is safe and not too weird. Activities galore, and usually you don’t have to worry about racking up a high bar bill, because you can drink all you want. Kids can be dumped at the kiddies’ corner and all you have to do is worry about getting a fabulous tan. If this sounds like something you would hate, then read on as here are my all inclusive alternatives.

Asha Cottages in Diani Beach, Kenya.
For €130 you are sorted for a place to sleep and three meals a day. Including tea. Don’t let the all inclusive bit put you off though as you can opt for B&B only. It’s not a mega resort. There are only 5 rooms and they are tastefully decorated with artefacts from all over the world. The rooms all look out at a small pool surrounded by loungers. The beach is not far away. To get there you cut across a sandy terrace where you can enjoy your lunch or an evening drink and watch the sun go down. The food is exquisite, prepared with local produce and wouldn’t be out of place in a 5 star restaurant in any cosmopolitan city. The owners and staff go out of their way to help you at any time of day, but don’t cramp your style. This really is an all inclusive mini resort, with mini prizes.

Mango Beach inn, Marigot Bay, St Lucia.
Tucked away in ‘The most beautiful bay in the Caribbean’, this small family run B&B in Marigot Bay makes for a relaxing alternative to the busy Rodney Bay mega resorts in the North of the island. It makes for a convenient base to explore the rest of St Lucia, but if you choose to just come here and relax, this is the place for you. There are 3 rooms, two of them have their own private patio from where you can watch the boats bob on the water in the marina while little hummingbirds fly from tree to tree in the lush tropical garden in front of you. There is a tiny pool, and a small, quiet beach a short walk away. The best part is breakfast which is served upstairs in the main lounge where you take your tea with a view across the bay. There is a 5 star restaurant next door to the B&B with menus created by London chef Jim Verity. It sure is the perfect place to have a romantic dinner looking out over the water. If you’re lucky some of the fish will come and say hello during your meal.

Neptuno’s Refugio, Boca Chica, DR.
This cosy little place lies right next door to the massive resort Hamaca in Boca Chica. It really is a little refuge from busy Boca Chica which is well known for its ladies of the night. When you arrive you walk past the reception through a small alley that gives out onto a cosy court yard surrounded by wooden walkways and stairs. There is a tiny pool where you can cool off a little bit after a day on the beach. Breakfast is served here in the morning and makes for a great morning start. No need to worry about food either as there are two excellent restaurants across the street. When we were there, several South American heads of states were enjoying an opulent dinner there. Including Hugo Chavez. If it’s good enough for him...

Author : Jaklien