All-Inclusive Resorts: The Ultimate Vacation

All-inclusive resorts are a popular choice for many travelers when planning a vacation. Whether you are looking to book your first experience, or are a seasoned pro, these types of resorts are a great way to put your worries behind you. Although not limited to these areas, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands are well known for their all-inclusive resorts. When researching your options, prices can really start to add up quickly with the resorts, optional excursions, and add-ons. However, with a bit of knowledge heading into it we are confident you can plan the perfect getaway full of wonderful memories!

Picking The Right Accommodations:

There can be a huge difference in the cost of trip depending on which resort you choose to stay at. The star rating of a resort basically describes the number of amenities provided as well as the quality of the resort and amenities. If you are booking an all-inclusive resort your options will typically be between 3-5 stars. All of these resorts will provide you an amazing vacation and choosing between the options really just depends on what is most important to the individual traveling.

The lower the star rating the more affordable the resort will be. These all-inclusive resorts tend to be much larger so there is less privacy to enjoy the included amenities. The restaurants will not be as high-end and the drinks options will be limited as well. (less imported beer options/well liquors). Since these resorts are more affordable, you tend to get more of a younger crowd. This can lead to more of a party atmosphere and less of a relaxing one.

A 5 star resort will go above and beyond to meet and exceed their guests expectations. They will have plenty of included amenities for their guests to enjoy which allows a more private experience. Dining options will be many and the quality of the food and drink are top-notch. You will be pampered from the moment you arrive until you checkout. Their well trained staff is there to anticipate and take care of any needs you may have while on vacation. Since these resorts are more expensive, you typically get an older more relaxed crowd.

All-Inclusive Resorts: Included Amenities

The location plays a role in what’s included and each resort is different. Below is a list of the most common included amenities provided by the resorts for their guests.

Booking Optional Excursions:

All-inclusive resorts also provide options for their guests to book experiences outside of the resort (for a fee). These excursions typically provide transport to and from the resort to the given location. The type of excursion you are able to do really depends on the location of the resort. I will list some that are popular in the Mexico/Caribbean area.

It is important to remember that some all-inclusive resorts are not necessarily in a great location. While the resorts are safe, leaving the resort may be unwise on your own. If you do plan an excursion make sure it is with a reputable company. Chances of something happening may be low but it doesn’t hurt to do your research.

All-Inclusive Resorts: Add-Ons

There may be additional activities located on the resort that you can opt to pay extra for. Again, these are dependent on the resort but additional dining experiences, spa treatments, massages, or jet ski rentals are popular options. These experiences are separate from the “all-inclusive” aspect of the resort but allow individuals to tailor their stay to meet their needs.

Pro’s To All-Inclusive Resorts:

All-inclusive resorts are a fantastic option when looking to book a vacation. They are incredibly easy to plan because everything is literally included! When we booked our stay at El Dorado Royale through Cheap Caribbean the package included everything. The package we purchased included the resort, airfare, and our airport transfers in Mexico. This meant we did not have to go to the different sites to plan the other parts of our trip. We even booked our excursions through the site so we really had the entire trip planned at the push of a button.

These resorts are also super relaxing. Yes you can leave the resort if you like, but they are designed to have everything you need right there on the premises. I think the biggest thing to relax about is that money is not an object on these resorts. Wherever you go, you can choose anything and it is yours. We didn’t have to worry about bringing our wallets with us to pay for everything.

Con’s To All-Inclusive Resorts:

I won’t say much in this category. We really do love staying at all-inclusive resorts when we can. However, there are a few things we wish were different. These resorts can be more quantity over quality. By giving you so many options for food and drinks, it’s tough to keep that standard. The food is amazing however not every restaurant is a 5-star restaurant when at a 5-star resort. Sometimes you have so many options you can’t try them all.

These properties can also have sister properties that are used for timeshares. Not every resort does this but be aware that if they do, you may get sucked into a timeshare presentation. They will lure you in with “extras” but in our experiences they are never worth the hounding you get during the presentations. Just something to be aware of ahead of time.

Finally, our favorite part of traveling internationally is meeting the locals and sharing stories together. We really have grown personally from our connections with others. However, when you are on the resort this connection is not being made. It really is a downfall to this type of trip. Unfortunately, leaving the resort on your own may not be the best idea. Cassandra has even been at some resorts that have had armed guards due to unrest in the area.

Wrapping It Up:

Cassandra and I really do love all-inclusive resorts. We feel that they are the epitome of a perfect vacation. Our travels usually consist of seeing and doing as much as possible. These resorts are a nice way to change that up and to relax the day away without a care in the world. If you have never booked one we highly recommend you give it a try.

For more details on our experiences with all-inclusive resorts check out our podcast or our other posts if you need ideas on how to make travel possible. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any new posts. Thanks for checking in and take care!