With prices rising, sticking to a travel budget gets harder all the time. Cruises are great, as much of the food and entertainment is included, but all-inclusive resorts help you identify exactly what you’ll spend even more.
First-time visitors may not know quite what to expect, but even all-inclusive regulars can find tips to make the most of their next visit. Not all resorts are built the same, so do your research and know what to expect.
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What Exactly Is an All-Inclusive Resort?
The basic all-inclusive concept is that the resort includes not just your lodgings but your food, drink, and activities, as well. Different resorts define this differently and may include more or less as part of their package, so always research your specific all-inclusive resort.
Even more fun? Some resorts offer an all-inclusive option add-on to their hotel rate, meaning some guests may pay for their food and drinks and others have them included.
Typically, an all-inclusive resort features a wide range of amenities and services. Most resorts offer multiple dining options, bars, pools, a fitness center, and entertainment activities that range from evening shows to watersports.
Smaller resorts may have just two or three options, while larger resorts like Beaches Turks and Caicos have well over 20 different restaurants for you to try during your stay. You generally are not limited to one restaurant per meal, either, which adds to the fun.
The restaurants often feature buffets and some a la carte restaurant options. Depending on the resort, some restaurants may require reservations while others are first-come seating. Some resorts limit you to a specific number of reservations, depending on how long you stay at the resort, but not all have that restriction.
And most all-inclusive resorts allow guests to enjoy unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They pretty much all will have a premium bar with additional cost, but you will know if it isn’t included in your package.
Who Visits All-Inclusive Resorts?
All-inclusive resorts are great for families, multi-generational travel, weddings, and girls’ trips. Because there are so many different styles, there is an option for almost every traveler.
Some resorts are adults-only, while others cater to families. You can find upscale resorts as well as far more affordable options, though those often have fewer amenities, but that doesn’t mean that vacationers don’t enjoy their time there.
You’ll find all-inclusive resorts around the world, though there are very few in the United States. They’re common in Mexico, from Cozumel to Riviera Maya, as well as across the Caribbean and within European vacation destinations.
Many visitors to all-inclusive resorts are traveling outside the United States for the first time, and you’ll also find Europeans there for two or more weeks who visit every year. Vacationers also range from those who use the resort as a base to explore a destination to those who never leave until it’s time to return to the airport.
Why choose an all-inclusive resort?
If you’re looking for a hassle-free and relaxing vacation, an all-inclusive resort is a great option. With everything included in the price, you can focus on enjoying your time away.
They take the hassle out of planning your vacation because the resort has all the amenities you need, if you choose well. Everything is taken care of for you, so you can relax and enjoy your vacation — just figure out your beach packing list and go.
These resorts don’t require much planning. If you just want to relax and not think or if you’re less confident in booking vacations, all-inclusive resorts are ideal.
They can also be a great value for your money. Given how much food my kids eat, this is one of the most cost-effective vacation choices we can make.
What Is and Isn’t Included?
While individual resorts have different inclusions and exclusions, you can typically expect resorts to provide meals and beverages, as well as organized activities, such as watersports, fitness classes, live performances, and children’s programs.
As you investigate different options, look into all these differences because they can add up throughout your holiday. Before you book, think about what you’ll want to do while there and make sure your resort has it onsite and that it’s included if you plan to do those activities often.
Interestingly, there are resorts that limit the number of reservations you can have at their a la carte restaurants during your stay, which means you end up eating most of your meals at a buffet.
Others allow you to eat as often as you want at any restaurant you want, so long as there is space available. My family isn’t a fan of buffets, so we always look for resorts that don’t limit reservations.
As noted, drinks are generally included, though almost all resorts will have at least some beverages available for an add-on charge, such as a higher-end bottle of wine. Resorts also vary in the type of liquor they carry and how many top-shelf options they offer.
The definition of watersports varies by resort, which makes things even more fun. The big rule is to read all the fine print so you know what to expect and are happy with your choice.
Many resorts will include an hour of snorkeling equipment per day or the use of kayaks or other non-motorized equipment. The Sandals and Beaches chain is one of the few that includes SCUBA diving for certified divers as part of your stay.
Most resorts charge for motorized watersports such as boat rides, jet skis, and the like, if they offer them at all. And every resort will charge for any new SCUBA certifications you wish to take.
Some resorts offer excursions, from nature walks to snorkeling, but almost all charge additional fees if you want to venture outside the resort and off the beach. You can often find local partners at lower prices, but be sure to verify that they’re trustworthy.
Items like specialty dining, hair braiding, or babysitting generally incur an additional charge, though most include a daycare-like kids’ camp as part of your package. Expect to pay for spa treatments you may enjoy while there, too.
In general, more activities and amenities are included in the cost of your stay, especially when you compare it to a typical hotel. Most regular hotels charge a daily resort fee in addition to your room charge in vacation destinations like these.
Do You Tip?
The tipping policy at all-inclusive resorts varies greatly. This is one area to confirm before you travel.
The Sandals and Beaches Resorts prohibit tipping, and they rely on guest compliments for staff incentives and rewards, including promotions. Resorts in Europe, where the tipping culture is not the same as in the States, also don’t typically expect anything from guests.
Most other all-inclusive resorts allow and encourage tipping. Some resorts may state on their websites that tipping is included in your package price, but they don’t prohibit tips the way Sandals and Beaches Resorts do.
In general, employees prefer tips in US currency, regardless of what country you call home. Do not bother to exchange your money for local currency.
Bring plenty of $1 and $5 bills, as getting change is often a challenge. Tips don’t need to be large to be effective, and employees appreciate what you provide.
You typically tip everyone from your bartender to your waitstaff, as you’re used to. In your room, you often tip the housekeeper separately from the person who stocks your fridge, so keep that in mind.
You can also tip the groundskeepers who work incredibly hard, as well as your butler if you have one, the bell desk staff, room service staff, concierges you may work with, any excursions you join, and the like.
The amount that you tip will vary by resort, but typically, you want to tip about $1 per drink, $2 for breakfast or lunch buffets per person, $5 for dinner per person, $20 and more per butler shift, $2 to $5 for service in your room, and an appropriate amount for any tours you enjoy.
This amount also varies based on the resort you choose. The higher-end the resort, the larger the tips you will likely leave. I’ve even stayed at a resort where I get a “bill” at the end of every meal with a total of what I “spent” to help me calculate the tip.
You will see people who don’t tip at all. That doesn’t mean they won’t receive service, though some bartenders will note the lack of tipping and slow serve them.
What Are My Favorite All-Inclusive Resorts?
I’ve been lucky enough to experience a number of all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean and Mexico. While I can think of one resort I would definitely avoid going forward, I have had great experiences at many others.
The right resort depends on your vacation style and who travels with you. There is no one single best all-inclusive resort.
Unico 2087 is one of my favorite adults-only luxury resorts in Mexico. The rooms are spacious, with a hammock on the patio that I loved using to relax, and the food was fantastic, especially the ceviche options at 20.87 Restaurant and the experience of the Aztec coffee at Cueva Siete.
In Cabo, I recently stayed at Villa La Valencia and had a great experience, as well. The hotel was built only a few years ago and focuses on delicious food and huge pools, plus the longest lazy river in Mexico. This is one of th resorts where you can choose to do board only or all-inclusive, and I definitely suggest doing the all-inclusive option.
Jamaica is often known as a party destination, but that’s not my scene. Sunset at the Palms in Negril is another adults-only option that is laid back and relaxing with some of the most unique room – treehouses! – I’ve seen at a resort, coupled with the Jamaican hospitality you’ve heard so much about.
I’ve been going to Beaches Resorts in Turks and Caicos for over 10 years, and while I go for girls’ trips, this is a fantastic family resort, as well. With over 20 restaurants to choose from, you’ll never be hungry, and the beach can’t be beat. I’m a diver, and this is one of the few resorts where SCUBA is included, so it makes my vacation much more cost-effective.
In Aruba, I stayed at the Divi Resorts, where you can stay there and also enjoy its sister resort Tamarijn. The beach was peaceful and relaxing, and it was so easy to rent a car to explore the island, something I’ve done less of at other resorts but couldn’t miss here. This family-friendly resort has so much included, with the rock climbing wall on the beach and e-mountain bikes being two of the more unique amenities.
Is An All-Inclusive Right for You?
All-inclusive resorts help you know exactly what you’ll spend more than many other vacation options. They typically offer tons of included activities and entertainment for all ages, which provides convenience, relaxation, and a sense of value for guests who stay there.
The variety of amenities and activities on-site, compared to traditional hotels and vacations, takes a lot of the stress away, especially when traveling in a group with different ideas of what defines fun. It means guests can spend their time enjoying their days in a stress-free and all-encompassing experience.