All-inclusive resorts can really help vacationers get
most out of their travel dollars. Today, over 400 hotels in Caribbean and Mexico are either all-inclusive resorts or offer all inclusive packages. Destinations such as Aruba, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Bahamas have an infrastructure that is well suited to all-inclusive and not all inclusive resorts because there is a wide election of restaurants and amenities for tourism. Jamaica and Dominican Republic on other hand don't have tourism infrastructure in place and are best suited for all inclusive vacations.
You'll want to consider carefully before choosing an all inclusive resort. Resorts do vary -- some are designed for couples, some for singles, some for gays and some for families. Some cater to a younger or older crowd. There are also some that offer clothing-optional activities. For obvious reasons, most of those don't allow children under 18.
The resorts come in all shapes and sizes. Some include airfare and hotel. Some include airfare, hotel, transfers, and some meals. Others include all meals and activities, but not airfare. Often, purchasing airfare as part of package can be a better deal than doing so separately, unless you are using frequent flier miles.
Many all inclusives have, as part of their program, child-care facilities that are often a resort-within-the-resort for children, a "day camp" that is special and that kids look forward to attending. And many all-inclusive resorts give incredible price breaks to children (they don't drink liquor, after all,) while some even have no charge for children up to 17 sharing their parents' room.
What are advantages of all-inclusive vacation resorts?
The security of knowing that one price covers everything, with none of those nasty surprises that can blast a hole in any family's travel budget. All meals, entertainment, activities and sports, as well as airfare and accommodations, are generally included in one price. You can forget your worries about carrying lots of extra cash for expenses, and just sit back and enjoy your vacation.
Who should check out an all inclusive?
Travelers who are: on a tight budget, traveling with kids, receiving trip as a wedding gifts or getting married on honeymoon.
So, is an all inclusive resort right for you?
If you are type of traveler that enjoys sampling all of local fare, then spending all of your time at an all-inclusive resort is probably not for you. If you like to go somewhere just to relax and not worry about taking out your wallet every couple of hours to pay for food, drinks, or activities, then there's probably an all-inclusive resort that's just right for you.
If you like to stay up all night partying and drinking, if you want to take advantage of all included watersports and activities, if you want to have food and snacks available all day and if you don't want to have to worry about final bill when you check out, an all-inclusive is definitely a viable option. Some resorts even boast 24-hour room service.
All-inclusive resorts can be costly. On other hand, they can also provide great value. If you are going to a destination where cost of meals, snacks, liquor and activities are expensive, and your hotel or resort is high-quality with an expensive nightly rate, an all inclusive might end up saving you money.
If, on other hand, you don't drink much, you enjoy lazing on beach and getting an early nights sleep, you are dieting and choose simple salads for your meals, you would probably be overspending for an all-inclusive resort. Bear in mind drinks are only cheap local which are not very strong.
On down side of all-inclusive vacations, some folks get a bit weary of dining in same restaurant night after night. The resort rooms may be smaller than standard hotel rooms. Some, not all of all-inclusive resorts provide shows. And some of them have different show every night.
Some resorts have kids clubs for little ones. Kids clubs begin at any hotel at 4 years of age. Nannies or babysitters are extra costs not included in all-inclusive package. Almost all allinclusives have activities from beach volleyball to bingo and other games.
It's a good idea if you want a cashless vacation in a secured environment, if you are satisfied that dining options offered will be suitable for your tastes, if you take advantage of watersports, child-care and bars.
If you are adventurous and want to spend your days exploring country you are visiting and your evenings trying in-town dining options, you would be better off choosing a resort that offers that kind of flexibility instead of an all inclusive.
What is usually included in all inclusive vacation package?
All meals and drinks, beer, wine, premium liquor and tipping, government taxes, gratuities, entertainment, activities and sports, as well as airfare and accommodations, are generally included in one price.
Airfare and hotel transfers are optional when buying all inclusive package. Tipping is not allowed. One benefit of all-inclusive resort is that single up-front price covers unlimited activities.
Phone calls and items purchased at gift shop are included. The more expensive all-inclusive resorts is going to have nice sit-down restaurants. The next step down will have all buffet dining.
Tennis and squash courts may be free and often night-lit courts at no charge, but bring your rackets, as you'll probably have to pay to rent them. Most packages do not include golfing fees. In most cases you have to rent a golf cart, but compared to price of play on most courses, that cost is negligible. Sailing craft are free as often as not. Snorkels, masks and fins are usually free, but may have a time limit (note: bring masks from home if you can, keeping in mind that one-size-fits-all variety is often useless on little faces, leaving kids to snorkel miserably with a face-full of salt water). On-property snorkeling is free, but most interesting underwater sights are usually somewhere else. The latter will cost you, if not for snorkeling itself, then for transportation to get there and back. With motorized sports costs can climb upwards of $60 an hour. Parasailing is another costly venture. Divers, too, might find an all-inclusive cost-effective. Tanks have to be paid for separately, but diving excursions are included in some of these resorts. If you are not certified, most resorts offer a "resort certification" which will allow you to go on closely supervised guided dives. A resort certification is a great introduction to sport. If, however, you are already a certified diver, some resorts, such as Sandals, Beaches, and Gala Resorts, offer one or two tank dives a day in their all-inclusive packages.
