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ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS
Before making a down payment on an all-inclusive vacation this spring, consider this: Even though all-inclusive deals usually come with higher price tags, the extra cost might be well worth it. Economists and travel experts say that pre-paying for all the food, drinks, and relaxation you can buy can actually help you have a more enjoyable getaway because you don’t have to keep thinking about the money you’re spending.
All-inclusive resorts are made for budgeters.
Since pre-paying means that you know exactly how much you’re paying ahead of time, it’s a useful strategy for people with strict limits on how much they can spend, says Chris McGinnis, consumer travel expert for Best Western’s Youmustbetrippin.com blog. “When you book a vacation at an all inclusive resort, nearly everything is paid for in advance and there is little nickel and diming after the fact. So you don’t end up going on vacation and coming home to an outrageous credit card bill for extras,” he adds.
All-inclusive resorts have just as many super fans as major haters.
While we’ve had not-so-great experiences at huge megaresorts with mediocre food and watered-down drinks, we’ve also stayed in luxurious properties with phenomenal food, and even spa treatments included in the rate.
So if you’re wondering whether an all-inclusive hotel should be in your future, you’ve come to the right place. We asked all-inclusive and travel experts the what, when, where, and whys of all-inclusives.
What’s Included:
Though it varies from hotel to hotel, typically all-inclusive rates include the room, meals, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and non-motorized water sports (if it’s along the beach). However, Editor-in-Chief of FamilyVacationCritic.com, Lissa Poirot warns, “Although the term is ‘all-inclusive,’ not everything is included — such as golf and the spa — which can sometimes catch guests off-guard.”
The most surprising is when hotels don’t include premium liquor, Wi-Fi, or a la carte restaurants in the rates. For instance, though we love the all-inclusive Villa Buena Onda in Costa Rica, you’ll be forking over your credit card if you want to have a beer or glass of wine at dinner. So basically, do your homework beforehand.
When It Makes Sense to Go the All-Inclusive Route:
So when are all-inclusives worth it? Jessica L. Plautz, Travel Editor at Mashable, says, “This really drills down to vacation style: Are you the kind of traveler who would risk a disaster for the chance at something spectacular and unexpected? Or do you want to know what you’re getting ahead of time? All-inclusive resorts can be great — if that’s the experience the traveler is looking for.”
If planning which restaurants to go to or how much money to budget for food and drinks is causing stress, you may want to go with an all-inclusive package. Families budgeting for more than two people may particularly enjoy the ease of all-inclusives. “It makes it easy to stay on a budget — especially when traveling with kids because so much is included, you don’t have to worry about saying ‘no’ to their requests,” said Poirot. And since a kids’ club, non-motorized water sports, and poolside activities are typically included, the kids will be plenty occupied.
Where the Best All-Inclusives Are Located:
Sure, you’ll find a few all-inclusive hotels in the United States, as well as Phuket and Bali, but most are located in Mexico and the Caribbean. Generally, the best all-inclusive resorts are in places where you’re perfectly content getting some R&R by the pools and beach, or perhaps the surrounding area is a little sketchy and you’d rather stay at a guarded property.
“In my opinion, the best all-inclusive resorts are located in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. The labor costs in these countries allow the guest to get the most bang for their buck. Plus, the beaches can’t be beat,” said Kristin D’Amico, Senior Analyst at HVS, a global hospitality and hotel development consulting firm.
The Takeaway:
Obvious downsides of booking an all-inclusive hotel are that there may be hidden fees and an impersonal atmosphere at the resort (a pro for some), and you might miss out on sampling the local cuisine if you’re stuck eating every meal on-site. But, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, family vacations expert at About.com, sums it up, “All-inclusives are great if you don’t mind staying put at the resort for the vast majority of your time.”
Particularly for vacationing families, the stress of planning and budgeting virtually disappears with a resort that includes everything from the meals to daytime activities. As Leora Halpern Lanz, a full-time lecturer at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, said, “Not having to take out your wallet is such a relief; you won’t have to worry every single time you eat a meal, which adds up.” For her, the added sense of comfort that she’s already paid for her trip is well worth any possible drawbacks.
