Five Things You Will Love & Hate About All-Inclusive Resorts
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about all-inclusive resorts. All-inclusive trips are a great, easy way to travel. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about all-inclusive resorts.
Hate #1: Isolation from Local Culture
All-inclusive resorts are very insular and isolated from the local culture. It doesn’t actually feel like you are traveling to another country and you’ll have very little interaction with the local residents, aside from those who work at the resort. Whether you stay at an all-inclusive in Cancun, Cabo, the Dominican Republic, or the Canary Islands, unless you take it upon yourself to leave the resort and seek out the local culture, you won’t feel like you’ve left your home country at all.
Hate #2: Ins & Outs of All-Inclusive Resorts
Some people exclusively take all-inclusive trips and seem to have the inside scoop on how everything works. So, when it’s your first time at an all-inclusive resort, lacking this insider knowledge can be a bit daunting. When you check-in, make sure you get the full run-down of what’s included in your package, hours of operation for pools, restaurants and room service, plus anything else you might need to know.
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Hate #3: All-Inclusive Food
The food at all-inclusive resorts tends to be bland “Americanized” food that aims to please every palate. It can be difficult to get authentic local food. Even at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Mexican food is a watered-down version of authentic Mexican cuisine. If you want to taste local food, you can ask your waiter if they have any local dishes. Chances are, they will have one or two items to try. For the best options, choose the sit-down restaurants over the buffets at the resort.
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Hate #4: Hidden Fees at All-Inclusive Resorts
“All-Inclusive” can be a misnomer, as some resorts have additional fees that can really add up. When you are choosing your resort, it’s important to research the small print and see what additional fees you will incur, which will help you compare apples to apples when selecting one resort over another. Some questions to ask when researching your resort are:
- Is airport transportation included?
- Is every meal included, or only breakfast and lunch?
- At golf and spa resorts, are golf and spa treatments included?
- How much is a replacement wristband if I lose mine?
In addition to extra fees, you can expect to pay highly inflated prices for anything you may have forgotten at home. Sunscreen can be $25-$30 a bottle if you need to buy it at the sundry shop on property.
Hate #5: Alcohol at All-Inclusive Resorts
Unlimited alcoholic beverages are what lures a lot of people into staying at all-inclusive resorts. However, you’ll find that a lot of the drinks are watered down quite a bit. This is generally because people tend to overdo the drinking, but you can ask for a stronger drink if you want to. I tend to stick to drinking beer because it’s safer and not watered down.
Love #1: Ease of Travel at All-Inclusive
All-inclusive trips are so easy! Once you sort out the different packages and fees, you don’t have to worry about anything. You pay once and you’re good. With the wristbands, you don’t have to worry about carrying cash around at all. Everything is taken care of for you, which is a nice way to travel from time to time. And because all of the costs are paid up-front, it’s easy to plan affordable all-inclusive vacations.
Love #2: Resort Activities
Staying at all-inclusive resorts is pretty fun. There are usually lots of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Then there are classes, activities, and tours. They usually have fitness classes, golf, tennis, spa treatments, and kids’ clubs. Whether it’s kayaking, surfing or day trips local sights, you will never get bored when you stay an all-inclusive resort.
Love #3: Service at All-Inclusive Resorts
Everyone I’ve met who works at the all-inclusive resorts goes above and beyond to make sure you are having a great time. They have all been super nice, and anytime I had a question about anything, they were super helpful. The housekeeper on my floor gave me an “all-inclusive 101” to help me figure out how the resort works, which was awesome! Do note that the level of service you receive is commensurate with the quality of the resort you choose, so the resorts on the cheaper end may not have such fantastic service.
Love #4: Fun For All
There are many different kinds of all-inclusive resorts, and if you choose the right one for you, it’s an amazing time. There are adults-only all-inclusive resorts, resorts for singles or family-oriented all-inclusive resorts. Make sure you choose the right kind of resort to meet your needs! The family-oriented resorts have great kids’ clubs, play areas, and fun activities for the parents as well.
Love #5: Weather & Beaches
Most all-inclusive resorts are set in tropical locations with amazing beaches. The locations are chosen to have the best weather and the best beaches, which is great as you’ll have a lot of options for where you spend your day. If the pool gets too rowdy, you can head out to the beach.
All-inclusive resorts can be a polarizing topic among travelers; most people either love them or hate them. No matter your travel style, there’s definitely something to be said for taking a laid-back “easy” vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Want more travel tips? Check out these blog posts: