When it comes to all-inclusive resorts there are a million options to choose from. So how to you decide which resort is right for you? Here is my guide on what to look for in an all-inclusive resort to ensure you have the vacation of your dreams!
What is an all-inclusive?
It's exactly what it sounds, everything is included! When you book an all-inclusive resort you're getting not only your hotel room, but food and drinks included as well. Staying at an all-inclusive is a great way to ensure your vacation is relaxing and stress free!
Where are they located?
You can find all-inclusive resorts all over the place! They're very popular in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, but you'll even find them in Europe. The United States has very few and most are on the more expensive end.
How do I find the best resort for me?
Picking the right resort can be a daunting task, simply because there are so many options to choose from! When planning our next all-inclusive vacation the first things we decide are where we want to go and what budget we want to stick to. That helps narrow down the options enough to start the search!
All-Inclusive resorts come in a wide variety of price ranges, from budget options to over the top luxury resorts and everything in between, so you should always be able to find something that matches your budget! Different locations might have a higher price point than others though. For example, you'll find a complete variety of price ranges in more popular spots like Mexico or Jamaica, but at smaller Caribbean islands like St. Lucia or Aruba you might have a harder time finding a cheap option. So it's important to keep your destination in mind when setting a budget.
So now that you have your budget and destination set, how do you choose the right resort? Here's how I do it!
I like to pull up my favorite travel search engine, like Expedia or Priceline, and so a basic search for your destination. The dates don't have to be exact (though travel dates definitely do impact price!). From there I dig through the search results for resorts that catch my eye and head straight to TripAdvisor to check out reviews. I never book a resort without at least reading a few reviews on TripAdvisor first.
On TripAdvisor I'll dig through the traveler photos - not the professional photos - to get an idea of what the resort looks like IRL. If I still like what I see I'll head down to the reviews section. Now - this you have to take with a grain of salt. Not all reviewers are equal. We've stayed at resorts that had some terrible reviews and had an amazing time. I think this is mostly because of expectations. Some people really cannot be pleased and have ridiculous expectations of remote island destinations. I typically will scan though 15-20 of the most recent reviews and see what the most consistent rating is. If I see mostly negative reviews, then it's safe to say the resort might have some issues I want to avoid. If I only see a couple negative reviews with otherwise positive reviews, I tend to think those negative reviewers had a one-off experience. And if they're mostly positive then I know I'm on the right track!
But we're not quite ready to book yet. My next step in ensuring a resort is the right one for me is to head to their direct website. I do this to make sure that the resort will meet my needs as a traveler. We tend to prefer more quiet and relaxing resorts. Just like the wide variety in budget, resorts will vary in their environment and what they offer. There are party resorts, with music blasting at the pool and the swim up bar always full. There are relaxation resorts with a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. There are kid-centric resorts and adults only resorts. So knowing what the resort offers before arriving will help ensure you have the best time! Some of this info you can glean from reviews of course, but I always like to check out the resort's website to make sure they're targeting me as their customer.
And there you have it! All my top tips on what to look for in an all-inclusive resort!
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