An all-inclusive resort can be a very convenient way to vacation. Commonly found in Mexico and the Caribbean, these tropical resorts typically include all meals and snacks, soft and alcoholic beverages, and non-motorized sea sports (kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling) per night.
Activities include dance and cocktail classes, beach volleyball and morning yoga, and use of the on-site fitness center. Also frequently included: evening entertainment (think live music, karaoke, fire shows and comedians) and kids clubs.
When you book an all-inclusive vacation, you pay a fee and have plenty of food, drink and entertainment at your fingertips. Sounds easy, right? That’s true, but there are a few things you should keep in mind to make sure your all-inclusive trip goes as smoothly as possible – especially if you’re new to this kind of travel.
Avoid these mistakes as you plan, book and experience your next all-inclusive resort vacation.
1. Expect everything to be included
Everything included in an all-inclusive resort vacation, and a lot more not. For example, resorts almost always charge for a la carte spa services (and they’re not cheap). A round of golf on the resort’s course can cost you. If you want to drink premium wines, beers and spirits other than your own brand, you’ll need to pay for that too. Additional charges may apply for special restaurant items such as lobster and steak.
Then there are the “extras” you might want to enjoy during your stay at the resort, such as candlelight dinners on the beach, scuba diving lessons, or reserved beach beds with gourmet food, for example.
However, the exact inclusions vary widely from resort to resort. Some properties include premium wine. Sometimes certain room types or packages include a special romantic dinner or a two-in-one couples massage.
Bottom line: find out exactly what’s included in your reservation. If you can’t find an answer on the resort’s website, pick up the phone or start an online chat with a booking agent to find out. Or seek help from a travel agent.
2. Not bringing enough cash to tip
Some resorts have a published tipping policy. This means you don’t have to tip housekeepers, bartenders and other resort staff – all tips are covered by your room rate.
Usually a few bucks are set aside for a friendly bartender to prepare your drinks, restaurant waiters busy serving you hot dishes, energetic entertainers for a fun game of volleyball, and room service staff who will be there every day. Put towels on your bed. In the evening, the porter will help you pack your luggage.
Bottom line: When booking a vacation, be sure to check the resort’s policies. If tipping is allowed on the property, plan to bring a few $1 and $5 bills to support hard-working employees. When tipping is included in your room rate, you still need a few dollars to tip a taxi driver, porter, or guide you meet outside the resort. (U.S. dollars are generally accepted as tips in Mexico and the Caribbean, but local currencies are also welcome.)
3. Willingness to accept invitations to timeshare or vacation club demos
A great deal of all inclusive holiday with Iberostar have a vacation club, and members pay a fee when visiting this family of resorts to receive significant discounts or upgrade to members-only rooms. Likewise, a timeshare membership (also known as a vacation ownership membership) allows you to purchase a certain number of weeks per year to spend at the resort or other resorts in the network, so you’re effectively paying for future vacations up front.
Once you arrive at your all-inclusive resort, you’ll no doubt be asked to attend a vacation club or timeshare demo in exchange for a “free” gift.
We have no interest in vacationing in the same place every year, we don’t want to be stuck in a timeshare and have to transfer it to our kids or otherwise sell it when we can no longer travel.
Bottom line: Consider giving up at least an hour of vacation to visit a timeshare or vacation club accommodation and see what’s selling. Sellers often say it only takes an hour, but they keep selling until you actually get up and walk away. Keep an eye on your watch and make it clear that you’re done listening in the agreed 60 minutes.
Be prepared for aggressive sales tactics – it’s easy to get influenced and buy on impulse! Remember, you can always schedule a massage or other “freebie” instead of wasting time on sales pitches.
4. Not exploring the whole resort or trying new things
This is your vacation – you should spend it the way you like it. If you instantly find a favorite spot to hang out by the pool, or a favorite breakfast spot with the best fresh omelets, be sure to repeat it every day until it’s time to go home. If you’ve been to Mexico multiple times and this particular trip is all about resting and relaxing on the beach, there’s no need to book multiple trips to local cenotes, archaeological sites, or snorkeling spots.
But we recommend that if you’re in a new resort, you take the time to see everything the resort and surrounding area has to offer. This means finding various places to relax and read your book (hammocks, lounge chairs or beach beds!) or make reservations at various à la carte restaurants (usually with a concierge or restaurant staff on arrival, not to be missed).
You can also visit the resort’s tour desk, where staff can book you off-site excursions to learn about local culture or enjoy a variety of activities, from sunset catamaran cruises to ziplining with stingrays adventure.
Bottom line: You know what you like, and you’re probably not interested in surprises when you’re on vacation. But travel also offers opportunities to try new things. So if you go to a Club Med hotel, you can learn to fly – safely and for free! – Why not register? Likewise, try new dishes that include all foods. If you don’t like what you ordered, don’t hesitate to ask for another hors d’oeuvre or appetizer – your meal has been paid for, enjoy!