All-Inclusive or Nah? The Pros and Cons of All-Inclusive Resorts

Oh, all-inclusive vacations. To many, this epitomizes accessible luxury travel and is often reserved for the most special of trips – honeymoons, anniversaries, weddings. However, these resorts are becoming increasingly more available and many travelers are opting to book, regardless if the trip is celebratory or not. My global adventures have been penny-pinching to high-end and everything in between, and that includes all-inclusive stays.

As with just about everything in life, an all-inclusive vacation comes with plenty of perks and drawbacks. Deciding on whether this is the trip for you really depends on what you’re looking for out of your travels. Whether you’re thinking of booking a reservation for the first time or you’re an all-inclusive junkie curious to see if it’s time to try something new, it’s important to weight the pros and cons. Today I’m breaking down my Top 5 BEST and WORST parts of an all-inclusive vacations to help you make the best decisions for your next getaway!

1. Planning is a Breeze

Staying at such an accommodating resort means a lot of the details of a trip are simplified. You won’t need to figure out where to eat, what to do, or how to get from the airport to the resort. While it varies by hotel, these vacation essentials are handled by the resort and included in your stay, meaning less work for you. All you need to do is make a reservation and you’re likely all set with your vacation plans – perfect for traveling newbies or those who don’t have time to plan out a trip. How easy is that?

2. It's Easy to Budget

Knowing how much to save up for a trip is really a guessing game. It’s hard to plan out exactly how much you’ll need for eating out or last-minute agenda items. Since an all-inclusive stay includes just about all your travel expenses and you know the balance due months in advance, it’s easier to budget and save for the trip. Being blindsided with expenses is highly unlikely when going the all-inclusive route.

3. The Amenities are Familiar

This can really depend on what resort you stay at, but chances are you’ll see a lot of the amenities you’d expect to have provided. Since these resorts cater to tourists, it’s much more likely they’ll be trying to provide the comforts of home. Hairdryers, “American” toilets, workers who speak English, WiFi, a gym…these are common Western amenities that a truly local hotel may not provide. If you don’t want to step too far outside your comfort zone, an all-inclusive resort will help provide some touches that feel familiar.

4. Activities are Provided When you hear all-inclusive, you might think about the unlimited booze or food. But what many overlook are all the activities the resort may provide. Whether it’s snorkeling, surfing, golf, spa sessions, excursions, yoga classes - it may be included as part of your stay. The variety of activities means you’ll likely never get bored and can have an action-packed stay without ever leaving the resort. Some resorts might charge extra for some services, but either way, they’ll oversee all the details for you.

5. Special Accommodations Aren't a Concern

If you’re a traveler that requires some sort of accommodation to make your stay possible, an all-inclusive resort is more likely to cater to your needs. The kitchens are usually able to provide dishes suitable for different diets – like vegan or gluten-free – with no extra cost or hassle. Larger commercial resorts usually have a medical area onsite if having accessible medical care is a priority and their handicap accommodations might be a bit more thought out than a lodging-only hotel. These resorts know visitors are likely staying on the grounds the whole time so they try to anticipate and provide for all your needs.

1. It Comes at a Cost

We just highlighted some major perks of booking an all-inclusive stay. But all of those come at a premium. Staying all-inclusive usually means you’ll end up paying more than had you piecemealed and designed the trip yourself. For example, a one-week December stay in Antigua at a popular all-inclusive resort came in at over $3,000 for the most basic room; a nearby hotel with an oceanfront room (and nothing else) came in at less than $100/night. If budget is a concern and you’re willing to dive into the details, opting for a normal hotel can save you tons of cash.

2. Less of a Cultural Experience

All-inclusive means you don’t need to leave the resort, which may appeal to some travelers. But that also means you’ll never get a chance to experience the local culture. Why travel across the globe to a whole new country just to sit at a beach and sip margaritas? There’s something very rewarding about checking out the food, vibe, and lifestyle of the area. You’ll have to make very conscious efforts to find an authentic cultural experience if you opt for an all-inclusive stay.

3. Destinations are Limited

While all-inclusive resorts can be found across the globe, they are usually reserved for tropical, beach-y spots like the Caribbean. If you are dead set on staying at these types of resorts, you’ll find yourself limited on where you can go. All-inclusive resorts are hard to find in places like Europe and are usually incredibly expensive once you look outside of the Caribbean. There's a reason why all the photos with this post have looked the same - because the destinations these resorts are at are all pretty similar.

4. It’s All Tourists All the Time

It’s not very likely that anyone other than a tourist is staying at the resort. That means if you never leave the grounds, you’ll be surrounded by tourists ALL. THE. TIME. Maybe you’re okay with that. To me, I like finding quiet little spaces when I travel. As relaxing as sitting by a pool sounds, when I’m sharing it with drunken and loud honeymooners and bachelorette party-goers, it loses its appeal. If being around noisy tourists looking for nothing more than the next drink makes you turn up your nose, then an all-inclusive may not be for you.

5. The food isn’t that great

Okay, this may seem super petty, but as a foodie this means a lot to me. A HUGE reason why I travel is for the food – I’ve had some BOMB meals while traveling. Like so good I still think about them type of meals. All-inclusive resorts, while usually expansive with the food options, usually aren’t culinary gems. Sometimes it’s all buffet-style food and occasionally you’ll get a restaurant-style setup that’s likely just okay. Why shell out so much cash for the included food when it’s meh? I’d rather get a chance to try out local dishes with unique ingredients I can’t get in the States from a street food cart than subpar grilled fish any day.

Here are suggestions on how to find a happy medium if you’re still on the fence:

· Try a smaller all-inclusive resort. You’ll likely have a better chance at getting a local-inspired experience if you stay at a smaller, locally-owned, non-chain resort. The food and amenities might be a bit more authentic to the area than the large branded resorts.

· Go for half-board. Some resorts offer a choice in how inclusive you want your stay. If you find a half-board option, that means not all your meals will be covered. This not only reduces the price of your stay, it gives you a chance to try out some local restaurants for meals.

· Get off the grounds. If you do go all-inclusive, make an effort to leave the resort. Take it a step further by booking excursions with groups outside of your resort. You’ll get a chance to see the local area and get to interact with locals that aren’t just resort workers. When we stayed in Saint Lucia, we did three different excursions off the grounds and made some amazing memories on those day tours.

· Split your trip. Have the best of both worlds by doing a mix of all-inclusive and a normal hotel booking. You’ll get a chance to plan out elements of the trip and really experience the culture but can end the trip with a more relaxed vibe. We plan to do this with our trip to Thailand this fall – planning out the details on our own for the Bangkok and Chiang Mai portions, but opting for an inclusive experience when we hit the beachy islands.

Does an all-inclusive resort appeal to you? For me, I think they are perfect when I’m looking for a trip that’s more about relaxation. I make sure to add some excursions off the resort when we do stay at an accommodating resort though. Overall, as someone who aims to experience new cultures, I tend to not book all-inclusive – but I’m sure I’ll make a few more stays at these resorts over my lifetime!