TOP 8 HARD TRUTHS ABOUT ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS
Unfortunately, timeshares and vacation clubs are a thing.
In the last ten years this has become a huge business at all inclusive resorts and we have yet to figure out why. If you read nothing else in this blog, read this: BEWARE OF TIMESHARE AND VACATION CLUB OFFERS. At the airport there will be many reps vying for your attention but you can ignore them and head straight to your transfer vehicle because you are excited to get to your resort. Once there, you maybe be asked to come to a breakfast meeting or invited to a presentation. This often feels like a resort tour or opportunity to hear more about excursions in the area. If you are unsure, ASK. These are extremely hard pressured pitches to get you to commit to returning to this resort for your next 50 vacations at a high price disguised as a once in a lifetime deal. Our best tip for this is to decline, decline, decline. Don’t spend 3 hours of your precious vacation time becoming a “victim” of a timeshare pitch or worse, SALE!
Tips are “included”… but…
Technically they are with an all inclusive package but tipping policies vary by resort. Some properties include tips in the room rates, other resorts suggest that guests tip for exemplary service only, and yet others add a 10 percent service charge to the final bill. Across the board, tipping is confusing and generates stress. The cold truth? Unless you are staying at a Sandals resort where tipping is strictly prohibited (except butler and spa personnel), you should always tip staff. A few extra dollars goes along way for better service (and isn’t a few extra dollars worth not having to stand at the bar?). Housekeepers, bell staff, valet drivers, and servers work long hours for low pay. Our best advice is to have lots of small USD bills because you will want to tip when you see how hard the staff works for you!
Not all resorts have a swim up bar.
Many do, but not all. Sipping on a free margarita while watching the sun sink into the ocean from the infinity edge swim-up bar is high on most vacationers’ wish lists. And that exact image is often used as a marketing ploy for resort’s websites and brochures, but the truth is that some resorts don’t even have a swim up bar and many close at five, sharp. Or at least before the sun goes down, in most tropical countries. Resort management doesn't like the combination of intoxicated guests and dark swimming pools, so they shut off the alcohol supply well before any accidents can happen. Be sure to ask if your resort has a swim up bar if that is a priority for you.
The food quality can be hit or miss.
If you like a lot of food, you will be happy. Having an endless supply of dining options is part of the appeal of booking an all-inclusive vacation. Unlimited free meals, snacks, and drinks? Yes, please. But look closer and you may see one or two options not included in your package depending on the room you booked. And while plentiful, a meal at an all inclusive resort will probably not be “the best you ever had” but you definitely won’t go hungry! Other things you want to know about dining at an all inclusive resort; dress codes, reservation requirements, strange hours, and surcharges for premium alcohol and cuts of meat or seafood might be required to dine in the more upscale restaurants on property. Our #1 pro tip for this is to check out the resort website prior to traveling to see which restaurants have menus that appeal to you. At check in, ask to make dining reservations for every night of your stay. Don’t wait until 4pm the day of and expect to eat where you want that evening! Also make sure men have long pants, collard shirts and closed toe shoes. Not all restaurants at all resorts require this but some do and you don’t want to be turned away!
The “chair game” is real.
Remember that amazing resort we booked for you? Well, it attracted a whole lot of other travelers too — and every single one of them also wants a lounge chair, a cold beer, and a spot on the beach with shade. Resorts can be massive places that cater to hundreds of (sometimes demanding) guests. Even when everything is going smoothly, there will likely be drunk people, bluetooth speakers (why is this allowed???) and long lines at reception and for restaurants. Hardcore travelers are notorious for waking at the crack of dawn and placing personal items on pool loungers, ensuring they get a prime all-day spot before anyone else is even awake. Don’t forget, “all-inclusive” sums up the whole experience, not just the good stuff. Our top tip for this is to ask the pool concierge to help you find a chair when they all look taken. They know which chairs have been sitting empty for 2+ hours with nothing on them but an old magazine. Also, hitting the beach in the morning and heading to the pool after lunch might snag you a spot after the early birds have their fill of the pool. The early bird may get the worm but patience is a virtue and those with the most patience always win in the end.
Beware of construction.
It is almost impossible to avoid it. Vacationers want updated rooms and modern accommodations but never want to see construction while on vacation. Most resorts never do a full shut down to renovate. They try to quietly work in sections while keeping the resort as operational as possible. Just be prepared to see some work being done while on vacation and be glad it isn’t you doing the work!
NO, there aren’t any TRUE all inclusive resorts in the United States.
We get several inquiries per week asking for an all inclusive resort in Hawaii or Florida or even Puerto Rico and the truth is, they just don’t exist. Are there some that market themselves as such? Yep! Are they the same as what you find in the Caribbean or Mexico? Not by a long shot. While this is a topic that deserves it’s own long blog, just know this— if you want TRUE all inclusive resort, a passport is required.
Not all resorts are created equal.
What is the difference between a Sandals and a Riu? Or a Secrets and a Beaches? There have been literally hundreds of new all inclusive resorts that have debuted throughout the Caribbean and Mexico in the last 10+ years and it’s virtually impossible to know everything about all of them and their differences and inclusions (unless of course you research and learn about them all day, every day because it’s your job!). Do not assume all include the same things or offer the same brands of alcohol or have a similar level of service. It is important to know what you are getting with what you booked so if you have stayed at an all inclusive resort in the past, don’t be afraid to ask your travel advisor how it compares to where you are going next. Setting expectations prior to arrival can make or break your vacation!