To All Inclusive Or To Not All Inclusive: Part 1

Our first ever all inclusive trip to the Grand Bahia Principe in Jamaica -2007

Welcome readers! This will be a multi-part blog on how I feel about all inclusive resorts and why I think you may want to give them a chance if you never have. There are some definite positives and negatives to staying at an all inclusive but overall, I feel like they take a lot of the stress off of a vacation. Here’s part 1:

Since my husband and I started traveling on our own, we’ve mostly chosen to stay at all inclusive resorts. Barring our 4 day trip to California, a 5 day trip to Florida and some local trips to the mountains, our vacations of a week or longer have mostly been all inclusive resorts. It started with Jamaica and we’ve stayed at a number of them since. We’ve been to seven all inclusive resorts in four different countries and each one has been unique in its own way, easy and a great choice for us.

Our first view of the resort in the morning

When we were younger we both had the opportunity to travel. We each went to Europe with our families so we know what it’s like to stay in a different hotel or B&B every night. Our parents rented cars so we could travel the countryside and see as much as possible. Traveling like we did with our families is for those who really want to put on the miles and see as much of a place as possible in the allotted time, but it can be challenging and risky.  A lot of planning and budgeting is needed when one is traveling the countryside. Once on a family vacation to Seattle, we were unaware that there was a huge conference in town and nearly every hotel or motel in the area was completely booked. It was 112 degrees Fahrenheit and the only place available was the walk up 4th floor of a run-down, seedy motel. No air conditioning and it was so filthy my mom wouldn’t let us take off our shoes. We didn’t know it at the time but I had heat stroke which I’d later be hospitalized for. The only blessing was the fridge in the room that my parents laid me in front of to cool me down. Unless you have a planned itinerary and pre-booked rooms traveling like this (while spontaneous) can be a gamble. Then there’s your budget. You’ve got to plan to spend on at least three meals a day plus snacks and drink. That can add up very fast and use up a chunk of your vacation money. Factor in gas money if you’ve rented a car or are driving your own. Suddenly you’ve spent way more than you planned.

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I know, I know; all inclusive resorts are the “glamping” of international travel. I get that. In some cases you may not feel like you’re really seeing the place you’re there to see. They can seem very reclusive. You might feel tied to the exact area you’re staying in and think you won’t see enough of the destination you traveled thousands of miles to see. If you’re looking for a place to just lay on the beach for  your seven day vacation and literally do nothing, then all inclusive resorts are the place for you. You don’t have to go far in search of a drink, a meal, a pool or a beach. If you’ve never traveled and are nervous about the details your first trip, you should try an all inclusive resort. However, if you’re more the adventure seeker and like to get out and immerse yourself, you shouldn’t necessarily discount an all inclusive resort.  Here’s why:

Convenience:

I fell in love with bougainvilleas on this trip

All Inclusive packages are easy. Most airline packages handle all the details and literally everything is included; flight, transportation to the hotel, food, drinks and whatever amenities the resort offers. No worries about getting scammed by a sketchy taxi driver your first step off the plane. I usually like to have a small amount of currency of that country already (or a few Canadian dollars) to tip the drivers and bellboys (tipping is usually not mandatory, but always appreciated). Sometimes the agency you booked through will have a representative on the bus to the hotel to give you some tips, pointers and information about the area on the drive to the resort. Once you get to the hotel it’s just a matter of checking in and checking out your home for the next seven (or more) days. You’ll get a wristband you’ll wear for the duration of your stay to indicate that you belong there (sometimes the colour will dictate your level of inclusions). You’ll get a room key and towel cards to exchange for actual towels. From there, eating and drinking is a breeze. You may have to check the opening hours of the various restaurants, but generally you can always find meals, snacks, beverages or some kind of entertainment. If you want to bum around, the only thing you need to do is decide when you want to eat. If you want to do some exploring, the hotel will have lots of people, either the concierge or tour representatives, to give you some ideas of what you can do. You’re biggest worry now is finding your way around the resort, which is usually its own little adventure.

Safety:

Allamanda Flower

All inclusive resorts are very safe. Most have security stationed at the main gate. You have to check in and out as you come and go. Almost all rooms have safes (I’ve only had one that had a cost for the week, the rest were included in the price).  Most people at the resort are just there to have fun and events you may have heard of in the media involving resort crime are really exceptionally rare. I only recall one time we noticed a belligerently drunk guest and management and security handled it well. Resort staff is usually thoroughly screened and we’ve never had anything go missing. When we stayed in Antigua, the security weren’t obvious but they did manage problem beach vendors or people who weren’t supposed to be at the resort. Usually resorts are fenced in around the perimeter. All this is not to say that you shouldn’t take care to lock up your belongings or be lax in the way you conduct yourself, but we’ve never had an item go missing or had trouble with any locals or other tourists at any all inclusive. Most packages booked through a tour group or airline will give you information about an orientation on your first full morning. I strongly urge you to go to these (try not to let the hangover get the best of you). A representative will give you tons of great information about the resort (included amenities, way finding, whether you can drink the water or flush toilet paper) and also information about traveling outside the resort. Most of the time the reps are local and know if it’s safe for you to head out on your own, how to do it, where to eat in town and what you should see. They’ll also let you know how to contact them and your agency should you have any medical or other type of emergency. There is usually a doctor on call if you come down sick or injure yourself (I actually used the services of the doctor on our most recent trip). If you have travel insurance (which you really should get if you don’t already have it), most companies will reimburse you for the cost.

Dunns River Falls

In the waterfall at Dunns River Falls

The Appleton Rum Estate

Botanical garden tour

Horseback Riding on the beach

Stay tuned for part 2 of my thoughts on all inclusive resorts, where I’ll discuss the bonuses of all inclusive food and drink (yum!) and some of the inclusions and extras you can enjoy on these vacations. Thanks for stopping by!