All Inclusive getaways are becoming more and more popular for their ease and worry-free planning. When deciding if all inclusive is the way for you to go, consider all possible options and weigh them out. While there are definitely benefits to all inclusive, there are some drawbacks as well.
Pros
- No worries. When planning an all inclusive vacation, you give them your credit card and everything is taken care of. From the activities and meals to the tips for your bartender, this creates a low stress vacation and less of the “I need a vacation after my vacation” feeling.
- It’s much easier to budget your trip when everything, sometimes including airfare, is already taken care of. All you have to plan for is souvenirs! Also, since everything is taken care of, there’s no need to confuse yourself with foreign currency.
- All Inclusive is GREAT for families. Not only are all the meals taken care of, so there’s no hour long discussions on who gets to pick the restaurant, but with all inclusive resorts you can eat whenever you want. This means you don’t have to alter your child’s eating schedule which means less complaints and endless snack runs. That being said, a lot of the resorts cater to families and often have planned activities geared towards making you and your child’s experience memorable.
Cons
- When traveling, you usually want to experience the culture and land around you. With all inclusive travel, you feel as if you’re stuck within the resort. Apart from the planned activities that usually include you and the rest of the resort, you’re not getting away from the resort.
- When it comes to activities; they are all decided for you. You have a few options to choose from but they’re usually regulated and with companies that the resort receives a kickback from. If you’re looking to strike out on your own, bring some extra money and decide your own activities.
- Another drawback to larger resorts is that no money is going towards the local economy. With many of the destinations that all inclusive resorts are located within, the locals rely on tourism to make a living but when large, global businesses come in, they lose profits.
- With regards to meals, you don’t always get to decide what you eat. In most resorts, it’s essentially a buffet of foods with a few restaurants with restricted menus. Although it’s decent food, you’re not getting to choose what you eat nor experience the local cuisine.
- You have to be careful when staying at these resorts because “all-inclusive” doesn’t always mean all-inclusive. There are many times hidden fees that appear on your tab as you check out or astronomical bar tabs that you were unaware of. Some resorts don’t include tips, taxes, or “resort fees” in the price you paid, so be prepared to spend an extra couple hundred if you don’t read the fine print.
- The most apparent con is the big upfront cost. You can’t really budget daily and decide how much to spend on each meal accordingly. You’re dropping up to $3000 at a time, per person.
Whatever you choose, traveling should always be fun. If you’re unhappy with your vacation or getaway, find a way to change it. Talk to your resort about possible options or look for a different place to stay.
