All-inclusive resorts promise decision-free vacations at fixed prices, but for decades, undesirable stereotypes have persisted — about mediocre buffet food, hidden fees, watered-down drinks, those sun worshipers hogging all the lounge chairs, and more.
“You don’t want to end up with a dud,” said Chris Gunter, 51, who lives outside of Toronto. Researching his family’s upcoming all-inclusive vacation — he has been to a handful of such resorts in the past — prompted Mr. Gunter, who works in the entertainment industry, to compile spreadsheets of hundreds of resorts categorized by rates, ratings, location, food, beaches, activities, party vibes, adult-only or kid-friendly, and teen clubs. (His latest spreadsheet is posted on Reddit.)
“I go to an all-inclusive for the sun and a cold piña colada in the pool,” he said.
But you may want a different experience. Thankfully, the number of all-inclusives has risen dramatically in recent years, with concerted efforts to improve quality, increase activities and offer more value to the fixed rates.
Here are some things to consider before booking your all-inclusive stay.
What kind of vacation do you want?
Are you traveling with family, or adults only? Is a nice beach sufficient, or do you want days full of activities? Are you planning to stay on the property or go exploring off-site? How old are your children?
Answers to these questions will help you whittle down the many options.
In 2024, the number of all-inclusive resorts worldwide jumped to 2,200, a 32-percent increase from 1,500 in 2021, according to Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics for CoStar, a global provider of real estate data and news. Mexico and the Caribbean offer the most, he said. Hilton alone plans to add 40 more properties in Mexico to the 100 the company already has in its portfolio.
Club Med, which started the all-inclusive resort concept in the 1950s, now offers more than 60 properties around the world, including ski destinations in Quebec and Europe.
Spencer Aronstein, 28, owner of the Salt Lake City-based Peaks & Palms Travel Consultants, just returned from his annual trip to Club Med in Turks and Caicos with his sister and mother. Through a special promotion, they each had a single room for six nights, for a total of $3,300, and played tennis, paddled in kayaks and enjoyed a “gorgeous stretch of beach.”
When Mr. Aronstein is helping clients book family travel, he recommends the Beaches chain, owned by Sandals, a group with multiple properties in the Caribbean. Beaches features kids’ clubs and infant programs overseen by professional babysitters. The Dreams chain, owned by Hyatt, and the Hyatt Ziva brand, he said, are other top picks for families with young children.
Remember to consider the distance.
“If you’re going somewhere to lie on the beach and drink and relax, once you’re inside the property the experience is somewhat agnostic,” Mr. Aronstein said. “To me it would be silly for an American to take a long flight to Bora Bora to have basically the same experience.”
Another consideration is the resort’s distance from the airport.
“The last thing you want is a two-hour transfer that can be longer than the flight, burning through a good part of your day,” said George Penyak, 38, who co-owns the Penyak Travel agency in South Carolina and co-hosts the “Know Before You Go” podcast with his wife, Janet.
Take the time to understand what’s included in the base rate.
In general, all-inclusive resorts may require a minimum stay of three or four nights, and the flat cost typically includes the room, dining, drinks and some activities. Special discounts abound, as do special packages for destination weddings and large reunions.
Nightly rates vary, depending on the room category, location, quality of food and drinks, and time of year.
Off-season at a Mexican or Caribbean resort is typically September through December except over the holidays, when prices peak. A search on TripAdvisor showed a rate of $583 per night in September to $886 per night in April for a family of four at Moon Palace Cancun. The Hyatt Ziva, also in Cancún, ranges from $993 for four in September to $1,283 in April.
While buffets are still common, more resorts are stepping up the gastronomic game with specialty restaurants, wine lounges, mixologists and multicourse tasting menus. Hotel Xcaret México, a luxury property in Playa del Carmen, boasts Michelin-starred chefs. A room there for two adults in March is around $1,000 per night; in September the price drops to $778.
Many all-inclusives have broadened their allure by upgrading and increasing the activities and amenities offered in the base rate. Now often included are language and cooking classes, yoga instruction on the beach, and amped-up water parks and other aquatic attractions.
The Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus, in the Dominican Republic, has a pool with a giant, water-spouting plastic bubble that kids can climb, jump and slide down. The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, also in the Dominican Republic, is equipped with everything from a lazy river to water cannons.
Your desired amenities may cost extra
You’ll pay extra for amenities like butler services, scuba diving, a private plunge pool, deluxe spa treatments and special off-property excursions. At Sandals Dunn’s River, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, room rates for two adults in March range from $6,760 to $12,863 for seven nights. A catamaran cruise is an extra $128 per adult and a biking-hiking-waterfall tour is $206 per adult.
Mr. Gunter’s major concern when planning his upcoming vacation was cost. In March, he and his wife and their two children, 13 and 10, will spend seven nights in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, at the all-inclusive Sandos Playacar for $3,500. He expects to pay $80 extra for a taxi to a nearby water park for a day, and will have cash for tips, but otherwise will leave his wallet in the hotel-room safe.
Staff gratuities vary at different resorts, so its best to check the policy before arriving. At Sandals, the practice is discouraged.
Really research the issues that matter most to you.
Want to enjoy the scenery from your private space?
A room advertised as “ocean view” does not mean oceanfront, Ms. Penyak warned. “You might have to lean over the balcony to see it or it’s far away.”
Another marketing trick is calling a resort a five-star property when the rating system is not well-regulated outside the United States, she said, and “it could be the level of a Comfort Inn.”
People with mobility issues should look into flatter destinations, like Mexico, not the hillier St. Lucia or Grenada. Thousand-room resorts are so spread out they can be arduous to get around, so it’s also wiser to try for smaller properties.
Another critical but often overlooked aspect of a hotel or resort stay: the size of the mattress.
Mr. Gunter is 6’2” and unhappy in a double bed — the norm at many all-inclusives. His criteria involved finding queen- and king-size mattresses.
The kids are fine in bunks.
For more travel advice, visit our collection of Travel 101 tips and hacks.
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