I stayed at 2 all-inclusive resorts in Central America. I’m still dreaming about one of them a year later.

For years, I avoided all-inclusive resorts.

I assumed the term was synonymous with crowded beaches, buffet lines, and over-chlorinated pools.

But last year, I accidentally booked an all-inclusive stay in Belize. Two months later, I traveled to Panama and, once again, stayed at an all-inclusive property.

Not only did these stays change my view of the vacation style, but they also turned out to be some of the best places I’ve ever visited. A year later, I’m still daydreaming about the Panama resort.

Last February, I had my eyes set on sleeping in an overwater bungalow. The place I chose also happened to be all-inclusive.

When I think of a dream tropical vacation, an image of an overwater bungalow is bound to cross my mind.

Sleeping above the ocean, swimming in crystal-clear waters, and vacationing next to marine life is the epitome of a tropical vacation.

To curate that vision, I assumed it would involve a flight to Tahiti, where overwater bungalows originated, or a trek to the Maldives.

Then, I learned there were bungalows in Belize. Thatch Caye, a Muy’Ono Resort, sits on a small private island off the coast of Dangriga, Belize.

The property has eight overwater bungalows. When I visited, the rate was around $950 a night for two guests and included meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, boat transfers, and aquatic gear like paddleboards and kayaks. Business Insider received a media rate for the stay.

The experience at Thatch Caye was magical.

I stayed in a premier overwater bungalow, which meant that my friend and I enjoyed evenings watching the sunset from our bungalow’s hammock and nights falling asleep to the wind whistling through the palm-frond roof.

Plus, staying on a private island — with room for only 30 guests — created a more intimate experience than what I envisioned at massive all-inclusives.

Instead of bumping into strangers at the pool or fighting over loungers at the beach, I got to know other guests visiting the property.

Thatch Caye also had the traditional perks of an all-inclusive. There was endless access to tropical drinks, and, yes, there was a buffet. However, instead of all-day access to food, there were set times when meals were served each day.

I spent two blissful nights at the resort. My friend and I paddleboarded around the island, adventured on a scuba diving excursion (with additional costs), and sipped cocktails hanging above the ocean.

It was an all-inclusive experience that completely demolished all my perceptions of the vacation style.

I loved it so much that I booked another all-inclusive stay two months later.

With the words “all-inclusive” no longer deterring me from a resort, I headed to Isla Palenque two months after visiting Belize to end a weeklong trip to Panama.

The resort, which sits on a little island on Panama’s coast in the Gulf of Chiriqui, is home to eight beachfront casitas,

Guests can access seven private beaches, a shared pool, a lounge area, a restaurant, and a bar.

The resort is similarly priced. During my stay, the cost was about $980 a day for two guests. That included boat transfers, meals, non-alcoholic beverages, and daily experiences. Business Insider received a media rate for the stay.

After Thatch Caye, I wasn’t sure if my expectations for an all-inclusive were fair.

Thatch Caye was a blast. As someone who has hotel- and resort-hopped all over the world, I thought the experience far exceeded its 3-star rating.

Isla Palenque, on the other hand, is a five-star resort. I was curious if I’d notice much of a difference between the two luxury all-inclusive stays.

The island exceeded the high standards Thatch Caye set.

A few things made this all-inclusive experience even more luxurious.

While Thatch Caye felt intimate, Isla Palenque felt even more private. I sipped morning coffee on beaches by myself and got lost paddleboarding around the shores.

The island also hosted complimentary activities each day. I spent one evening at a yoga class and another snorkeling and picnicking on a private beach.

The food was more elevated, with multi-course lunches and dinners from a rotating menu. There was also an all-day menu, so when hunger crept up one afternoon between lunch and dinner, I ordered a bowl of fresh ceviche to tide me over — an all-inclusive perk I appreciated.

The staff was welcoming, and my accommodations were more upscale, with more space, privacy, and an enormous outdoor bathroom.

It’s been one year since I visited Isla Palenque, and I haven’t stopped thinking about the island.

Pristine beaches, overgrown jungles, full itineraries, and a welcoming staff earned Isla Palenque a spot as one of my favorite resorts — it being all-inclusive was an added bonus to the stay.

There are plenty of all-inclusives left to explore across Central America, but when I return to Panama, I’ll be making a stop back at Isla Palenque.

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