Comparing All-inclusive Vacation Resorts: How to Choose One
Posted on | January 6, 2010 | 9 Comments
All-inclusive resorts give travelers great tourist options. Similar to a cruise, your entire trip is planned in advance, but (unlike a cruise) you have flexibility to leave the resort whenever you want. With an all-inclusive vacation, you pay one price and then you are done, which can be really nice for budgeting purposes. It also cuts down on the amount of planning you have to do – a definite advantage if you really want to relax on your trip. Not all resorts, however, are equal. With so many choices available, you might be overwhelmed when trying to decide which all-inclusive resort is right for you. After you have done your research and looked at room choices, meal places, and more, are you still trying to decide between a handful of resorts? Here are five tips for choosing the best one for your vacation:
Tip #1: Choose your location first – Before you start checking out resort options, try to narrow down your vacation destinations. The particular resort you choose might help you make your final choice, but at least have a clear idea where you do not want to go. You may also want to narrow down your choices by area of the world. For example, do you want to stay in the United States or visit another country? Are you interested in a tropical resort or a place in the mountains? Make sure you check out plane ticket prices, as flying to a resort in one location might be hundreds of dollars more than flying to a resort in another location. Your travel arrangements are the one thing never (or at least, very rarely) included in the all-inclusive resort stay, so this could make a major difference.
Tip #2: Consider what you get for your money – “All-inclusive” might sound self-explanatory, but it’s really not. Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts include just a room and three meals per day. Other times, there are special events, free local tours, and complimentary services. Does your all-inclusive resort include free drinks in the price? Does your all-inclusive resort have free beach access? Does your all-inclusive resort have a gym on the premises? Even though the price of one resort might seem like a bargain, when you take into account what is included, it might not seem as special.
Tip #3: Check out the tours available – Whether you have to pay extra for them or not, most all-inclusive resorts have buses that take you to various destinations throughout the area. If there are certain things you want to see, check out which all-inclusive resorts offer tours to those destinations. If they do not, you will have to make your own arrangements, which kind of takes away from the nature of an all-inclusive resort! In addition, if you have to plan the tour yourself, you might find yourself shelling out extra money on top of the money you have already paid for your stay at the resort.
Tip #4: Research special events at the resorts – Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts hold special events on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. These events range from resort-wide parties and singles mixers to large festivals open to the public. Once you have your travel dates confirmed (or at least a general idea), check out what events are going on at the resorts you are considering. Make sure to find out if the events are part of your vacation package – sometimes tickets cost extra or you have to make specific reservations to be on the guest list. Otherwise, you might not be able to get into the event.
Tip #5: Ask for advice – At the end of the day, no matter how much online research you do, sometimes you should just really get the advice of people who have actually been there. Take what you read online with a grain of salt – some resorts pay writers to post good reviews, even though they have never been there. Look instead for user-based websites, or, even better, you can ask a travel agent for advice. Sometimes, a resort could look really nice in a brochure, but not nearly as nice in real life. Get as many recommendations as possible when you are comparing all-inclusive resorts.
There are dozens of all-inclusive resorts in every area of the world. Choosing one for your next vacation can be difficult and a little confusing. With so many choices, you just want to simplify the process so you can have the best vacation possible. By using the above tips, you can make sure that the all-inclusive resort you pick is the right one for you. There are resort choices exclusively for couples (adults only), families with children, single adults, senior adults, or just about any group you can think of. It is important to choose a vacation that has the type of activities you and your traveling companions enjoy – otherwise, even the best resort on the planet will not make you happy. But remember, resorts are in the business of pleasing their customers, so chances are, as long as you choose from a reputable operator, everything should be smooth sailing!
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Tags: Cruises > holiday > hotels > leisure > Recreation > travel > Travel deals > Travel Tips > vacation
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9 Responses to “Comparing All-inclusive Vacation Resorts: How to Choose One”
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January 6th, 2010 @ 9:50 am
My brother & I took a vacation, or more like a trip. Here is our story:
The wildwood flower grew wild on the farm
And we never knowed what it was called
Some said it was a flower and some said it was weed
I didn't gave it much thought…
One day I was out there talking to my brother
Reached down for a weed to chew on
Things got fuzzy and things got blurry
And then everything was gone
I Didn't know what happened
But I knew it beat the hell out of sniffin' burlap
I come to and my brother was there
And he said, 'What's wrong with your eyes?'
I said, 'I don't know, I was chewing on a weed'
He said, 'Let me give it a try'
We spent the rest of that day and most of that night
Trying to find my brother, Bill
Caught up with him 'bout six o'clock the next mornin'
Naked, swinging on the windmill
He said he flew up there
I had to fly up and get him down
He was about half crazy
The very next day we picked a bunch of them weeds
And put 'em in the sun to dry
Then we mashed 'em up and we cleaned 'em all
And put 'em in the corncob pipe
Smokin' them wildwood flowers got to be a habit
We didn't see no harm
We thought it was kind of handy
Have you ever take a trip and never leave the farm
A big ol' puff on the wildwood weed
Next thing you know
We's just wandering behind the little animals
All good things gotta come to an end
And it's the same with the wildwood weed
One day this feller from Washington come by
And he spied us and he turned white as a sheet
And he dug and he burned
And he burned and he dug
And he killed all our cute little weeds
Then he drove away
We just smiled and waved
Sittin' there on that sack of seeds
Y'all come back now, ya hear
January 6th, 2010 @ 10:33 am
The only all inclusive trips I have taken have been cruises which I liked because I just unpacked once, settled in, then could choose if/when I wanted to go on shore excursions, or explore all the wonderful activities offered aboard the ship.
As the other answerer said – drinks, massages, beauty salon, etc. on board were NOT included, but there was a lot that was. It all depends on what you like to do & what your tastes are.
Best thing would be for you & your wife to do what he did – type in all inclusive vacations in your browser search line & review what comes up, then keep adding a keyword until you narrow it down to just those that fit the activities, locations, etc. that both of you like.
Good luck!!
January 6th, 2010 @ 11:57 am
at grand teton national park go hiking up to lake solitude, its 15 miles round trip but 100% worth it. In yellowstone I would recommend spending time just driving around looking at the wildlife, maybe hike to the top of Mount Washburn (only like 6 miles) oh and go to Bubba's Barbeque in jackson hole!!!!!
January 6th, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
You need to get a Japan Rail Pass which gives you unlimited travel for the time you opt to purchase for………1 week, or 2 or 3 weeks .If you are just going to be on Honshu Island you can actually get a pass that is a bit cheaper just for that island.You could also look at the JAL flight passes but you miss the scenery if you fly.You must buy this Pass in YOUR country…………..you cannot buy them in Japan and you will save yourself a huge amount of money.
Look around Tokyo ………and do take a day trip to Kamakura…….go to the Tsukiji Fish Market on the way.
If you plan to go to Kyoto which is gorgeous you can mostly walk if you choose accommodation in a good location. There are maps with walking routes you get at the station.You won't get top see it all just do one section – we opted for the area near Murayama Park.There are so many shrines, temples gardens etc near here.
Catch the bus to Fuji go ko – Fuji Five Lakes…it is only an hour and a half and just beautiful …….at the base of Mt Fuji. Then take the bus to Gotemba which is a beautiful trip round the base of Mt Fuji through old traditional villages with thatched cottages etc.Change to a bus for Mishima – just catch the bus behind they call it Station 2 to Station 3.but was quite literally just the bus behind the one we got off. This bus takes you right to the Shinkansen which you can catch through to Kyoto.
If you go to Osaka, you should try and go further on to Himeji and see the castle …………probably the best in Japan and the Shrine and then on to Osaka. You could go on a little further to Okayama which has one of japan's best gardens but from Okayama you can take an ordinary train to Kurashiki – only 30 minutes ……..which is a really beautiful Edo period town.
You can look at these places at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/japanese-holidays.html
January 7th, 2010 @ 2:59 am
book supplier direct to avoid cancel or non refundable fares.
dig up association member cards, like AAA or AARP, you can get 10-15% off the weekly rate, (weekly rates are 5x the daily)
check with the company you work for, they may have a coporate agreement in place that may be available- many of these agreements waive airport fees and taxes, add'l driver and underage driver fees- real expensive fees here.
Also return the car to same location to avoid drop off charges and lastly, reserve a Compact car, most people are looking for smaller cars now with the most fuel efficiency. So reserve a smaller car and most likly they will upgrade you for free at counter.. if you wanbt a larger car, reserve in advance as paying for an upgrade at counter is usually much higher. oh, yeah, bring a copy of insurance card with you as well..
January 7th, 2010 @ 3:33 am
It must be a slow day in the J.J. household today. But to answer another of your fabulously funny questions, I will give it my best shot. Go out in the garage, climb up into the attic and get out all the seldom used camping equipment. Then, after you have removed all the camping stuff, take into the living room and set up the tent with your sleeping bags, etc. You may have to go outside to find enough rocks to build your fire pit, but place it near the tent so you will not get cold during the night. Go to your local convenience store and pick up enough wood to last through the night. Then return home, turn your air conditioner down to 60 degrees. When your husband comes home, you can have a nice roaring fire going, with a cup of hot chocolate and only wearing a smile. It will be the best at home vacation ever. Good luck with that.
January 8th, 2010 @ 3:06 am
January 9th, 2010 @ 2:02 am
This website might help , check it out –
http://www.usairwaysforum.com/
January 9th, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
you seem underweight. If you are going on vacation, the best advice i can give you is to HAVE FUN and eat the best and tastiest foods while you are at it. With an active lifestyle, your not going to add or lose too much weight.