One of the most exciting parts of booking a vacation package is knowing that you’ll get to sample all of the best drinks at an all-inclusive resort. Even if you’re not a big drinker back home, the allure of an all-you-can-drink holiday is hard to ignore. But at the same time, when you’re faced with a huge drink menu and limited time, it’s hard to know which drinks are worth ordering at your all-inclusive resort.
I’ve been to several different all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. I’ve also taken countless other trips to the tropics and made a point of always sampling the popular local cocktails. Through these trips, I’ve found fifteen of the best drinks to order at an all-inclusive resort, no matter where in the world you’re staying.
If you’re new to all-inclusive resorts or new to drinking cocktails, you should definitely plan to order these fifteen drinks during your vacation. At the bottom of the list I’ve also got some bonus helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of your all-inclusive drink package while you’re at the resort.
PS – Are those friendly tropical fruits cute or creepy? Let me know in the comments!
#1 – Piña Colada
Whenever I arrive at an all-inclusive resort, the first drink I order is a piña colada. This creamy pineapple-coconut drink epitomizes tropical vibes, and it’s so much better in the tropics where it’s made with fresh pineapple juice. Some all-inclusive resorts serve their piña coladas in a hollowed-out pineapple… be careful with these because they can be big!
What’s In It: The classic recipe is made with rum, coconut cream, heavy cream, pineapple juice and ice. Some all-inclusive resorts add frozen pineapple pieces, and in Cuba it’s often sprinkled with cinnamon before serving.
Similar Drinks: A painkiller cocktail is a shaken (not blended) mix of rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream and orange juice.
#2 – Margarita
I spent about eight months living in Mexico, and have visited the country numerous times since then. To me, the most iconic Mexican drink has to be the margarita, which is why I always order them at Mexican all-inclusive resorts. If I’m drinking with dinner I’ll order my classic margarita on the rocks (poured over ice cubes) but if I’m poolside I’ll have it blended into a frosty treat.
What’s In It: Tequila blanco, orange liqueur, lime juice and salt on the rim. It can be served over ice cubes (called “on the rocks”, shown above) or blended with the ice. It’s becoming more popular to add different fruits, juices and even spices to margaritas, but they should always have that tequila base.
#3 – Rum Punch
Rum is made from fermented and distilled sugarcane juice, and sugarcane grows in the same tropical regions that are home to so many all-inclusive resorts. I love ordering rum punch at all inclusive resorts, as this sweet and fruity drinks lets me combine the local spirit with the best local, seasonal fruit juices.
What’s In It: Light and/or dark rum, fruit juice and grenadine. It’s usually served on ice, but not blended. If you’re visiting an all-inclusive resort in the Maldives, you may find they add a sprinkle of nutmeg as well (this reflects the drink’s Indian influence, as it was first mentioned by an employee of the British East India Company in 1632).
#4 – Local Beer
Most all-inclusive resorts include unlimited domestic beers in your package. This gives you the opportunity to try out the popular beers from the country that you’re visiting. In my experience, most all-inclusive resorts stick to bottled beers, although some work in partnership with local breweries to also serve draught beer. Generally, you can also expect to find two bottles of beer in the mini-fridge in your room; these will be replenished each day by the housekeeping staff.
What’s In It: Beer?
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#5 – Funky Monkey (Dirty Monkey, Monkey La La, etc.)
I like to pretend that this indulgent cocktail is healthy. I mean, it has a banana blended in, so it’s practically a smoothie, right? I first tried the Funky Monkey cocktail on the island of Roatan, Honduras, where it is considered something of a local specialty. Still, you’ll find it at resorts all across the Caribbean and Southeast Asia… just watch your glass to ensure that monkeys don’t run off with it!
What’s In It: Banana pieces, coconut cream, dark rum, coffee liqueur and ice. These ingredients are blended together and then poured into a glass that has been drizzled with chocolate syrup inside. It’s often topped with whipped cream, more chocolate syrup and a maraschino cherry. Some bartenders add a splash of pineapple juice or an extra shot of vodka.
#6 – Daiquiri
Similar to a margarita, a daiquri (“dah-kee-ree”) is made with a spirit, juice and something sweet. However, a daiquiri is made with rum instead of tequila, and in my opinion it’s almost always better blended than on the rocks. If I’m looking for a strawberry, peach or mango cocktail, I’ll always order a daiquiri over a margarita, as I think the rum is a better pairing with non-citrus fruits.
What’s In It: White rum, fruit juice and either simple syrup or sugar. Don’t expect a salted rim.
#7 – Mojito
On a hot tropical day, nothing cools you down like a mojito. Mojitos have their roots in the Indigenous communities of Cuba, where rustic firewater was blended with the island’s bounty of lime, mint and sugarcane juice. Over time and under European influence the ingredients changed a bit, but the heart of the drink is still 100% Cuban.
What’s In It: Fresh mint is muddled (mashed) with sugar or simple syrup. Then, white rum is added and given a quick stir. Finally, a few ice cubes are dropped in the glass and topped with soda water.
#8 – Long Island Iced Tea
Generally speaking, the amount of alcohol in a drink is the same whether it’s a margarita, a daiquiri or a mojito. However, there is one exception to the rule: a Long Island Iced Team. There’s not actually any iced tea in this super-potent cocktail, although its potent mix of many different spirits is powerful enough to make you forget what iced tea taste likes. If you’ve never tried a Long Island Iced Tea, an all-inclusive resort is the perfect place to do so as you’ll be within easy stumbling distance of your hotel room.
What’s In It: Tequila, vodka, rum, gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and a splash of cola, all served over ice.
#9 – Miami Vice
One of the best drinks at an all-inclusive resort is the Miami Vice, as you’re unlikely to find this multicolored cocktail anywhere else. I’ve seen it at tons of resorts, but never at a regular restaurant or bar. Since this tropical drink requires the bartender to blend up two separate cocktails and mix them together, consider ordering two at the same time and tipping generously.
What’s In It: Frozen strawberry daiquiri on the bottom, topped with frozen piña colada.
Similar Drinks: A lava flow cocktail is like a Miami Vice, but with bonus fresh banana blended into the pineapple-coconut mixture.
#10 – Espresso Martini
Need a little pick-me-up? Exhausted from all that relaxing on the beach, floating in the sea and drinking free drinks? Then an espresso martini is the perfect drink for you. You’ll feel the impacts of the caffeine, sugar and alcohol in this sophisticated cocktail, which is typically served in a triangular martini glass.
What’s In It: Espresso, coffee liqueur and vodka. Some bartenders add a bit of simple syrup.
Similar Drinks: A Black Russian combines coffee liqueur and vodka, while a White Russian adds in cream to the mix.
#11 – Sangria
I’m not a big fan of drinking wine at all-inclusive resorts, but I love ordering sangria! This sweet, refreshing drink is lower in alcohol than most of the cocktails on the list, but still delivers a fruity flavor. It’s most commonly made with red wine, but you may also find white wine sangria and rosé wine sangria, especially if you’re at an all-inclusive resort in the Mediterranean region.
What’s In It: Wine, sugar, brandy, fruit juice, ice and sliced fruits to garnish.
Similar Drinks: A wine spritzer combines wine (red, white or rosé) with sparking water or club soda for a lower-alcohol refresher.
#12 – Aperol Spritz
My favorite European cocktail has crossed the Atlantic and is now available in most all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean and beyond. This refreshing, sparkling drink originated in Italy and has a fresh, citrus-herb flavor. It’s one of my favorite things to drink in the early evening, watching the sunset over the sea. Since Aperol Spritz cocktails tend to be super-expensive back home in Canada, I love ordering them at all-inclusive resorts.
What’s In It: Aperol, prosecco (or other sparkling white wine), sparkling water and an orange slice.
Similar Drinks: A Campari spritz uses Campari instead of Aperol, and other variations use different aperitifs.
#13 – Whole Fresh Coconut
One of my favorite things to drink in the tropics is the water from a whole, fresh coconut. Growing naturally in the palm trees that line the hotel grounds, fresh coconuts are full of water that is super-hydrating and full of healthy electrolytes. Plus, it tastes so much better than the packaged stuff you get back at home.
If your all-inclusive hotel doesn’t serve fresh coconut at the bar, you may be able to get one from the gardeners! Just ask politely and tip them appropriately for the work they put in to find and open the coconut for you.
What’s In It: Nothing but coconut! (Though if you ask, most bartenders will whizz the soft coconut flesh and coconut water with some rum and ice, making for an almost-organic, slushy treat!)
#14 – The Bartender’s Specialty
Bartending is more than just a job… it can be an art! In fact, once a year bartenders from around the world meet to compete in the World Bartender Championship and the World Cocktail Championship. Even if they don’t compete on the global stage, many all-inclusive resort bartenders take pride in their mixology skills and enjoy making both experimental and signature cocktails. Get to know the staff at your resort bar and ask them if they have a favorite drink (often, it’s not on the menu!).
What’s In It: Just ask!
#15 – Water
I know it’s tempting to drink alcohol all day, every day when you’re at an all-inclusive resort, but if you want to make it to the end of your stay then you’ll need to practice some restraint. Drink water whenever you get the chance – when you wake up, with breakfast, alongside your cocktails, when you’re hot, when you’re tired, when you’re thirsty, when you see someone else drinking water and when the thought of water crosses your mind.
Things To Know Before You Drink at an All-Inclusive Resort
Not all all-inclusive resorts are created equal. Here are a few things to know before you drink at an all-inclusive resort.
Top-Shelf Alcohol May Not Be Included
You need to check with the company you booked through to find out if your package, or the resort in general, includes top-shelf alcohol in its all-inclusive package. Many all-inclusive resorts make their drinks with inexpensive and/or local spirits, but if you want well-known brands like Grey Goose or Johnnie Walker you may have to pay extra for each drink. Typically, extra charges can be billed to your room and paid at check-out.
Some All-Inclusive Resorts Have Daily Drink Limits
In 2022, the government on Spain’s Balearic Islands passed a law limiting guests at all-inclusive resorts to six alcoholic drinks per day, and they can only be served with meals. This was in response to rowdy, inappropriate behavior from drunk tourists on the island’s beaches and in towns. So far, I haven’t heard of any other destinations passing similar laws, but keep an eye on things in the region you’re planning to visit.
Resorts Are Going Straw-Free
Recently, I have stayed at several resorts that have gone straw-free in an attempt to reduce plastic waste. If you prefer to drink cocktails with a straw, bring your own metal or silicone straws from home, along with a cleaning brush. You’ll have to rinse your straws in your hotel sink, and I recommend using bottled water.
Full Board Isn’t All-Inclusive
Don’t get confused! Full board usually refers to a packaged holiday that includes accommodation and three daily meals, but not drinks (and especially not alcoholic drinks!). If you’re not a big drinker, you can save money by only paying for the few drinks you have, but if you’re a big drinker then it would probably be cheaper to book an all-inclusive package that includes all meals, snacks and drinks.
All-Inclusive Resort Staff Make Their Living from Tips
If you don’t believe in tipping, choose a different accommodation option. At an all-inclusive resort, restaurant and bar staff should be tipped for each drink that they serve. Standard tips are $1 USD or €1 per drink. In most of the world it’s preferable to tip the equivalent amount in the local currency, though in places with hyperinflation (like Turkey) staff appreciate being tipped in hard currency like euros.
Don’t Overindulge
It can be tempting to drink to excess when you don’t feel like you’re paying (remember, you already paid when you bought the vacation package!), but a nasty hangover or alcohol-related accident can ruin your entire holiday on the first night. You can practice moderation by:
- Making a plan for the maximum number of units of alcohol you’ll drink per day and sticking to that plan.
- Alternating between drinking alcohol and drinking water.
- If you feel like you’re getting hungover or dehydrated, taking a break and switching to an electrolyte-replenishing energy drink for the rest of the day.
I don’t always travel to resorts – in fact, in 2019 I took a year off work to backpack around the world. Check out my guide to saving money when you travel so that you can go further for less, too!
If you prefer relaxing over a drink (or two, or three…) when you’re away, I worked with other travel bloggers from around the world to compile a list of the 50 Best Day Drinking Destinations on the planet!
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