Most frequent travelers have strong opinions about the pros and cons of all-inclusive resorts. Some travelers swear by this style of travel, while other eschew it entirely. Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle. I understand the appeal of all-inclusive vacations, and I’ve taken several myself, but it’s not my favorite way to visit a new place.
In this guide I’m going to talk about the pros of staying in an all-inclusive resort, as well as some of the cons of choosing an all-inclusive vacation. Hopefully, by the end you’ll have a better idea of whether or not an all-inclusive vacation is right for your next trip, and you’ll be able to persuade your travel companions to join you (one way or the other!).
My Experiences With All-Inclusive Resorts
I have stayed in all-inclusive resorts in five different destinations:
- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
- Mamaia, Romania
- Varadero, Cuba
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Akumal, Mexico (Riviera Maya)
Most of the all-inclusive vacations that I’ve taken have included flights, airport transfers and all-inclusive accommodation. Tour companies buy blocks of hotel rooms and flight tickets, allowing them to discount prices well below what you can book by yourself for a similar trip.
If you have a look around my blog you’ll see that all-inclusive resorts aren’t my favorite place to stay, as I usually like to be out and about, adventuring, when I’m on vacation. However, after I moved to the Canadian prairies I found myself looking for quick one-week escapes from the snow during the winter, and I started booking all-inclusive vacations more and more often.
I’m not someone who can recite the room categories at twenty different all-inclusive hotel groups off by heart, but I am someone who can give a realistic rundown of the pros and cons of all-inclusive resorts for travelers who are used to more independent vacations. So if you’re looking for an honest perspective, keep reading!
The Pros of All-Inclusive Resorts
Even for an independent spirit like myself, all-inclusive resorts have some serious advantages. Here are a few of the reasons I recommend resort vacations to other travelers (and a few selling points you can use if you’re trying to convince someone to join you for an all-inclusive vacation!).
All-Inclusives Are Super-Relaxing
If you’re just looking to decompress, all-inclusive resorts can be the most relaxing style of vacation. Nobody will judge you for going from your hotel room to the buffet to the pool and back again, and never venturing further afield. In fact, you’ll fit right in, because that’s what most people are doing!
I love to pack at least one book per day when I’m in an all-inclusive resort (I borrow them from my local public library), and then I just sit in the shade by the pool, read and sip on cocktails. It’s a welcome respite from the stress of my job back home (especially those white-knuckle commutes to and from work during winter storms!).
Many all-inclusive resorts also have programs for children and teens, so they can be a relaxing break for parents who don’t want to be responsible for entertaining their children for every minute of their vacation.
Sometimes It’s Cheaper to Book an All-Inclusive Package
As I mentioned above, most all-inclusive resorts can be booked as part of a package that includes flights and airport transfers.
Last month I paid $3400 CAD for an eight-day, seven-night trip to an all-inclusive resort in Akumal, Mexico. The price of the same trip was more than $6000 when I tried to book the hotel, flights and transfers separately.
The year before I spent $2600 CAD on a similar vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As it’s been a year I can’t price out exactly the same trip, but I do remember that the hotel offered me the chance to extend my trip for the “special price” of “only” $500 USD ($680 CAD) per night! 😂
So if you’re already looking for a trip where you’re mostly staying at the hotel to relax, you may find that you can save a lot of money by packaging a resort, flights and transfers.
You Can Try Different Food, Drinks and Activities Without Worrying About the Cost
I am a frugal traveler and I’m always looking for a good deal when I travel. This means that when it comes to things like food and drink, I often have to miss out on trying things because I don’t have the appetite or the budget to try everything that piques my interest. All-inclusive resorts solve this problem by including all of the food, drink and activities in your room rate.
Have you ever had a Miami Vice? Me neither, until I stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Cabo San Lucas where I could order all the tropical cocktails I wanted, guilt-free. I couldn’t justify paying $10 for the cocktail at one of the nearby beach bars, but since it was included in my room rate I happily sampled this two-toned slushy beverage!
The same goes for food. In a normal restaurant I would rarely order a three- or four-course meal, but when my hotel includes à la carte dining then I’ll indulge in a multi-course dinner. And at the buffet? I always do two loops: one to get tiny, sample-sized portions of all the dishes that I want to try, and then a second pass to get larger portions of the dishes I really liked.
I can’t believe that I have to say this, but the fact that drinking and dining is all-inclusive does not give you carte blanche to waste food. I’ve never been more disgusted than I was in Cuba where I watched families load multiple plates heaped with enough food to feed fifty people, pick away at a few things on their plates and then leave 90% of the food behind on the table to go to waste… meal after meal after meal. If you do this, you’re a bad person.
All-Inclusive Resorts Can Feel More Safe
I’ve been traveling for almost twenty years and have visited more than 70 countries solo, so I am not a nervous traveler anymore! However, I understand that different people have different comfort levels, and for very nervous travelers, all-inclusive resorts can be an easy way to dip your toes into international travel.
The reason why all-inclusive resorts can feel more safe is because they are a closed ecosystem: the places you sleep, eat, relax and join in activities are all within a single location that is closed off to members of the public. There’s no serious risk of getting lost, of getting overcharged, of getting pickpocketed, or anything like that, because the only people around are other travelers (who have paid the same amount as you) and hotel staff (whose jobs depend on not making problems for guests).
Similarly, when you book your all-inclusive as part of a package then you also don’t have to worry about your transfers to and from the airport. You know that the driver will be reputable and will get you to and from your destination in one piece.
Of course, I need to point out that no destination is 100% safe. Personally, I was sexually harassed by the male staff at the all-inclusive resort where I stayed in Egypt (it has since closed, fortunately!), and I’ve also heard of travelers experiencing theft from their resort rooms (so leave your valuables at home, and use the safe in your room for anything you absolutely have to bring with you).
All-Inclusives Cater to (Almost!) Every Type of Traveler
If you’re willing to spend an hour or two researching before you book a trip, you should be able to find the perfect all-inclusive resort to cater to your preferred travel style.
There are many family-friendly all-inclusive resorts with things like family rooms, kids clubs, teen clubs, water parks, movie nights and other activities to accommodate both adults and children.
If you’re looking to escape kids rather than accommodate them, there are also lots of adults-only all-inclusive resorts (check out my review of the new Bahia Principe Grand Tequila, an adults-only AI on Mexico’s Riviera Maya). Usually targeting couples traveling together, these hotels have luxurious spa treatments, swim-up pool bars and romantic beachfront dining experiences.
Other resorts cater to active travelers, with inclusions like scuba diving, snorkeling, catamaran trips, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding.
The one type of traveler who I don’t feel is served well by existing all-inclusive resorts is travelers exactly like me: people who usually travel solo and are looking for more authentic experiences. Resorts often charge single supplements, or cater all of their activities to families and couples. It would be great to see more all-inclusive resorts designing stays to cater to adventurous solo travelers, like by eliminating the single supplement, having specific activities and events for solo travelers, and doing some excursions outside the resort to authentic local attractions.
All-Inclusive Vacations Require Minimal Planning
I understand that we’re all busy people, and the one-click process of booking an all-inclusive vacation is one of the biggest pros of this style of travel.
If you don’t have time to research different cities, different restaurants, different activities and different ways to get around, choosing to stay in an all-inclusive resort takes all of those tasks off your to-do list. For a normal vacation I spend hours and hours meticulously researching everything I might want to do when I get there, but for an all-inclusive vacation I trust that I can just show up and I’ll be able to eat, sleep and find enough things to do not to get bored (as long as I have those books I mentioned before!).
The Cons of All-Inclusive Resorts
All of that being said, there are also some drawbacks to all-inclusive resorts. Here are a few of the main reasons that they’re not my preferred accommodation style (and a few points you can use to dissuade someone who is trying to get you on board with their all-inclusive resort plan!).
All-Inclusives Are Usually Far From the Center
For me, the biggest drawback of most all-inclusive resorts is that in order to have a sprawling beachfront location, they have to be located far from the center of the town or city.
For example, the only method of transportation between my hotel in Egypt and the city center was a taxi that cost €25 each way. After making the €50 round trip I quickly learned that it wasn’t worth €50 to spend a few hours in a tacky town built almost entirely for tourists!
Other destinations may have public transit service between the resorts and nearby cities (especially to accommodate local workers) but these are often very slow and inconvenient for travelers with limited time. For example, it should take less than thirty minutes to drive from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo in Mexico, but the public bus takes more than an hour due to its frequent stops.
The distance between your resort and the airport can also eat into your time at your destination. For instance, on my recent “eight day” trip to Mexico I had to leave my house at 4:00 am on Day 1, I arrived in Mexico around 5:00 pm and it was 8:00 pm by the time I arrived at the hotel, as the included shuttle stopped at many other hotels en route to mine. On the way home my flight was at 6:30 pm, but the shuttle still had to pick me up at 12:30 pm to do the same trip in reverse. I basically lost two full days out of eight.
All-Inclusive Resorts Can Feel Inauthentic
If you’re looking for an authentic local experience, you’re unlikely to find one at an all-inclusive resort. Resorts tend to very insulated, and they actively take steps to shield visitors from the reality of life in their local community.
One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to wander around a new city, exploring hidden streets and alleys, and walking into random shops that we don’t have back home. I like to chat with local people at the bus stop or at the table next to me in the cafe.
You don’t have those opportunities at an all-inclusive resort, where walls separate you from the local community and the only people you’ll meet are other travelers and the hotel staff who are being paid to be nice to you. 😉
Restaurants At All-Inclusive Resorts Cater to the Average Visitor
I know I mentioned that the food and drink can be a pro to visiting an all-inclusive resort, but it can also be a con for one big reason: the food is designed to cater to the tastes of the average visitor, and the average visitor is rarely adventurous or even interested in local cuisine.
When I travel to Mexico I love to eat the local dishes (check out all the epic Mexican breakfasts I ate in Sayulita!), but even at the most upscale all-inclusive resorts in Mexico I feel more like I’m eating at a Holiday Inn than a taqueria. The interpretations of local dishes are often bland and only loosely inspired by the original dish. Plus, the interpretations of international dishes often miss the mark as well… in particular I find it hard to tell pasta from soup as it’s often literally swimming in sauce.
If you’re traveling with a picky eight-year-old then all-inclusive resort food will probably be perfect for your family, but if you’re someone who travels specifically to have authentic culinary experience then you’re going to be disappointed.
The 6:00 am Sun Chair Stampede
This con of staying in an all-inclusive resort is actually a pro for me, but I know that I’m the outlier here! Unfortunately, many all-inclusive resorts have more guests than sun chairs by the beach or the pool. So, to “reserve” a chair for the day, many people wake up before sunrise, race down to the pool and reserve a chair by putting their towel on it.
Since I can’t sleep past 6:30 am anyways, this works well for me. When I hear the birds start chirping I roll out of bed, walk down to the pool and reserve the chair (and umbrella – I am all about sun protection!) that I want for the day. I then go back to bed and read or work on my blog until the sun comes out and the breakfast buffet opens.
However, for people who are capable of sleeping late (I’m so jealous!) they often find that the best sun chairs are reserved by the time they get down to the pool. Even worse, they may find that all of the sun chairs and umbrellas are unavailable. This can be a huge con for anyone planning to sleep late during their all-inclusive beach vacation.
Yes, You Still Have to Tip at an All-Inclusive Resort
Many travelers (especially from Europe!) are surprised to learn that in most destinations, your “all-inclusive” resort rate is not inclusive of tips. In some areas, like the Caribbean, tipping all-inclusive resort staff is a basic expectation, while in other areas, like Turkey, tipping is less expected but still appreciated.
The cost of tips can easily add $300 (about €275) to the cost of a week at an all-inclusive resort. This can also require some extra work, as the best way to handle tipping is to bring small denominations of local currency from your home back, which can require some pre-planning. I have a complete guide to tipping at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, which can be broadly applied to the Caribbean region as well.
The Pros and Cons of All-Inclusive Resorts, Summarized
To summarize everything that I listed above:
- All-inclusive resorts are great for travelers looking for a stress-free vacation focused on relaxation
- All-inclusive resorts aren’t the best option for travelers looking for authentic experiences where the will be immersed in the local culture
Have you stayed in an all-inclusive resort? Do you agree with my overall view, and the pros and cons?
I’ve tried lots of different travel styles, not just all-inclusives!
Check out my guides to packing for a hostel dorm room, saving money on your trip and taking a sabbatical to travel around the world.
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