What does All Inclusive Really Mean?

This post was written by admin on July 23, 2009
Posted Under: Travel

So what does an All Inclusive resort really mean?

All Inclusive resorts are all the rave right now. Seems like everyone wants to go to one and they all seem to know which one is best. The problem lies in trying to compare one all inclusive to another. It seems the term all inclusive, has a different meaning depending on which resort chain, or even which resort in a particular chain you are looking at.

If you are not sure whether an all inclusive is right for you, read our post “Why Go All Inclusive“.

All Inclusives have become so popular, that nearly every resort chain now offers some level of all inclusive package to their guests. The problem again is finding out just what is included and what is not.

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A standard European plan hotel (Pay As You GO) includes only the accumulation in the rate. Any and all other charges for meals, drinks, tips and entertainment are additional.

At an all inclusive resort you are paying for everything up front including accommodations, meals, snacks, drinks (non-alcohol and alcoholic), water sports(non-motorized), activities, entertainment and taxes. Depending on which Caribbean vacation resort you pick, additional activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing and facilities may be included. Some include tips as well. Most all inclusives are in resort areas such as the Caribbean and Mexico and the items included vary from place to place. You will always want to ask exactly what is and is not included.

Choosing the right all inclusive Caribbean vacation resort for you requires some careful thought and a bit of research. There is a fairly large price difference between resort chains and even within the individual chains as some resorts are priced higher or lower depending on their amenities. Many factors play into determining the cost.

Some things to consider are:

What are the accommodations and facilities? When comparing resorts, I like to compare the lowest category rooms, because this is the easiest comparison to determine the cost level of any particular resort. Trying to compare a suite from one resort to another is almost impossible.

Is the resort on the beach? Does your room have a view, and of what?

What is the resort’s rating? Ratings are based on locations, facilities, amenities, service, etc.

What are the dining options? Less expensive all inclusive resorts serve most if not all meals buffet style. It is not the quantity of food, but the quality and number of choices you have. If you are staying in a resort several days, you might tire of buffet meals and choosing a resort with a variety of restaurant choices may be a better.

What kinds of liquor are served? Again, less expensive all inclusive resorts serve fewer choices in liquor, beer and wine. They may only serve domestic alcohol. The ultra all inclusives serve premium liquor and mixed drinks.

Do you have exchange privileges with other neighboring resorts? Is transportation included?

What are the amenities? Does the room have a refrigerator, mini-bar, hair dryer, etc.? Are these things important to you?

What are the activities? Activities can mean organized group activities by the pool, beach volleyball, children’s supervised activities or crafts. These factors will vary in importance according to the age and activity level of your traveling party.

Watersports? Non-motorized water sports generally mean things to play with in the water such as boogie boards, wind-surfers, kayaks, water-trikes, etc. Each resort differs in what they provide. The more expensive all inclusive vacation packages will include things like guided scuba diving and snorkeling.

What is the entertainment? Some sort of evening entertainment is usually included. This too differs with the resort. It can range from local performers to full stage productions. Generally, you can expect at least a disco with recorded music for dancing as well as additional options.

Tips? Once again the ultra all inclusive resorts like Sandals include all tips, whereas the lower priced resorts do not.

Service? Are you looking for exceptional service. Better to choose a smaller resort then some of the monster giants with 500+ rooms. If this doesn’t concern you then some of the larger resorts like Rio may be the way to go, just don’t expect to get the same level of service there, as you would at a smaller resort, where everyone will know your name by the end of the trip.

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One last thing. You will want to ask if there is one plan or several different one at the resort you choose. Many resorts offer several different levels of all inclusive plans. Obviously the more you pay the more you get. I’m not a big fan of theses resorts, because they can be very confusing as to what is and is not included in a particular plan. If you really want the relaxed all inclusive atmosphere stay away from these mixed resorts.

Compare all inclusive resorts.