Are All-Inclusive Resorts Worth it?

William Huston, AIF®, AIFA®

by in Published on May 31, 2022

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Are All-Inclusive Resorts Worth it?

Planning for a holiday is one of the most exciting things to do! Maybe you're just looking forward to relaxing and unwinding or spending some quality time with your friends/ family.

Where you'll stay will for sure contribute to the overall holiday experience. While some people prefer staying at all inclusive resorts, others might prefer to stay at vacation rentals. This is because of a couple of reasons which we'll cover in this article.

To begin with, what is an all-inclusive resort?

An all-inclusive resort is a hotel where the booking price charged by the hotel covers all the essentials for your vacation. Basically, the fee charged covers things like accommodation, food, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, sports activities and access to resort facilities such as the pool and the gym.

The all-inclusive concept was first introduced in the camps of Britain in the 1930's. However, the first all-inclusive resort, the Club Med, was created in the 1950s by Belgian Gerard Blitz. His aim was to create a place where people could be happy and just relax.

All inclusive resorts are well liked by travelers as the concept makes it possible for people to have a worry free vacation.

If you're planning to go on a trip soon, here are some pros and cons to consider in case you're leaning towards an all inclusive experience.

Pros and Cons of All-Inclusive Resorts

Pros

1. Cost effective. Among the best things about an all-inclusive vacation is that once you pay your booking fee, there are literally no other extra expenses that you should expect to incur. While staying at an all-inclusive resort, major costs such as food, dinks, airport transfers and accommodation are catered for.

2. All-inclusive resorts are a hustle free way to enjoy your vacation. If you're looking for some peace and quiet away from life's daily stresses, you should definitely consider staying at an all-inclusive resort. You can literally dine at any restaurant within the resort, grab as many drinks as you'd like and enjoy the beautiful scenery without having to pull out your wallet at any point.

3. Convenience. With an all-inclusive package, you don't have to worry about paying for things like food & drinks, water sports, room service and airport transfers. All-inclusive vacation packages cater for all these things and your only job is to relax and unwind.

4. They’re good for families and groups. All-inclusive resorts are a good fit for families or large groups of friends traveling together because everyone gets to have fun within the same confined space. You are able to spend as little/ much time with your friends/ family and you can all easily regroup when need be.

5. There’s No Need to Leave Your Resort. With access to all the meals and amenities that you need, you won't have to leave your resort. That means that you get more time to relax and enjoy your stay.

Cons

1. All-inclusive might not include everything. Some might have limits on the type of activities that you can engage in or the facilities that you can use. That means that you might incur extra charges for things that aren't included in your holiday package.

2. Extra cost for off property adventures. If you'd like to engage in activities outside your resort like sightseeing and dining at local restaurants, you will have to pay for these services.

3. You're likely to pay for things that you won't use. With an all-inclusive package, you could end up paying for things that you won't use; like the gym or cocktails - in case you don't drink alcohol.

4. It’s not easy to really experience the local culture. All-inclusive resorts usually provide all the facilities that you may need during your trip. If you're a person who is interested in learning more about the local culture of the people who live in the surrounding areas, then this might not be the best option for you. This is because many travelers who book all-inclusive vacations rarely leave the resort for the duration of their stay.

5. Quality of the food. With an all-inclusive package, you might not get the best quality of food. This is because the options available might be limited and since payment isn't done per meal, the hotel might not have enough incentive to offer you incredible meals with a wide variety to choose from.

Who Should Book an All-Inclusive Resort?

Certain types of travelers benefit from all-inclusive resorts as opposed to other vacation options. Go ahead and book an all inclusive vacation if you fall among the below groups of people:

  • People who have a budget for their holiday and would like to stick to it.
  • Travelers looking for an adult only holiday experience.
  • Those looking to have a worry free vacation since a majority of your costs when booking an all inclusive holiday are covered in the booking fee.
  • People who like to stay busy and occupied. If you like to engage in watersports, go to the gym and take part in on-site activities, you should definitely consider booking an inclusive resort.

Are there other options for travelers who aren't interested in all inclusive packages?

Yes there are! A great alternative for travelers looking for a different experience are vacation rentals.

When planning for a budget friendly holiday experience, all inclusive vacations might not be the best choice as the packages aren't usually the cheapest. Instead, go for a vacation rental for a more affordable holiday experience. Here's a vacation rental that is worth checking out.

Resthaven

Resthaven is a luxury vacation rental located in Venice, California. The home is perfect for people looking to experience luxury travel, on company retreats, on their honeymoon or simply looking for a new adventure.

This home sits on 3,400 sq. ft., has 4 beds and 4.5 baths. It's close proximity to popular tourist attractions such as Muscle Beach, Ocean Front Walk and the Venice Fishing Pier makes it the perfect home for tourists looking to explore the city.

Overall, Resthaven is a luxurious, safe and private vacation rental where you can relax, unwind and just breathe. Would you like to get more information on the home? Contact us today!

The Bottom Line

An all-inclusive trip is a great way of enjoying a hustle free vacation. However, if you're looking to save more money, have more room and privacy, vacation rentals are worth checking out.

Bay Street Capital Holdings

Bay Street Capital Holdings is an independent investment advisory, wealth management, and financial planning firm headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. They manage portfolios with the goal of maintaining and increasing total assets and income with a high priority on managing total risk and volatility. Although many advisors may focus on maximizing returns, they place a higher priority on managing total risk and volatility.

Our founder, William Huston founded Bay Street after 13 years of supporting the United States' largest retirement plan ($650B) Thrift Savings Plan. He is recognized as Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors for 2021. In California, only two black-owned firms out of nineteen firms received this recognition. In Scottsdale Arizona, Ekenna Anya-Gafu CFP, AAMS is recognized among the Best Financial Advisors for his responsiveness, friendliness, helpfulness, and detail. Bay Street was founded to advocate for diverse and emerging fund managers and entrepreneurs. In 2021, Bay Street was selected as a finalist out of over 900 firms across the US in the category of Asset Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

For more information about Safehaven, get in touch with us today!

Sources

https://travelnoire.com/are-all-inclusive-resorts-worth-the-cost

https://www.smartertravel.com/are-all-inclusive-resorts-the-best-way-to-go/

https://thefullpassport.com/pros-and-cons-of-all-inclusive-resorts/

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/are-all-inclusive-resorts-worth-the-cost/

https://moneyning.com/budget-travel/all-inclusive-resorts-are-they-worth-it/

William Huston, AIF®, AIFA®
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