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All-inclusive resorts can really help vacationers get the most out of
their travel dollars. Today, over 400 hotels in the Caribbean and
Mexico are either all-inclusive resorts or offer all inclusive
packages.
 Destinations
such as
Aruba,
Cancun,
St. Thomas, and Bahamas have an infrastructure that is well suited to
all-inclusive and not all inclusive resorts because there is a wide
election of restaurants and amenities for tourism. Jamaica and the
Dominican Republic on the other hand don't have the tourism infrastructure
in place and are best suited for all inclusive vacations.
You'll
want to consider carefully before choosing an all inclusive resort.
Resorts do vary -- some are designed for couples, some for singles, some
for gays and some for families. Some cater to a younger or older crowd.
There are also some that offer clothing-optional activities. For obvious
reasons, most of those don't allow children under 18.
The
resorts come in all shapes and sizes. Some include airfare and hotel. Some
include airfare, hotel, transfers, and some meals. Others include all
meals and activities, but not airfare. Often, purchasing airfare as part
of the package can be a better deal than doing so separately, unless you
are using frequent flier miles.
Many
all inclusives have, as part of their program, child-care facilities that
are often a resort-within-the-resort for children, a "day camp" that is
special and that kids look forward to attending. And many all-inclusive
resorts give incredible price breaks to children (they don't drink liquor,
after all,) while some even have no charge for children up to 17 sharing
their parents' room.
What
are the advantages of all-inclusive vacation resorts?
The
security of knowing that one price covers everything, with none of those
nasty surprises that can blast a hole in any family's travel budget. All
meals, entertainment, activities and sports, as well as airfare and
accommodations, are generally included in one price. You can forget your
worries about carrying lots of extra cash for expenses, and just sit back
and enjoy your vacation.
Who
should check out an all inclusive?
Travelers who are: on a tight budget, traveling with the kids, receiving
the trip as a wedding gifts or getting married on the honeymoon.
So, is
an all inclusive resort right for you?
If you
are the type of traveler that enjoys sampling all of the local fare, then
spending all of your time at an all-inclusive resort is probably not for
you. If you like to go somewhere just to relax and not worry about taking
out your wallet every couple of hours to pay for food, drinks, or
activities, then there's probably an all-inclusive resort that's just
right for you.
If you
like to stay up all night partying and drinking, if you want to take
advantage of all the included watersports and activities, if you want to
have food and snacks available all day and if you don't want to have to
worry about the final bill when you check out, an all-inclusive is
definitely a viable option. Some resorts even boast 24-hour room service.
All-inclusive resorts can be costly. On the other hand, they can also
provide great value. If you are going to a destination where the cost of
meals, snacks, liquor and activities are expensive, and your hotel or
resort is high-quality with an expensive nightly rate, an all inclusive
might end up saving you money.
If, on
the other hand, you don't drink much, you enjoy lazing on the beach and
getting an early nights sleep, you are dieting and choose simple salads
for your meals, you would probably be overspending for an all-inclusive
resort. Bear in mind the drinks are only the cheap local which are not
very strong.
On the
down side of all-inclusive vacations, some folks get a bit weary of dining
in the same restaurant night after night. The resort rooms may be smaller
than standard hotel rooms. Some, not all of the all-inclusive resorts
provide shows. And some of them have different show every night.
Some
resorts have kids clubs for the little ones. Kids clubs begin at any hotel
at 4 years of age. Nannies or babysitters are extra costs not included in
the all-inclusive package. Almost all the allinclusives have activities
from beach volleyball to bingo and other games.
It's a
good idea if you want a cashless vacation in a secured environment, if you
are satisfied that the dining options offered will be suitable for your
tastes, if you take advantage of the watersports, child-care and bars.
If you
are adventurous and want to spend your days exploring the country you are
visiting and your evenings trying in-town dining options, you would be
better off choosing a resort that offers that kind of flexibility instead
of an all inclusive.
What
is usually included in all inclusive vacation package?
All
meals and drinks, beer, wine, premium liquor and tipping, government
taxes, gratuities, entertainment, activities and sports, as well as
airfare and accommodations, are generally included in one price.
Airfare and hotel transfers are optional when buying all inclusive
package. Tipping is not allowed. One benefit of the all-inclusive resort
is that the single up-front price covers unlimited activities.
Phone
calls and items purchased at the gift shop are included. The more
expensive all-inclusive resorts is going to have the nice sit-down
restaurants. The next step down will have all buffet dining.
Tennis
and squash courts may be free and often night-lit courts at no charge, but
bring your rackets, as you'll probably have to pay to rent them. Most
packages do not include golfing fees. In most cases you have to rent a
golf cart, but compared to the price of play on most courses, that cost is
negligible. Sailing craft are free as often as not. Snorkels, masks and
fins are usually free, but may have a time limit (note: bring masks from
home if you can, keeping in mind that the one-size-fits-all variety is
often useless on little faces, leaving kids to snorkel miserably with a
face-full of salt water). On-property snorkeling is free, but the most
interesting underwater sights are usually somewhere else. The latter will
cost you, if not for the snorkeling itself, then for the transportation to
get there and back. With motorized sports costs can climb upwards of $60
an hour. Parasailing is another costly venture. Divers, too, might find an
all-inclusive cost-effective. Tanks have to be paid for separately, but
diving excursions are included in some of these resorts. If you are not
certified, most resorts offer a "resort certification" which will allow
you to go on closely supervised guided dives. A resort certification is a
great introduction to the sport. If, however, you are already a certified
diver, some resorts, such as Sandals, Beaches, and Gala Resorts, offer one
or two tank dives a day in their all-inclusive packages.
Many
all inclusive resorts offer spa treatments as part of their packages, with
the option of paying for more intensive therapies.
Do not
forget to budget extra cash for some excursions that weren't included in
all inclusive package. A swim with the dolphins, for example, runs about
$100 per person -- more than small change if you're traveling with a
family of four.
Consider carefully these additional factors before purchasing an all
inclusive vacation package.
Price
is often relative to quality. If it seems too good to be true, it probably
is. However, sometimes it's possible to get an amazing and legitimate
deal, as long as you're looking in the right places - Apple Vacations,
Funjet Vacations, TNT Vacations and numerous smaller wholesalers.
Look
for deals. Check websites for details. Check to see what's included in the
price, so you don't incur any additional costs that you're not prepared to
pay for.
Organize any visas and travel insurance policies well in advance. Your
tour operator and travel agent should advise you on all of these but you
should also contact the embassy or consulate of the country you are
visiting for information about visas.
It is
important that you speak with your doctor about the necessary
immunizations for the areas you are traveling to. When you're traveling in
Mexico, you must take extra care when it comes to drinking water, or fresh
beverages that may have tap water added to them. Check ice also - ask if
it was made with tap water - it is unlikely that your ice will have been
made with tap water; but its worth asking in more rustic establishments
and rural areas. Salads can also be dangerous if they have been rinsed
with tap water. The rule is - if in doubt, ask first! All main hotels and
good restaurants use purified water throughout
In
order to be eligible for special honeymoon offers and discounts, it's wise
to take a copy of your marriage certificate with you as proof that you are
on honeymoon.
If you
are a single parent, or if your partner will not be traveling with you and
your children for whatever reason, you must get a notarized letter from
the absent parent, giving consent for the child or children to be
traveling with one parent absent.
If you
are estranged from your partner, and you are the legal guardian of your
child / children, you can take a copy of the court order (note: original
only - no copies!) with you and this will suffice to get your child or
children with you.
If you
are a widow or widower, you will need to write a letter to explain this
and get it, and a copy of the death certificate, notarized and carry both
of these documents with you when you travel.
If you
are under 18 and want to travel without your parents, you will need to
carry with you a notarized letter of consent signed by both parents.
If you
are a lone parent or will be traveling with your children but without your
partner, or under 18 traveling alone, get the required paperwork together
before you leave. Airlines are now refusing to board lone parents and
children and children traveling unaccompanied without this notarized
letter of consent.
Many
hotels in Mexico set age restrictions during spring break. Here's an
example of many hotel Spring Break policy: Hotel will accept individual
and student group bookings. A refundable deposit of $200 per person and
credit card are required at time of check in. Any credit cards used must
be issued in guest's name. Guests may be required to sign an
agreement/list of rules at check in. At least one person per room must
satisfy the minimum age requirement for check in for individual student
bookings. At least one adult for every 20 students is required for student
group bookings.
If you
or someone in your party is confined to a wheelchair, you'll want to
explore accessibility issues very carefully. Ask your travel agent
specific questions that may concern you.
Always
have a way out. Ask about cancellation policies, and look into travel
insurance, especially if you are booking through an online agency. Choose
wisely and make sure the resort's amenities and programs fit your
lifestyle and character, and you'll have the time of your life!
Here's
some examples of deals: Apple Vacations "Sizzlin Specials" - http://www.applevacations.com/servlet/SiteController/specials/specials1.jsp
and Funjet Vacations "Hot Deals" - http://www.funjet.com/hotdeals/ TNT
Vacations "Special Deals" - http://ww2.tntvacations.com/SpecialDeals
More
detailed information about over 400 all inclusive hotels in the Caribbean
and Mexico could be found at http://www.sunvacations.org and http://www.iberostar.info.
This
all inclusive vacations directory, which consists of 36 main sections
arranged alphabetically by destination for quick and easy access,
consolidates all inclusive resort information not previously available
from any other single source. Researched and compiled by a group of travel
agents with experience in the
Mexico
and Caribbean resorts, the directory offers a quick shortcut to
travel-related information on the Internet. Each listing contains resort's
web address, reviews, and pictures, slide show, virtual tour, virtual map
and resort rating. For both seasoned and inexperienced Internet
all-inclusive vacation seekers, SunVacations.org will eliminate hours of
search time. Instead of conducting key word searches, users can simply
reference destination descriptions in the directory, and then go directly
to the all inclusive resort they want without having to sift through
information that is unrelated or unwanted.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is a branch of the Iberostar Group specializing
in top quality holiday hotels
Iberostar.Info is the world's most comprehensive Mexico and Caribbean
Iberostar resorts photo source on the web, containing over 1000 images.
This unique Iberostar photo collection features 11 resorts and
consolidates information not previously available from any other single
source. The same Iberostar hotels photo collection could be also found at
http://www.sunvacations.org
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