All-inclusive vacations sound ideal. You pay one price and everything is taken care of for you. You don’t have to stop to worry about where your next meal is coming from. You don’t have to concern yourself with airplane tickets, lodging, or transportation to and from your resort. An all-inclusive vacation should ideally be exactly that – all-inclusive. But beware of false advertising. Do your research beforehand so you know exactly what you’re kidding into. Some resorts will advertise their cheap vacations as all-inclusive but you don’t realize until you arrive that there are hundreds of hidden fees tacked onto the original holiday price.
All-inclusive vacations should be free of stress and hassle. This is why they are perfect for the people who just want to get away from it all and don’t want to deal with day-to-day stressors when they’re on holiday. Package deals typically provide the hotel, the flight, the activities, and the food. These cheap travel deals are especially fun and convenient in a place like Disney World where your admission tickets and meals are taken care of in advance. Shuttles run you to and from the park and there are typically more perks involved. Major resorts often offer hundreds of activities like horseback riding, water parks, miniature golf, and more. Try to get a package deal that includes at least a few sources of entertainment, especially if you are traveling with children.
Your family might prefer a vacation on the open range, rather than a theme park. You can purchase an all-inclusive vacation at a dude ranch in the Wyoming outback, where cowboys fit you to a horse and cook all your meals. If it’s winter, you can all go skiing in Colorado at a resort that will take care of all the details such as lift tickets and ski rentals.
One risk of signing up for an all inclusive holiday is that it won’t be as inclusive as advertised. Buyer beware! It is essential to do research beforehand. Talk to friends and family who have been to the same place and ask them about their experiences. Sometimes a place or a deal that looks really good online or on paper can be disappointing in person. If you sign up for a vacation deal at a resort in Cancun for instance, make sure that it’s not an expensive ferry-ride away from the rest of the nightlife. You don’t want to incur traveling fees by being far away from the action. Find out as many details as you can. Is the buffet decent? Do you have to tip all the help? Are excursions extra? Do you have to pay more money to rent equipment or to go snorkeling? Don’t be timid about calling the resort and getting your questions answered before you spend your money. Make sure you ask if the hotel does not allow tipping or if there are tip jars everywhere and if you expect lesser service if you don’t tip. Your finances can be quickly depleted that way.