Five Reasons to Avoid All-Inclusive Resorts

It sounds wonderful; a beautiful resort on a golden beach and unlimited food and drinks. It's tempting to go the all-inclusive route when planning a vacation. There's no hassle finding a place to eat and you already know what your costs are for food and drinks, right?

1) You Aren't Saving Money: The truth is that these hotels are budgeting on average one hundred dollars per person per day for the inclusive package. Depending on what area you are vacationing in, you can often find excellent restaurants right outside the hotel doors where you can dine on local cuisine at a reasonable price. If you are thinking that the free booze will make up for it, you're wrong again. Resorts use watered down and below the bottom shelf level of alcohol to make those margaritas, pina coladas, and mixed drinks. Sure you can drink all day for free, but in the end you get a slight buzz, a couple thousand extra calories and a headache. Want top shelf? That's extra.

2) Your Choices Are Limited: Most resorts have several restaurants to choose from for various mealtimes. You may find only one selection for breakfast, one for lunch and then two or more dinner. Some restaurants limit the times that all-inclusive vacationers can dine there and many require reservations. Good-bye spontaneity. Additionally, not all menu items are included on your plan. Eyeing that lobster or filet for dinner? Well, plan on paying full restaurant price for it.

3) You Are Chained to Your Hotel: You've bought the all-inclusive package so you might as well use it. This attitude keeps tourists chained to the resort for all their meals. Aside from missing out on great restaurants and experiences, you'll feel restricted by having to return to your hotel every time you get hungry. If you do decided to eat off premises, then you are losing the money that you've spent on the package. Catch-22.

4) Your Thirty Minute Presentation: Most of the all-inclusive resorts are timeshares and they will require that you attend their "welcome presentation." The welcome presentation is a watered down version of their timeshare presentation and whereas the resorts you aren't staying at will offer you money and gifts to attend, you get stuck doing this one for free. Sometimes it's thirty minutes and sometimes an hour. They won't give you the hard sell though because they can access you anytime since you'll be trapped at the resort all week.

5) You are Missing Out on the Culture: One of the most wonderful things about taking a vacation out of the country is the ability to interact and sample other cultures. For example, an afternoon in Mexico might include free tequila tasting, some delicious fish tacos at a beachside restaurant, a bucket of five beers and a sunset. Total cost per person: $8 USD. The added value of people watching, beach vendors, and traveling mariachi? Priceless.

So for your next vacation, I suggest skipping the all-inclusive package and spending your meal times exploring the best of what the city has to offer. You'll save money and have many more tales to tell.