🏝️ All-Inclusive Resort Edition
13 TIPS
AI in the travel industry stands for All-Inclusive. But sometimes it’s just as mysterious as the Artificial Intelligence on the Internet.
Cruises are generally NOT all-inclusive. Click the link to read the AI Cruise Edition.
Know your cost options. There are a continuum of accommodation packages from a la carte to all-inclusive. The typical hotel room, Airbnb, or condo is mostly a la carte. Your accommodations include lodging and Internet. Everything else is charged separately. Cruises include some costs. True all-inclusive vacations bundle most hotel-related expenses like meals, drinks, and tips in the AI price.
Budget accordingly. Create a budget for all your expected vacation expenses and whether or not they’re included with the room. This ensures you can properly compare vacation types and don’t have financial surprises during your trip.
All-Inclusive is convenient. One fixed price covers almost all your resort-related services once you step foot on the property. It makes budgeting simple. Your only other expenses are your flights, airport transfers, and your petsitter if your daughter can’t take the dogs. Bring extra cash for additional tips and a credit card for discretionary gifts. And that’s it.
All-inclusive is expensive. AI resorts charge $50-$200 per person per day extra for AI. Let’s use the following example - a beach resort hotel room is $200 per night. The incremental AI cost is $100pp. So the $200 room costs $400 as an AI, double the room cost.
All-inclusive typically is a good deal, even if expensive. Take our resort example. Typical a la carte resort meal costs, including beverage, are $20pp for breakfast, $25pp for lunch, and $50pp for dinner, including tax and tip, for a total of $100pp. Add 4 drinks @ $12 each at the beach or meals. Total rounded a la carte meals and drinks are $150pp, much higher than the AI cost.
All-inclusive can be an excellent value. 4* AI resorts are priced as low as $300/night, comparable to the hotel room alone in many cities. The affordable pricing is a key factor in their popularity.
When to AI. Consider AI vacations if you:
Seek vacation and budgeting simplicity.
Are a medium to heavy drinker.
Will stay on property most or all of your trip.
Typically eat out on vacation.
Enjoy 3 meals per day and quality dining. Most AI resorts feature excellent food.
When not to AI. Just get the resort room and make your own meals or buy a la carte if you:
Are fine with tracking many expenses through your credit card.
Will be actively sightseeing, dining, and clubbing away from the resort.
Are not a drinker.
Prefer to shop and cook for yourself at a resort kitchenette or apartment
Have simple or fewer meals.
Where to AI. Mid-market to luxury resorts, often at the beach, are the place to go for all-inclusive packages. Resort prices range from $250-$1,000+ per night.
All-Inclusives cover most property features. AI fees generally include lodging, unlimited meals (buffets and some à la carte), cafe food, alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, pools and jacuzzis, on-site activities (non-motorized water, fitness centers, some fitness classes), Internet/wifi, entertainment, taxes, and tips/gratuities.
Be a mensch and still tip. Travel is still a person-to-person service business. Even though tips are included, it’s customary (at least for Americans) to additionally tip a modest amount to your direct service staff - housekeepers and servers. It helps ensure they give you the best service, look for you to get your drink order, and reward them if they go out of their way for you. Plus most international resort and cruise staff don’t earn much income. So a few dollars means a lot.
Special and premium services and facilities aren’t included in AI fees. This may include certain specialty restaurants, romantic private dinners, top-shelf alcohol, wine bottles, cabanas, spa and wellness treatments (massages, salon services), off-site excursions and tours, golf fees, motorized sports (jet skis, boat rentals), and childcare.
Double-check resort pricing. Some all-inclusive resorts offer both room-only and all-inclusive rates. But this choice may not be on your booking site or the info can be hard to find. Verify your booking with the resort to avoid problems.