Is all-inclusive for you?

Is all-inclusive for you?

Richard and I began our travelling as University students. Which means we spent our fair share of time at many all-inclusive resorts. For those of you who do not know what an all-inclusive resort is, it is often a very large hotel with many rooms. It means all of your meals, entertainment, food, and most importantly drinks are included in your price. The only thing to worry about is tips and any extra money you may wish to spend on offsite excursions.

                We have been to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Side note: our favourite location is Mexico (all areas). There are many benefits to this kind of vacation, here are just a few:

•          There are few to no extra costs if you do not want there to be
•          You get to relax and literally do nothing if you want
•          Spas and fitness are often on site
•          There are opportunities to meet new people(at dinner, during pool volleyball, etc. )
•          The food can sometimes be pretty good and the variety is nice
•          You can eat a lot…..if that’s your thing
•          You can spend some time at some incredible pools
•           Most importantly……every drink you can imagine is included. And there is not limit!

Richard and I love going to resorts with my sisters and their husbands (brothers in law). The six of us have tons of fond memories of all-inclusive trips. We have some drinks, get silly, participate in the daily games/activities, and meet up for dinner. We believe it’s a great choice for groups. Heck, we even got married at one. But more on that later….

                Slowly over the years, Richard and I have been on vacations that are more adventurous. We have ventured to many parts of Europe, Asia, and more. It is through these trips that we have formed an appreciation for small boutique hotels, unique vacation rentals, and the push to go out and discover all there is to see of each unique destination. It lends to more spontaneous experiences, exposure to culture, and can be surprisingly affordable. Here are just some of the benefits of “freestyle” travelling:

• You can actually save money : often mom and pop shops serve food at fair prices and you can buy a bottle of alcohol for quite cheap in many countries (Canada excluded J)
• You get to find and appreciate local specialities and delicacies cooked by locals
• You get to rent cards/scooters and explore….there is so much enjoyment in this, it’s underrated
• You get to meet and interact with the hotel owners : there are often cool family stories or  history
•  Each day is new and different
•  You run into other fellow adventurous travellers and locals, who often have great food and  excursion suggestions
•  The boutique hotels or apartments are often unique and luxurious in ways that you just cannot  get with big box resorts

All in all we prefer “freestyle” travelling. We have many memories, and the ones that we have experienced through our own discoveries far exceed our all-inclusive memories. There is just an exposure and escape that I cannot describe. Try it. 

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Photo: @conciergecouple