23 Affordable All-inclusive Resorts for Families and Couples (2023)

FAQs

Where is the cheapest place to book all-inclusive vacations? ›

Expedia is one of the most well-known sites to book all-inclusive vacations. It's one of the best because it provides many bundle options, such as flight/hotel, flight/hotel/car, hotel/car, or flight/car. Expedia also offers trips to almost everywhere with reasonable pricing.

Pros of staying at an all-inclusive vacation:

Everything is paid for so it's easy to keep within your budget. And if you find a deal, they can even be quite cheap. They're perfect for people who don't like to plan trips. They're hassle free and feel like a true vacation where you can let go and unwind.

An all-inclusive vacation is a vacation that includes all the essentials in the booking price. Besides accommodation, you can expect food, drinks, activities, and entertainment to be included, without having to pay extra for it.

Early or late: Either book very early (nine months or more in advance, especially if you want to stay during peak seasons like Christmas and New Year's) or take a chance on last-minute deals.

All-inclusive prices range from around $150 to $430 per night, but vacationers can typically score a standard room for less than $300 nightly.

There is a lot to consider when booking an all-inclusive resort experience. While it may seem like you won't need to bring any money with you because of the all-inclusive nature of your vacation, you'll need to take a few hundred dollars in cash along.

It's easy to think of the all-inclusive resorts as being the purview of hard-drinking spring breakers. But when vacationing with kids, all-inclusive can actually save you big—money and mental health.

What is the difference between full board and all inclusive? Full board means that breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the price. And making an all-inclusive reservation means that, in addition, you will have all the drinks and snacks included.

Can you bring a guest to an all-inclusive resort? ›

Visitors Cost Extra

As a safety precaution, non-registered guests are not allowed at many all-inclusive resorts. Resorts that do allow visitors often charge pricey day passes (sometimes for more than what a room would cost) to prevent outsiders from taking advantage of the free booze and food.

Most all inclusive deals comprise breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and unlimited soft drinks and local alcoholic drinks. Light all inclusive is closer to full board and will have limits on food and drink, whereas plus packages can include extras like premium beverages or a 'free' mini bar in your room.

Package Deals Typically Are Good Deals

Those bundles are almost always a better price, or they offer some additional perk that booking a la carte wouldn't offer.”

Travel agents are useful if you're doing a very costly or complex trip, planning a honeymoon or something fancy, or traveling with a large group. They have access to a number of deals and bulk buying options we DIY solo consumers don't, especially when it comes to tours, high-end flights, and cruises.

This is possible because when you pay for your vacation package, often this includes everything from flights and airport transfer, to luxury accommodation, meals, and entertainment. All-inclusive means different things depending upon where you go.

The cheapest time to go to the Caribbean is during the low season, which generally runs from May through August. The cheapest months are May and June. If you do not mind some rain showers during your vacation, you can score great deals for a Caribbean vacation.

Fall is the best season for an all-inclusive vacation, when rooms are often significantly cheaper. Off-site activities, usually limited to a certain number of people, also tend to fill up fast during the high seasons. Seasonal price drops on airfare – on both domestic and international airfares – start in August.

Do flight prices go down on Tuesday? ›

Average domestic airfare price by day

The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket.

The average price of a 7-day trip to Cancun is $1,116 for a solo traveler, $2,004 for a couple, and $3,758 for a family of 4. Cancun hotels range from $25 to $525 per night with an average of $39, while most vacation rentals will cost $20 to $440 per night for the entire home.

The average price of a 7-day trip to Mexico is $997 for a solo traveler, $1,571 for a couple, and $2,050 for a family of 4. Mexico hotels range from $38 to $201 per night with an average of $71, while most vacation rentals will cost $80 to $490 per night for the entire home.

It's per person, make sure that you include all the people going with you in your all inclusive package, they will give you a all inclusive bracelet at the from desk, people without that bracelet will always pay for restaurants and drinks which is really expensive!

We typically go for four nights and bring $500, reserving $200 for tipping and the rest for any extras or gifts to bring back home. We always bring a credit card with no foreign conversion fees, in case we need to spend more. I always take a $1000 plus.

How to Not Over Pack for Your All Inclusive Vacation. There are definitely things you don't need to bring so that you can save space in your luggage. You don't need towels, as the resort provides these to all guests, and you can exchange them for clean dry ones at any time.

Our recommendation is to always take an amount in cash, around 150 to 300 dollars converted into Mexican pesos per person, to save on tax and pay small daily expenses.

Depending on the all-inclusive resort, you may need to pay a surcharge for your kids depending on their ages. Where some all-inclusive resorts let kids stay free with paid adults, others charge extra for kids over 12 or a half-rate for those older than 15.

An all-inclusive vacation is just what it sounds like: You pay upfront for a package that includes your room, meals, gratuities and perks such as health clubs, nonmotorized water sports, yoga sessions, kayaking and salsa lessons. Once you arrive at the resort, you never have to leave the property.

These include excursions like booze cruises, dolphin encounters, fishing charters, and dune buggies. Excursions are an additional cost. Excursions usually include transportation to/from the resort, but may or may not include food, drinks, or snacks. Gratuities are almost always expected.

Is it cheaper to go half board or all-inclusive? ›

CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTION FOR YOU

If you're travelling with the family, all-inclusive holidays do tend to be the most affordable choice. They include everything, so you'll only need a little extra money for spending throughout the holiday.

Half board is breakfast and one meal ,usually dinner included. But not the drinks on it. Full board is all meals without drinks , all inclusive means ALL and breakfast only means breakfast included!

At many all-inclusive resorts, room service is not a luxury or added price -- instead, it's included in the overnight fee.

A lot of all-inclusive resorts have dress codes, especially at dinner time. Many require men to wear long pants, collared shirts and/or close-toed shoes. Without the proper attire you may be stuck eating at the buffet every night.

Often, the resort will have a local specialty like pina coladas or strawberry daquiris, which they'll make in a giant pitcher. They tend to water down the drinks so they're not too strong, but if you prefer a stronger drink, order something other than the big pitcher everyone is drinking from.

Snack responsibly with vegetables, hummus, fresh fruit, nuts (almonds, pistachios and walnuts) and a glass of water before the main course arrives. This will reduce the amount of food you will eat overall. It's best to avoid all soda, which is likely to be quite available whether at a resort or on a cruise ship.

Six alcoholic drinks are only allowed if you're on an all inclusive holiday. This means you can have up to three at lunch, and three at dinner.

According to a letter sent by tour operator Thomas Cook to customers which confirmed the new rule updates, “all-inclusive” no longer means “unlimited drinks”. Instead, holidaymakers will be allowed three drinks at lunch and three drinks at dinner as part of their package. Any more they'll have to pay for.

A letter sent to customers of tour operator Thomas Cook confirmed the new rule updates: “All-inclusive” no longer means “unlimited drinks.” Instead, vacationgoers will be limited to six drinks per day. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions.

For big and important trips, start planning 6-12 months in advance. This will give you time to find the best price on airfare, lodging, and activities. It's also plenty of time to save money for the trip, get/renew passports, learn a little about the language and culture, and research your destination in depth.

Do hotel prices go down closer to the date? ›

The best deals can usually be had at the last minute. Hotwire.com bases their business model on it. Since the hotel rooms are likely to go unused they might as well rent them out cheap. I've booked rooms within 48 hours and had some great discounts, like >50% off regular price.