It’s happened to all of us: you get back from summer vacation, are basking in the afterglow, and then—whammo—you open your credit card account and discover you spent more than you planned.
Perhaps a lot more. All-inclusive resorts are a common remedy for such post-trip remorse.
Some people dismiss all-inclusive resorts, assuming the worst:
Mediocre lodgings, mediocre buffets, mediocre drinks, a party environment, and people who don’t mind all of the above. But wait a minute. That is only if you select the incorrect all-inclusive. The perfect one might be a cost-effective vacation option, especially for families with children. This is why:
You know how much your vacation will cost ahead of time.
You don’t have to go for your wallet ten times a day, feel ripped off every time you visit the hotel restaurant or snack bar or lie on the beach terrified by thoughts of your looming hotel bill. Instead, that signifies you’re getting closer to achieving the elusive state of mind known as relaxation.
You’re more prone to experiment with new things.
If you’re staying at a resort where windsurfing or stand-up paddleboarding costs an additional $50, you might not bother. An all-inclusive remove that stumbling block. And doing new activities makes a vacation more enjoyable and memorable. So choose an all-inclusive where the price includes activities that would be costly elsewhere. Scuba diving, for example: If you dive every day, your holiday will most likely be far less expensive than if you choose a dive resort.
You avoid disputes over which activities to pursue.
A plethora of activities are available at the resort, allowing family or group members to go their way and pursue whatever things they want when they want. In other words, your group can be both cohesive and autonomous. You may have “me time” with your family without being selfish.
You are entitled to a free, supervised children’s club.
If you’re a parent, you’re significantly more likely to use a kids’ club if it’s free than if you have to pay a daily or hourly cost. Using a kids’ club also allows you to have some alone time as well as a few date nights with your husband. That means your vacation is, in fact, a vacation.
There are no disputes about food.
You don’t have to be concerned about your children not liking the food because there are always many options, usually in the shape of buffets or family-style meals. If your children try one meal and don’t like it, they can try something else without causing your food costs to skyrocket.
