You may wonder whether you should book an all-inclusive vacation or book your flights and accommodations separately. I’ve done both and have discovered it all depends on the type of vacation and experience you wish to have. Some things to consider:
What is your budget? All-inclusive vacations can be a great budget-friendly option. Travelling can be expensive, and accommodations can be a huge expense. Also, if you are a drinker, then bonus – no need to worry about paying extra for drinks. Of course, food plays into this as well. Speaking of food – eating well on vacation is important. You want to feel good on vacation. Resort food can be bland and I struggle with eating at all-inclusive resorts. You will also want to check if the restaurants at the resort require you to book reservations – if so, I suggest making your reservations in advance when you arrive. If you get an Airbnb, are you planning on making your own food? Do you really want to be cooking and doing dishes on vacation? And while some Airbnb’s provide some cooking essentials like cooking oils, salt & pepper etc. you should still expect to spend some money at the supermarket. You can also dine out, and there are many options, from street food vendors to luxury restaurants, depending on your budget. It can be really enjoyable exploring different local restaurants and breweries, for example, but of course this comes with a price.
Do you plan to spend all of your time on the beach? In that case, doing an all-inclusive may work great! It saves you from having to walk or travel to the beach, and you always have a lounge chair available for use. Travis and I recently chose to book an Airbnb in Puerto Vallarta (PV), Mexico, the beach was a few blocks from where we stayed. I know – sounds like no big deal right? I didn’t think so either when I first booked it. But getting to our Airbnb was all uphill, and it was a condo on the 6th floor – only accessible by stairs. It was quite the trek. Not to mention having to pack our things – like towels and beer (I love beer and, cold beer). We either had to bring them which meant they went warm really quick or we had to buy them. There are beach clubs where you can use the lounge chairs if you buy drinks or lunch which is what we ended up doing. We found we spent more money doing it this way.
Are you looking for privacy? You may want to consider the type of resort you book if you are a couple travelling or a family looking for kid-friendly amenities. If you are a couple that wants more privacy Airbnb could be a great option for you or an adults only resort. The good news is there are so many resorts, hotels and Airbnb’s out there to choose from to suite your needs.
Do you want to explore and experience the country and culture? Airbnb can be great for this! There are no confines, and you usually can find yourself in the heart of the culture, eating local cuisine, chatting with locals, and dancing in the streets like we did PV. Resorts are usually out of the way and require a shuttle to get anywhere – which means you are on a timeline and at the mercy of the shuttle or paying for private transportation.
In conclusion – there is no right or wrong answer. Hopefully, this post has given you some ideas to consider when planning your next vacation!
Thanks for being here, I hope to see you again soon!
