Tips for an All Pro All Inclusive Vacation

All inclusive resorts can potentially be the easiest vacation you ever planned but without getting down the basics, it could end up being one of the worst vacation you ever took. I just got back from one of the best all inclusive experiences I’ve had and wanted to share what I’ve learned. Some of these might seem like common knowledge or even unnecessary to outline but I’m just covering all the bases.

Booking Your Trip

1. Decide what kind of resort you want to stay at. Some are geared towards a younger crowd of partiers, some are more secluded romantic getaways and others are activity packed family spots. Make sure you select the right one for you or else you might be think you’re going to get a relaxing quiet vacation and end up surrounded by drunken coeds.

2. Do your research and read the reviews. If everyone says they get sick at the restaurants it’s likely you will too. On the other hand, if the resort is newly renovated some of the older reviews might be outdated and not as accurate. Sometimes you can filter by traveler type, room type and time of year so you get the most relevant insights. Time of year is especially useful if you’re planning around a holiday as those reviews would be able to tell you what the resort is like when it’s absolutely packed. Tripadvisor and Oyster are my go to for all inclusive resort reviews.

3. Get ready to scour the internet, because once you know generally where and what kind of resort you want to stay at, you have to find the perfect room at the right price. There are a lot of sites out there and almost all of them will have different pricing options so it’s important to check as many as you can. Below are some of the sites I most consistently find the best deals.

Honestly, it is a lot of work but you can save a lot. We ended up booking a room on Agoda for 300 less than we saw anywhere else. Another good place to check is the hotel’s direct website for rates. Sometimes they have a lowest price guarantee and signing up for their rewards program might get you extra benefits like free wifi or room upgrades.

Packing For Your Trip

1. Bring cash (in singles) so you can tip the bartenders, housekeeping and other staff. A tip goes a long way in getting better service.

2. Commonly forgotten items: Sun block, tanning lotion, medicine, bug spray, beach bag, outlet converter, portable battery, small speaker, snacks

3. I recommend bringing small games like monopoly deal or a deck of cards. Not only do they help keep you occupied but they’re also a great way to meet new people.

While On Your Trip

1. Using as much of local language as you know is appreciated by the staff. I don’t speak Spanish but a simple hola or gracias with a pleasant smile gets you a smile in return and often better service.

2. Make all your dinner reservations ASAP when you arrive. A lot of resorts are first come first serve for dinner reservations so if you wait you might not get any. If they open reservations day of, try going first thing in the morning.

3. Try the local dishes when available. The food at an all inclusive is never going to be 5 star quality (unless you pay 5 star pricing) but they’ll know how to make their own cuisines well. Ceviche is often fresh and delicious in the Caribbean so definitely order it if you see it.

The Ultimate All Pro Tips

1. Upgrade. Most all inclusive resorts have a premium level that comes with added perks. For us upgrading to “royal” was well worth it because not only did we we go from a normal room with 2 beds to a 3 room suite with a jacuzzi but royal level also came with unlimited wifi, a private hot tub, special royal only a la carte restaurant (that was actually the best food we had), designated beach with a beach bar and concierge staff that treated us exceptionally well and helped us get reservations to restaurants that were fully booked. Not having to worry about waking up early to get chairs on the beach was wonderful and the dedicated beach bar was staffed by the same people everyday so we could make a connection with bartenders who knew our drink orders. Plus, the beach, hot tub, restaurant and concierge were all within 1 minute of our suite. Popping into concierge mid afternoon for some chocolate covered strawberries and champagne was wonderful.

You can always upgrade at time of booking or ask about upgrading when you check in. Sometimes they’ll give you a discount at check in (we got 15% off). Shout out to the royal staff at Occidental Punta Cana for making us feel like royalty our entire stay (lookin at you RayRay, Vlad, Samuel, Lionell).

2. Wake up early for the best pictures. This is true on almost all vacations. Most people at the resorts sleep in so if you make your way out in the morning before 8/8:30, you’ll likely get the opportunity for some awesome pictures without a ton of people in the background. Also, depending on where you are staying, sunrises and sunsets might be the best time of day for picturesque photos. We woke up twice at sunrise around 5:45 and stayed on the beach til 6:30 and then went back to bed. We did it for the pictures but the sunrise was one of the most beautiful parts of our trip.

3. Be kind to the staff. If you are nice to them, greet them with a smile, and tip well, it is likely they will take care of you. Many of them will work your entire stay and will remember your faces and even names. Our waiter at the royal restaurant remembered us and saved us the same table every single meal we ate there. Even though there was no food served on the beach, another member of the staff was kind enough to bring us something from the restaurant because we had been friendly with them the day before. You should always be kind to everyone but especially the folks who can make or break your trip. And absolutely tip! When you get a drink, or a ride somewhere, or your room gets cleaned, be courteous and drop a few dollars. They deal with hundreds of people a day and somehow still have a smile on their faces, so it’s the least you can do to reciprocate.

4. Go with the right people. Every type of trip requires you go with the right kind of person but all inclusives generally mean you’re going to be spending all of your time with the same people and that’s not always easy. I love my girlfriends and I’m very social but I’m actually an introvert, so every night I needed a little time to recharge alone. They were understanding and gave me my time and space. Going with people who have similar drinking and eating habits can also make your trip easier and you can worry less about being judged.

5. Relax! All inclusives are supposed to be easy so that you can fully kick back and not worry as much. Everything is included and taken care of . All you have to do is enjoy the sunshine, the drinks and the good company.

Tips for an All Pro All Inclusive Vacation