December 15, 2018As the winter months creeps in, vacationing at an all inclusive vacation destination assuredly brings out the traveler in us. Spending time on white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters is a welcome alternative to the icy and snowy winter conditions mid western United States have.
Pondering on our travels to Mexico and several destinations in the Caribbean, we have learned a few things that helped us better manage our time at the resort, get the most out of our stay, and save money as well. If you are planning to delve into the all inclusive vacation craze, here are mistakes most seasoned travelers avoid when booking their next tropical getaway.
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Not comparing multiple websites for deals
The internet might be a lot of things, but when it comes to shopping around and looking for the best deal available, nothing beats the convenience and sheer efficiency of the internet. Look for deals and plan your travels around them. Here are some of my favorite sites you might want to check out:
Not learning everything you can about your hotel before booking
Ironically, just because a hotel is “all inclusive” doesn’t really mean everything is. Before you book, spend a little bit of time reading the “fine print” and find out what is included in your stay. For the most part, food and drinks are inclusive. Some might have specialty restaurants with ala carte offerings that incur additional costs. Same is true with premium drinks as well. Some hotels may charge extra for wifi access. In summary, it is best to know what is or is not included with your stay so there won’t be any surprises that might affect your budget.
Not spending enough time planning your packing
Nothing ruins a vacation moment more than forgetting to pack something that you need on your trip. Making a packing checklist is a great way to make sure you’ll have everything you need for your trip. You can also read our ultimate packing checklist here. In addition, don’t forget to pack some sunscreen and bug-spray for your trip. These items are usually highly overpriced at the resort.
Not bringing cash or credit cards
While you’ve already paid for majority of the cost of your trip, forgetting to bring some cash or your credit card might make you miss out on some of the fun. Local shops usually take only cash while most of the restaurants and stores outside the resort will gladly accept your credit card for your purchases. Having a bit of cash for tipping is a great way to show your appreciation for excellent service.
Spending hours listening to time share presentations
I’ve been on several all inclusive vacations, and most of them have people who are looking for vacationers to sell time shares or VIP memberships. They will entice you with special gifts or huge discounts on excursions, or maybe a couple’s massage for 90 minutes of your time. If you would like to save some money or enjoy free gifts, doing the presentation is a pretty good deal. Plus, you might be interested in what they have to offer. On the other hand, when we’re on vacation, we would rather not spend hours listening to someone’s sales pitch.
Misplacing or forgetting your travel documents
Golden rule of traveling: Never lose your travel documents. Yes, I’m talking about your travel passport and visa. In the slim chance of it happening, here are a few tips you can do:
- Make multiple copies of your passport and visa. If you ever lose it, it’ll be easier to procure one.
- Always have these documents with you when flying. Don’t check them in with your luggage.
- Keep them locked in the safety deposit box of your hotel room.
Taking off your wrist band
There’s really no reason to take them off. But if you really have to, just remember that losing it is a costly mistake. If someone were to find and wear it, they’ll be able to take advantage of the hotel’s all inclusive offerings. For this reason, they’ll charge you around up to $100 a day for each wrist band lost. Not a good thing to happen especially when you’re on vacation.
Not researching excursions and activities ahead of time
Some prefer to travel by feel and just go with the flow. That’s perfectly fine. But if you find yourself a new vacation spot, chances are you are unaware what to expect and what fun things your destination holds. In this day and age, finding out is just a few mouse clicks away. So get on your computer and start looking. When you get to your resort, you’ll know what you want and what’s best for your budget.
Not making a trip itinerary
Planning ahead does have its advantages. Vacations days always seem too short. You would rather spend them doing what you came to do, indulge and have a great time, than to exhaust your precious time researching activities and landmarks. We used to just pack up and go. Later on, we realized that there are certain places we’ve missed and awesome local perks we could have experienced.
Selecting peak travel dates when booking
There are reasons why people travel to your selected destination more on certain times of the year. Probably the same reason why you’re going. Chances are, booking prices are higher and the resort might get too crowded. You can save some of your hard earned cash by traveling during off peak seasons. Some hotels offer great deals and discounts to fill their empty rooms.
Not checking the resort’s demographics
Not every all inclusive resorts are the same. Some are great for kids and the entire family, while some are great for couples and honeymooners. Imagine the awkward moment when you realize that you have mistakenly booked yourself a clothing optional resort. It really doesn’t take a lot to browse through your hotel’s website and find out what they have to offer.
Not having a budget
You might have picked an all inclusive resort where almost everything is paid for up front. But during your stay, the concierge convinced you to go for a couple of fun filled excursions. Why not get a nice relaxing massage while you’re there? Let’s not forget that wifi is almost a necessity these days. Once you add these up, plus mix in a little bit of local shopping, you’ll find yourself spending a lot more than you anticipated. Having a budget can also mean you’ll be more prepared for such expenses and pick and choose how much you’re willing to spend to be able to stay in your financial comfort zone.
Conclusion:
Taking a break from life’s monotony is a treat you’ll have to experience to keep your sanity. Going all inclusive is a great choice. But like everything else in life, a little bit of planning and preparation goes a long way. Travel on and enjoy what this life has to offer!
Trip To Europe Tips
Hey!
Your article is really interesting and serious!! Nice pics
Many thanks,
Best and continue!
Trip To Europe Tips
Jen Jen
Thank you 🙂 These are what we’ve learned from our travels and we’re more than happy to share.
Nofi
I have never booked an all-inclusive, those are really not my type of things, but it is always good to know these stuff just in case i decide to do it.
Jen Jen
We like to try different experiences when we travel. We simply adore the appeal of heading to a resort where all the food and drinks are inclusive. You literally walk into a restaurant and order anything off the menu, or go to a bar and ask for any drink and not pay anything extra. It’s not a very immersive way to travel but a great way to indulge, relax, and disconnect from the world.