You have talked to your travel agent.
You have looked at countless brochures and you have checked out various
resorts online. Now you are ready for
your All-Inclusive vacation.
"All inclusives take a lot of pressure off you," states Karen
Gill, Travel Consultant with Plan A
Vacation. You show up, lock your
valuables away in your room safe and go and have fun without the worry of
budgeting your money etc.
Your meals are cooked for you, there is lots of activity and the sun
and the beach are wonderful.
If you're an all-inclusive novice, here are a few survival strategies
to get the most out of your vacation.
What time does the plane (usually a charter) leave? If you're an early riser, you may not mind
arriving at the airport at the crack of dawn. For others, early departures are a
non-starter. It never hurts to ask your
travel agent if another flight is available that's not so early. You may be surprised at your options. But a late flight to your destination means a
late arrival -- and usually a late flight back home.
2. When does my Vacation start?
Many people consider their vacation starting when they arrive at the
resort. You have to stop this type of
thinking. The vacation starts when you
leave your driveway. The airport is part
of your vacation so make the best of it.
Do some shopping, purchase some airport lounge passes, upgrade your
seats on the plane to include some amenities and treat the traveling as part of
the experience.
3. The room
When you arrive make sure that your room is in working order. Check out the air conditioning, the TV, the
safe, the water temperature in the bath and shower and even the temperature of
the bar fridge. If there is anything not
working properly immediately go to the front desk and request assistance. This is a good time to do this because chances
are there are still rooms that haven't been filled. Better to be switched to a new room before
you unpack than to wait a day or two into your vacation.
4. The food
Be careful not to fall into the buffet rut. The single-biggest comment, positive or
negative is about the food. The buffet
is usually unavoidable at breakfast, but for lunch and dinner check out other
places to eat on the property. It's a
good idea to select a resort with a number of dining options. Or eat out. Venturing beyond the resort may
expose you to local cuisine and will certainly add variety.
5. Reservations required
Al la carte dining is preferred by many and to get the most enjoyment
out of them you must remember to make your reservations. Even if a resort claims that reservations are
not required, check to see if you can still make them. If you can you will most likely have less
waiting times and a more enjoyable evening.
As soon as you arrive, find out how you can make reservations.
6. Tips
Even though you've paid for your vacation upfront, gratuities are
always welcome. For example, though Cuba
officially bans tipping in resorts, most of the people working in the resorts
rely on tips just to get by. A good practice
is to tip at the bar a couple of times during the week, leave a tip for the
maid and don’t forget the waiter.
Leaving them a one or two dollar tip is sufficient.
7. Explore
Don't let the upfront cost of your all-inclusive vacation limit you
from trying things off the resort. Some
people think the price of their vacation means they've paid for every possible
meal and drink, however getting out there and exploring the local scene is so
rewarding and fun. Do guided trips and
talk to the front desk to make sure you are not venturing into any unsafe
situations. Go explore and have fun.
Do your homework and talk to your travel agent. Your travel agent is your resource for all
that will be fun for you and your family.
He or she can make you aware of some amazing sights and experiences that
will make the trip worth every penny.