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If the words “all-inclusive resort” make you think about mediocre food, watered-down cocktails and conga lines snaking around the perimeter of the swimming pool, you should know that the concept has gotten a serious upgrade from resort developers.
Both the Caribbean and Mexico are now bursting with all-inclusive properties and in tight economic times, opting for this one-price-fits-all vacation can be one way to reign in your travel budget. After all, with that set price, you’ll know the majority of your vacation costs upfront.
This year, all-inclusive resorts are offering discounts from free nights to airfare credits. Here’s a roundup of five of the best deals for a trip this winter.
The 200-room, adults-only resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya includes activities like kayaking, sailing and even introductory scuba lessons in its rates. Prices for a weeklong stay in January started at $792 a night. Book by December 19 to secure an airfare credit of $300 to $500, depending on the number of nights you book.
OK, so there are an abundance of swim-up bars (we counted three) at this all-suite hotel on Mexico’s bustling Yucatan Peninsula. But with guestroom options that include spacious three-bedroom spreads and a price tag that covers all meals, drinks, water activities like snorkeling and kayaking, and the kid’s club, we can live with the fact that fellow guests might be doing the backstroke after a few margaritas. Rates start at $220 per person, per night, in January. Book by December 31 for a trip next year and get 10% off the entire booking.
On the tranquil island of Barbuda, a 15-minute flight from Antigua, sits the Lighthouse Bay, a boutique resort with nine sand-front suites. Prices include all drinks and meals, including dining at the resort’s rooftop restaurant. Rates in January start at $989, per night but the resort is now offering 25% off a stay of three nights or more.
This 100-room luxury resort on the southernmost tip of Grenada, an island that has seen its travel profile raised in recent years, brings new value to the all-inclusive concept. Prices include all meals and beverages, as well as yoga classes, one daily scuba dive and a spa treatment during each day of your stay, except the day of arrival. Rates start at $225 per person, per night until December 18 and jump to $324 in early January. Holiday room rates start at $383. You’ll need to book by February 1.
Jamaica’s Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay has both all-inclusive and accommodation-only options. The resort’s Platinum Plan offers meals, drinks, airport transfers and water sports, along with free golf and horseback riding. The resort is offering free room upgrades between now and December 15 and from January 5 to February 12. A search for rooms in January turned up rates starting at $609 a night.
