12 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families of 5+ (2022) - FamilyVacationist (2023)

FAQs

What is a good price per night for an all inclusive resort? ›

All-inclusive prices range from around $150 to $430 per night, but vacationers can typically score a standard room for less than $300 nightly.

Negril is the place to be if you're looking for the best family-friendly beaches. Older kids will love the waterfalls, Blue Hole, White River tubing and Mystic Mountain adventure park near Ocho Rios, which is a good option for a more active vacation with the kids.

4. They're good for families and groups. All-inclusive resorts are a good fit for families or large groups of friends traveling together because everyone gets to have fun within the same confined space. You are able to spend as little/ much time with your friends/ family and you can all easily regroup when need be.

How many days to spend at an all inclusive? For me, 3 or 4 nights is absolutely perfect. Any more than that and I would probably get bored (and fat).

Be careful of what you eat while away on an all-inclusive vacation. Strange and exotic foods like grasshoppers, scorpion, deep-fried tarantula, and starfish are foods you might want to avoid.

Unsurprisingly, Mexico makes the list of the cheapest places to travel in 2022. The country has long ranked as an affordable and easy-to-reach destination for many Americans; reasonably priced direct flights are abundant.

Early or late: Either book very early (nine months or more in advance, especially if you want to stay during peak seasons like Christmas and New Year's) or take a chance on last-minute deals.

How do you get discounts at an all inclusive resort? ›

To get the best deal on an all-inclusive resort you'll want to use a metasearch engine like Kayak or an online travel agency like CheapTickets to get a sense of which resorts offer the cheapest pricing. If you have flexibility, search for deals by price instead of looking for a specific destination or resort.

Benefits of Booking an All-Inclusive Resort

Since food, activities etc. all go into the price of your stay, you often have a better ballpark number of how much your vacation will cost and can rest assured knowing that a fancy dinner at a restaurant on the resort won't set you back financially one bit.

Jamaica tends to have more of a vibrant nightlife and party scene, while The Bahamas is more laidback. However, The Bahamas has casinos, while Jamaica does not. The Bahamas, since it is made up of multiple islands, has many more beaches to choose from and is a popular place to island-hop.

Conclusion: Both areas of the island are beautiful and are well suited for a relaxing vacation. Montego Bay is better for families with children and for those who don't plan to explore the island much. Ocho Rios is better for young adults, adventure seekers, and people who don't have children.

If short airport transfers and a buzzing nightlife are important to you, Montego Bay is your pick. Looking for a more quaint and laid back destination, with some of Jamaica's best beaches? Negril is the vacation destination of your choice. You really can't go wrong with either of these dream destinations.

Depending on the all-inclusive resort, you may need to pay a surcharge for your kids depending on their ages. Where some all-inclusive resorts let kids stay free with paid adults, others charge extra for kids over 12 or a half-rate for those older than 15.

Often when you buy an all-inclusive package, your airfare is much cheaper than if you were to book air & hotel separately. These types of packages also include airport transfers which can get expensive on their own.

Full Board is similar to going All Inclusive, but without the added luxury of drinks and snacks. This option gives guests a little more freedom as they won't feel restricted to their hotel with plenty of reason to sample the local nightlife and pavement cafes in between mealtimes.

Poor quality food and drink

Stories of watered down alcohol and cardboard food are often features of low quality hotels – not part and parcel of a package holiday. All inclusive guests are served the same goods as cash paying guests, but don't expect the Courvoisier to be part of the deal, you will have to pay extra!

Towels. You don't need towels, as the resort provides these to all guests, and you can exchange them for clean dry ones at any time.

How much cash should I bring to Cancun? ›

Our recommendation is to always take an amount in cash, around 150 to 300 dollars converted into Mexican pesos per person, to save on tax and pay small daily expenses.

They tend to water down the drinks so they're not too strong, but if you prefer a stronger drink, order something other than the big pitcher everyone is drinking from. Either a special cocktail made just for you, or beer which is usually pretty consistent.

Do I Need to Tip at an All-Inclusive Resort? While tipping is a discretionary and optional gesture, at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and others, it is certainly encouraged.

Many all inclusive buffets serve food that is not hot enough and in many cases only just warm. If you think that something looks undercooked don't eat it. Remember proper cooking kills bacteria. Don't eat food if it has been exposed to flies, insects or birds (again common in all inclusive resorts).

According to the study, the most beautiful place in the world is Peyto Lake in Canada. This natural wonder is known for its neon blue water surrounded by dazzling mountains.

Seaton says booking through a travel agent typically won't cost you more. She says while some agents will charge you a nominal planning fee, many agencies like hers do not charge anything extra for their services. "We get paid a commission on the back end from the vendor, so that's how we make our income," she said.

What day of the week is cheapest a book an all-inclusive vacation? ›

The best day of the week to book a vacation package in order to get cheaper prices are Tuesdays. The same goes for flights and other activities for your vacation. Tuesdays are a day of the week when travel bookings tend to be a little lower.

It's cheaper to upgrade to all inclusive once you're in resort and you can do it for a minimum of 3 days or for the whole of your stay. We've upgraded both times we've stayed and found it to be good value - it's just so much easier as even a couple of drinks a day each soon adds up!

You can get free hotel nights by signing up for certain credit cards that give cash back or credit cards that partner with hotels. You can snag free hotel stays by promoting hotels online, or by joining a rewards program with a hotel chain.

Once you get to your destination, you can walk into your desired all-inclusive hotel and try to negotiate. You'll already have a place to stay, so you have nothing to lose! And the hotel may happily accept your desired rate, instead of losing money on empty rooms. It Doesn't Hurt to Try to Negotiate!

All-inclusive prices range from around $150 to $430 per night, but vacationers can typically score a standard room for less than $300 nightly.

The cheapest time to go to the Caribbean is during the low season, which generally runs from May through August. The cheapest months are May and June. If you do not mind some rain showers during your vacation, you can score great deals for a Caribbean vacation.

Include the cost of tips in your travel budget, and just consider them part of your trip. Generally speaking, USD is preferred, so just bring a stack of ones with you for meals, drinks, and housekeeping. I find that bringing $100-$200 for a week is usually plenty.

They offer historical excursions in their own style too; Cancun through large-scale sites and Jamaica through interpersonal experiences. Cancun is best if you prefer urban, more commercialized things to do; while Jamaica's more authentic setting brings you closer to local culture.

Traveling costs

Aruba is not a cheap vacation option. The land is full of luxury hotels and huge resorts with big casinos on the premises. Since it's also a secluded island, it can be quite hard to reach it without spending a lot. Jamaica isn't that much cheaper either, to be honest.

Is Jamaica cheaper than Cancun? ›

You want luxury accommodation at a budget. Luxury resorts and hotels in Cancun are generally cheaper than in Jamaica because of high competition. It might not be as luxurious as Jamaica's, but you're definitely getting more than what you paid for. You want to travel afterward.

Ocho Rios also has lovely beaches like Turtle Beach and James Bond Beach. However, Negril's beaches are more developed than those in Ocho Rios. If you're looking for more of a secluded beach experience, Ocho Rios is the better choice. However, if you want more of a party atmosphere, then Negril is the way to go!

September and October are the cheapest months to visit Jamaica and still offer sunshine despite the chance of rain. The springtime is a good time too, offering sunny weather and cheaper prices without big crowds of tourists.

The best time to go to Jamaica is November until mid-December, when resort and flight deals are great and peak season hasn't arrived yet. If you don't mind the crowds, your best bet is to visit Jamaica from mid-December until April, when the weather is optimal for a beach vacation.

Negril is the place to be if you're looking for the best family-friendly beaches. Older kids will love the waterfalls, Blue Hole, White River tubing and Mystic Mountain adventure park near Ocho Rios, which is a good option for a more active vacation with the kids.

Punta Cana is more resort-oriented. That is why, if you just want to have a good rest and not worry about anything, we advise you to visit Punta Cana. In addition, your vacation here will be cheaper than in Jamaica in terms of hotels, restaurants, and other activities.

Typically, these resorts charge one price per person, family, or couple that covers all or most of their vacation expenses, including the cost of the room, all meals and drinks as well as entertainment.

It's per person, make sure that you include all the people going with you in your all inclusive package, they will give you a all inclusive bracelet at the from desk, people without that bracelet will always pay for restaurants and drinks which is really expensive!

To get the best deal on an all-inclusive resort you'll want to use a metasearch engine like Kayak or an online travel agency like CheapTickets to get a sense of which resorts offer the cheapest pricing. If you have flexibility, search for deals by price instead of looking for a specific destination or resort.

Do resorts get cheaper closer to the date? ›

Since hotels are always aiming to maximize their occupancy rate, many will decrease their rates if they aren't meeting their expected targets. That's why you'll often see hotels dropping their prices a few days before a check-in date or on the day of arrival.

What is this? All of this to say: tipping the housekeeping staff at your all-inclusive resort is polite and appreciated. Aim for around $5 per night, but if you leave a massive mess behind you, it is generally encouraged to bump up your tip to $10.

You'll still find plenty of hotels who keep the price of a night's stay the same even when three or four guests are occupying a room. But some properties will start to add a small charge for the third and fourth guest.

Simply Ask to Upgrade Hotel Rooms

The best time to ask is at check-in. Ask the hotel staff if they can give you a free room upgrade and provide them with a context or reason for your request. As previously mentioned, it may help to bring up a special occasion. It also helps to ask for a specific upgrade.

The front-desk staff should have some leeway to allow discounts for guests who ask. You'll have a better chance of succeeding if you call as soon as you know your dates. You can try calling at the last minute or even negotiating in person when you arrive at the hotel, but you may end up not getting a room at all.