As a travel planner, I regularly stay at all-inclusive resorts and book luxury trips for my clients.
Booking a vacation can be daunting and complicated, and many people make mistakes along the way.
Booking the cheapest room, requesting an ocean view, and always taking kids with you is not a good idea.
One of my areas of expertise as a travel planner for Marvelous Mouse Travels is booking all-inclusive travel.
Luxury travel can be complicated to book, which can be confusing for first-timers. If he’s going to spend more than $3,000 on a week-long trip for two people, he’ll want to make sure he gets his money’s worth.
Here are the biggest mistakes people make when booking an all-inclusive trip.
Jump into an internet search before thinking about what you want
When selecting all inclusive resort, It’s important to consider your dream vacation before you start looking online. Determining your travel bucket list can really help narrow down your search.
I encourage my clients to think about things like their budget. non-negotiable Amenities, ideal location, ease of flight access, desired room amenities, resort size.
Book the cheapest room at the cheapest resort
All-inclusive travel means you get more bang for your buck.
We recommend focusing your search on properties with at least a 4.5 rating. High-value accommodations often struggle to provide quality food options, comfortable accommodations, and adequate service.
Entry-level rooms are the least expensive, but you may also have to pay a fee to reserve them.
The cheapest rooms have views of the parking lot or construction site. Or because it’s on the ground floor, it can get musty if you’re in a humid tropical location.
You can often upgrade to a better room for a minimal extra charge, and I think it’s worth it. If you’re on a budget, shave a day or two off your trip and enjoy a higher quality experience.
Bring the kids every time
There are lots of great all-inclusive resorts that are kid-friendly, but adults-only trips are also a lot of fun.
Invite your friends, family, and loved ones to rewind a few days without the kids.
On a recent trip to Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun, my husband and I were grateful to reconnect, unwind, and spend time free from work and family responsibilities.
forget to check food
One of the best parts of an all-inclusive vacation is enjoying unlimited food and top-notch drinks.
Expenses up to A week at a luxury resort A mediocre meal can be a less than enjoyable experience. When reading reviews, pWe pay close attention to comments regarding food quality.
I love the food and drink at the Palace, Sandals and Beaches resorts and often recommend them to my guests.
Excluding hurricane season completely
Booking a trip to the Caribbean or Mexico during the summer and fall (hurricane season) comes with some risk, but prices are usually significantly lower than at other times of the year.
While the weather may be great, there is no guarantee that your trip will not be affected by bad weather. If you are concerned, be sure to pay attention to the weather when booking and take out travel insurance.
My husband and I honeymooned in the Caribbean in the fall, and the weather was the best we’ve ever had on any vacation.
Book an ocean view room
One of the biggest disappointments I hear from clients is that their view did not meet their expectations.
Some resorts offer partial ocean views and Ocean view room — If you crane your neck, you might see a ray of blue through the trees.
If you want to see the beautiful blue sea from your balcony, you need to make a reservation. ocean front room.
Limit your search to tropical destinations
There are many popular all-inclusive resorts. tropical placesBut there are also some great options in Canada, Europe, Japan, and more.
Club Med offers all-inclusive resorts around the world. One of its newest offerings is Club Med Charlevoix, which offers all-inclusive ski experiences in the winter and adventure experiences in the summer.
implicitly trust friends’ recommendations
Your friends may have impeccable taste, but that doesn’t mean their favorite resort will meet your style or needs.
Some of my clients may love their resorts, while others may not enjoy them at all. Finding the right resort for you is a very personal process.
Not booked with Travel Planner
Admittedly, I’m a little biased, but hear me out. Choosing the right destination or resort for an all-inclusive vacation can be daunting. There are hundreds of accommodations to choose from in Mexico alone.
Most travel planners offer a free service (they receive commissions from hotel and other bookings) and can take a lot of the pain out of planning your trip.
I’m always looking for the best pricing and helping my customers relax before, during, and after their vacation.
As part of my agency, I also visit resorts to vet them for my clients. Reading reviews online can be helpful, but it can also be confusing, so we want to be able to make personal recommendations.