Hate to sound stupid, but I must be missing something. So many people on this site are looking for AI's - why? What exactly is an all-inclusive, what all is included? Are they better deals?

We stayed in places in Loreto, Mexico and in Belize where meals and tours were included in the prices. However, the reason the meals and tours were included is because there was no where else to eat or get a tour guide.

Should I be taking a second look at AI's?

You do not sound stupid. Your question is a good one. Some people like paying for the entire trip up-front and knowing that their meals/drinks and some tips have been taken care of.

Having said that, this is my take on an All Inclusive:

An AI might be for you if...

one does not want to be bothered by extra costs for food/drink after the trip is paid for

one does not have to leave the said property for any reason and it doesn't cost an extra dime

there are usually many dinner/lunch/breakfast options for dining


the food is ok

better deals? it really depends on how much you eat/drink////we did an AI in the Bahamas and felt obligated to eat 3x day due to the cost, and we are not breakfast eaters, very light lunch with dinner as our highlight ( I think we got 'em on the drinks

AI is a matter of personal taste....We have learned to get snacks to keep in our room and to buy wine/beer/liquor at a local store for a very small amount and mix our own as needed.

I have not had a tour included in the AI that we did, but that does sound nice, as tours can be costly.

All of our friends who have been to Jamaica and go each year, always do the AI thing. Some do it because they don't want to think about anything but relaxation and some because they are new at planning trips.


Hope this helps, rather than confuses.

I have traveled to a lot of islands and have never gone AI until the trip I am taking to Punta Cana in the spring. Most of their resorts are AI. and we got a pretty good deal. You really have to weigh the cost. If you are not big eaters and not big drinkers and do not do a lot of water sports, AI may not be for you. Some of the islands I have been to are very expensive to eat at, others aren't so bad. Before you decide, check Trip Advisor and see if you can find out answers to any of your questions. Hope this helps.

AI'S can keep vacations simple and stress-free for people who really need to just kick back. For one price you can enjoy accommodations, meals, snacks and beverages. In addition, AI's include recreational activities, water sports, entertainment, hotel taxes and gratuities in the rate. Only the spa services are an additional charge. They can be perfect for people who work hard, are bigger eaters or drinkers, are interested in lots of water sports or learning how to do different things, don't really want to rent a car or pay for taxi's or are working with a budget.

If you do go with an AI, don't let a free meal keep you from enjoying the rest of your trip. We stayed at Sandals St. Lucia, and even tho it was AI, we left the property on 2 differnt days, right after breakfast, and did not return until late evening. Yes, we had to pay for a meal or two elsewhere, but we really experienced the island like we wanted to. We tend to drink and eat heartily on vacation, so it's still worth it to me.

I look at where I want to go first, then figure if I want to stay at an AI or not.

Hope you enjoy wherever you go!
Marti

We like the AI's because it seems to simplify our trip for us a little. We look for a couple of resaurants on the island to hit while we are there. Just because you go to an all inclusive resort does not mean you are tied to the resort the whole time. We leave the resorts to do excursions.
I do not feel like because I have paid for the food I have to eat there for every meal. When I take my children to a restaurant and they do not eat their whole meal I do not force them to eat it anyways just because I had to pay for it. We definately do not just sit around and stuff our faces and drink -but if we decide to we can!
I feel it is worth the money-to us anyways. Maybe it is just a comfort thing for us-since our first trip was an All Inclusive, so we kinda know what we are in for.
I guess according to iw , I would fit into the 'don't want to be bothered' category!!
LvSun, pick somewhere you would like to stay and a price point and go from there. I think this is a very personal choice, it really just depends on your style of travel or what works best for you. Take care

Although we are not big drinkers... the thought of having to figure out where to eat in the evening or lunch is more than i want to do on vacation now. Not to mention add in the extra cost of taxi cabs and many of the restaurants being way over priced to the tourists. Sadly, I've seen guests who get fall down drunk at A! and if i could get a card just allowing me so many drinks per day I would be happy, In the D.R. if your out away from things it's a little bit more difficult finding local restaurants where we are going.. KNOWING hits it on the head...and tomorrow we go off to our favorite winter resort for a stress free vacation...to sit in the sun and not worry about a thing...

You've gotten good info but I'll add my two cents...

I wasn't sure about the AI - what if the food is bad etc. But traveling with two kids in Mexico we fell in love with the idea. No more worries about those half finished $4 water bottles or the occasional ice cream. For the kids - everything is a yes! I like to travel out - and we didn't hesitate to do that one night for dinner to get more "local" flavor. It was worth the "added" expense.

There are certain places that I would do AI's - the DR, Jamaica, parts of Mexico - where resources may be limited, food is expensive or even a safety factor if necessary.

Funny - had some of the best sushi at the Paradaiso Beach AI in Playa del Carmen. Go figure!

Like anything - you need to do your research - often you get what you pay for.