We have free airfare and would like to stay at a all-inclusive resort without spending a lot of money. Oct or first of Nov time frame.

Do you have any place in particular in mind?

Know that budget all-inclusives can be pretty grim (to downright scary food-wise).

Why not just book a nice local-style hotel on your own, and eat out in local restaurants. I know for a fact this can be done for a reasonable price in Old Town, Puerto Vallarta, for one example.

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cheaper for me to bid for

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but cancun.bookit.com for best cheap AI deals

Happy Planning,

OK, not gross, scary places but good deals with lots of beach. We don't drink which makes all-inclusives at good deal for some but we want to not think about anything including where to eat.

If you don't drink, and you're on a budget, an all inclusive doesn't make any sense. In Playa Del Carmen (which is 45 minutes south of Cancun airport), there are dozens of very nice beachfront hotels surrounded by good restaurants. You can easily get a room for around $100 a night, and then just stroll up on 5th ave (1 - 2 blocks from beach) to dine, shop and explore. Akumal and Tulum are other options - lots of nice beachfront hotels, condos, cabanas, etc. Some have dining on premises but are not all inclusive. The beach in all of these towns is a 10. Go to locogringo.com for lots of ideas, beach photos, online reservations, etc, etc.

The only reason to go with an all-inclusive IS for the bar bill imho. Why stay at a resort where you are eating mediocre buffet food every meal? Which is what it will be at the inexpensive resorts. When for the same price you could have ALL kinds of excellent, fresh, locally prepared food. I think you need to really think... is not wanting to have to think about where you eat, more important than having good food? If the price was the same or less not going AI?

I'm not again All Inclusives, just saying if that's the route you'd want to go, I'd be ready to pay a little more and make sure you are getting some decent a la carte restaurant choices, not just a steamtable buffet 3x/day.