Quote:
Originally Posted by Benzgirl
To those who have stayed at All-Inclusive Resorts, what is your opinion? I have never stayed at one, but have the opportunity to stay at one in Costa Rica in either April or May. In the past, I always shied from these because I want to eat out at other restaurants.
Any comments or opinions?
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I've only stayed at all-inclusive resorts, and I can't imagine going any other way.
There are so many places that have such great deals so that even if you travel away from the resort for a night, you won't feel like you're "wasting" more money by eating out once or twice.
And depending on where you are, you might not even feel the need to leave the resort! For my mom's 50th birthday, our family went to the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort and Spa. The place was basically it's own town. Technically, it was a bunch of resorts in one, and depending on which section you stayed in would determine which parts of the resort you could go to. We stayed in the Royal Suites, which were for adults only, and we had access to all parts of the resort (for just a slightly higher fee). We had huge rooms with a hot tub out on the balcony.
The entire resort had a few beaches, a dance club, a spa (with an infinity pool.. my favorite!), a bunch of restaurants, and numerous bars and pools (including our own by the Royal Suites which only the people in the suites could use).
The all-inclusive package there (which was VERY cheap considering everything we got and the size of the whole resort) included breakfast and lunch in the buffets, dinner in the buffets or one of the specialty restaurants (3 specialty dinners for a week's stay), all alcoholic beverages, cover charge to the dance club, snacks 24 hours a day, free access to the gym, jacuzzi, sauna and steam baths, and non-motorised water sports.
Depending on where you stay and what you're looking to get, it is definitely worth it! And it's so convenient to swim up to a bar, ask for a drink, and just get it without paying!
ETA: Here's a good website with tons of pictures of that entire resort so you can see what I'm talking about. No need to leave when you have all of this!
http://www.locogringo.com/kantenah/palladium2.html (The saltwater pool was also one of my favorite things about this place!)