A Guide to Choosing an All-Inclusive Resort

These vacation destinations offer family-friendly activities, adventurous excursions, gourmet dining and more.

- EMMA PATCH

IN 2022, vacationers purchased almost 111 million nights at all-inclusive resorts globally, according to STR, a hospitality data and analytics company. Once known for subpar food and watered-down drinks, all-inclusive resorts have seen a renaissance since the pandemic, evolving to include high-end and diverse experiences. Major hotel brands such as Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott had started to invest more into their all-inclusive offerings before the pandemic, but COVID-era travel made them even more popular as travelers sought out destinations where they could stay in one place, maintain their distance from others and keep an eye on their spending.

At traditional all-inclusive resorts, food and drinks, and typically some activities and entertainment, are included with your accommodations. But some things are almost never included. Oftentimes spa treatments and premium dining upgrades incur an additional fee. Pricier menu items-say, the best cut of steak, a fine wine or a private, candlelit dinner on the beach-are usually excluded. Also, every destination differs when it comes to tipping. "Sometimes people assume that gratuities for the restaurant and housekeeping staff are being covered by the all-inclusive fee, but that is not always the case," says Kirsten Maxwell, creator of the family travel blog Kids Are a Trip. To be sure you're tipping appropriately, check the resort policy in advance.