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The resorts come in all shapes and sizes. Some include
airfare and hotel. Some include airfare, hotel, transfers, and some
meals. Others include all meals and activities, but not airfare.
Often, purchasing airfare as part of the package can be a better deal
than doing so separately, unless you are using frequent flier miles.
Many all inclusives have, as part of their program,
child-care facilities that are often a resort-within-the-resort for
children, a "day camp" that is special and that kids look forward to
attending. And many all-inclusive resorts give incredible price breaks
to children (they don't drink liquor, after all,) while some even have
no charge for children up to 17 sharing their parents' room.
What are the advantages of all-inclusive vacation
resorts?
The security of knowing that one price covers
everything, with none of those nasty surprises that can blast a hole
in any family's travel budget. All meals, entertainment, activities
and sports, as well as airfare and accommodations, are generally
included in one price. You can forget your worries about carrying lots
of extra cash for expenses, and just sit back and enjoy your vacation.
Who should check out an all inclusive?
Travelers who are: on a tight budget, traveling with
the kids, receiving the trip as a wedding gifts or getting married on
the honeymoon.
So, is an all inclusive resort right for you?
If you are the type of traveler that enjoys sampling
all of the local fare, then spending all of your time at an
all-inclusive resort is probably not for you. If you like to go
somewhere just to relax and not worry about taking out your wallet
every couple of hours to pay for food, drinks, or activities, then
there's probably an all-inclusive resort that's just right for you.
If you like to stay up all night partying and drinking,
if you want to take advantage of all the included watersports and
activities, if you want to have food and snacks available all day and
if you don't want to have to worry about the final bill when you check
out, an all-inclusive is definitely a viable option. Some resorts even
boast 24-hour room service.
All-inclusive resorts can be costly. On the other hand, they can also
provide great value. If you are going to a destination where the cost
of meals, snacks, liquor and activities are expensive, and your hotel
or resort is high-quality with an expensive nightly rate, an all
inclusive might end up saving you money.
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If, on the
other hand, you don't drink much, you enjoy lazing on the beach and
getting an early nights sleep, you are dieting and choose simple salads
for your meals, you would probably be overspending for an all-inclusive
resort. Bear in mind the drinks are only the cheap local which are not
very strong.
On the down side of all-inclusive vacations, some folks get
a bit weary of dining in the same restaurant night after night. The resort
rooms may be smaller than standard hotel rooms. Some, not all of the
all-inclusive resorts provide shows. And some of them have different show
every night.
Some resorts have kids clubs for the little ones. Kids
clubs begin at any hotel at 4 years of age. Nannies or babysitters are
extra costs not included in the all-inclusive package. Almost all the
allinclusives have activities from beach volleyball to bingo and other
games.
It's a good idea if you want a cashless vacation in a
secured environment, if you are satisfied that the dining options offered
will be suitable for your tastes, if you take advantage of the watersports,
child-care and bars.
If you are adventurous and want to spend your days
exploring the country you are visiting and your evenings trying in-town
dining options, you would be better off choosing a resort that offers that
kind of flexibility instead of an all inclusive.
What is usually included in all inclusive vacation package?
All meals and drinks, beer, wine, premium liquor and
tipping, government taxes, gratuities, entertainment, activities and
sports, as well as airfare and accommodations, are generally included in
one price.
Airfare and hotel transfers are optional when buying all
inclusive package. Tipping is not allowed. One benefit of the
all-inclusive resort is that the single up-front price covers unlimited
activities.
Phone calls and items purchased at the gift shop are
included. The more expensive all-inclusive resorts is going to have the
nice sit-down restaurants. The next step down will have all buffet dining.
Tennis and squash courts may be free and often night-lit
courts at no charge, but bring your rackets, as you'll probably have to
pay to rent them. Most packages do not include golfing fees. In most cases
you have to rent a golf cart, but compared to the price of play on most
courses, that cost is negligible. Sailing craft are free as often as not.
Snorkels, masks and fins are usually free, but may have a time limit
(note: bring masks from home if you can, keeping in mind that the
one-size-fits-all variety is often useless on little faces, leaving kids
to snorkel miserably with a face-full of salt water). On-property
snorkeling is free, but the most interesting underwater sights are usually
somewhere else. The latter will cost you, if not for the snorkeling
itself, then for the transportation to get there and back. With motorized
sports costs can climb upwards of $60 an hour. Parasailing is another
costly venture. Divers, too, might find an all-inclusive cost-effective.
Tanks! have to be paid for separately, but diving excursions are included
in some of these resorts. If you are not certified, most resorts offer a
"resort certification" which will allow you to go on closely supervised
guided dives. A resort certification is a great introduction to the sport.
If, however, you are already a certified diver, some resorts, such as
Sandals, Beaches, and Gala Resorts, offer one or two tank dives a day in
their all-inclusive packages.
Many all inclusive resorts offer spa treatments as part of
their packages, with the option of paying for more intensive therapies.
Do not forget to budget extra cash for some excursions that
weren't included in all inclusive package. A swim with the dolphins, for
example, runs about $100 per person -- more than small change if you're
traveling with a family of four.
Consider carefully these additional factors before
purchasing an all inclusive vacation package.
Price is often relative to quality. If it seems too good to
be true, it probably is. However, sometimes it's possible to get an
amazing and legitimate deal, as long as you're looking in the right places
- Apple Vacations, Funjet Vacations, TNT Vacations and numerous smaller
wholesalers.
Look for deals. Check websites for details. Check to see
what's included in the price, so you don't incur any additional costs that
you're not prepared to pay for.
Organize any visas and travel insurance policies well in
advance. Your tour operator and travel agent should advise you on all of
these but you should also contact the embassy or consulate of the country
you are visiting for information about visas.
It is important that you speak with your doctor about the
necessary immunizations for the areas you are traveling to. When you're
traveling in Mexico, you must take extra care when it comes to drinking
water, or fresh beverages that may have tap water added to them. Check ice
also - ask if it was made with tap water - it is unlikely that your ice
will have been made with tap water; but its worth asking in more rustic
establishments and rural areas. Salads can also be dangerous if they have
been rinsed with tap water. The rule is - if in doubt, ask first! All main
hotels and good restaurants use purified water throughout
In order to be eligible for special honeymoon offers and
discounts, it's wise to take a copy of your marriage certificate with you
as proof that you are on honeymoon.
If you are a single parent, or if your partner will not be
traveling with you and your children for whatever reason, you must get a
notarized letter from the absent parent, giving consent for the child or
children to be traveling with one parent absent.
If you are estranged from your partner, and you are the
legal guardian of your child / children, you can take a copy of the court
order (note: original only - no copies!) with you and this will suffice to
get your child or children with you.
If you are a widow or widower, you will need to write a
letter to explain this and get it, and a copy of the death certificate,
notarized and carry both of these documents with you when you travel.
If you are under 18 and want to travel without your
parents, you will need to carry with you a notarized letter of consent
signed by both parents.
If you are a lone parent or will be traveling with your
children but without your partner, or under 18 traveling alone, get the
required paperwork together before you leave. Airlines are now refusing to
board lone parents and children and children traveling unaccompanied
without this notarized letter of consent.
Many hotels in Mexico set age restrictions during spring
break. Here's an example of many hotel Spring Break policy:
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Hotel will accept individual and student group bookings.
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A refundable deposit of $200 per person and credit card
are required at time of check in.
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Any credit cards used must be issued in guest's name.
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Guests may be required to sign an agreement/list of rules
at check in.
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At least one person per room must satisfy the minimum age
requirement for check in for individual student bookings.
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At least one adult for every 20 students is required for
student group bookings.
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If you or someone in your party is confined to a
wheelchair, you'll want to explore accessibility issues very carefully.
Ask your travel agent specific questions that may concern you.
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Always have a way out. Ask about cancellation policies,
and look into travel insurance, especially if you are booking through an
online agency. Choose wisely and make sure the resort's amenities and
programs fit your lifestyle and character, and you'll have the time of
your life!
More detailed information about over 400 all inclusive
hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico could be found at
http://www.sunvacations.org and
http://www.iberostar.info.
This all inclusive vacations directory, which consists of
36 main sections arranged alphabetically by destination for quick and easy
access, consolidates all inclusive resort information not previously
available from any other single source. Researched and compiled by a group
of travel agents with experience in the Mexico and Caribbean resorts, the
directory offers a quick shortcut to travel-related information on the
Internet. Each listing contains resort's web address, reviews, and
pictures, slide show, virtual tour, virtual map and resort rating. For
both seasoned and inexperienced Internet all-inclusive vacation seekers,
SunVacations.org
will eliminate hours of search time. Instead of conducting key word
searches, users can simply reference destination descriptions in the
directory, and then go directly to the all inclusive resort they want
without having to sift through information that is unrelated or unwanted.
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is a branch of the Iberostar
Group specializing in top quality holiday hotels
Iberostar.Info is the world's most
comprehensive Mexico and Caribbean Iberostar resorts photo source on the
web, containing over 1000 images. This unique Iberostar photo collection
features 11 resorts and consolidates information not previously available
from any other single source.
The same
Iberostar hotels photo collection could be also found at
http://www.sunvacations.org
March, 2005
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