All-inclusive. The words have a nice, calming effect, don't they? Just show up hungry, thirsty and lazy, and everything is taken care of for you. No need to worry about how to split a dinner bill with a group of friends or what those rum punches are doing to your bar tab. Find a palm tree, pull up a towel and take a snooze. Your work here is done.
Yes, life is good in the land of bottomless buffets and coed aqua-aerobics. But all-inclusives are not created equal. So what happens when you venture out of Beaches/Breezes/Sandals territory and into resorts that aren't exactly household names?
Check any Caribbean hotel review site and you'll be overwhelmed by the options. We were. But we narrowed our choices down to three lesser-known resorts, checking out the quality of the property, the amenities, the vibe and the overall value (room service? mambo demonstrations? top-shelf liquor?). Hard work, but somebody had to do it, and our findings may help you choose your own.
By John Deiner |
For casino nights and Tecate by the case, Cancun beckons. In the sights this time: all-adults Parnassus, among Cancun's older and more petite resorts.
By Andrea Sachs |
Lifestyle Hacienda, a rambling resort on Cofresi Beach near the town of Puerto Plata, has an easy air where boundaries blur and strangers fleetingly bond.
By Christina Talcott |
Bob Marley's all around at Club Ambiance, the all-inclusive resort at Runaway Bay on Jamaica's north shore, from the sounds of a gazebo bar to a three-foot-tall statue.
By Andrea Sachs |
Booking an all-inclusive in the Caribbean can be all-consuming. To simplify the process, follow these 10 steps to finding and reserving an all-inclusive.
By Andrea Sachs |
All-inclusives are not all the same, especially among the major players. Learn the distinguishing features of the Big Five.
