All-inclusive resorts are an extremely popular vacation option in the Riviera Maya region just south of Cancun, Mexico. I am very surprised at how little most people understand about the concept and value of an “all-inclusive” vacation. So today’s post is meant to educate you about this type of vacation.
The first all-inclusive resort was a Club Med that opened in 1950. Over the past 10-20 years, many resort hotel companies have embraced the all-inclusive concept, especially in popular Caribbean locations like Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. American tour companies like Apple Vacations, one of our preferred suppliers, have packaged these resorts with airfare so that travel agencies can sell all-inclusive vacations to their clients.
The photo below shows the pool area at the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya. Linda and I vacationed there less than two weeks ago.
Iberostar Paraiso Lindo Resort & Spa Pool
This 4-night all-inclusive vacation included airfare, accommodations in a junior suite, all meals and snacks at an international buffet and seven specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, unlimited imported and domestic drinks at seven bars and lounges, six pools, water activities, fitness center, taxes, government fees, gratuities, and transfers in Mexico.
All-inclusive means that once you pay for the trip, no money is needed unless you want to take an optional excursion or buy a souvenir in a resort boutique. We recommend that our clients take some small bills to tip bartenders, bar waiters, and restaurant waiters who really work hard to provide excellent service. But it is neither necessary nor expected to do so.
At the time of this post, booking this package with Apple Vacations for May 5 for 4 nights in a standard room (we upgraded to a junior suite) without insurance is $951.35 per person based on double occupancy. That’s for everything – airfare, transfers, resort accommodations, all your food, all your drinks, all your taxes, all your gratuities.
Just to give you an idea of special pricing often available from Apple Vacations, we have a group of over 100 people going to a comparable Riviera Maya resort later this month, and the rate for seven nights was only $1,160.94 per person. This group recognizes the value of an all-inclusive vacation!
Next time: More on the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya.
Antietam Travel Service (ATS) merged with WorldTravelService® (WTS) on December 11, 2017. WTS is the largest independently owned travel agency in the Mid-Atlantic States, with eight branch offices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The entire ATS staff stayed with the new company.
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There are so many things to do and see in the Riviera Maya, that i have to re-visit several times!