Six Myths

Are you unsure of what a stay at an all-inclusive resort is really like? Then perhaps you should read these six myths about all-inclusives and the happy truths behind them. In illustrating the truths, I’ve drawn most of my examples from Jamaica, because its north shore, from Negril past Montego Bay to Ocho Rios, is all-inclusive ground zero. All the resorts there attempt to outdo each other, and this competition means good things for visitors.

Myth # 1
There’s not enough to do.
Au contraire! The goal of an all-inclusive is to keep you on the property, so they have activities going around the clock. For instance, all the oceanside resorts offer water sports, ranging from the simple (snorkeling) to the daring (parasailing). When I visited Grand Lido Braco, one of the more lush properties in the SuperClub’s chain, I decided to get my money’s worth by learning how to windsurf with free personal training.

Balancing on the board, hoisting the sail (so much heavier than it looks!) and then managing to catch a breeze took me more than an hour. But when I finally took off and made a 20-second run across the bay, I felt like the hero of the beach.

If you’re not in the mood for water play, all of these resorts have plenty of land happenings. At Grand Lido Sans Souci, the most luxurious and pricey SuperClub. I switched to more blissful workouts such as a swim in the mineral water pool and a yoga session taught by a Rastafarian.

On the other hand, if you just want to spend the day in a hammock, with your only exercise being turning pages or tilting to the side to grab your drink, that’s available too.

Myth # 2
They’re so expensive!
Seeing the total price of your vacation upfront can be a bit breathtaking. Per-person, per-day rates at an all-inclusive can be as low as about $150, but can also go up into the four and five hundreds. But this isn’t much different than cruise-ship pricing. Plus, at an all-inclusive there’s usually no tipping allowed. And when you book with an all-inclusive they’ll often get you a deal on your airfare, especially if you go through a travel agent. If you’re looking to slash costs, there are two main strategies to keep in mind: Go during the off-season and stay over weekdays.

Myth #3
You never get to see the area you’re visiting.
Actually, that’s up to you. There’s nothing stopping you from taking an off property excursion. A concierge can help you arrange a paid tour or rent a car. That will cost extra, of course, but options such as horseback rides, bike tours, boat trips and walkabouts may be part of your all-inclusive package.

For example, at the Breezes Runaway Bay, at the budget end of the SuperClubs scale, I took a guided bike tour of the surrounding neighborhoods. Our guide took us past Caribbean-flavored homes and up a hill to view the ocean.

If you’re eager to meet the locals, but prefer not to venture forth from your all-inclusive enclave, it’s likely that regional artists and craftspeople will be invited into the resort to sell their wares. Also, if the resort is staffed by people from the area, they’ll be more than willing to chat about their hometowns.

For instance, I hadn’t realized there’s a sizeable Indian population on Jamaica until I met Reta Singh, who was working as a trainee manager for SuperClubs. A staff member at Braco taught me the local names of some of the crazy flowers on the property, such as purple queen, while another pointed me toward what is arguably Jamaica’s best-kept culinary secret: the amazing fresh fruit.

Myth # 4
The food is lousy.
Somewhere, I’m sure there is an all-inclusive with unappealing food. But probably because they’re tired of this bad rap, most all-inclusives knock themselves out to make a good culinary impression. They have open buffets at every meal, plus ethnic restaurants, room service and poolside barbecues. Your problem will probably be too much, rather than not enough, tant-
alizing food.

In general, you can expect the food to observe the you-get-what-you-pay-for rule. Pricier resorts have clientele with higher expectations, and the properties meet those expectations, in part, with fancier food. Even small touches such as tea-Lipton at the budget resorts, Tazo at the higher-end ones–vary based on what the guests are paying. So if you’re a foodie, you may want to splurge in order to get the real goodies.

Myth #5
These resorts are mostly for singles and honeymooners.
That’s certainly who many all-inclusives target in their advertising, but odds are that you’ll meet an even mix of long-married couples, honeymooners and singles traveling with friends at almost any all-inclusive property.

Myth #6
I’ll be pressured to play games and be really social.
Well, alright, this isn’t entirely a myth. But different resorts have different degrees of cheerleading. Plenty of resorts encourage poolside trivia tournaments and other forms of group revelry. But you’re never forced to join, or given a hard time if you don’t.

If you want to visit an all-inclusive for the security and one-stop shopping aspects, and are averse to even witnessing goofy game show or party-time shenanigans, then here’s one simple hint: Avoid the pool area during the afternoon and the disco at night.

Though Jamaica is all-inclusive central, there are all-inclusive resorts all over the south, from Florida to Mexico and the Caribbean, and even out in the South Pacific. Use one as your introduction to an island or as a different way to have fun in a hot spot such as Cancun. Take it easy, or take advantage of everything they offer. You’ve got plenty of options and no ugly surprises when you go to foot the bill.

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Published in the July/August 2001 issue of the AAA Traveler.