Do you like all inclusive?

I have never been spent my vacation at an all inclusive resort and I don't think that I would choose that kind of vacation in the future. I prefer to travel independently and make my own decisions from day to day instead of buying a vacation where everything is included. If food and everything else is included I don't have the chance to visit the local restaurants and I really like to visit the local places. I like to stay in locally owned hotels as much as possible and I also use local transportation instead of the tourist busses and similar things. I have lived in many different rooms during my trips. In the past when I travelled alone I stayed in single rooms or dorms. Today I share a doubleroom with my husband. It is important to me that there is a window in the room. Some of the budget rooms I stayed in the past didn't have a window, and I prefer rooms with a window.

An expense inclusive stay in a hotel or resort has some pros and cons. Pros is that you don’t need to feel hassle in terms of your payment and your amenities, since you got it all in one package and you can do every activities over the hotel without thinking of the fees on it since it is paid in your inclusive package. The cons though, is that since it is “inclusive” it means that anything that is outside its resort/hotel premise is not shoulder by your package so, it is more likely that expect that the rest of your stay is all in the hotel/resort rather than exploring the surroundings that you land your vacation. you won’t learn much about the local culture. Its tradition and even the landscape looks like since you are just staying in one place. Rather than travelling the local spots.

The first time I went abroad to Cyprus we had all inclusive, but I think that's the only time, usually I prefer to go self-catering or half-board. I like to find different restaurants to dine in, and there is always plenty of choice, sometimes I will pay extra and eat in the hotel, other times I would find alternative places to eat. I like a room with a double bed, that is the only luxury I require, I have a single bed at home so whenever I go on holiday I always request a double.

I do like to go All inclusive sometimes simply because I know that if we are short on money, we can get a cheap deal with my work (in travel) and then still have a break as we both work hard, we do like to sometimes just chill out. However, usually even if we do go AI, we still go outside the resort. I don't think I have ever been on holiday, even on AI and not still left the complex and visited local places anyway but, I guess there are a lot of people out there who would do exactly that!

I don`t like at all all inclusive resorts. I have never been to one because I feel it would not be the kind of trip I would like to have. I like to eat whatever the country brings me, specially if it`s not too expensive. That`s why I prefer the restaurants prefered by the locals when I dine out. But, as you know, I prefer to make my own food. I don`t havve much money for vacations and want to make the most of it. So I cook myself. Besides all thta, I think that all inclusive resorts tie you to the place where you have your free meals. I like freedom to wander and maybe spend a whole day out with a sandwich in my bag and a bottle of water. I visited Sevilla in Spain on 3 different daysthat way. We probably would not have had money for gas and souvenirs if we had gone to eat at a fancy restaurant. And we wouldn`t have gone there at all if we had decided to keep near the hotel`s restaurant. I have never been to a very poor country although I have visited richer and poorer countries.

I take all inclusive if it's cheaper as just a flight. What do you mean by a poor coutnry? Africa is poor country.. if you take a hotel over there you have to be glad if you have electricity and water. You walk to a tap (if you are lucky) for some time.. well you walk for hours to get somewhere, eat local (on the street and take your own spoon with you and share a plate) is this poor enough? I would never book a ... star hotel or wellness or whatever. I also don't like hotels with guards etc or where locals are not welcome.

A very interesting point and something that has never crossed my mind. Of course the local community will still benefit from the fact that the hotel will have to purchase the food and commodities from the area, but I agree inasmuch as any further profits will be potentially exported and not benefit the community. I used to book full board many years ago, although nowadays I choose either half board or bed and breakfast. The change for me was due to practicality because while on holiday I do not live by the clock. If I was at the hotel I would have the meal, but if I am elsewhere I will not return simply to dine but eat out and return when I am ready. Why keep paying for meals that I often miss? My last holiday was the first time that I tried self catering, which proved to be very suitable for me and I will probably continue to do so.

I think that there are many different forms of travel. These forms of travel vary with the person. Some people are more independent than others. I used to go on a lot of All inclusive and tour type vacations. I recently went to Ireland and planned it all myself. I found with the discovery of hospitality programs such as couchsurfing, woofing, and helpx you can plan your trip much cheaper and have a more authentic experience. That being said, I am planning an all inclusive trip with my friend to cuba next month. This is because its her birthday and this is what she wants to do. I personally would not plan using this type of travel anymore. As for poor countries. I have been to many poor countries.. but I think that poor is relative. I was just in Greece and they are extremely in debt to the EU but people still mostly have homes and food to eat.

Hi Maximas, What you say is absolutely right but i tend to differ a little. When you land in foreign country esp people go to poor country , they are more likely to be robbed by poor local guys who would sell them things at many times the price and same with hotels. Also there is lot of problems in finding good hotels. Then you go there and find all hotels are booked and you got nothing. There are lots of local taxes which goes to local city or state and also you visit places so you spend there which goes directly to small shopkeepers as you buy from them. I come from such a place and I have seen people selling foreigners things at 4 or 5 times the cost. Also they may tell you hotels are full sorry so you shell extra money to get a room.. So going to new place without everything planned and paid for can be dicey thing.

I have mixed feelings about holidaying at all inclusive resorts. They are a great place to have a relaxing holiday with plenty of nice food and drink.Though if you go on that type of holiday you don't usually leave the resort so don't see much of the country you are visiting. This doesn't really appeal to me as when I go on holiday I would rather see lots of new things not sit by a swimming pool.There is also the problem that they don't really benefit the local economy which I feel is wrong.Especially in the case of poor countries and the hotels owned by rich westerners.It's just another case of them exploiting their resources.

I have only even been to an all inclusive resort before once in my lifetime. It was when I went to Mexico with my family a few years back. I'm not sure if you would consider Mexico poor or not, but I think is not necessarily a rich country. I have also been to Brazil, and at the time that I had visited it, it was atleast somewhat a poor country. But to answer your question, I do not mind all inclusive, because it is a fairly good value. I see what you are saying, with money not going back into the local community, but I guess I do not think the same way as you.