Not all "All Inclusive" resorts are for everyone.  It's important to match your life style to the resort.

      Urban beach front all inclusive resort, typical style of the smaller resorts.  Adults and Families.

I've stayed at two different types of all inclusive resorts in the past few years and I have a strong sense of what really is all inclusive to me vs the resorts' claim.  It's not the inclusions for me, it's the experience!  I speak about experience on a regular basis after all my travel must fulfill my expectations in value, luxury experience, atmosphere, excellent culinary options, activities and one factor many people don't think about!  Location!  Like casinos in Las Vegas many all inclusive resorts are designed to keep you on property, utilizing the resort while maximizing your experience within the walls of the resort.  Remember the price doesn't make it luxury only your personal experience is luxury, a value priced all inclusive can be as luxurious to you as a ultra high priced exclusive access resort is to others.

Work with your travel professional, be sure he or she knows you, understands your lifestyle and mostly what interests you.  What will you want to feel when the vacation is over?  A nice relaxing time now time to go to work? (that's okay for some, maybe the vacation wasn't amazing?) Or maybe you return with a new outlook on life your vacation met or exceeded your expectations returning home happy, energized ready to take on the world!  (That's our goal for our clients on every vacation! Awesome).

Here's my take on the two major types of All Inclusive!
I won't name any resorts, I enjoy all resorts and represent many to different clients without bias. 

Destination resorts, often not near towns or activities outside of the resort.   The resort I stayed at was amazing visually, access to a private island for water activities, 14 restaurants, 6 pools, beach, bars in the pools, on the beach and of course within the many buildings.  They offered nice view rooms from an extra large room to a Presidential suite with a private transfer in a ultra luxury vehicle to and from the airport or trips to town.  Not offered to all guests only high vip's but a nice touch for them. I'd bet the culinary offerings would meet 80% of all visitors expectations 100% of the time.  I enjoyed the variety of the meals as well as many al fresco options.  Typical fun entertainment in some of the bars, with a couple of younger themed dance bars, pool tables and themed events.

There was something missing in my experience, wasn't the staff or service it was more about the isolation and surprising lack of diversity in the guests.  We were only there for a 4 night week stay but the clients were 100% couples (no this wasn't an adults only or couples only resort) and oddly no diversity in the vacationers.  It was a little bit vanilla for me in regards to cultural interactions, diversity, life styles and interesting people.  Some resorts  children aren't allowed due to the concepts. They're more about drinking and pool parties than anything else, this resort has a family area as well which was especially nice for the parents who were able to take advantage of both sides of the resort if desired.  I sell this brand to clients looking for this type of resort in being all inclusive with a desire to stay within the resorts offerings.  There's nothing wrong with that.

We weren't bored at the resort for sure with many swimming options, water activities I just felt for my experience to be luxurious I needed more.  I wanted to experience different venues close in, go shopping in town or have lunch at a local restaurant with locals!  I wanted more diversity, culture and interaction besides my traveling companion.  I feel this would be a resort to recommend for couples or families wanting the private vacation experiencing with his or her loved ones or family, even multi-generational family visits.  It's awesome when the grandparents can enjoy the youngsters while mom & dad take in some evening adult activities, not forgetting the grandparents need a night or two also to get their dance on or have an evening Manhattan at sunset.  This type of resort is great for folks wanting to control costs,  with all inclusive most everything is covered depending on the resort.
***
Smaller urban resorts, are unique in many ways you can select your type of visit.  Many urban resorts offer options such as rooms only, fully inclusive or partial inclusions that vary from select meals or beverages programs. This is more for the flexible traveler wanting more options or the travel who likes all inclusive atmosphere but not planning on utilizing the resort fully. Some urban resorts offer adults only areas as well.  For the penthouse guests or high end suites many of these resorts offer exclusive pools keeping it more private for those wanting privacy and seclusion.

The two resorts I visited for a week each brought to light why I enjoy all inclusive urban resorts! Most have all the same activities as destination resorts more often urban resorts use public beach, sometimes these resorts will be open to the public or day use guests at a significant charge.  That adds some interesting elements in regards to diversity in people and life styles.  I selected a completely all inclusive option for both stays, allowing me to leave my wallet in my room safe while at the resort (except a pocket full of small bills for tips! You should still offer a little extra to your servers and staff while they're making sure you're experience is exceptional), most of our meals we enjoyed at one of 5 restaurants plus the buffet.  Urban resorts will have less variety in restaurants and bars due to location, you're in an area or close in where you can enjoy options outside the resort with ease.  That's my thing, I'm truly an urban resort type of all inclusive guest.  I like the budget control of an all inclusive resort.  I like not signing a bill every time I turn around, or asking to do a room charge every time I want something or do something.

Pools, pool bars and pool parties are still happening in the smaller urban resorts.  You aren't loosing the benefits or activities you're adding  your personal experience which in fact is luxury at any price.  Luxury isn't the price it's the experience.  Taking in account all the different types of urban resorts your travel professional has more tools for fine tuning a very special vacation.  Your travel agent will be able to combine your all inclusive with other local tours or activities such as zip lining or cave diving or even hikes along trails in the deep rain forests and thousands of other adventures.  Exterior options are more plentiful, not part of your all inclusive resort but really it's all about the experience you're seeking and will achieve.

This type of resort is a perfect match for city dwellers, urban tourists, younger friends vacation, families, active travelers and most of all adventure seekers discovering all there is about the country or location privileged to have you as a guest.  I recommend this type of resort to the young and mature traveler looking for less mechanics in their vacation and a little more interactions and decisions on how and when things happen.  I'll be on my next urban all inclusive later this year, not returning to any of the past properties for the simple reason I have a desire to expand my experiences creating the luxury of an amazing vacation.  Luxury isn't the price it's the experience.

Now you're ready to explore an All Inclusive Resort, bring your personality to your travel professional and let us show you some amazing options around the world.  We'll bring our A game to the table, you'll return from your vacation refreshed, energized and ready to handle life with a new outlook.  Be sure your travel professional, no matter who they are, understands what's luxury to you; be it top tier top dollar or focused on experiences.  We're in the business of serving you not suppliers.  Really isn't is all about you! 

Happy travels,
Michael

My blog will be highlighting my personal experiences as well as my clients.  There are many slogans about why you should always use a travel professional. My hopes are that my blog will demonstrate the value of travel professionals while getting you excited to get out and take an adventure, cruise, trip, packaged trip or specialized event.

I hope you enjoy the advice offered as guidance to helping you make the decision to continue or start using a travel professional.  The internet is amazing, full of wonderful photos, reviews and some rather hateful reviews & information about travel.  Have fun searching out future places!  When you're set on a location give us a call or your nearest travel professional, let us be your guide, "your people" - everyone should have people.  "When you travel with an agent you never travel alone". not my quote but a similar quote from the ASTA organization we are members with.

Here are some Myths / Facts and misc. information that will be helpful with deciding which Travel Professional will be a great match for you and yours. 

Myths / Facts:

• Using a Travel Professional costs you more. / Actually we have many value added benefits you won't ever get on the internet or booking on own.  We belong to consortia allowing for buying power, resulting in added perks on many products.  Perks can be gifts, travel credits, special upgraded rooms, early check in, complimentary late check out and more.
• Travel Professionals sell travel / Well you can buy travel without support or expertise on the internet, it's that simple the internet sells travel!  What Travel Professionals do is provide a service, expert advise, matching your desires with the perfect partner company.  We are your personal concierge, advisor, planner and execute your travel plans exceeding your expectations.
• Travel Professionals only guide you to companies they prefer. / Truthfully we target suppliers who've exceeded our clients expectations; we aren't loyal to a company  or supplier. A Travel Professional is loyal only to one person or group of people, their clients! There is no disputing this fact! If you're not pleased with the company we select you'll not come back nor recommend us to your friends.  For us it's about the relationship!
• Travel Professionals charge fees that increase the costs of my trip. / We do charge fees for some services, that's part of running our business, staying in business.  When you compare fees for our services vs. your personal time and energy researching endless links on a web site only to become confused, frustrated and lost you'll realize the incredible value we offer.  Our agency charges fees for your airline tickets for many reasons, we research the best routes, we work for best seating and more importantly we track your flights, and offer 24/7 emergency services with one call for all ticketed passengers.  By the way, read your invoices from some of the large online travel sites, you'll see a "service fee", don't be fooled by their low price.  We are upfront about our fees, they're not hidden in the final page of your trip offer as you enter your credit card or payment information.
• We have no control over our trips with a Travel Professional. / I've only heard this a few times, what I interpret this to mean is someone has booked a non-refundable package on an online website and have no recourse for a change or cancellation.  Using a Travel Professional you'll be amazed at the fact all our bookings are flexible based on general terms, however if you want rock bottom pricing without care of the final room type, cruise cabin, tour level then book on line.  You get what you pay for in that case, for some that's exactly what they want, it's a great way to achieve low cost travel without benefits or protection. 
• We want lowest pricing with best results! / Travel Professionals will work with you to provide value, excellent options.  Value will always trump price!  We prove that everyday bringing back our clients over and over.  You work hard for your vacation dollar, don't ruin your vacation by trying to save 5%. You may get a non refundable, smoking room next to the garage door on the second floor of the hotel in a major metropolitan area!  Maybe you'll believe the description "close to popular sites and town" - that's relative to life style; for me that means walking or easy public transit; for hotels it may mean a 10 to 15 minute drive into town, or longer.  
• It's hard to find a qualified travel agent! / Travel professionals are all around you, not all Travel Professionals are a perfect match, that is true.  However we're a family and will often find the right match or contact one of our trusted suppliers to step in and help you create the perfect vacation.  If your Travel Professional doesn't succeed in exceeding your expectations he or she will not have the privileged of being of service in the future. Travel Professionals survive on providing excellent service all while building relationships with you.  It's really all about you, right?  I think so!

Thank you for reading.  If you have any questions about travel reach out to me, it's about you not me.
Michael