Why I’m All For All-Inclusive Resorts

1

We’ve just about survived my daughter attending kindergarten this year and that deserves a vacation! Whenever my husband and I research our annual family trip, booking an all-inclusive resort is the best option to keep everyone happy. My in-laws have also started coming, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to create memories together. Here are the top three reasons we love staying at all-inclusive resorts:

The Beaches

I’m pretty sure I’m a better person by any beach, but Riviera Maya in Mexico is my favorite. It’s generally regarded as one of the top snorkeling destinations in the world, so you can imagine how clear the water is. My children love standing in the ocean knee-high and watching the fish swim around us. And, because we stay at an all-inclusive resort, we’re not paying for beach chairs and umbrellas or lugging ours around. The bigger resorts will even give us a lift on a golf cart so we don’t cramp up from walking after our buffet breakfast (lunch, or dinner). It’s all right there for us, along with activities like aqua aerobics, paddle boarding, and Zumba, for my inner Beyonce.

Shooing seagulls from the beach bar.

The Entertainment

We swear by the resort’s kids club. They have activities for children from morning to night, everything from cooking classes, performances, beach/pool time, and even tae kwon do. Kids clubs are perfect because it’s challenging to find an excursion that is appropriate for all ages. With the kids club, my children still have adventures, they’re just supervised on-site! They also love the structure of going to “school” with their friends. The only caveat is that four seems to be the most common age for participants, so my son has one more year before joining big sis. Until then, he can drop in on an activity, as long as he’s supervised by a parent.

In addition to the kids club, there’s usually a nightly show, vendor marketplace to shop for souvenirs, live music and games throughout the day for adults and/or the family.

Live jazz cocktail hour: One of the many events that night.

The Dining Options

Buffet, a la carte, coffee shop, swim-up bar, snack bar, room service…listen, if you go hungry or thirsty at an all-inclusive resort, I wouldn’t even know what to say. Even with all those options, it’s surprisingly easy to stay on track while still indulging a little. There are tons of fish, fruit, and veggies, and other staples to help you make good choices. I love that we don’t have to think about our meals because all the options are here. Just be mindful that some resorts may require reservations for some restaurants or limit the number of a la carte restaurants for dining during your visit. In those cases, it’s much easier to make those reservations before you arrive.

Hibachi dinner from our date at the Japanese steakhouse

After 11 years of staying at all-inclusive resorts, I could go on forever! I just returned from our week-long family vacation and recapped in my Instagram story highlights (@beingtiarra), if you want to see for yourself!

Another amazing trip in the books!

Do you have an all-inclusive family resort you recommend?

Previous articleTo My Two Year Old, Signed Your Pregnant Momma
Next articleI Chose a Unique Name For My Son and People Have Opinions
Tiarra
Tiarra dreams of living in the Caribbean some day, but Central Ohio is the next best thing! She lives in Newark with her husband, daughter (5), and son (2) and is a proud Ohio University alum (go Bobcats!). Don't worry, she's lived in Central Ohio most of her life, so she has plenty of love for the Buckeyes. Tiarra has worked in communications for the last four years; when she’s not at work, you'll probably find her cooking, traveling, or running around with her family. She collects cookbooks, but finds most of her inspiration from meals around town or signature dishes from her travels. New Orleans is her favorite new destination, so she's looking forward to trying her hand at po'boys and beignets. Tiarra also volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio and her church's children's ministry. 

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.