https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:12:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429222 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 11:16:18 +0000 winter_wonder 2429222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely recommend a travel agent. I think it makes things so much easier.</p> <p>If possible, I would choose a resort based on recommendations from someone you actually know and trust. In my opinion, it's kind of hard to filter through all of the reviews online. </p> <p>When we booked everything was together- airfare and accommodations. I think the all inclusive is great! So nice to leave for vacation knowing that everything is taken care of and there shouldn't be any unanticipated costs. </p> <p>Have fun wherever you end up going/deciding! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429128 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:40:09 +0000 looch 2429128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would browse Costco Travel, if you're members of Costco. They have packages where you can buy flights, hotel, local transport, tickets, etc. I find it very competitive, if you're fine with their choice of locations and resorts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429120 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:38:15 +0000 youboots 2429120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: no travel agent, yes on an air/hotel combo for AI- we booked online, read Yelp reviews.</p> <p>Honestly we stayed at an above average all inclusive in Cancun and I did not enjoy it. The food was awful. I'm concerned that being vegan at an all inclusive besides the buffet will be difficult with the language barrier. The benefit of staying at an AI is trying to get everyone out of the hotel into a restaurant several times a day it would be difficult . But renting a large house may work? We booked for our honeymoon via VRBO in PV. You should also check out Cabo.</p> <p>ETA- I like walking around and being part of the city, not just being at a resort all day. So it depends what your collective group is looking to do. The resort in Cancun was isolated so we never left. Also we went to Dreams Tulum for a wedding. I liked a Dreams over Now for AI </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429116 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:37:04 +0000 LAZB 2429116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: yep! We brought dd at 9 months, and she loved watching the big kids splash and play in the kids pool. They do have lots of activities for kids, we will bring her when she's older too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429084 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:26:23 +0000 blackbird 2429084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LAZB: i want to try moon palace when the kids are older- looks super fun with all the activities! And right by the airport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2429039 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:10:19 +0000 snowjewelz 2429039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- Did you use a travel agent?<br /> No b/c it was just the two of us. For such a big group, it might make sense to! </p> <p>- Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)?<br /> Yep, I always book packages together</p> <p>- Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered?<br /> I pour over Trip Advisor reviews, pictures and the forum! </p> <p>- Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else?<br /> Yes. If I am on that kind of beach vacation, that means I want to relax and not think about anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2428713 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:36:20 +0000 ElbieKay 2428713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before I had my son, there is no way I would have considered a resort vacation (or a cruise, for that matter). I like to experience local culture and food, and resorts typically shield you from that. It feels very inauthentic to me.</p> <p>Last summer, though, we took our 18mo to a resort in the White Mountains in NH. It was not all-inclusive, but it was really convenient to have two pools (indoor/outdoor), a playground, and other grounds for our toddler to run around.</p> <p>That particular resort was also next to a big mountain range, which was perfect for my outdoorsy husband. And it had a lovely spa and a big wraparound veranda with a fantastic cocktail menu, which was great for me. So, it didn't feel like a compromise to any of us despite the sentiment I mentioned above.</p> <p>The food was ok but not amazing, and we got really tired of the menu by the end of the week. (Note: It was not all inclusive, but other local options were very limited since we were in rural NH.) And restaurants 3x per day with a toddler was a bit rough.</p> <p>My company has an annual offsite, and the last two that I attended were at AI resorts in Mexico (Cabo and Puerto Vallarta). I was skeptical when I got on the plane, and many of my concerns were validated. It definitely did not feel like I was in Mexico; it was a totally sanitized experience. The food was mediocre at best (Hard Rock Puerto Vallarta) and pretty terrible at worst (Dreams Cabo). But. It was a great venue for our company because it allowed people to interact casually in a large facility while containing us all on the same campus. (Previous events when we were smaller were in Vegas and felt too scattered during downtime.) So overall it was a great choice despite the fact that it would not be my first choice for a travel destination.</p> <p>I still think I'd be hard-pressed to choose a huge all-inclusive resort for a family vacation, but I can see how it would simplify things. I would be more likely to look for a smaller place with a pool and a private beach so there would be common space to hang out but hopefully a less touristy experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2428006 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:11:35 +0000 Grace 2428006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in Puerto Vallarta on a family vacation right now! I really like the area. It's not rediculously hot and it's less expensive than Cancun area. We are at the Marival Resort, which is in Neuvo Vallarta, ~ 30 min from PV (250 peso cab ride). We picked an AI resort because SIL wanted an AI. She likes the free drinks and food and entertainment. I would have preferred a condo, because I don't mind cooking and am usually beat by 8:30 after a day at the beach and don't care for the shows. And we chose this particular resort because it has suites. LO is napping in the bedroom while I hang out in the living room or on the patio, which is so nice. We didn't use a travel agent. My SIL tried to get us to use her friend, but we kept finding way better deals on our own. We did buy air and accomodation packages. For us, that was cheaper. My only tip is to look at reviews on Trip Advisor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427970 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:52:17 +0000 PawPrints 2427970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are going to PV in April. I've done AI before with my family (when I was 18) but DH never has. Normally we prefer to get a condo and DIY our vacations but we wanted to do AI this time so we could take advantage of the kids club (i.e. free daycare).</p> <p>- Did you use a travel agent? Nope<br /> - Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)? Yes, got an insane deal via Expedia including nonstop flights on our favorite airline.<br /> - Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered? Top things to consider: do you want to find a resort where you can put LO in a separate room during naptime and early bedtime, or are you okay sticking a PnP in the bathroom of a regular hotel room? Do you want a place with good kids club/daycare so you can get a little adults-only time? (With a group that large I think you probably want to make this a priority).<br /> - Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? Haven't done the AI trip with LO yet, but for comparison, I can say we loved our Hawaii trip when LO was 3 months old in a VRBO condo with separate bedroom and kitchen, and we just drove all over with her and visited a bunch of different beaches and had a great time.</p> <p>[ETA] Given that you are going with a large group, an AI resort could be nice just so you can all hang out together in the pool area or whatever, versus if you had condos you'd be limited to packing into individual living rooms, coordinating trips together to whatever beaches you're going to, etc. It will probably be nice not to have to coordinate food since it'll just be there for you. Do any of your family members typically offer to watch kids at all? That could be a big bonus, if you go to a place where the kids' club doesn't work out for whatever reason. </p> <p>Random suggestion: Stay in the marina area instead of far away in Nuevo Vallarta, so you have the option of walking to places outside the resort. If the food ends up being on the mediocre side, you can wander off and get some delicious cheap local tacos that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427969 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:52:09 +0000 LAZB 2427969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- Did you use a travel agent? No, we used tripadvisor as a reference and booked ourselves<br /> - Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)? No, but depending on where you are coming from it might be a better deal, it just wasn't for us<br /> - Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered? Definitely look at reviews on tripadvisor<br /> - Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? Yes, and we've been to quite a few. We actually joined a "vacation club" with one (to get discounted rates in the future) because we liked it so much. The one we belong to is Palace Resorts, and we like Moon Palace the best because of how much there is to do there. It is in Riviera Maya, and about a 15-20 min ride from the airport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427854 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:11:42 +0000 sapphire 2427854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't report too much because we have t taken our trip yet, but we are going to PV in April. I used TripAdvisor to look for reviews and asked questions about hotels on the forum. I also like Famiky Vacation Critic. We booked the hotel directly and the flights through the airline. You can definitely find good deals on packages and agent might be able to get you a deal since you are booking so many rooms. However I've found that the agent can sometimes get you freebies, but the actual rate may not be that different. We didn't buy a package because we wanted a suite and the packages usually come with standard rooms. Look at the ages of kids clubs if you plan to use them - most start at age 3. Overall I'm all about picking the amenities that the adults want though because the kids will have fun anywhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427825 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:04:02 +0000 blackbird 2427825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes on a travel agent. I've found they often meet or beat the prices online, and can bump us to nonstop flights in that price. </p> <p>Yes on buying everything together. </p> <p>Yes on all inclusive resorts with kids (easy factor!). I scour tripadvisor like crazy. DH and I also like all inclusive, but we'll pick a very luxurious hotel by comparison. We just don't like the 'adventure' of having to leave. But i also want good food. I like to lay around, read a book, etc. </p> <p>When we went to the Riviera Maya area with E a couple years ago, we went to the Azul Beach resort and I loved that they had a ton of kid friendly amenities, toy borrowing, indoor play areas, kiddie pool, nanny service, and crib borrow. Oh and baby monitors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427814 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:59:59 +0000 sunny 2427814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- Did you use a travel agent? Nope. But we were going for a wedding so the resort was chosen for us.<br /> - Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)? No<br /> - Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered? Check out reviews and tips on Trip Advisor.<br /> - Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? I liked it more than I thought I would. For the large group we had, it was great because we could eat together (or not), there were no bills to work out and most of us just stayed on the property so it was easy to hang out and spend time together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427784 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:52:06 +0000 Tanjowen 2427784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All inclusive are all we do with our LO - they are perfect for small children BUT we do the smaller boutique places rather than the big resorts. It does limit the entertainment and food options, but the food is generally very good and it makes for a quiet vacation for us. They tend to be condos turned into resorts, so there's always an extra bedroom for our kid (a must). </p> <p>- Did you use a travel agent? No.<br /> - Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)? Not applicable as I fly for free, sorry<br /> - Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered? Always read the family reviews of the place on trip advisor<br /> - Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? Definitely would do again, but stick with the smaller places </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427751 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:35:23 +0000 Umbreon 2427751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- Did you use a travel agent?<br /> Yes. It was our first time and we were overwhelmed with all the possibilities. I did check online before we booked though, to make sure we were getting the cheapest deal.</p> <p>- Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)?<br /> Yes, everything was together.</p> <p>- Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered?<br /> I usually read reviews online before booking. If most reviews are good, then I feel like it's a safe bet.</p> <p>- Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? If I'm looking to relax, I would do the all inclusive. The food is only okay but I enjoy everything being covered under one cost - one less thing to think about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427711 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:18:39 +0000 Freckles 2427711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a fan of all-inclusives, however, we are taking DH's parents to PV Hilton for their 40th anniversary. They have never been and have always wanted to experience it. There will be 5 adults (oldest is 70) and 2 kids (4 and 15 months). We chose PV because it's a short ride to the hotel from the resort (not like Mayan Riviera where you have to drive another hour after a long flight) and it's in a Mexican town. We looked at 4+ stars with spacious rooms. It's difficult to get real suites at these resorts unless you pay crazy $$.</p> <p>- Did you use a travel agent? Yes, we used a travel agent because we are flying there from different cities, and it was just too complicated to figure it out on our own (plus had no time). They can also verify how far the beach is (may not really be beachfront) or how big the place is. They have a lot of information to share if you're not familiar with resorts.</p> <p>- Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)? Yes, we bought everything together.</p> <p>- Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered?<br /> If you find a price that's much cheaper, make sure you look at the dates. Westjet was offering a package $1000 cheaper and it turned out that we would lose a day. No thanks!</p> <p>A couple of weeks before the trip, see if you can email the concierge and book the a la carte restaurants in advance. DH speaks Spanish so when we were in Cuba, she made sure everything was set up before we arrived. </p> <p>The stars represent the amount of amenities offered, but it doesn't always reflect how nice the accommodations are or how good the food is. You'll really have to go through the reviews, or see where friends have gone.</p> <p>- Try to request adjoining rooms and it will be easier to get if all of the rooms are the same (e.g., all king sized).</p> <p>- Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else? Something else. I think the food is average at best, even at the 5 star resorts and prefer the local food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-looking-for-an-all-inclusive-resort#post-2427662 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:57:56 +0000 littlejoy 2427662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning a trip to Mexico this summer with our family (we'll all be coming from different cities). </p> <p>For those of you who have done an all-inclusive type vacation, I have a few questions:</p> <p>- Did you use a travel agent?<br /> - Did you buy everything together (air &amp; accommodations)?<br /> - Any tips on making the right choice? Or ensuring we have our bases covered?<br /> - Would you have chosen an all-inclusive (once you've experienced it)? Or something else?</p> <p>Age range of our family is 2 years old to 60 years old, most of us are in the middle. And, we're currently looking at Puerto Vallarta ... if you have specific points (pros or cons), I'm totally open to hearing them!! </p>