TRAVEL TALK - - VOLUME 4 - - SPRING/SUMMER 2011 ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT VARIETY FOR EVERYONE! Since Club Med started the all-inclusive trend, there has been a huge growth in these types of resorts. We now have an all-inclusive for every taste from Couples Only, Kids Resorts, Budget All-Inclusives, Spa All-Inclusives, Adults Only and even Clothing Optional Resorts so there is certainly something for everybody. Our company has a good experience with all types of all-inclusives as we used to run a tour company for fifteen years that did all-inclusive packages during the develomental days. We even operated charter aircraft for the government of Jamaica so we regularly toured the hotels on site inspections.
After Club Med, Abe Issa started inviting rich friends and their friends to Jamaica at the Tower Isle Hotel in Ocho Rios. This became Couples Resorts and started a whole wave of all inclusive resorts. That was followed by Sandals and SuperClubs Resorts which are very full featured all-inclusives aimed at particular niche markets. Sandals has always been male/female couples only and was later followed by Beaches Resorts with a similar concept once those male/female couples returned to the islands with Children a few years later. Sandals is located in Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Lucia and Antigua. Beaches are located in Jamaica and Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. SuperClubs most famous resort is Hedonism 2 in Negril Jamaica but they also operate Breezes Resorts with hotels in Jamaica, Bahamas, Panama and Brazil. The next wave of all-inclusive came from the island of Majorca in Spain, but the clubs are only headquartered in this lifestyles of the rich and famous Mediterranean Island. Sol Melia, Iberostar, Riu Resorts, Barcelo and Bahia Principe are all Spanish hotel brands that offer multiple specialty restaurants in the evening, but very limited non motorized watersports. They build huge resorts (many times 600 rooms next to another brand with 600 rooms) with shared casinos where permitted. Also on the scene lately are American operated resorts like Secrets and Dreams that are run by large tour operators.
The three least expensive all-inclusive destinations are Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Cancun/Riviera Maya Mexico. This is because of the very low wage rates that the companies pay in these destinations and the abundance of land for development. All three are within two-three hours flight time from Florida but Tampa residents frequently have to fly to Miami and change planes to get there. We do have nonstop flights from Orlando to Jamaica and Orlando to Cancun. Jamaica has all-inclusives in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. Besides the companies mentioned above, Sunset Resorts is also the largest locally owned hotel on the island offering great prices on a moderate 3.5 star resort setting. Jamaica is one of the few countries that permits any resort to offer clothing optional beaches although Dominican Republic has some topless sunbathing with the European tourists. All three countries offer family resorts. In fact with the low wage rates, some hotels have nannies with the room or butlers that especially help with little children including diapers and bottles. Most resorts have kids clubs that break your children into various age groups for activities at the resort that keep them busy while you have a drink at the pool. Many other islands and countries offer all-inclusive resorts. The second wave of more expensive all-inclusives happened in St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Antigua, Bahamas, Aruba, Barbados and even countries like Panama and Costa Rica. Usually the airfare is $100 or $200 more to these places and the all-inclusive might be a little more expensive but still including meals and drinks, taxes and tips. We usually suggest at least four or five nights when you are going further afield to these types of places. I especially love St. Kitts and the Marriott does a good all-inclusive with a minimum night stay. All of my customers like Aruba but the Dutch all-inclusive does cost considerably more. Wherever you want to go, your travel agent has a competitive price and will work hard to find you good flight times for your trip as long as you are a little flexible. It is not just about price when looking at all-inclusive as many cheap online air choices make you arrive late and depart early. You want to maximize your days in the island since you are paying for services by the day. The other thing that a travel agent can do is specify what services are included in the package and what target market the resort caters to. At the minimum, all-inclusive means that 3 meals are included daily and unlimited bar drinks. Usually entertainment at least a few times per week, if not nightly, will be included in the package. Most resorts do a theme party once or twice a week like a beach party with cooking stations and a band. At all of the resorts, you lock your wallet in the wall safe and you don't need to walk around with payment as everything is included except for named items like spa services or dive operations or tours outside the resort which can be added to your room account. It doesn't make any sense to pay for a dive boat if you are not going to use it. Many people just want a few days on the beach and a large choice of food outlets and bars. Others want to take the family and have services for everybody. Some people just want to go skinny dip but there is a resort for everybody so stop by and ask about all-inclusive. Tell your travel agent what you want to do, what type of personality you have and who is going on the vacation (couple, family, whole family reunion, etc.) and we can suggest something that will suit your tastes and budget. |
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