Anything Not Included in Your All-Inclusive Resort
An all-inclusive vacation can be beneficial, at least on paper: just hand over a fixed amount of money to a resort or cruise company and they will take care of your accommodation, food, entertainment and perhaps even airfare. But all inclusive means different things in different situations, and you might be surprised at what is not included.
The most important thing to know before booking an all-inclusive vacation is that no two companies work the same way. While the following benefits are some of the most commonly excluded, some packages include them. There is only one way to know exactly what you are getting for your money: always read the fine print. Reading legal language sucks, but the alternative (getting an unexpected bill for a supposedly relaxing vacation) is much worse.
Resort fees
When people complain about hidden fees and unexpected fees while on an all inclusive vacation, they are almost always talking about resort fees. These fees range from a few dollars a night to hundreds of dollars and are usually shown on your bill with a line such as “cleaning fee,” “gym access,” or other standard amenities you would expect to include in your room price.
Since they are also mandatory – even if you do not use the amenities covered by the resort fee, you still have to pay them – and are not included in the advertised night or weekly rate, the resort fees may seem like a stealth attack. Reading between the lines, it becomes apparent that this is just a clever way for hotels and resorts to advertise a lower price than their customers will ultimately pay.
If this smells like bait to you, then you are not alone: consumer protection laws in Australia and the European Economic Area (mainly the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) have outlawed this practice by requiring companies to quote the total value of a product or service. as a single number, including all mandatory taxes and fees. Unfortunately, outside of Australia and Europe, resort fees are still very legal, so be prepared for some additional costs when you check out.
Airport transportation
Some all-inclusive travel packages include transfers to and from the nearest airport. Some don’t. It goes without saying that you should find out which one you have booked before boarding the plane, especially if you are traveling to an area that you do not know very well.
Room service and premium food and beverages
Not worrying about food is an important reason people choose an all-inclusive vacation, but as many travelers have learned the hard way, only a small meal is part of the deal. The two most common exceptions are room service and “premium” alcohol – which can mean anything from “bad cocktails” to “certain bottles of wine.”
In addition, some packages include buffet meals only, which means additional charges apply in restaurants and bars on site. If food and drink is an important part of your vacation plans, make sure the quoted price includes the amenities you need.
Motorized water sports
Here’s a seemingly random scenario: Most beach resorts are very careful to indicate that only non-motorized water sports are included in their packages. (Presumably, insurance rates skyrocket when a motorized jet ski comes in.) Even if the website has photos of people water skiing, jet skiing, or parasailing, these activities usually come with additional costs – so plan accordingly.
Any off-site activities
Finally, keep in mind that an all-inclusive vacation very rarely includes what you do outside the resort. If you would like to attend a local walking tour or cooking classes, visit museums or general sightseeing, you pay the cost.
It sounds very obvious, but spending on off-site activities is surprisingly easy to overlook when leaving the resort is not really a plan. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on excursions – just consider that at some point you may want to leave the resort to do something interesting. Even if you don’t, you’ll be glad you set aside some money for incidental expenses.