All Inclusive for People Who Hate All Inclusives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding Xcaret the theme park, and not the nearby AI resort, I found it to be a really enjoyable experience with lots of varied activities. We spent one full day there...from opening until the end of the evening's musical spectacular. If I had known how fun it was going to be, I would have allocated another day.

It is a highly-planned theme park. There were many activities and shows. We had lunch at a buffet restaurant in the middle of the park. The buffet had many choices. I was sorry I had to follow travel-related dietary precautions.

We did have to stay with our elementary-aged kids for the day but my husband took them around for part of the day so I could attend the folkloric presentations. The Pre-Columbian dancing was some of the coolest folkloric dancing I've ever seen.

Our whole family enjoyed the evening variety show (mainly music, dancing', and acrobatics).

If you find a resort with easy access to the Xcaret theme park you can easily fill two days with activities selected at whim on the day of.

This sounds incredible - what age-range for kids is ideal for this park? Would 4 be too young?

We brought our 4 yo and she had a great time. Some things like snorkeling were a bit too advanced, but there is a lot of other kid friendly stuff to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question, but for years I was a cruise person and am sort of over it now - do the AIs have "excursions" like on a cruise? Day trips to interesting places and adventurous activities? I would consider an AI if we could do activities through them too. I would stress out if I had to find reputable local tour operators for everything we wanted to do.

Yes. Every AI I've stayed at has an activities office/ticket center/concierge that will plan excursions (including transportation for you). The trade off is that it'll be a little more expensive than planning on your own but if your stress levels are that high, it's probably worth it.

[Anonymous]

Club Med Cancun? The beaches are great and it is very close to the airport. Circus school, sailing, snorkeling, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

If you have a Costco membership, one of the Xcaret hotels is on sale right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I've never done an all inclusive before but we just came back from vacation where I'm exhausted and everyone else is refreshed. I was looking for an experience that I don't have to plan, even if it is a little less than perfect. Kids love the beach but can't lay around all day, so was hoping for a place with lots of options for them to play and get energy out while I sit around and read a book.

This article is what was swaying me towards Xcaret: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/all-inclusive-resorts-mexico-caribbean-culture/

Sitting around reading a book would be a waste of money at Xcarat. Just book a cruise and be done with it. You’ll love it, all the logistics will be taken care of so you can truly relax while your kids live their best life in the clubs. With Disney, they even do the kid clubs on the island for the tweens and teens, and you can enjoy the adult only beach. Pure bliss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you do all the planning ahead of time? I am the planner in our family, and have the trip planned out ahead of time in Apple Notes so I don’t have to make any decisions during the actual trip. I plan in detail, but sort of loosely (like I will find 2 or 3 restaurant options and we select that day depending on if we are tired and want something easy or feel more like a nice 3 course place.)

I know this is extra work, but if I don’t do it no one will and I want a vacation too!

I also make sure not to over schedule us. Being too ambitious has ruined experiences before, so I now build in down time/don’t start too early/etc.

Me again…I also share the plan ahead of time. People can provide input. It reduces complaints if they already “pre approved” the plan.

The problem is it’s usually hard to completely plan in advance. I get OP. I’m the planner and I love planning most of the time but just once I would love a vacation not a trip where there are no decisions, and it’s relaxing and easy. We tend to do sightseeing heavy trips and it’s great but I’m fantasizing about something like an AI even though we aren’t AI people either (don’t drink, like really good food, don’t like crowds)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding Xcaret the theme park, and not the nearby AI resort, I found it to be a really enjoyable experience with lots of varied activities. We spent one full day there...from opening until the end of the evening's musical spectacular. If I had known how fun it was going to be, I would have allocated another day.

It is a highly-planned theme park. There were many activities and shows. We had lunch at a buffet restaurant in the middle of the park. The buffet had many choices. I was sorry I had to follow travel-related dietary precautions.

We did have to stay with our elementary-aged kids for the day but my husband took them around for part of the day so I could attend the folkloric presentations. The Pre-Columbian dancing was some of the coolest folkloric dancing I've ever seen.

Our whole family enjoyed the evening variety show (mainly music, dancing', and acrobatics).

If you find a resort with easy access to the Xcaret theme park you can easily fill two days with activities selected at whim on the day of.

This sounds incredible - what age-range for kids is ideal for this park? Would 4 be too young?

A 4 year old could go but probably would need to go at a slow pace that might alter what the supervising parent can do. The water activities that involve swimming are better for older kids.

If your kid would be content to watch a trick riding show for 30 minutes, an acrobat show for 30 minutes, and a 2 hour musical show from bleachers it could work out. (I believe people had babies at the evening show.) If your child is patient and a good walker and gets interested in live entertainment vs. t.v. it could be fun.

The park information is on the web. I suggest reading more detailed reviews to confirm. It certainly is a family-friendly, all-ages park. But not overtly tailored to the very young kids as far as I recall. Mine were mid-elementary when we went.

[Anonymous]

Can you just go to any resort in your budget and not make plans other than dinner reservations? And everyone will just figure it out?

[Anonymous]

I don’t really like all inclusives but I do a big family trip once a year where we do them. The best brand, are the Hyatt Ziva.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding Xcaret the theme park, and not the nearby AI resort, I found it to be a really enjoyable experience with lots of varied activities. We spent one full day there...from opening until the end of the evening's musical spectacular. If I had known how fun it was going to be, I would have allocated another day.

It is a highly-planned theme park. There were many activities and shows. We had lunch at a buffet restaurant in the middle of the park. The buffet had many choices. I was sorry I had to follow travel-related dietary precautions.

We did have to stay with our elementary-aged kids for the day but my husband took them around for part of the day so I could attend the folkloric presentations. The Pre-Columbian dancing was some of the coolest folkloric dancing I've ever seen.

Our whole family enjoyed the evening variety show (mainly music, dancing', and acrobatics).

If you find a resort with easy access to the Xcaret theme park you can easily fill two days with activities selected at whim on the day of.

This sounds incredible - what age-range for kids is ideal for this park? Would 4 be too young?

A 4 year old could go but probably would need to go at a slow pace that might alter what the supervising parent can do. The water activities that involve swimming are better for older kids.

If your kid would be content to watch a trick riding show for 30 minutes, an acrobat show for 30 minutes, and a 2 hour musical show from bleachers it could work out. (I believe people had babies at the evening show.) If your child is patient and a good walker and gets interested in live entertainment vs. t.v. it could be fun.

The park information is on the web. I suggest reading more detailed reviews to confirm. It certainly is a family-friendly, all-ages park. But not overtly tailored to the very young kids as far as I recall. Mine were mid-elementary when we went.

This is super helpful, thanks! We can certainly plan for this when the kids are a little older, no rush.

[Anonymous]

We went to Hyatt Ziva in Cancun for spring break this year. We really aren’t AI people and I’m not sure we would ever go again but we wanted a trip where we didn’t have to think at all and it fit the bill.

The food was good, incidentally, but the beverages were horrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding Xcaret the theme park, and not the nearby AI resort, I found it to be a really enjoyable experience with lots of varied activities. We spent one full day there...from opening until the end of the evening's musical spectacular. If I had known how fun it was going to be, I would have allocated another day.

It is a highly-planned theme park. There were many activities and shows. We had lunch at a buffet restaurant in the middle of the park. The buffet had many choices. I was sorry I had to follow travel-related dietary precautions.

We did have to stay with our elementary-aged kids for the day but my husband took them around for part of the day so I could attend the folkloric presentations. The Pre-Columbian dancing was some of the coolest folkloric dancing I've ever seen.

Our whole family enjoyed the evening variety show (mainly music, dancing', and acrobatics).

If you find a resort with easy access to the Xcaret theme park you can easily fill two days with activities selected at whim on the day of.

This sounds incredible - what age-range for kids is ideal for this park? Would 4 be too young?

A 4 year old could go but probably would need to go at a slow pace that might alter what the supervising parent can do. The water activities that involve swimming are better for older kids.

If your kid would be content to watch a trick riding show for 30 minutes, an acrobat show for 30 minutes, and a 2 hour musical show from bleachers it could work out. (I believe people had babies at the evening show.) If your child is patient and a good walker and gets interested in live entertainment vs. t.v. it could be fun.

The park information is on the web. I suggest reading more detailed reviews to confirm. It certainly is a family-friendly, all-ages park. But not overtly tailored to the very young kids as far as I recall. Mine were mid-elementary when we went.

This is super helpful, thanks! We can certainly plan for this when the kids are a little older, no rush.

PP. I browsed some random site that said they have added some toddler stuff since we were there pre-pandemic. Really check it out for yourself because little kids are so different. I would have liked it at age 4. But my younger son would have been difficult there (unless strollered, and we did not stroller past age 2).

[Anonymous]

If you don’t like AI, don’t do it. You’ll still hate it. And it still takes planning.

I have done two, in Cancun, and it’s not that they weren’t nice enough- one was Excellence which allows kids, had a good time but not my vibe. The other was LeBlanc, nicer, better food, no kids though. And still a kinda gross pool bar scene. The only reason I did that was time and not enough of it to get to better areas on Riviera Maya. Why not just a regular resort with restaurants and activities. And you DO get what you pay for.

Was just at an AI for work in DR and it was just… lines everywhere. Needed reservations for dinner. Packed. I would NEVER pay on vacation for a place like this. For work, sure nice view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Years ago we went to a place in the Bahamas. Not fancy at all but all inclusive, had snorkeling at the beach, as well as lots of water activities, even scuba lessons. You don’t need 5 star, pretty much all of them should be fine. It’s nice not being the planner for the trip on occasion

Do you remember the name of the resort?

[Anonymous]

Full disclosure: I love AI resorts. Why? Because it’s so relaxing. My biggest decisions each day: what to have on my made to order breakfast omelet, whether to sit by the beach or by the pool, whether to swim in the sea or the pool, whether to get a drink or not when the wait staff comes through to offer one, whether to nap on the beach or in the room, and picking a restaurant for dinner. Our 8 yo loves the kids club. We’ve been going to Iberostar in Montego Bay, 3.5 hour flight direct from IAD or BWI, then a 15 minute cab to the resort. The food I’ll admit isn’t as nice as the Sandals we went to before kids, but it’s overall fine. DH is celiac and never, never once has he been glutened in Jamaica, we’ve been six times!