My kids love AIs. Always something to do, kids clubs can be very good (if your kid wants to. Go) and tons of food options. BY FAR the best we have been to is Grand Velas in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Maya. We have stayed in some very nice hotels, and like to vacation. Grand Velas is the only AI I would return to - read the reviews. They are uniformly fantastic.

With a kid I find AI to be good and relaxing. We pick ones with food food reviews.
A good buffet is easy with kids, quick and no waiting for your food or driving somewhere. No need to carry anything and you can go back and eat again if you want to.
We don't drink much so it's never a great deal but the simplicity is worth it to us.
I wouldn't do it for every vacation and will explore more once our dd is older (4 now).

We just picked an AI resort in Aruba for our honeymoon. I agree that usually they aren’t the best, but we’re gonna be eating and drinking a f*ck ton after this ridiculous wedding so happy we chose AI.

I know a lot of people who like iberostar especially if they have active people who like sports, scuba, hiking, that kind of thing.

Anonymous wrote:If you want to do AI but have better food look for a resort where AI is an option. The Fairmint, Andaz and Grand Residences all have this option. Food is better quality because the majority of people are paying resort restaurant prices for the food. Going to town is fun but after a long day of activity in the sun we often don’t feel like venturing out

PP again-- this is an interesting idea but the best part about an AI for us was the fact that there were no need to track or charge orders to a room-- they can set up a grill and just hand out hot dogs or burgers to anyone who's hungry, etc.

If you want to do AI but have better food look for a resort where AI is an option. The Fairmint, Andaz and Grand Residences all have this option. Food is better quality because the majority of people are paying resort restaurant prices for the food. Going to town is fun but after a long day of activity in the sun we often don’t feel like venturing out

Anonymous wrote:To me, the point of an AI resort is to totally relax, and that means not spending time in cars and picking out restaurants. I like eating at the resort and I have found the food to be anywhere from fine to excellent.

I also love a vacation that involves wandering local towns, but when I want to do that I don't stay at an AI resort.

I agree. Also when our kid was small an AI was great because we could get a bunch of different stuff for her to try, or often they just have snacks by the pool/beach, and when we were done we could just get up and leave.

IME there’s usually a chance at an AI to get some food prepared for you at a grill (say, eggs over easy/huevos racheros or grilled fish) that is usually pretty good. The pseudo-Asian food or whatever will be fine but not memorable.

We have stayed at several AI resorts in the Playa area. We have gone with extended family groups each time (about 25 people) and it works great for a large group. We are there to spend time together (we actually like each other) and generally don’t leave the resort. We are going back to Grand Velas next winter for the second time. It was the nicest one we have been at and the food is very good. Not extraordinary but very good for an AI. I have also stayed in Playa at a rented condo with a group of four and we enjoyed walking to new restaurants each night on 5th ave (the main shopping/restaurant area in Playa). Personally, I prefer exploring the city and finding new restaurants but an AI has a lot of benefits and works well for large groups.

Anonymous wrote:AIs are cheap, tacky, and horrible.

I do not get people's love for them. Unless they too are cheap and tacky.

Clearly you haven't been to many AI resorts.

AIs are cheap, tacky, and horrible.

I do not get people's love for them. Unless they too are cheap and tacky.

To me, the point of an AI resort is to totally relax, and that means not spending time in cars and picking out restaurants. I like eating at the resort and I have found the food to be anywhere from fine to excellent.

I also love a vacation that involves wandering local towns, but when I want to do that I don't stay at an AI resort.

Do you drink a lot? In my experience, my family does better at regular hotels than nicer AI resorts because we don’t drink more than a couple beverages a day. I always do the math per day when we check out.

All inclusive does not mean all costs are included in the price you pay. It means that the resort is designed in a way that means locals do not benefit from tuorist dollars

Generally speaking, the food at AI resorts is mediocre. We now avoid them—it’s nice to get out to some real restaurants off property.

We are considering a trip to Cancun or Playa Del Carmen. We have never been and never done an AI resort. It’s 2 adults and our 5 yr old. Is it worth it to do AI or more fun to go into town for meals (probably only dinner). We are a little worried the food will be mediocre at the resorts. If you stayed at an AI resort which one? Would you recommend it? Thanks!