Like an island within an island, all-inclusive resorts check you into a world of leisure and activities and keep you endlessly satisfied until you check out. At least that’s the theory, but will it hold true for you?
First, a little reality check. ''All-inclusive'' really means mostly inclusive, because every all-inclusive resort offers some extra services for additional fees. There is no industry standard for the term ''all-inclusive.'' One resort may include three meals a day, while another includes none.
Bundling a room, meals and activities into one price can save money over buying them separately, but the true value of an all-inclusive vacation is the feeling of freedom you get when you prepay and can then indulge with abandon.
Essentially, all-inclusives cut the tension between your money and your sense of fun. ''I call it a vacation of entitlement,'' explains John Lynch, vice president of Sandals and Beaches resorts. ''Do it all or do nothing at all. So [to shop smart] you have to look at the services – what’s included and what is not.''
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