Are all "All Inclusive" resorts like this?

covenantuk

covenantuk

covenantuk

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Ok, so we're just back from a belated honeymoon. We spent 2 brilliant weeks touring around Mexico, Guatemala and Belize looking at Mayan ruins etc, then we booked 5 nights at this resort:

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/tulum

We splashed out on a "swim-out" room: http://www.dreamsresorts.com/module...ideos.dretu_swimout pano_gallerygk-is-339.jpg (as it happens probably the only good decision we made)

Although we wouldn't usually book a resort, we looked at it and thought "what the heck it's a honeymoon and from the website it looks like a decent place to chill out". How wrong we were....

  • We were in the Adults-only area. There was a couple with a pre-school child two rooms along swimming with the child daily. We complained and their main concern seemed to be that they might have got into the room without paying - no apology, no refund.
  • On our 3rd night the "adults" around us decided to hold an impromptu party with loud music, frisbee-throwing. Leaving the mess of discarded beer can and cups all over the area
  • The food would struggle to meet our expectation of decent, let along their advertised "gourmet" level. Pre-cooked seafood used in multiple dishes, tiny portion size, rock-hard pastries. I could list at least 20 more examples, not least of which is that the "Mexican" themed restaurant was the worst Mexican food we'd had in the whole 3 weeks.
  • Noise. Dear God the noise. The main pool had constant cheesy latin pop all day, turned up by 100% when one of the daily "entertainments" was on. On one day they had a foam party. A foam party. In a "luxury 4 star resort". Ugh
  • Nowhere to escape from the noise day or night. Music on loud enough to hear at our room 300m away, no quiet bars except the one in the reception/lobby area. All the rest full of "adults" demonstrating how to get drunk to their unsupervised kids. Accompanied by over-loud "entertainment"
  • "Entertainment" Really, who needs faux "Cowboy theme" nights, Karaoke, a amateur magician, a bilingual comedian? Do people LIKE this?
  • Endless private functions. EVERY DAY. There was a wedding party there every day taking up part of the resort, adding to the cacophony of noise
  • Constant attempts to upsell the spa, shops, day trips etc - all massively overpriced e.g. $100 for a massage

I have to say that room itself was great, plus the maid and bar/waiting staff were brilliant though. More senior staff seemed very stand-offish and abrupt.




Needless to say it ruined the last week of our honeymoon. The only saving grace was that we paid to upgrade to the swim-out room and therefore could spend our day there where it was relatively quiet (apart from the unofficial pool party and the child screaming). We never spent a single day on the beach, which was one of the reasons for booking here in the first place.

So - are they ALL like this? We've never been to one before and going by this experience, never will again
 
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Your experience supports my view of 'all inclusive resorts' hence why I have never stayed in one.

Without sounding snobbish, I am of the view that they attract a particular type of customer who looks for value rather than experience.
 
No you just went to the wrong one, go small and exclusive preferably in the Maldives :-) although even then I would recommend one that doesn't include Alcohol in the all inclusive price as it reduces the chav count. The place you went lists 'unlimited top shelf spirits' as one of it's six big features on it's home page so that should tell you all you need to know about the market they are aiming for!
 
you went in school holidays which is never going to go well. But yes most of them are rather loud and in your face. which I don't mind as i usually go on them and stay drunk for 2 weeks.
I think they are only for certain people I for one quite like dancing around the pool looking like a prat much to the other halfs embaressment

we go on city breaks and things like that for culture.
 
To be honest i started out typing a reply to each point, but the long and short of it is that you appeared to have a fair bit of bad luck or just a bad Hotel/Resort.

I've been on multiple Family All-Inclusive and they have been decent to good. The evening entertainment i personally find to be the worst thing but im not that bothered about that.

The 3 i recently went to were :

Holiday Village in Rhodes (This had the most Children running about obviously, but on the whole was a pleasant experience. 2 Weddings the 2 weeks we were there (that i noticed), and only one or 2 nights with a few idiots who left thankfully early in to our stay.

I cant remember the name but i think it was Lara Beach Hotel (Turkey) that was a lot quieter and i enjoyed it very much.

And more recently went to one or the Louis hotels in Zante which again was similar to the Turkey one, bit smaller and more relaxing and very enjoyable.

As i said above the Holiday Village was the more busy louder resort but to be expected when you understand its geared up to entertain lots of young children, but we booked one of the quieter area's and it was perfectly fine.
 
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Are all "All Inclusive" resorts like this?
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I have no idea - I've never stayed in one.

I've always tailored my holiday packages and I like going out exploring and finding places to eat - it'd bore me to tears to stay in the same resort most of the time - and why pay for food you aren't going to eat?
 
We did All Inclusive packages in The Canary Isles (Tenerife and Gran Canaria, both just after Xmas) ~8-10 years ago, they were nothing like the image portrayed by the OP.

The hotels were great, nice rooms/food, plenty of hotels areas to relax without feeling like we were in a nightclub.

What spoiled both holidays for us were pushy street sellers very early on during both trips, it made leaving the hotel complex very intimidating.
 
Like most things, all inclusive resorts can be hit and miss. Really depends who and what they are catering for.
 
I've only ever been to one all-inclusive resort, in Barbados. The resort was nice, the food was acceptable and the drink was plentiful. Everything was included - including watersports and spa treatments. I really could have done without the evening entertainment though. It was very cheesy. The worst part was the other guests though (isn't it always the way? :)). Some of the American tourists thought that smoking in the pool was acceptable. Yuck.

I wouldn't stay at an all-inclusive again. I'd rather explore the local area and give my money to local businesses. The temptation to stay in and eat at the resort was too tempting most nights.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
Sounds about right for the majority of all inclusives.
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I was about to say, I've never experienced half of those problems.

The only good ones I've been to that aren't like that have been in the Dominican and Cuba.
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Maybe that explains it. Been to both of those, both fantastic.

From the OP, the only 'issue' I've ever had is that if you sit by the pool during the day, then you can usually expect some cheesy music, which can sometimes be quite loud.

I've never had any of the other issues.
 
My wife and I stayed all inclusive for two weeks on the Riviera Maya last year, during the school holidays, and while there were a few things that annoyed me (loud party pool and kids in the adult area), it was a lovely resort, and we spent many days on the beach, or around the pools, without too much hassle.

The booze was free flowing (and the service exemplary if you tipped now and then - it was almost like we had a personal waitress in the one bar!) and, the main thing for a colossal pig like me, the food was amazing. We skipped the fancy themed restaurants to eat in the giant dining hall most of the time. The concierge service was brilliant too. Can't be faulted.

They also gave me loads of bottles of free booze to bring home :D

I've also been on two all inclusive cruises now (one with Royal Caribbean and one with Thomsons), but that's another story :D
 
I did an all inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Was lovely, the adults only area really did mean adults only, children or parents with children were politely asked to go to the other side of the hotel which had the water slides etc.

Drinks were plentiful, the music was of a decent volume.

I do agree however that it was by far the worst Mexican food I have ever tasted. Odd
 
I'm doing an 'all inclusive' for the first time this year. I've always been vehemently against them and have always done my own thing, but this year, after pulling my hair out looking for holiday ideas, an all inclusive package looked like a decent option on paper. Reviews seem good so we'll see how it goes.
 
I think one issue you have is that looking at the hotel website - I would have never booked that place due to the fact it's very "americanised" - Featured on ABC's etc etc.

Mexico/AI/Americans = loud and brash.
 
The Geezer said:
Your experience supports my view of 'all inclusive resorts' hence why I have never stayed in one.
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This for me too, sorry :(

I haven't looked at their website but I wonder where you stand legally if it was advertised as an 'adults only' place, yet there were children. I'm not one of these 'sue for trip on the pavement' type people but it sounds like it really ruined your holiday. If I went to a hotel that was advertised as children only and that wasn't the case I would be fuming personally. Yes, my girlfriend and I are child-haters. Especially on holiday :p I'd consider a well-written complaint if you have the time...

At the end of the day, in my 30 years experience on this earth the best way to get peace and quiet is unfortunately to get away from everyone completely. Get a villa somewhere remote etc. You just can't trust joe public not to be total ****s, especially when on holiday.
 
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