Advice Needed: All-Inclusive Resort for Spring Break

[Duffy Lover]

Hi, all! I come to the Dis when I need Disney advice, but I've also had some luck when I have questions that go beyond the Mouse. Our family would like to travel somewhere tropical for spring break this year and stay at an all-inclusive resort and I am just overwhelmed. We would fly out of Denver the third week of April and are open to anywhere that has an amazing beach, is safe, has great food & drinks, and is good for teens. I was thinking of the Cancun region, but I am flexible.

So. Should I find a travel agent? Any recommendations for a great agent? Are there any pros out there who want to chime in with any advice at all?

TIA!!

 

[Skippy918]

If you like adventurous activities check out xcaret. There are 8 parks and that plus food is included. We’re going in the summer. If you do decide to go, book thru Costco.

 

[Susan2771]

Hard Rock Riveira Maya if it works with your budget

https://www.hardrockhotels.com/riviera-maya/?utm_source=mybusiness&utm_medium=organic

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We're going mid-April to Riu Palace Peninsula located in Cancun but towards the top part of the Hotel Zone and plan to do Xcaret (the main park), Isla Mujeres and a tour more than likely Chichen Itza with the rest just chilling and down time.

I know what you mean by overwhelmed. We looked at what must have been several hundred over the Mexican Riviera. Because of who was going with us (some family) we chose a place that we probably wouldn't have chosen if it was just my husband and I. That's not a negative just different types of people.

The biggest thing we had to keep in mind was if dining reservations or restrictions to how many places you could eat at existed. It was going to be a nightmare trying to get up to 7-9 people all reserved for the same place and we knew we would want to eat together most of the time. The Riu place has no restriction on where you can eat except for one place that is reserved for just those staying in the adults only villas (which we did not want to stay at due to the obstructed views and location), they operate on a first come first serve and that will work the best. We don't mind waiting a while but it's better than some of the resorts we looked at where people basically had to book all of their dining before they stepped foot on property otherwise you'd be eating in the buffet 24/7.

The draw to us was the views and the beach area which in terms of Cancun it has more beach than most hotels get and it has a more rocky side and a more sandy side.

One thing we ran into a lot for Mexican Riviera is a ton of all-inclusives also have timeshares with them and I would highly suggest reading reviews on travel websites to get a feel for if they have them at the place you may be leaning towards and what their sales tactics are like. We were turned off by a lot of places because even as pretty as they were we'd read review after review after review where people were basically held hostage (exaggeration slightly for this particular wording) for hours trying to get into a room but kept getting pushed into doing a timeshare presentation. These hotels basically prey on the fact that many travelers are weary after traveling, hot, hungry, and just want to get into their room.

 

[mjkacmom]

My daughter and her boyfriend loved a bavaro beach AI in punta Cana, they went to one that had families. They thought the food was great.

 

[cvjw]

Xcaret resort was my son’s very favorite all inclusive and we have stayed all over the Caribbean. I personally wouldn’t go to Mexico right now, but other people have a higher danger tolerance. My favorite all inclusive is Beaches, Turks and Caicos. My boys went there twice as older teens and loved their time there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Xcaret resort was my son’s very favorite all inclusive

We looked into that but couldn't stomach the prices per night. Just checked and for the time we'd be there averaging $722/night but looking at it it's because they are running a special, non-discounted is nearly $1000 per night, advanced purchase is just over $840 per night. It's a really nice looking place but from many of the reviews we saw it has skyrocketed in costs and people used to stay there for less.

La Casa is running average of more than $2,100 per night for the time we'd be there.

It's def. a splurge place

 

[Darcy03231]

Adults only - DH and I like Sandals.
Family - We like the iberostar Resorts. We've stayed at several and never been disappointed. Kids have had a great time.

 

[cvjw]

We looked into that but couldn't stomach the prices per night. Just checked and for the time we'd be there averaging $722/night but looking at it it's because they are running a special, non-discounted is nearly $1000 per night, advanced purchase is just over $840 per night. It's a really nice looking place but from many of the reviews we saw it has skyrocketed in costs and people used to stay there for less.

La Casa is running average of more than $2,100 per night for the time we'd be there.

It's def. a splurge place

If you can afford it, xcaret would be a great pick. My son and his partner spent a week there a couple years back. He loved everything about the place and they both are super picky. The best part was all the included excursions. They did multiple of them.

They liked xcaret so much that they want our whole family to go. We have been to Mexico multiple times over the years and done all of the excursions. If it ever gets less drug cartels randomly killing tourists, I would be open to taking the whole family.

 

[WDWJDS]

How about a cruise?

 

[Skippy918]

We looked into that but couldn't stomach the prices per night. Just checked and for the time we'd be there averaging $722/night but looking at it it's because they are running a special, non-discounted is nearly $1000 per night, advanced purchase is just over $840 per night. It's a really nice looking place but from many of the reviews we saw it has skyrocketed in costs and people used to stay there for less.

La Casa is running average of more than $2,100 per night for the time we'd be there.

It's def. a splurge place

Xcaret is definitely a splurge for us. But we realized we only have 3 summers before the oldest goes away to college or off on his own so we want to make the best of it. After I went to college, I didn’t go on family vacations anymore. Costco gives rebates (we‘re getting around 400 per room back) and then there’s the 2% refund for executive membership.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you can afford it, xcaret would be a great pick. My son and his partner spent a week there a couple years back. He loved everything about the place and they both are super picky. The best part was all the included excursions. They did multiple of them.

They liked xcaret so much that they want our whole family to go. We have been to Mexico multiple times over the years and done all of the excursions. If it ever gets less drug cartels randomly killing tourists, I would be open to taking the whole family.

We can afford it but we didn't value spending that much money for it but that's our norm for hotels. From what I read with enough reviews it used to be more economical. It looks stunning don't get me wrong and I liked the idea of Xcaret parks being included (which should be part of someone's equation in looking at costs). I did throw "what about Occidental" to my husband but there were just enough features there that he didn't feel like he'd like it.

I'm super excited about the main Xcaret park so I'm glad it was mentioned as advice for the OP. I've not been one to want to go to Mexico truly but they are one of the main places for all-inclusives so we'll see how it goes.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Xcaret is definitely a splurge for us. But we realized we only have 3 summers before the oldest goes away to college or off on his own so we want to make the best of it. After I went to college, I didn’t go on family vacations anymore. Costco gives rebates (we‘re getting around 400 per room back) and then there’s the 2% refund for executive membership.

We checked Costco too because they have those on there for travel deals. It was just wasn't workable in the end with the prices. But Costco is a great place for OP to get a look at what may be available. And I can understand making the most out of what time you've got left with more free schedules and lives

 

[Duffy Lover]

Thanks, all! I looked at Xcaret and unless we find a smoking hot deal, that is out of our price range. I'm torn on a cruise - I really like the idea of just relaxing on a beach... I started looking on the Costco website. Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[WDWJDS]

Thanks, all! I looked at Xcaret and unless we find a smoking hot deal, that is out of our price range. I'm torn on a cruise - I really like the idea of just relaxing on a beach... I started looking on the Costco website. Keep the suggestions coming!

And with a cruise, you can relax on different beaches

 

[Skippy918]

Thanks, all! I looked at Xcaret and unless we find a smoking hot deal, that is out of our price range. I'm torn on a cruise - I really like the idea of just relaxing on a beach... I started looking on the Costco website. Keep the suggestions coming!

Cruises are a great option. We’ve gone on a few with the kids. Price it with one room versus 2. Sometimes its cheaper to get 2 rooms. On our last cruise the kids stayed in one room and we were across the hall. We got duplicate keys made up too. Our kids were 14 and 11 so I felt comfortable with them in their own room. Having the extra bathroom is a plus.