Pro’s Of All-Inclusive Resorts: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Sun-kissed sand sifting through your fingers as the ocean breeze lightly blows through your hair. The constant sound of the tide pulling in and out. A picture-perfect view that is a little taste of heaven here on earth.
I recently visited Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I stayed in two separate all-inclusive resorts to get a broader perspective on resort life. Each resort has its differences. If you are interested in to staying at either of the resorts I visited I have included a link to their websites. They were both nice and each had its own charm.
Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort
Caribe Club Princess Beach Resort & Spa
If you are interested in learning about the Con’s of All-Inclusive Resorts please check out my other article.
I would also like to mention that Punta Cana has been getting some bad press lately about being “dangerous”. When I was there for 9 full days, there was never a moment where I felt my safety was in jeopardy. It is just like any other city or country. There are good and bad neighborhoods. Go into every trip or vacation with an air of caution and always have your street smarts on alert. For more information on staying safe while traveling Safety is #1.
Here are the top pros of staying at an all-inclusive resort.
One Price All Included
This is definitely one of the main reasons I decided to give an all-inclusive resort a try. Vacations and traveling can have a lot of little expenses that can blow your travel budget out of wack.
Make sure before choosing and booking a resort you read ALL of the fine print. You might believe that something is covered when it is actually an extra expense. There are travel companies that you can book through, I used Apple Vacations for one resort. The second resort I booked directly online through their website. Both ways can offer savings and discounts. I would also check out travel apps like Trip Advisor to compare prices. Check each type before booking.
Overall here is what is covered at an all-inclusive resort.
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
- National alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks-which means well liquor (premium brands have an upcharge of about $7 USD per drink)
- Daytime land sports (tennis, archery, bicycles, table games)
- Nighttime Disco (most resorts have some sort of nightclub)
- Minibar stocked daily (non-alcoholic drinks like bottled water and soda)
- * Non-motorized water sports*-kayaks, windsurfing, snorkeling (only some all-inclusive have this included without extra charge)
- Daytime entertainment activities at the beach and pool
- Kids club
- Teens club
- Internal transportation (golf cart rides around the resort)
- Free wifi (some resorts it is only in a specific area like the lobby)
- Roundtrip transportation to and from the airport (only some resorts offer this in the price, taxi from the airport is between $40-65 USD)
Trying Different Food
When staying at an all-inclusive resort all of your meals are included with the price you agree to pay upfront. This is great because you are able to try different cuisines from around the world.
The resorts have a buffet available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffets have a lot to choose from. The resorts change the menu of the dinner at the buffet daily so you are not eating the same items every night. There are some stations that remain constant like a pasta station.
They also had actual restaurants with items from a menu that you could enjoy. However, some of the restaurants required you to make a reservation to attend. They fill up fast so make sure you schedule your reservations when you first arrive, otherwise you will be eating at the buffet every night.
Some of the cuisine choices you can expect are Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian Steakhouse, American, French, Mexican, and Dominican. The best thing about all of these choices is you can try something you never have had before and if you don’t like it you can order something else.
Unlimited Beverages
Both resorts had unlimited beverages. This included non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. You could choose from an array of mixed drinks like mojitos, mai tai, margaritas, pina coladas, sex on the beach, Caribean coffee, as well as liquor with your choice of mixer.
Each resort had an actual coffee shop. You could choose from an array of coffee drinks with and without alcohol. They also offered little snacks and sweets like ice cream and crapes.
Relaxing Worry-Free Environment
Staying in an all-inclusive resort is a relaxing worry-free environment. Everything you could want to do is available to you. If you want to spend an entire day relaxing on the beach you can in a relaxing safe environment.
Both resorts that I stayed at had security stationed all over the resort. It made me feel safe during the day and night. I never felt worried about my beach bag or worried about strangers inside the resort who weren’t staying there.
Another pro is you do not need to carry cash around. The servers and staff do not expect tips. I still did bring a few dollars to the dinner reservations and left it for the servers. If you decide to do an excursion outside of the resort remember to tip your tour guide. Also, if you purchase an extra service like a massage on the beach, make sure you tip them.
While relaxing at the beach or the pool, both resorts had servers that you could order drinks from. This made the experience even more relaxing. Laying by the beach with the sun shining without any worries was wonderful.
Beach Chair and Towel Service
Another plus about the all-inclusive is the option to use their abundant beach chair selection both on the beach and at the pool. On the beach, they also offer palapas (palm leaf thatch umbrellas) for your use to help shade you from the sun.
You can also leave that bulky beach towel at home. Each resort offered fresh beach towels every day for your use.
Mini City
An all-inclusive is like a mini-city. Both resorts had stores where you could purchase (at an inflated rate) items that you ran out of or forgot at home, like sunscreen, mosquito repellent, or medications.
Daily Activities
Take a stroll around your resort and explore. There are table games and activities throughout the resort for your enjoyment. Every day there were boards or TVs that listed the daily activities and events for you to partake in. They offered activities like yoga, pool aerobics, archery, bike riding, dancing lessons, and themed parties.
Each resort had a nightly show for you to enjoy as well. Every day of the week there was a different theme. They were vegas style shows and to my surprise, they were done with a lot of skill and kept me entertained for the entire hour.
Give an all-inclusive resort a try on your next trip. This is a perfect vacation idea for anyone who is in need of stress-free and worry-free get away from home. Choosing an all-inclusive resort is perfect for people who suffer from anxiety or need a mental recharge. It offers you choices of activities and experiences all in a safe beautiful environment.
Just remember my fellow travel friends, we are in this together. Let us live life to the fullest, and try new things and flavors. This big world is ready for you to explore.