The Hidden Costs of All-Inclusive Resorts

All-inclusive resorts offer the ideal way to budget for a trip. By prepaying your lodging, food, drinks, and entertainment in a nightly all-inclusive rate, you can avoid many of the surprise expenses that come with other types of travel.

But, that doesn’t mean that all-inclusive vacations are surprise-free. There are certain additional expenses to plan for whether you’re booking your all-inclusive hotel with hotel points or paying for it yourself.

Here are some of the expenses you should plan for as you prepare for your next all-inclusive trip:

• Airport transfers – Staying at an all-inclusive resort can be extremely cost-effective, but you still have to get to your resort. Typically, this means paying for group transfer on a bus with other people or booking a private airport transfer and pickup. Make sure to check prices ahead of time for both options. I know I have paid up to $100 round-trip for private transfers in Mexico and the Caribbean.
• Tips – While a handful of all-inclusive resorts prohibit tipping, most let you trip servers, baggage handlers, bartenders, and maids. While you don’t have to tip, it’s polite to do so and may even be expected by workers who serve you. I typically leave my housekeeper $5 per day and tip a few dollars to anyone else who serves me drinks or food. I also tip a few bucks to anyone who handles my bags.
• Excursions – All-inclusive resorts may offer food and fun all in one place, but you may want to get off the resort at least once or twice. If you want to go snorkeling, ride a jet ski, or take in a history tour nearby, you will need to book through the resort or on your own and pay for the added expense. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can book all kinds of excursions with points by searching for “activities” through the Chase travel portal.
• Upcharges – While most food and drink will be included in your nightly rate at all-inclusive resorts, some have “upcharges” or specialty dining options. During my recent stay at the Holiday Inn in Jamaica, for example, you could pay an extra $25 for lobster at the seafood restaurant or $20 per person for a sit-down hibachi dinner.
• Souvenirs – If you like to bring something home from your travels, don’t forget to budget for souvenirs. I hate clutter, so I usually just bring home magnets or Christmas ornaments. Either way, anything you buy will cost money.
• Flight costs – Since most all-inclusive resorts are outside the U.S., you’ll likely need to fly to get one. Even if you use airline miles to cover the bill, you’ll be on the hook for airline taxes and fees plus baggage fees, if applicable. Personally, I love flying Southwest to the Caribbean since their flights are easy to book with points and you get two checked bags for free.
• Internet – While most resorts include internet service in the nightly rate, some offer upgraded internet for a surcharge. If you need fast internet for work or downloading movies, plan on paying for it.
• Top shelf liquor – Many all-inclusive resorts offer top shelf liquor if you want to pay more for it. If you don’t like the cheap stuff, plan on shelling out a few extra bucks for each drink.

The Bottom Line

Even if you pay with points and miles, travel is never free. This is even true when you book all-inclusive resorts, so make sure to plan accordingly. If you don’t set aside some money for your trip, you could be in for an unwelcome surprise.

What hidden expenses have you discovered at all-inclusive resorts? What would you add to this list?