If an all-inclusive resort conjures up images of white sandy beaches, mai tais and warm weather, you’re not alone, but it can also provide you with an excellent budget vacation!
According to American Express, as of 2013 the average cost of a vacation was $1,145 per person or $4,580 per family of four.
Numbers that high can make a staycation look really appealing. When money becomes a factor, all-inclusive can really be the way to go.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
About 60 percent of vacationers claim they overspent on their last vacation, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Citi ThankYou Premier card. We’ve all been there — the reasons can extend from a simple transportation problem where a cab winds up costing three times your original estimate to a must-have souvenir to an extra-expensive dinner out. There’s that vacation mentality that can rock even the strongest budgeter’s resolve.
Food and Drinks
All-inclusive resorts make it far easier to stick to the budget. You know that you’re paying for a wide variety of items with prices that would usually fluctuate. The price of food and drinks can add up really fast and are some of the most common things people overspend on during a vacation.
It’s easy to estimate that you’ll hit the grocery store for breakfast foods, grab a cheap lunch and dinner and only splurge once or twice while on vacation. If you’re usually a frugal person, all of that still probably sounds like a great time there. Sometimes that just doesn’t happen though — you may have estimated local prices wrong and what’s “cheap” in your hometown is the cost of just a bottle of water in a big city or another country. You may find there’s a local delicacy that you just love, know you’ll never be near again and need to make a staple in your diet for the week. You may find that hitting the grocery store was unrealistic or you accidentally booked a room without a fridge.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
It’s easy for the amount you planned to spend on food to double without even realizing it. If you like having a drink or two on vacation and didn’t specifically factor that into the budget, those will increase the price of your meals quickly, too.
All-inclusive resorts factor food and drinks into their cost. Sandals and Beaches are two very popular all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. At Beaches Turks & Caicos, for example, your food options expand to 20 different restaurants, 19 of which are included in your initial package and one that can be added to the package for an additional fee.
Activities
If your idea of vacation is lying on the beach and soaking up the sun, look no further — but you probably knew that. Folks who struggle with the idea of all-inclusive vacations are the ones who also want to be active on their trip.
Using Beaches as an example again, if you love scuba diving (and are certified), you can do two dives a day at no cost. If all you really want to do is scuba dive on your vacation, this could really make Beaches a cost-effective choice. Additionally, getting certified is usually a costly process, but can be done for a $100 additional fee at Beaches.
All-inclusive resorts also have waterparks, nightclubs and all sorts of sports and group events.
[See: 10 Money Leaks to Shut Down Now.]
If you want to spend a little more on optional add-ons, there are also excursions outside the resorts. You can read up on them before booking and decide whether adding one or two into your budget is worth it.
All-inclusive resorts provide lodging, food and activities at a set price and several add-ons with clear price points. By the time you leave for a vacation at a resort like this, you can have it 100 percent paid off and be sure you won’t need to spend any extra. Sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra dollars up front, and if you really take advantage of all the resort has to offer, odds are you still come out financially ahead.
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Financial Benefits of All-Inclusive Resorts originally appeared on usnews.com
