No Pocketbook, No Problem
by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

We looked at each other for a moment and habitual budget concerns came to mind. Then, remembering where we were, we quickly smiled across the table. "Yes, please, we would," answered John.

We had just arrived at Couples Ocho Rios, an all-inclusive resort. After months of hectic schedules, we, like other travelers, were in Jamaica to relax and unwind, to forget about everyday cares--including budgets.

With sister resorts in Negril on the island's western end, Couples Ocho Rios offers its guests the opportunity to vacation without keeping an eye on the pocketbook because, while they're on the property, everything is theirs for the asking.

The relaxation we enjoyed at that first dinner echoed throughout our visit. As guests at an all-inclusive resort, we were free to pick and choose our activities without worrying about our pocketbooks. Although spa treatments are a la carte, just about everything else at Couples is included in the one-price-pays-all package including meals, drinks, round trip airport transfers, taxes, nightly entertainment, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and more. No tipping is allowed.

Although some all-inclusive resorts offer limited dining options, Couples Ocho Rios has a full menu of choices. Led by the aroma of fresh Caribbean coffee, we found our way to the open air pavilion, tucked right at poolside. A feast of local fruits, the bounty of the fertile island, awaited, not to mention made-to-order omelettes and French toast.

It was a satisfying feeling, as we sipped our after breakfast coffee, to contemplate our possibilities. Would we rather hang out at the pool and let the day develop at its own lazy pace? Or maybe this would be the day to finally learn to sail a sunfish or even take a windsurfing lesson. After all, the watersports at the resort were included and there was a nice breeze that day. Hmmm...

For couples with matrimony on their minds, the options du jour might even include a wedding, complimentary for guests. During our stay, we would witness many couples exchanging vows in this tropical paradise.

Marriage-minded couples make up just one market for all-inclusive resorts, which also attract families and singles. All-inclusive resorts have become increasingly popular throughout the Caribbean and Mexico as travelers look to simplify their arrangements. While not every all-inclusive offers the options we enjoyed at Couples Ocho Rios, most offer all meals, taxes, and most activities. Check with properties for items of special interest to you, whether that means top shelf liquor, supervised kids' programs, or scuba diving.

Who should check out an all-inclusive resort? Travelers who are:

•on a budget. Thrifty couples know how much to budget for the entire vacation before they ever buy a ticket. Upon arrival, they're free to live like a king and never have to count how much money's left or how close they're approaching the credit card limit. All-inclusives, like other hotels, come in a varied price range.

•traveling with the kids. Are you newly married and looking for a chance to blend families? Many all-inclusives cater to families. The kids will have fun doing age-appropriate activities, making new friends, and learning about a new culture, while parents enjoy a relaxing respite.

•receiving the trip as a gift. All-inclusive resort vacations are increasingly popular as wedding gifts. They permit parents to pay for the trip up front and for honeymooners to enjoy themselves without feeling like they're running up a huge tab for parents or new in-laws.

•getting married on the honeymoon. Several all-inclusives such as Couples offer free weddings; all offer various wedding packages. Experienced wedding planners at these resorts who can simplify paperwork and make the wedding day special and hassle-free.

•wanting to try new sports. Some all-inclusives offer windsurfing, scuba, sailing, golf, tennis, and other lessons as part of the package price. These resorts can be a great introduction to a new sport without breaking the vacation piggybank.

The all-inclusives that cling to the Caribbean's beaches are as varied as the vacationers that frequent them. We found that one vital part of selecting an all-inclusive is to find one that's aimed at your market. Some resorts, such as Sandals and Couples, are for the couples-only market. Other properties such as the Grand Lido resorts, Hedonism II and III, are aimed at an adults-only market, both singles and couples. Resorts such as Beaches Turks and Caicos, FDR, and Pebbles are especially well-suited to families, although adults without children are welcome as well.

Your activity interests will also lead you toward some all-inclusives. Some, such as Hedonism II and III, offer around the clock partying, not to mention a circus workshop that leaves guests flying high. Guests at Breezes Bahamas find a synthetic ice skating rink open 24 hours daily; skates, hockey sticks and pucks are part of the all-inclusive offerings as well as daily ice hockey matches.

For us, an all-inclusive visit meant a chance to relax without a constant eye on expenditures. After breakfast, we lazed the morning away on the beach, borrowing some snorkeling gear from the watersports booth. Following a lunch of Jamaican jerk chicken, we took a water aerobics class then made appointments for spa treatments the next day.

All too soon, the sun began to set. A warm day promised to be a sultry night, with live entertainment yet to come. For now, though, we were content to think of our long list of dining options and the joy, at least for a few days, of being able to leave our pocketbooks unused. It was, in every sense, a real vacation.

Where Should You Go?

You'll find all-inclusives scattered throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. With each resort, ask just what items are included in the all-inclusive package which can vary greatly from property to property. These are a few of our favorite all-inclusives:

Jamaica

COUPLES OCHO RIOS, www.couples.com. The original all-inclusive the Caribbean, this laid-back property includes everything necessary for romantic fun: free weddings, good restaurants, an expansive beach, and even a clothing-optional island. Couples also operates two all-inclusives in Negril, Jamaica.

GRAND LIDO BRACO, www.superclubs.com. For travelers looking for a luxurious getaway, Braco delivers with everything from a full-service spa to room service. The company also offers Grand Lido Negril and Grand Lido Sans Souci.

HEDONISM II and III, www.superclubs.com. These action-packed resorts are for adults looking for around the clock fun ranging from a circus clinic and waterslide (through Hedo III's disco, no less) to nude beach body painting. Hedonism II in Negril is more Spartan than its newer cousin, Hedo III, which offers luxurious rooms and Jamaica's first swim-up rooms.

SUNSET JAMAICA GRANDE RESORT. Located in Ocho Rios, the all-inclusive package includes food, drinks, a supervised children's program, and more.

St. Lucia

SANDALS ST. LUCIA GOLF RESORT AND SPA, www.sandals.com. This couples-only all-inclusive sprawls across 155 fertile acres on the north end of the island. Guests can also enjoy the facilities at the nearby Sandals Halcyon and the elegant Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort. Sandals properties are also found in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua.

Turks & Caicos

BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS, www.beaches.com
This resort is part of the Sandals family but, unlike the couples-only Sandals, Beaches is for everyone: families, singles and couples so it makes a good choice of blending families or for having a wedding that includes all ages of guests. The expansive property includes many specialty restaurants and plenty of options for fun ranging from scuba diving to video games at the Sega Center. You'll also find a Beaches resort in Negril, Jamaica.

Mexico

IBEROSTAR PARAISO DEL MAR, www.iberostar.com
Located 15 minutes from the Cancun airport, this resort lies on the Riviera Maya and includes activities ranging from scuba diving to banana boat rides as well as water polo, tennis, a kids' club and more. Look for several all-inclusive Iberostar resorts along the Mexican Riviera as well as on Cozumel and in the Dominican Republic.

Related Pages:

• romantic all-inclusive resorts
  
• more Caribbean getaways
  
• more adults-only or couples-only resorts