Before I became a parent, the idea of an all-inclusive resort never even crossed my mind as a vacation option. Hotels were simply a place to sleep, and the thought of traveling to an exotic location only to stay in one place seemed pointless. I wrongly assumed that all-inclusive resorts were for travelers who lacked a sense of adventure or imagination. For years, they were completely off my radar.
Then came kids. Suddenly, the appeal of staying in one place where lodging, meals, and activities were all included in the price became incredibly clear. My husband, always as tired as I was, suggested we try an all-inclusive resort. Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a shot. Now, I’m a true believer, and I think every parent deserves to experience an all-inclusive resort vacation with their family at least once. Honestly, aside from leaving the kids at home (tempting, I know!), it might be the only way for parents to genuinely relax and recharge on vacation.
Family at all-inclusive resort pool, enjoying vacation
In my pre-parent life, I was the kind of traveler who’d hop on a plane with just a small backpack or carry-on, figuring out the details of my trip as I went. That adventurous spirit and curiosity are still a part of me. But like many parents, having children meant a complete shift in my travel style. Traveling with kids requires so much more planning, and often, you come home feeling more exhausted than when you left!
But what if there was a different way to do family vacations, one where you, the parents, actually get some downtime too? That’s where the magic of Best All Inclusives For Families comes in.
Why All-Inclusive Resorts Became the Ideal Family Getaway
A few years ago, when school break was approaching, the thought of staying at a resort finally clicked. As a working mom of four, my life is a constant cycle of scheduling activities, playdates, appointments, and meal prepping. It’s draining, and frankly, leaves little time or energy for elaborate trip planning.
The idea of arriving in a beautiful, tropical location where all the meals and activities for my entire family were already taken care of was almost unbelievable. I could say “yes” to my kids all vacation long without constantly worrying about extra costs. I took the plunge and booked a trip to Beaches Turks and Caicos, a renowned all-inclusive family resort, in a destination I had always dreamed of visiting. My younger, pre-kids self might have scoffed, but as a parent, it sounded like exactly what we needed in a family vacation.
Preparing for an All-Inclusive Family Vacation: Simplicity at Its Best
As our trip got closer, a few nerves crept in. I’ve never been one to just lounge on a beach for days, and I worried that a six-day trip to an all-inclusive might become monotonous after a day or two. I also wondered if traveling abroad and staying in a resort would mean missing out on the local culture, cuisine, and people.
Despite these minor concerns, the pre-trip preparations were incredibly smooth. Unlike past trips, I didn’t spend hours researching excursions or hunting down the best local restaurants. There were no piles of printed confirmations for various tours and hotels. All I needed to do was get to the airport and find the included resort transport upon arrival. It was by far the easiest and least stressful trip preparation I had ever experienced.
Embracing the All-Inclusive Experience: Fun for Everyone
Any worries about boredom disappeared within hours of arriving at Beaches. After a quick and easy lunch right on the resort property, my family started exploring. I was genuinely surprised by the sheer amount of things to do. Families were engaged in everything from volleyball in the pool and snorkeling at the beach to tie-dye workshops and air hockey tournaments. A wave of relief washed over me knowing that I wasn’t solely responsible for keeping my kids entertained all day; the fun was literally all around us.
Family at all-inclusive resort pool, enjoying vacation
While I don’t often drink alcohol, I immediately discovered a delicious virgin mojito and started enjoying drinks throughout the day. My kids were thrilled with virgin piña coladas and made countless happy trips to the resort’s mac-and-cheese truck and ice cream parlor. Our days were mostly spent alternating between the resort’s numerous pools and the beautiful beach. We explored the on-site water park, participated in a hula-hooping contest, went snorkeling, sailed on a catamaran, and took a boat trip to see the vibrant coral reef.
My husband and daughter even went scuba diving, which was the only activity that wasn’t included in the base price. We made it a point to try as many of the resort restaurants as possible, sampling everything from sushi to authentic Mexican cuisine. In the evenings, we went swimming again, indulged in late-night desserts, and enjoyed the fantastic nightly performances put on by Beaches Turks and Caicos. And in between all the fun, I actually managed to read almost an entire book that had been sitting on my bookshelf for ages!
During this trip, I experienced a level of stress that was almost unimaginable for a mom of four. I was truly present and engaged with my kids. I felt like the kind of parent I always strive to be. While it wasn’t the same as venturing out and exploring a new place, I appreciated that the resort incorporated local flavors into the dining options, like conch fritters and pan-poached fish, and even brought cultural experiences to us, such as a weekly Caribbean festival.
Even though I had initially worried that a week at an all-inclusive resort might be too long, as our vacation drew to a close, none of us wanted to leave. I returned home feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated than I had after any vacation since becoming a parent.
My Evolving Approach to All-Inclusive Family Resorts
Since that first transformative trip, I’ve visited several other all-inclusive resorts. I’ve refined my approach, now aiming for a balance between the ease and relaxation of resort life and the exploration and cultural experiences I enjoyed before kids. This has become the ideal formula for me – satisfying both my desire for new adventures and my very real need to actually unwind on vacation without spending countless hours meticulously planning every detail.
One of my favorite all-inclusive family vacation experiences since that first Beaches trip was our stay at the Hilton Cancun. This resort boasts stunning pools just steps from the Caribbean Sea and strikes a perfect balance between being incredibly family-friendly and still sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy. In the Dominican Republic, I had a wonderful time at Lopesan Costa Bavaro, another fantastic all-inclusive resort featuring a massive water park and a variety of on-site activities, including a bowling alley and even an escape room.
While we still plan some family vacations that are more in line with my pre-kids travel style – we’re heading to Egypt and Jordan later this year, for example – all-inclusive family resorts have become a regular and much-loved part of our family vacation routine. I am so happy I decided to give them a try. And I truly believe every parent deserves to experience the magic of an all-inclusive family resort at least once.
