When I Want It All In The Caribbean

Sometimes a girl just wants to have it all…right at her fingertips. Especially when on vacation! I suppose a lot of guys do too. To me, ‘having it all’ means having every meal, drink, massage, excursion and activity included in a single price so I don’t have to think about it. And that means one thing only: all-inclusive resort.

I learned about all-inclusive resorts on one of my earliest visits to the Caribbean. I joined my sister and her family on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Most astonishing to me at the time was the affordable price. I could hardly believe that truly everything was included. Going in, my expectations of any degree of quality were low. However, hour-by-hour my attitude changed. When it was time to leave, I was a true believer. Over the years I have promoted the concept to snobs and skeptics and have converted many to the joys of vacationing at all-inclusive resorts.

Granted, all-inclusive resorts may not appeal to everyone. However, so many different themed resorts have sprung up over the years, it’s hard to imagine there isn’t an all-inclusive customized to satisfy every desire. Currently, there are all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean catering to the simplest desire not to leave a footprint to the most decidedly self-indulgent. Believe me, there’s much to be said in favor of both options!

Whether you know for certain that you want to do specific things or don’t have a clear idea, the all-inclusive concept can be a life changer. For starters, you have to eat, so the mere act of having all food and beverage costs taken care of is a vacation. You simply go to one of the on-site restaurants, order what you like, eat it and walk away.

If you’ve ever thought you might like to try snorkeling or horseback riding on the beach, sailing, kayaking or zip-lining, learning how to scuba dive or dance a new dance, or brush up on your high school Spanish, you’ll have all these options and more at all-inclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean destinations. I learned how to do the Bachata during my time in the Dominican Republic. And, of course, you always have the option of staying in your room or planting yourself on a chaise lounge poolside or beachfront all day long.

You can theme your vacation around a particular activity like golf, tennis, deep-sea fishing or sailing. You can pick adult only resorts, where there will be no one under the age of 18. You can select resorts that are far from or right in the midst of the tourist hotspots. If you’re a foodie, you’ll want to seek out those that are noted for their culinary expertise. Many of the foodie resorts offer cooking classes too.

Whether you travel alone, as a couple or in a group, all-inclusive resorts are ideal. You can be a social butterfly or be as private as you like. If you’ve never experienced an all-inclusive resort, the Caribbean is the end-all and the be-all destination for a wide variety of vacations where you can have it all! And everyone deserves to have it all at least once in their life!