The Best Budget-Friendly All-Inclusive Resort Hotels In The US, According To Guest Reviews
Vacations provide a break from the mundane, an escape into a world of leisure and fun, but it's also hard to escape when you're continually worried about the cost and fees of every activity and meal. For many, the solution is staying at an all-inclusive resort, where meals, beds, and recreational activities are all included. By staying at an all-inclusive, you can leave the wallet in the room and just enjoy all that a destination has to offer.
It's even better when those resorts offer luxurious amenities and overnight stays at budget prices. While some luxury resorts may charge thousands of dollars per night, others may only cost a few hundred dollars — or less — to enjoy everything the resort has to offer. These budget-friendly resorts may not offer quite as many amenities as their upscale counterparts, but the best ones still offer access to such things as pools, splash parks, beaches, arcades, golf courses, and a variety of dining outlets. You'll usually also have the option to choose "add-on" perks, such as spa services and watercraft rentals.
We've compiled a list of all-inclusive resorts across the U.S., in big cities and small, that are highly rated by past guests. The resorts also offer great amenities but at a comparably lower cost than similar resorts. Most of these resorts are less than $500 a night. Whether you're planning a family vacation, solo getaway, quiet wellness retreat, or an outdoor adventure, these all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. are tantalizing yet budget-friendly options.
Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark - Frankenmuth, Michigan
Located just blocks from the world's largest Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan, you'll find Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark, a family resort with colorful water slides bursting from its building and snaking in and out of the property. The resort boasts two separate waterparks that cater to all seasons. In the winter, the waterparks are indoors, but when the weather is nice, the roofs retract to welcome the sunshine. Zehnder's is an old and venerable name in Frankenmuth. Originally built as the Exchange Hotel in 1856, the property has grown in the small town, which is about 95 miles north of Detroit.
Today, Zehnder's Splash Village commands attention on the roadway into town, boasting a 50,000-square-foot water park, an 18-hole golf course, shops filled with German souvenirs, and dining outlets from formal to ultra-casual. Zehnder's restaurant is a destination in itself, a favorite among Michiganders who travel here for their family-style, all-you-can-eat chicken dinners prepared in the German tradition with generous sides and Stollen bread. A suite that sleeps five starts at $99 a night, and the stay includes four passes to the waterparks. At higher prices, you can choose packages that also include an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at its Elf Hollow Cafe and the family-style dinner at Zehnder's.
Pier House Resort and Spa Resort - Key West, Florida
When you hear the siren call of the ocean and the beach beckons you to spend some sandy time soaking up the sun, the Pier House Resort and Spa might push Key West to the top of your destination list. Having started life as a small motel by a developer opposed to high rises, The Pier House soon became a favorite among celebrities and doubled in size. Their famous Chart Room Bar gave Jimmy Buffett his first gig, and the venue actually welcomed a young Bob Marley at the beginning of his career. Other celebrities who've regularly stayed at the Key West resort include Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and the wealthy elite, such as Rockefellers, Mellons, and Vanderbilts.
Yet, the resort hasn't lost its charm as an affordable destination for travelers. Just like in the past, the resort still offers free hot dogs and popcorn with your wine while you listen to live music in its fabled bar. However, the resort doesn't just serve free hot dogs and popcorn. If you take advantage of the resort's fishing tours, you can bring your fresh catch back to the restaurant where the resort's chefs will prepare it for your dinner. The resort also features a full-service spa. "Incredible SPA experience! My husband and I frequently get massages but nothing prepared us for the experience we received at the Pier House Spa," Allie F. wrote on Tripadvisor. While nightly prices can soar during certain times of the year, you can reserve your spot — on the water in Key West — for as low as $399 if you time it right.
Waterfall Resort - Ketchikan, Alaska
Alaska is a bucket-list destination for many, especially those who seek outdoor adventure. One of the few places on Earth that still offers wide spaces of remote wilderness, Alaska is a utopia for hunters, hikers, anglers, and outdoorsmen. If you're looking to combine your all-inclusive experience with adventure, the remote Waterfall Resort caters to thrill-seekers and outdoor lovers.
At Waterfall Resort, "all-inclusive" doesn't just refer to your room and the all-you-can-eat buffets for breakfast and dinner (lunch is served on a boat). Your stay also includes transportation to the resort, which is accessible only by air and water, your fishing license, boat reservations, all-weather gear, and the freeze-packing and delivery home of everything you catch. The resort is an angler's dream, and people from around the world travel to this historic property to participate in fishing excursions and tournaments that focus on wild king and silver salmon, halibut, and lingcod. The resort's Coast Guard-licensed guides have served more than 65,000 anglers through the years.
Located in the Tongass National Forest, the resort is surrounded by amazing wildlife, including orcas, migrating humpback whales, sea lions, otters, porpoises, black bears, deer, mink, puffins, and bald eagles. Overnight options include lodge rooms, boardwalk cabins, townhouses, and "Egg House" suites. A stay at Waterfall Resort offers the opportunity to gather the fish stories of a lifetime, and while you may not consider over $1,000 per night as budget-friendly, a chartered fishing trip can cost this much (and more) without any lodging, transportation, or meals included.
Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort - Calistoga, California
Get a taste of Rome without ever having to venture beyond Northern California's wine country. At Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort, you can indulge in their saunas, mineral spring soaking pools, hot tubs, and spa services. Surrounded by vineyards, the resort also offers bike rentals, as well as access to hot air balloon rides, horseback riding excursions, and golf. As the name implies, the downtown boutique hotel features geothermal hot springs. Its full-service spa offers everything from traditional massages and facials to mud and mineral bath rituals. "They've somewhat recently renovated many rooms. Which is great. But this place has a major draw. A large outdoor nature hot springs pool," Matthew T. wrote on Yelp.
Guestrooms are custom-furnished in wine country style. Some suites are outfitted with fireplaces and include two-person jacuzzi tubs and walk-in rain showers. While the resort does not have an on-site restaurant, some of its packages include gift certificates for breakfast at nearby restaurants, and the resort offers wine and other seasonal goodies to enjoy on guestroom patios. Rates range from $245 to $445 a night, depending on the season. While the resort is not an all-inclusive resort, per se, guests can freely enjoy the geothermal springs throughout their stay, and the resort's packages are indulgent.
Woodloch Pines Resort - Hawley, Pennsylvania
Escape to the woods in the Poconos Mountains in small-town Hawley, Pennsylvania, for a family vacation that is part summer camp and part forest getaway. The Woodloch Pines Resort has been offering year-round getaways with seasonal events for 65 years, and USA Today has frequently ranked Woodloch Pines Resort as the top family resort in the United States. With an all-inclusive plan that includes either guestrooms or vacation rental homes, two to three meals a day, and more than 30 daily activities, the resort offers wholesome fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Amenities and activities include rock climbing, a splash park, archery tag, go-karting, bakery wars, Bingo, bumper boats and bumper cars, tennis courts, boat tours, disc golf, exercise rooms, ice skating, fishing docks, pools, hayrides, trapshooting, a petting zoo, and seasonal events such as haunted houses or yule log hunts. They have more than 160 guestrooms that can accommodate up to six people and more than 70 privately owned vacation rental homes. While rates increase in the summer, you can find lower rates for all-inclusive packages, starting at $312 a night for two adults, during winter and shoulder seasons.
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino - Reno, Nevada
The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino pulls out the stops to provide its guests with contemporary rooms brimming with luxurious, old-world touches. Like many casinos, they provide all a guest needs to tarry at the property for their entire stay in Reno. However, unlike many high-end casinos, this resort offers affordable rates. Although budget-friendly, the resort has earned the AAA Four Diamond rating for excellence, and RenoTahoe lists it as the city's premier hotel-casino. In a city filled with them, the hotel's amenities help to top resort listings. There are two resort pools, 10 dining outlets, and 16 themed bars and lounges. There is also a 43,000-square-foot spa, salon, and fitness center with aquatics features and a garden. Its casino is open 24/7 and has garnered plenty of "best of" awards from visitors, gaming organizations, and the local media.
If you're planning a gaming getaway, the resort offers slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and many other options. The resort boasts 1,635 rooms and suites, all designed in a contemporary fashion with traditional touches. You can access all the resort's amenities for as little as $60 a night in the off-season for a standard room. Or, choose a deluxe room or king-size tower suite with steam showers for between $130 to $150 per night. While a stay at Peppermill will include access to its bevy of amenities, we should mention that rates do not include resort fees or meals.
Tyler Place Family Resort - Highgate Springs, Vermont
For 90 years, the Tyler Place Family Resort has been providing all-inclusive vacations for guests in Highgate Springs, Vermont. The cozy resort is replete with a wealth of activities and childcare options, and due to consistently positive guest reviews, Tripadvisor has granted it a Certificate of Excellence for seven consecutive years. The family-friendly resort combines robust, award-winning children's programming with historic charm, cultivating the character of an intimate, lakeshore cottage community. After you park your car, you can spend a week on foot or cycling to visit gardens, pools, and the waterfront across the resort's 165 acres. The resort offers free bike rentals to all guests. Other outdoor activities include fishing, boat rides, kayaking, canoeing, disc golf, lake trampolines, and paddle boats.
A week's stay at the resort includes all meals, kids and teen programs, daytime infant and toddler care, family activities, sports activities, field days, evening entertainment, pony rides, ice cream socials, and more. The resort also features an indoor heated pool and hot tub, as well as children's clubhouses and playhouses divided by age group. If you want to explore off-property, the resort will even provide you with a picnic basket for your hike or day trip. As part of their commitment to their guests, Tyler Place frequently allows guests to help them choose what improvements and new additions will be made each year. Daily rates range from $181 to $567 per adult and $129 to $198 per child.
The Red Mountain Resort - Ivins, Utah
The Red Mountain Resort offers a little bit of paradise, especially for biking and hiking aficionados. Located near Zion National Park, the wellness retreat combines outdoor hiking and biking adventures with tranquil moments of restoration and reflection. The pet-friendly rooms and villas are designed in a desert oasis style with eco-friendly materials, and each provides views of the surrounding red rock mountains. "Red Mountain is a must on your bucket list. The property is immaculate with breathtaking views at every glance," Lisa T. wrote on Tripadvisor. The resort tailors unique packages for guests based on whether they are looking for a wellness retreat, group adventure, or a romantic getaway. Each package includes various amenities and perks. One of their most popular is the Essential Retreat Package, which includes meals, daily guided hikes, fitness classes, life classes, personal discovery activities, and the resort pass.
Hiking and biking trails snake through the property, and guided excursions are available that accommodate various fitness levels. There's even an expansive outdoor labyrinth for meditative walks. The Canyon Breeze restaurant serves local, sustainable menu options, while The Sagestone Spa offers full-service spa and salon services. Guests can also attend classes and workshops in reiki, shamanic energy healing, astrology, chakra balancing, and life coaching. Prices vary according to the particular package and season, but prices
Vista Verde Ranch - Clark, Colorado
If your idea of a vacation involves putting "dude ranch" and "luxury" into the same sentence, then Vista Verde Ranch invites you to join the herd at its Old West-style, all-inclusive resort in Colorado. From family soirees to adult-only vacations to solo escapes, the ranch offers experiences that include fine dining, horseback riding, fishing, yoga, cooking classes, and more. They invite people to put their wallets away when they arrive to simply enjoy everything the ranch has to offer.
Vista Verde, a privately owned dude ranch, commits to sharing the Western lifestyle with guests. While the summers are ideal for expert or novice equestrians, guests who stay in the winter can enjoy sleigh rides, skiing, and snow tubing — the ranch is just north of Steamboat Springs, a premier winter sports destination. Seven-night stays start at $4,395 per adult in late winter/early spring and go up to $6,694 per adult in high summer season. Children stay at a discounted rate. While this may seem pricey, the all-inclusive stay includes lodging, three meals per day, a wide assortment of wine, beer, and sodas, cooking classes, wine tastings, guided seasonal activities (horseback riding, sledding, etc.), photography classes, evening entertainment, and airport transfers.
The Grand Hotel - Mackinac Island, Michigan
Step back in time to the Victorian era on an island where motorized vehicles are banned and the streets are filled with horse-drawn carriages. High up on a hill on Mackinac Island is the Grand Hotel, a historic property that opened in 1887. While undoubtedly a luxury stay, the hotel offers all-inclusive packages to its guests, ranging from murder mystery weekends to bed and breakfast deals. Open from May to October, the property boasts the world's longest porch (filled with rocking chairs), uniquely furnished rooms, gourmet meals, live entertainment, and a large lawn with gardens and a pool. During their stay, guests enjoy the genteel living promoted at the hotel with its afternoon tea time, dress-code-enforced dinners, harp music, and croquet on the lawn.
Rooms are individually themed and decorated in bright colors. Seven of the suites are named (with their blessings) after former First Ladies. Five First Ladies even consulted on the decor for their suites. Rates start at $667 during the shoulder seasons before increasing in the summer. While it's a stretch to describe The Grand Hotel as budget-friendly, the sheer luxury of the hotel — combined with included daily meals, the resort's amenities, and island location — make it a comparable bargain to similar resorts. One guest on Tripadvisor wrote, "Our first view from the ferry of the Grand Hotel was breathtaking! It was an indication that our visit to the Grand Hotel was going to be something very special and unique."