5 All-Inclusive Resorts To Avoid In The Caribbean

All-inclusive resorts like to give off an aura of luxury, comfort, and total enjoyment. They market themselves as places where you can kick back and relax in a stunning setting, without having to worry about anything, with all your desires taken care of. And while many are as fabulous as they seem, there are plenty of all-inclusive resorts that aren't worth your money. 

Incredible all-inclusive resorts are a mainstay of many Caribbean vacations, and there are some truly exceptional places to stay dotted around the golden-sand beaches and azure waters of various Caribbean paradises. Sadly, there are a fair few that are best avoided as well. We took a deep dive into some of the lowest Tripadvisor reviews to uncover the worst examples, and give you a heads up on some of the places best to avoid if you are planning an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation this year. 

In compiling this list, we looked at ratings and reviews of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean on Tripadvisor, as well as comments on social media. Our list includes the Whala! Bavaro in the Dominican Republic, the Carina Bay Boutique Resort & Casino in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island in St. Croix in the Bahamas, the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun in Mexico, and the Breezes Resort & Spa in Nassau in the Bahamas.

Whala! Bavaro is a 4-star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, situated a stone's throw from the beautiful Bavaro Beach. It is not the most expensive all-inclusive resort on this list. Indeed, with rooms available from $111 per night, it is actually pretty affordable. However, as a 4-star resort, you would expect a certain level of service, and this doesn't seem to be the case according to a number of reviews on Tripadvisor. The hotel has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5, one of the worst on our list, and guest complaints range from water leaks in the bedroom and clogged toilets to poor service and limited food options.

Multiple reviews on Tripadvisor complain that the reality of the resort does not live up to expectations, mentioning the size of the rooms, the outdated facilities, and the underwhelming dining choices. One guest said, "The 1st room we were put in had mold on the furniture and lamp shades, the patio doors wouldn't lock and the bathroom window was completely broken and falling out."

Reviews on other sites are no better. Redditor u/No-Chicken-Meat says, "Possibly the worst hotel in Bavaro. To call it a resort is really a stretch," while the resort only gets 3.5 out of 5 on Google. Guests are continually frustrated by how cheap it feels and by how poor the food offering is. If food and good service are important to you, Whala! Bavaro is definitely an all-inclusive resort you'll want to avoid.

Carina Bay Boutique Resort & Casino is a more expensive option than our first resort, with all-inclusive room packages starting at around $400. Located on a beautiful stretch of coast in the east of St. Croix Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this adult-only resort boasts a secluded beachfront, several swimming pools, and an on-site casino. The reviews on Tripadvisor leave a lot to be desired, however, with an overall rating of 3.6 and a host of guest complaints. 

Reviews on Tripadvisor mention the underwhelming buffet, the poor service, and the limited all-inclusive facilities. One guest said, "There were so few staff members that every meal took ages, and the ones who were there seemed overwhelmed and far from cheerful," while another described the buffet food as "marginal at best if you like dried out chicken and pork and limited choices."

It should be said that there are plenty of reviews praising some aspects of this resort. The location in particular is a highlight, described as stunning even by negative reviews. On Reddit, opinions are mixed, with some praising the rooms and the beach, but many complaining about the service. Redditor u/Brave-Brief2154 says, "Last night we came to the pool bar at 8 PM and the cook and bartender were on their phones and ignoring us for the most part. Any interaction felt like we were completely inconveniencing their nights." Overall, the resort does not seem to live up to expectations and is best avoided.

Paradise Island is a tiny speck of land just off the coast of New Providence in the Bahamas. It has several excellent beaches, a golf course, and the enormous Atlantis entertainment complex, which includes a casino, various waterparks, and an open-air aquarium. Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island is on the north shore, overlooking the spectacular Cabbage Beach, and within easy reach of all the attractions of Paradise Island. Rooms start at nearly $600 per night, which makes it a pricey option, but the Tripadvisor rating of 3.7 out of 5 indicates that the resort is not worth the expense. 

Criticisms of the resort include outdated facilities, overly complicated restaurant reservation systems, power outages, broken furniture, and a chaotic, loud, and unrelaxing atmosphere. One guest said, "Overall, service felt inconsistent and often rude. Basic greetings like 'hello' were rarely returned, and complaints or questions were often brushed off." Another went further, saying, "Truly horrible experience. Rude staff, bad food, outdated hotel. You are not welcome here and with plenty of other accommodations on the island – I am sure there is a better one."

There is plenty of praise for the location, with the beach a particular highlight for many travelers. The proximity to the Atlantis casino is also something that several reviews mention. While the overall rating is low, several guests on Reddit had positive feedback, with Redditor u/FavorFollowsMe1 saying: "Food amazing. Staff was very professional and accommodating...[they] really go out of their way to make sure you are having a great time." Even with the balance of good feedback, the overwhelmingly negative reviews make this a resort to avoid.

The Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is located on Mexico's Caribbean coast, halfway between Cancun and Puerto Morelos. Hidden away on a gorgeous, secluded stretch of beach, it gets largely good reviews, with its overall Tripadvisor rating of 4.2 elevating it from the previous resorts on this list. However, while plenty of guests enjoyed their stay here, the negative reviews are incendiary and make this place worth highlighting, particularly given that the rooms come in at around $400 per night. 

Marriott describes its Autograph Collection as "distinctive independent hotels carefully crafted to leave a lasting imprint." But the imprint they describe presumably doesn't include rooms infested with mosquitoes, stolen property, or the smell of backed-up sewage, as described by one guest on Tripadvisor. Other reviews mention employees pretending to be managers in response to complaints, being charged twice at check-in, and other fraudulent fees.

When staying at a secluded resort where getting to the nearest town means a taxi ride, the food offering is hugely important. One guest describes the buffet as "more reminiscent of cafeteria quality than what would be expected at a 4- or 5-star resort," and goes on to say that "during our stay, 3 out of 5 of us got food poisoning." This is a dealbreaker for most travelers when choosing an all-inclusive resort, as a huge part of the appeal is not having to stress about dining options during their stay.

Breezes Resort & Spa is situated just outside the capital city of Nassau on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. It overlooks the iconic Cable Beach, one of the most famous beaches on the island, and boasts all the amenities and attractions that you'd expect from a luxury resort. Rooms start at around $420 per night, and the resort even highlights its status as a Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Award recipient in 2025.

However, if it was receiving consistent 5-star reviews in 2025, it isn't in 2026. With an overall ranking of 3.9, it isn't the worst-reviewed resort on our list, but it certainly isn't a guest favorite. Recent reviews consistently mention the outdated condition of the rooms, the poor service, and the underwhelming food and dining options. One review said, "Filthy beach and pool area, broken loungers and zero service. On day 1 no beer at the pool bar, on day 2 no drinking water at pool bar (only bar open during the day) and no running water in the room. Phone also broken in room so 8 levels down to report everything. By end of day 2 we couldn't take any more and left."

There are plenty of good reviews, but even the positive ones indicate that it seems more set up for teenagers than adults, and leaves some things to be desired. And while most of the best reviews are from 2025, the ratio of good to bad has certainly gotten worse in 2026.