5 Common Complaints Travelers Have About All-Inclusive Resorts

All-inclusive resorts are some travelers' idea of the perfect place to spend a vacation. The luxurious beach resorts with multiple pools, big buffets, and unlimited drinks are probably what most of us think of when we imagine going to an all-inclusive, but you can also find them in the mountains, near hot springs, and even on working farms. Mexico and the many islands scattered throughout the Caribbean are some of the most popular destinations for all-inclusive resorts. The package deals take the stress out of planning a vacation, but some travelers are less than impressed.

Although all-inclusive resorts remain popular, many people have a lot of negative things to say about their experiences. We read through dozens of comments and complaints posted on Reddit, Google, and Tripadvisor to discover the most common issues that people bring up. Some feel that all-inclusive resorts are boring. Others dislike that they don't allow visitors to experience any of the local culture. Plenty of travelers say the food is bad and generic at all-inclusive resorts and believe the drinks are watered down. When travelers expect everything to be wrapped up into the price of their stay, they end up feeling extremely disappointed that all of the best activities cost extra. It can feel misleading.

All-inclusive resorts offer guests all sorts of perks, and they may be worth considering if you're looking for a relaxing vacation destination. Still, it's a good idea to understand some of the most common complaints travelers have before you book your room. If you're aware of what some of the pitfalls might be, you're less likely to end up disappointed with your vacation. Here are some common traveler complaints about all-inclusive resorts.

Some travelers love going to all-inclusive resorts because they find the environment perfectly conducive to relaxation. You can spend all day lounging by the pool with a fruity cocktail and a good book or wander over to the beach and do the same thing in a different setting. You don't really have to think about where to eat your next meal because there are plenty of options onsite. You don't have to plan or do much of anything. For other travelers, that's part of the problem.

If your idea of a great vacation involves a bit more action and adventure, you might find all-inclusive resorts rather boring. However, if you're the kind of person who loves nothing more than lying by the pool, they're probably more your cup of tea. There must be travelers who do not know exactly what to expect when booking a room at a resort that is all-inclusive, because plenty of people are left extremely disappointed that there isn't more to do.

"I don't understand why so many people are all about all-inclusive resorts. Spending days on the beach and by the pool and [getting] drunk all day, having to spread sunscreen over and over again 5 times a day, get in line for the buffet and rinse and repeat," a Reddit user who has since deleted their account wrote in the r/unpopularopinion subreddit. "You just sit there everyday and do nothing," they added. Apparently their opinion wasn't actually unpopular at all because plenty of other travelers chimed in with their agreement. "Agreed. Half a day lounging and drinking is plenty for me. Otherwise it's mind numbingly boring," a Reddit user called Least_Palpitation_92 responded.

One of the major complaints that some travelers have about all-inclusive resorts is that they make you feel like you're in a bubble away from the rest of the world. They are little tourist-centered oases, but they aren't actually a reflection of the local culture. Some all-inclusive resorts feel like a different world than the actual destination in which they are located. They serve the kind of food that tourists are used to eating instead of the dishes that are favored by locals. The music played over the speakers by the pool is probably the same popular songs that you would hear on any radio station back home instead of the musical styles that originated in that place you are visiting. Unless you make an effort to leave the resort, you may visit a brand new country without ever experiencing any of the things that make it unique.

"If I travel to Jamaica, I want to experience the shores of Negril, speak to a local about their coconuts and coffee, and have a fish-fry with a few people who I just ran into. Sadly, all-inclusives work counter to this mindset," a writer named Jason Dookeran posted in an article on Medium.

Some all-inclusive resorts do make an effort to celebrate the local culture, but if you really want to experience the spirit of a place, you'll need to get out and explore. "I feel like the entire raison d'etre of resorts, especially all-inclusive ones, is that you are isolated and insulated from the local society. They exclude both locals and other tourists, and that's the point: you can leave and interact with those people or you can stay in the resort with the other wealthy tourists," u/quivverquivver wrote on Reddit.

Not all resorts are created equal. Some of the top all-inclusive resorts in Europe have highly rated restaurants where talented chefs create culinary masterpieces. There are other resort properties that you may want to avoid if delicious food is something you hope to enjoy on your vacation. Although all-inclusive resorts are known for having multiple different dining options, the food was one of the most common complaints that we noticed during our research.

On a Tripadvisor forum, one user asked why so many people describe the food as being "awful" at all-inclusive resorts. Having never been to an all-inclusive resort, they were doing research on different properties and saw tons of negative reviews about the food. The responses to their comment were eye-opening. "I'm not terribly picky, so I would never go hungry, but the food, especially at the buffets, was always just ok, passable. I avoid [all-inclusives] because for me, the food is such a huge part of my travel experience. I love finding new haunts wherever we're visiting," a person with the username ThreeBeasties wrote. Other responses compared the food at all-inclusive resorts to large-scale catered food, Applebees, and the kind of food courts one might find at a shopping mall.

Food was also one of the main complaints discussed on Reddit forums. "Man. I didn't know there could be bad steaks or burgers [...] You can taste the frozen/cheap beef. Tough pasta and dry lemons are a staple," one Reddit user shared about their resort experience. On the same thread, u/berry chimed in about the food at another resort. "It is definitely food court quality," they wrote. "I would say it was like going to the frozen freezer section in Walmart and cooking a frozen spaghetti." Yikes. 

Many travelers expect that when they book a stay at an all-inclusive resort, they'll be able to leave their wallets in their pockets for the entire trip. However, according to many of the complaints that we read online, that isn't always the case. The best all-inclusive resorts offer organized fun to keep guests busy and entertained, but it's crucial to remember that many of the top activities are not actually included in the cost of your stay.

Blindly trusting resort photos is one of the most common all-inclusive resort mistakes that could ruin your vacation. You may browse the official website and see glamorous professional pictures of people scuba diving, sailing, ziplining, or enjoying other luxurious and adventurous activities. Even if you see them featured in promotional photos online, it doesn't mean those experiences are free.

That said, there will certainly be some free things to do during your stay. Many resorts offer free nightly entertainment. Basic non-motorized equipment like boogie boards, snorkels, and kayaks may be available to use in the ocean at no extra charge. There may even be free yoga classes or workouts offered daily. That being said, more thrilling activities are probably going to cost you extra. My dad and I once booked an all-inclusive stay at a resort in Mexico specifically because we wanted to swim in some of the Yucatan's famous cenotes. We chose a resort that had plenty of pictures of cenotes on the website. When we arrived, we learned that the cenotes were about an hour away and that we would have to pay for a guided tour. The tour was worth the money, and we had a great time, but it was still a bummer to learn that it wasn't included.

One of the major perks that tourists look forward to when staying at an all-inclusive resort is access to an unlimited open bar. Purchasing alcoholic beverages on vacation can really start to add up quickly. If you plan on indulging in more than a few cocktails during your trip, the cost of drinking may put a major dent in your vacation budget. All-inclusive resorts are the perfect answer for travelers who love to party on the beach and those who have the best time with a cocktail in hand. They can be a budget-friendly choice for heavy drinkers, but many travelers complain about the drinks being watered down.

"Beer in a bottle feels stronger than the mixed drinks," one Redditor u/SonUnforseenByFrodo, wrote in the r/AllInclusiveResorts subreddit when another user asked if the drinks at resorts are intentionally watered down. A lot of people who responded believe that all-inclusive properties do intentionally water down the alcoholic beverages that they serve in order to keep guests from getting overly intoxicated. 

Although watered-down drinks were one of the most common complaints that we found during our research, it is important to note that we found no solid proof that any all-inclusive resorts are actually watering down drinks. It is possible that sugary-sweet drinks could mask the taste of the alcohol or that local brands of booze used in mixed drinks don't taste as strong as some travelers might be used to. Either way, don't be surprised if the unlimited free drinks at your resort aren't exactly what you're expecting.