My husband often jokes that honeymoons are wasted on newlyweds and that the time you *really* need a vacation is after you have kids. While newlywed me would totally disagree {planning a wedding is terrible IMO}, I can’t help but get his logic.
It’s safe to say since having a kid seven years ago, I haven’t had a truly relaxing vacation. We’ve had a few local getaways for a couple nights just the two of us, but for the most part, nothing extravagant or requiring a plane ride. In fact, the only other time the two of us have been together on a plane was for our honeymoon.
So with our 10-year anniversary looming, we figured we had the perfect excuse to getaway without too much guilt. Thankfully the grandparents were up for the challenge, and we booked the ultimate getaway — to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica!
It.Was.Amazing.
We only were gone for 4 nights, but it felt glorious to not cook for little people or break up sibling fights.
We had been to an all-inclusive for our honeymoon, so knew what we were in for, but there are still so many tips I wanted to remember for our next big getaway…likely in another 10 years or so 😉
8 Tips For Visiting An Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort
- Get a travel package. When we were looking to plan a trip, we got tips from so many folks. We looked into various destinations, cruises, etc. In the end, we found the best packages with Costco Travel. I loved that their packages were refundable up until a week before and included everything from airfare to shuttles and more. I highly recommend them for trips! Our trip was flawless.
- Bring LOTS of one dollar bills. Most all-inclusive resorts do not require tips, but let’s be real — we all know these people make low wages, and throwing a buck or two at them for shleping a drink to you on the beach is a nice gesture. Plus there’s shuttle drivers, baggage helpers, your concierge, cleaning lady, etc. And if you have a minibar and want it stocked a certain way, money helps. {We had ours almost completely stocked with rum and coke thanks to a note and a few dollars!}
- Insulated cups ROCK. I soooo wish we knew this tip before our trip. Ice melts quick at a tropical destination, so bringing a nice insulated cup would’ve been great for drinks.
- Bring a beach bag. My friend shared this tip with me, and I’m so glad because it’s something I would’ve easily forgot. It was so nice having a bag to carry my book, sunscreen and towels in for time at the beach or pool.
- Pack light. I honestly brought way too many clothes considering I was in my bathing suit for 80 percent of the vacation. Next time I will pack another bathing suit and a cover-up, maybe 1-2 casual outfits and a couple nice dresses for dinners and call it good! Most resorts should have cleaning services should you need them. I am obsessed with these packing cubes {affiliate link} to keep our suitcases organized!
- Schedule excursions when you arrive. If you plan to do any excursions, schedule them shortly after arriving. We decided to wait until the following day and our excursions got cancelled two nights in a row. We were SO bummed! I wish we would’ve had another day to try for it.
- Bring a waterproof camera. If you have one, that is. If not, borrow one from a friend. I don’t have one and was terrified of getting my DSLR or phone wet so didn’t take as many photos as I would’ve liked to.
- Don’t overschedule yourself. The point of an all-inclusive is to actually be able to relax and leave the rest to the resort employees. I loved the days we had zero plans and could just go with the flow since it’s SO opposite of my “normal” life. Also, since you are paying for all those food and drinks, enjoy them!
Overall, a vacation is exactly what I needed at this point in my life and I was so glad we splurged and rearranged our calendars to make it happen.
To my husband: Cheers to 10 years! Can’t wait to celebrate with you all year long 🙂
Check out more of our date night and couple’s adventures HERE.
Have you visited an all-inclusive resort? If so, what are your tips?
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