When you should — and shouldn't — book an all-inclusive vacation, according to an expert

When planning a vacation, you may think it's better to go on an all-inclusive trip, but it's not always to your advantage or cheaper.

• All-inclusive packages handle flights and accommodations in one swoop, which can make planning easy.
• But booking separately gives you more control over your stay.
• Planning a vacation is personal, so review all of your options before booking anything. 

From hotels to flights, there's a lot to consider when mulling over maximizing your bottom dollar while still locking down the vacation of your dreams.

Should you book that enticing all-inclusive deal? Or, should you do your own homework and book your trip independently of a vacation package?

Many travelers may consider this question. Before you pack your bags, consider when you should book an all-inclusive vacation and when you should book separately.

All-inclusive packages handle all of your travel plans, which can be very convenient

If you're someone who doesn't like to think about the details too often, then an all-inclusive option could be a good option for you. According to Travelzoo's senior editor Gabe Saglie, booking an all-inclusive vacation package can make the entire trip planning process much easier.

"The convenience of all-inclusive is that it does all of the homework for you. You are presented with this mapped out series of days," Saglie told Business Insider. "It can make the planning aspect of a vacation easier."

Packages can be limiting in terms of what each bundle offers, but not always

When you decide to book separately, you're in control of where you stay, what airline you fly, and the types of activities you engage in. According to Salie, an all-inclusive package does not always offer this flexibility.

"If you go with an all-inclusive vacation package as-is, you need to make sure the package offers what you want or are looking for from your vacation," he said. "Because once you lock that in, that's the experience that you will be having once you arrive."

Saglie noted some all-inclusive packages may be customizable, so make sure to check with the company before you book.

"Usually, I rarely book a vacation package exactly as presented," he said. "I may want to fly another airline because I've got status on that airline, or I'd rather do an adults-only resort and not do the family-friendly hotel, or vice versa."

For a more-localized vacation experience, book the trip on your own

If you're searching for a cozier vibe that integrates you right into the heart of a particular city's culture, then it's best to book your trip on your own. Many all-inclusive packages are limited to certain, standardized hotels and resorts in more popular spots. 

"Nowadays, more travelers are looking to dive a little deeper into a destination on a cultural level because we have access to so many more accommodation options," Saglie told BI. "Sometimes doing it yourself would be the better way to go, simply because those kinds of options aren't readily available yet in the all-inclusive landscape right now."

If you want to stay put in one spot, go the all-inclusive route

All-inclusive vacation packages are great options for travelers who want to stay mostly in one spot.

"Oftentimes, if all you want to do is sit on the beach for three nights, it makes sense to look at all-inclusive packages," said Saglie.

Factor in credit-card points and other travel perks you have access to when deciding how to book

Many travelers redeem credit-card points for flights, hotel stays, and more. Sometimes, these points can be used to pay for an entire trip. In this case, Saglie said it makes more sense to book separately.

"These days, whether you're using credit cards or if you have status with a particular resort chain, sometimes it can be more bang for your buck to cash in on some of those insider perks able to buy airfare with miles or upgrade your resort experience because you've got points," he said. "That can be a pretty effective way of enhancing your trip in a way that may be an all-inclusive package can't or at that same price-point."

But, sometimes, these points can be used to upgrade your all-inclusive packages, too.

Think about the time of year you are planning to travel and compare both options

The time of year will play a big factor in the overall cost of your vacation. You may be able to score a money-saving deal with an all-inclusive package during certain seasons, said Saglie.

"If you are looking to go to a destination during a slow time of the year, like traveling to the Caribbean in the summer or during hurricane season, you're going to be finding some pretty good bargain deals," he told BI. 

If you're looking to book during a low season, it's worth looking into how much it'd cost you to book your resort stay and airfare separately — it could be better than all-inclusive package options. 

If you're looking for a particular type of experience, book your travel yourself

Travelers who are seeking a very specific or unique vacation may be better off booking elements of their trip separately.

"If you're looking for a very specific or special type of experience while you're vacationing, that's when it may make more sense to package the travel yourself. Oftentimes, there are very unique or specialized resorts that may not play ball with a vacation package," he said.

He said this especially applies to adrenaline junkies who might want to zip line in the morning, river raft in the afternoon, and cave dive in the evening. 

"That's the specialized personalized experience where vacation packages may come up short. In this case, you really need to do the legwork yourself," he said. 

One may be more cost-efficient than the other

Sometimes, all-inclusive packages can be a better deal than booking your reservations individually, according to Saglie. This is because travel companies are able to buy up large volumes of hotel rooms and flights at one time and sell them to customers at a discount.

"There's no doubt that vacation companies that put these packages together pass on legitimate savings to travelers," Saglie said. "They are usually buying up hotel rooms or airline seats in bulk so that they are getting these lower rates or getting extras tacked on that they can pass on to customers. Oftentimes, you are looking at some pretty dramatic price-points."

Above all, he recommends exploring all of your options before signing on the dotted line.

"The last thing we want to do is be pigeon-holed into an experience that looked really good and was priced right but at the end of the day wasn't really what you wanted," he added. 

This story was originally published on March 4, 2019, and most recently updated on July 17, 2024.