r/AllInclusiveResorts

Hey folks, it's time for a weekend trip to Cabo next week. It'll only be the wife (40) and myself (48). Last time we stayed at the Hampton Inn that sits right between SJDC and CSL and really liked it. It was nothing special but had a rooftop pool with an ocean view. We have a refundable reservation for that now but have been eyeing AI resorts as well.

We are kinda in between the RIU Palace CSL and the RIU Santa Fe. We know that these are not super nice AI resorts and have no really high expectations for food and drinks. We are only looking at them because, for just a little more money, we would be in walking distance to downtown CSL (vs. having to take Ubers everywhere), and basically break even by only having breakfast and a few drinks at the resort every day.

As it stands right now the prices are as follows (for 3 nights, including taxes):

Hampton Inn $490
RIU Santa Fe $595 (+$105, or $35 per day)
RIU Palace CSL $835 (+$345, or $115 per day)

The number cruncher in me tells me to stay at Santa Fe because it seems impossible to not break even with only 2-3 drinks every day and otherwise eat off-property. That said, I read some horror stories about Santa Fe being "ratchet", loud, nasty etc. even though they have newly remodeled rooms vs. the dated ones at Palace CSL. Palace CSL seems a little tougher to break even without eating on property and knowing that food is just meh over there.

So my question to you is, is Santa Fe really that horrible to stay at if you only use it as a hotel to have breakfast and a few drinks at?

Thanks!

My family just got back from Spring Break at Dreams Curacao. We were booked at Dreams Tulum, but we pivoted to Curacao once the cartel violence kicked off early last month. We have previously stayed as several Dreams and Secrets properties in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, which was part of the reason we chose to stay here. We booked the preferred club rooms.

TL/DR

This was a disappointment compared to the other Dreams and Secrets properties we have visited. It was much smaller, had only one small pool and one small beach, had fewer restaurants, and was overall in worse condition than the other properties.

Food

There were only three restaurants aside from the buffet, and one was closed each night. There was no advance notice that any of the restaurants would be closed. The food was fine, but the menus were small, and it was frustrating to have the options further limited by the closures. The preferred breakfast and lunch by the ocean were very chill and uncrowded. I did not like the buffet, which was fairly low quality food. The beach snack shack was not very good either. Room service was serviceable other than late night, when the options were very limited.

Booze

Outside of the preferred lounge, which had a good selection, there were very limited options. Much less so than at the other resorts of this brand we have visited. The only whiskey option was Dewar's scotch, and everything else was well brands I had never heard of. They had some options in the preferred lounge than we have not seen at other properties (e.g., Hennessy, Glen Fiddich 12, The 1800)

Pool

The pool was fairly small with limited seating. There was a big, but poor quality, kid's pool that we never say anyone using. There are no swim-out rooms or swim-up bar. There is also no preferred pool, so even if you pay for preferred, you can easily have trouble getting pool side seating.

Beach

The beach was a very small area with not much ocean frontage or room for swimming. The ocean area in front of the beach was about the size of a neighborhood swimming pool. There are no life guards/ Most of the resort has small cliffs ocean side. There is a preferred "beach area" that is 8 sun beds on a patch of sand near the cliffs. We spent a lot of our time there, and we were always able to get a sun bed. There were also steps down to the ocean along the cliff, where you can swim out to a concrete platform with a rusty ladder to climb up it and dive off. The kids enjoyed that. If you are into swimming in the ocean from the beach, this really is not the resort for you.

Rooms

The property looks and feels like a single, old hotel. We got the biggest, most expensive rooms, which were billed as a suite. The room was fine for us, and had a small living room area, but it was somewhat annoying that we had to book a separate room for our 13 year old. He counted as an "adult" and the room only had a king bed, so it couldn't hold three "adults." It had a separate cot that would have been fine for him, but he was in a room with another 13 year old friend, so they had a blast and it worked out fine. We had a very large balcony, but it only had two chairs, so felt very empty and like a waste of space.

Overall

**5/10--**would not return. I really liked the island itself (we went into Willemstad one day), but this resort was not up to expectations based other Dreams and Secrets properties we have visited.

Hi,

I am looking for a last-minute getaway for the first week of May for our family (kids ages 7, 10). Just wondering if anyone has experience with these resorts and can help decide!

Paradisus Playa del Carmen

Fairmont Mayakoba

Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres

SLS Playa Mujeres **cheaper than the others

Finest Playa Mujeres

I know the ocean may have sargassum at that time so mostly focused on good food and waterpark for the kids, and high food safety standards.

Thank you!

Looking to go in October, extra $900 total for the exclusive space. Is it worth the price? We're a couple in our mid 20's

We're thinking of staying here soon, in the preferred club. We've been to secrets cabo, sanctuary cap cana, and paradisus cancun and likes em all. How is dreams sapphire preferred club? We're into quiet pools and decent food, just two adults going. Price is suspiciously cheap ($1.5k pp flying from midwest) so that has raised a red flag to me. Seems like older reviews before the preferred club was added seem kinda harsh? videos on yt make it look nice

Hey everyone,

A few weeks ago I asked for recommendations for an all inclusive, and a lot of people pointed me toward Atelier in Cancun. After doing some research, I ended up booking the Inspira Ocean front Suite for 4 nights! I’m still looking for a second hotel for the second half of my trip.

I did book the Atelier through Chase Travel because I’m getting a ton of points from it. I’m planning to use for flights and other parts of the trip. That said, I wanted to ask about the Inspira perks. Things like the dedicated check-in, special dinners, and any other extras they include. Am I missing out on any of that by not booking directly with the hotel? Or is everything tied to the room type regardless of how you book?

Also, if anyone has experience booking through Chase Travel for a place like this, are there any issues I should be aware of or anything I should do ahead of time to avoid problems?

And lastly, I’ll gladly take any recommendations for things to do while we’re there, whether that’s restaurants, excursions, or just general tips.

Thanks again for all the help! I really appreciate it!

TLDR:

1. Absolutely worth the money. I wouldn’t be surprised if this place is in the top 20% of “Bang for Your Buck” Resorts given our context of who we are and what we enjoy.

2. Definitely not a party place. Population is older crowd and parents w/teenagers and kids. Very minimal younger couples with no kids.

3. Higher occupancy could yield trouble with access to cabanas, seats, by the pools and beach. Restaurants definitely could be a pain when higher occupancy.

Context: 30 Years Old Introverted Couple. Don’t like large crowds and don’t drink alcohol. I have enough things I get addicted to and don’t want to add alcohol to that list lol Just love to relax without having to think about much hence AIs. Resort Priorities: 1) Room, 2) Food, 3) Pool.

Occupancy (Per Butler, Receptionist): 60%-70%ish

Weather: Perfect 72-83 F everyday. No rain. Minimal Sargassum.

Price: $2369.60 for 5 nights (4/5-4/10)

Room: Base - Mirage Club One Bedroom Suite Outdoor Jacuzzi 18+. All rooms are suite/club level.

Previous Resorts We’ve Been: 1) Excellence Plqya Mujeres, 2) Grand Velas Los Cabos, 3) Xcaret Arte.

Pros:

1. Rooms - Large, Spacious, Clean, 1.5 Bath, Decent Sound Proofing.

2. Value - Amazing for what you get..

3. Infrastructure - Opened 12/2025 so feels clean and new.

4. Lounges - Multiple lounges for more options

5. Quiet - Adult side is quiet. Resort is basically mirrored and split in half with the family side on the left, the adult side on the ride. There’s a wooden walkway at the beach leading to majestic elegance. Way busier when we went to look.

Neutral:

1. Food - Average. Slightly below Excellence which was one of the downsides of our stay there. But considering the price, it’s good. Also, food at these resorts tend to be less salty than the US. But this resort definitely is the closest food we’ve had in saltiness to the US.

2. English Proficiency - Large variance in English proficiency, even for customer facing staff, but not too bad. Likely due to a lot of new hires.

3. Swimming Pools - There’s 4 pools, 2 for families (including main), 2 for adults. Main pool closed all day for a day because some kid pooped in it.

4. Butler - Not sure what the need really is. Reservations for the 2 required restaurants can be done on the app by yourself. No turn down service. They forward an agenda of activities for the day. That’s about it.

5. Activities - Resort-common. Pool group stuff, some shows, etc. nothing special, would have been fun if there was some arts & crafts like hats, painting, etc.

Cons:

1. Restaurant Wait Times - Expect 1.5 - 2 Hours for Dinner. 20 minutes to order drink, then another 20 minutes to take order. Saw multiple people walk around trying to find their servers during the meal. Staffing seems to be a big issue at restaurants.

2. Infrastructure - The resort is somehow already showing its age at 5 months old. Wall cracks, chips, paint, water marked floors everywhere. Not sure how it’s going to look in a few years when it already feels a few years old.

3. Pool Towels - 4 Main Pools, 2 Pickup Stations. How is there not 4 Pickup Stations. It feels like common sense.

4. Bakery/Cafe - Breads, pastries, coffees. Lot of variety and looks pretty but taste definitely falls short.

5. Housekeeping - They don’t restock amenities unless you specifically ask. Food, drinks, shampoos, etc.

Essentially I want to do a digital detox however all of the digital detox retreats I've found online have been super crunchy and this is not something I'm interested in.

Are there any resorts that are "anti-tech?" Ideally, I would like them to take my phone away from me because I have zero self control but I would settle for a resort where phones are simply discouraged (like in The White Lotus). I also want to avoid resorts where you're forced to be on your phone because everything is manged through their app.

I live in Germany so it would be great if the resort is easily accessible from Europe. Budget wise, I'd like to not spend more than 500€ a night but this is not a hard limit.

What's it like? My husband and I were planning on booking here but are hesitating after looking at what seems like a very limited selection of restaurants for dinner: Italian, Asian, grill and buffet. I'm allergic to shellfish, which at previous stays at the old Dreams Las Mareas and Secrets Akumel, has meant that there is very little to choose from at the grill. The food at the Asian restaurant in both resorts was horrendous, plus I can't eat the hibachi because of risk of cross-contamination.

I'm concerned that if the Italian is closed or full, I'm going to be left trying to get a bite at the buffet or a sandwich at the market cafe. I'm not a big fan of burgers or wings for dinner either. Appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Just returned from Sandals St. Vincent and enjoyed it immensely. Went with my wife, two adult kids and their spouses. Despite researching “The best of” lists, still undecided for my wife and I in 2027. Looking for late April/May. At our age (65) want to stay with all-inclusive because of convenience. Cost not an issue if the value is there. Preferences: A southern island with direct out of New York, Newark or Philly. Exclusivity, luxury, great beach, clear calm water, private plunge pool, option for Butler service and reasonable airport. Reviews of even the top ranked all-inclusives tend to be mixed and I want to get it right. Excluding some nice ones, Antigua etc. because of direct flight. Any recommendations greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I am looking for an all inclusive adults only resort for my husband and I to get away from our kids lol, for 5 nights. I am 37 and my husband is 40. We want a good mix of relaxation and fun vibes, like music during the day and dancing at night, but not trashy.

our must haves are: clear, beautiful beach, decent food (as decent as we can get for an all inclusive), and clean rooms.

Our budget is max $2500 for just hotel alone.

I am open to suggestions. Thank you everyone!

Hello friends! I was hoping to get some recommendations for an all inclusive, ideally with a beach either at the resort or in walking distance, that also has good food either at the resort or nearby as well. Reasonable travel distance to the airport’s also nice.

We’re wanting a chill, lowkey, and loungey honeymoon somewhere tropical, just two adults. Our budget’s $5k for 7-10 nights, and we would be flying out of PHX first week of May. We’re primarily interested in resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean, but are open to other recommendations that fit what we’re looking for!

If you were booked or looking to book the below Hyatt Resorts in Jamaica, they are now moving the date to resume operations to the first quarter of 2027. They have not set opening dates for the properties yet, I will share once they have.

• Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa
• Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa
• Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall
• Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
• Secrets St. James Montego Bay
• Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay
• Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa

I am a travel advisor and a Hyatt Prive advisor and will be contacting any of my clients booked at any of these properties and getting them rebooked elsewhere or changing their dates.

I traveled to Jamaica December 2025 (stayed in Ochi Rios & Negril) and February 2026 (Negril and Falmouth). There are plenty of other resorts that are open and operating as normal. Happy to answer any questions.

Thinking of staying at Finest Punta Cana in September.. a few questions:

- how bad is the sargassum typically this time of year?

- is the airport shuttle worth the $240?

- any recommendations for hurricane insurance?

Thanks in advance :)

Hello All Inclusive People!

We are looking to book 5 nights in December. We’re 40, enjoy good food, bougie rooms, friendly service, and comfy pool chairs. We are loungers, not party people.

We recently stayed preferred at Secrets Playa Blanca, loved it! We live on the West coast, so we’re looking for a property closer to home. The secrets property in Cabo didn’t appeal to us.

Has anyone been to both Paradisus and Marquis Los Cabo’s? Price points seem similar. Views look better at Marquis but I’d imagine you have less dining options because of the size.

Are the pools heated? Is the Reserve level at Paradisus worth the upgrade? Anything else you can share?

I sent my agent the following but would love anyone’s experiences that have been (or sent people to!)

-Calabash Cove (St. Lucia)

-Waves Hotel & Spa (Barbados)

-Cocobay Resort (Antigua)

-Keyonna Beach (Antigua)

-COCOs Hotel (Antigua)

We are in our early 30s and this is really our only shot for a romantic honeymoon as my fiancé’s job is inflexible and we are hoping to have kids quickly. Our budget is $5-6,000 for the resort itself. Our priorities are a beautiful hotel with some luxury, decent food options, awesome pools, nice beach, spa, romantic and special. We’ve NEVER done a vacation like this before so we want it to be special without breaking the bank (between buying our first house and planning a wedding our funds are spent!)

My biggest concerns/turn offs are poor customer service, dingy run down hotel rooms, crazy party vibe and vendors at the beach trying to sell you things

Hello! My family is looking to go on a vacation to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean this summer. Obviously, we don't want a couples-only resort, but we also don't want a resort that's overtly geared toward families with young children. The search is proving to be more difficult than I thought. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

We're not interested in Mexico, the DR, or Jamaica, and would prefer islands that are somewhat LGBTQ+ friendly (at least legally, if not culturally).

My Boyfriend and I (both of us are 35) are looking for resort recommendations for Dominican Republic or Antigua. We are undecided between both locations.

We are looking for something more laid back and relaxed since we are not into the party scene. Good food options and can accommodate food allergies (Wheat/Gluten). We are not huge drinkers so drink package is not a necessity. Would love a swim out pool in the room! Looking to travel between end of August and beginning of October for approx 10days stay. Budget is ~$2-4K/each.

The following review is about our terrible experience at Krystal Cancun in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, a property we booked in good faith through the Booking.com platform for the dates of April 2–8, 2026, at a total cost of US$1,891.33. We only stayed at this resort for one night, sleeping in our travel clothes, due to the overwhelming discomfort we were put through. What was intended to be a relaxing and enjoyable vacation became a profoundly distressing, humiliating, and entirely unacceptable experience, one that escalated to the point where our wristbands were deliberately removed by management while our complaint remained entirely unresolved, restricting us to the hotel lobby with no access to any amenity, no resolution, no meaningful assistance, and a Booking.com support agent on the phone who could not get the hotel’s own staff to answer his calls.

This complaint encompasses four distinct and serious categories of failure: (1) unsanitary, hazardous, and misrepresented room conditions so severe that we were unable to safely use the bedding and were forced to sleep in the clothes we had traveled in, and compelled to spend out-of-pocket money on food outside the resort despite having paid for an all-inclusive package; (2) racially discriminatory and dismissive treatment directed at us as African American guests; (3) a deliberate and retaliatory restriction of our resort access mid-complaint by management, combined with deeply inappropriate conduct by hotel staff; and (4) false advertising regarding the all-inclusive nature of the resort’s services. Each of these issues individually would warrant a full refund and formal investigation. Together, they represent one of the most harmful, humiliating, and disrespectful hospitality experiences either of us has ever endured.

I. UNSANITARY, HAZARDOUS, AND MISREPRESENTED ROOM CONDITIONS

Upon arrival on April 2, 2026, we were encouraged at the front desk to upgrade my room. The receptionist explicitly assured me that we would be receiving one of the finest rooms available at the resort. We accepted the upgrade based on that direct representation. What we were actually provided was a room in severely deteriorated, unsanitary, and wholly unacceptable condition — a fundamental misrepresentation of both the Booking.com listing and the verbal promises made at check-in.

The moment we entered the room, we were met with an overwhelming foul odor. Upon inspection, the conditions we found were as follows:

• Bedding: No proper fitted sheets were present on the bed. The mattress and bedding contained visible dirt, hair, and live bugs — a fundamental failure of basic sanitation and a direct health hazard.
• Towels: Old, threadbare, and in a condition far past acceptable use, appearing to have been in circulation well beyond any reasonable service life.
• Shower and Bathroom Glass: Covered in layers of grime and soap scum, appearing as though they had not been properly cleaned in an extended period of time.
• Mold and Mildew: Visible mold was present around the showerhead and light fixtures, with mildew and fungal buildup throughout multiple areas of the bathroom. Mold exposure is a documented health hazard, particularly for individuals with respiratory sensitivities.
• Sink and Mirror: The sink was covered in rust and grime. The bathroom mirror was filthy and deteriorated — unacceptable in any accommodation, let alone one marketed as a quality resort.
• Dust and Allergens: Dust accumulation was significant enough to trigger allergic reactions in both myself and my partner throughout our stay. The air vents were visibly clogged with dirt, indicating that the HVAC system itself was circulating contaminated air throughout the room.
• General Structural Neglect: Cracked and worn walls, inadequately cleaned floors, and an overall environment reflecting prolonged, systemic neglect rather than any isolated lapse in housekeeping.

The conditions in this room were so profoundly unsanitary that we made the decision we could not safely sleep in the provided bedding. We slept in the clothes we had traveled in rather than expose ourselves to a mattress containing visible dirt, hair, and live bugs. This is not a complaint born of preference or inconvenience — it is the direct and unavoidable consequence of a room that failed to meet even the most basic standard of cleanliness any paying guest is entitled to expect. No one spending nearly $1,900 on an all-inclusive resort stay should be forced to sleep in their travel clothes because the bed is too unsanitary to use.

The food situation compounded this further. Despite having paid for an all-inclusive package, the food available at the resort was so poor in quality — bland, unseasoned, and unappetizing — that on at least one occasion we had no reasonable choice but to leave the resort and spend our own money at a nearby McDonald’s just to eat a meal. This is not a minor inconvenience. It is a direct, documentable out-of-pocket loss caused by the property’s failure to deliver the all-inclusive services we paid for. A resort charging nearly $1,900 for an all-inclusive stay is obligated to provide food that meets a basic standard of quality and palatability. Forcing guests to seek food elsewhere at their own expense is both a breach of contract and an additional compensable harm.

We have photographic and video evidence documenting the room conditions described above. This evidence is available upon request, will be submitted alongside any regulatory complaint, and will be published publicly as part of reviews on all applicable travel platforms.

These conditions represent a material breach of the accommodation contract. The room provided was not fit for purpose and was fundamentally misrepresented — both by the Booking.com listing and by hotel staff at check-in.

II. RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT

Throughout our stay, the treatment we received from hotel staff was deeply troubling and constituted what we firmly believe to be racially discriminatory conduct. As African American guests, we were consistently ignored, dismissed, and treated with indifference in situations where other guests — specifically guests of different racial backgrounds or who spoke Spanish — were actively assisted, accommodated, and offered meaningful resolutions to their concerns.

This disparity in treatment was consistent and observable. On multiple occasions, we were close enough to hear staff speaking in Spanish with other guests, and my comprehension of the language was sufficient to understand that those guests were being offered compromises, adjustments, and in at least one instance a refund — while our complaints were met with dismissal and indifference. We raised our concerns with staff on multiple occasions and were met each time with a lack of accountability and refusal to provide meaningful assistance.

III. DELIBERATE RESTRICTION OF ACCESS, MANAGEMENT MISCONDUCT, AND FAILURE TO COOPERATE

As our complaint progressed without resolution, the situation escalated in a manner that was both deeply inappropriate and, we believe, deliberately punitive. While we were actively engaged in discussions with a hotel representative — with no resolution reached — that representative informed us that he had been instructed by management to cut our wristbands.

The removal of our wristbands meant that we were restricted entirely to the hotel’s front desk area and denied access to every amenity and area of the resort we had paid for — including the pool, restaurants, beach access, and all other facilities included under the all-inclusive arrangement. We were effectively confined to the lobby with no resolution and no path forward being offered.

The manager identified as Claudia conducted herself in an entirely unprofessional manner, repeatedly walking away during interactions rather than addressing the complaint. Additionally, a staff member stated to my partner that we were “not held captive and can leave,” a comment that was deeply inappropriate, dismissive, and offensive given the circumstances.

During this ordeal, a Booking.com customer service agent was actively attempting to intervene but noted that the hotel appeared to be deliberately avoiding answering calls. This represents a clear failure by the property to cooperate with Booking.com’s own support processes.

IV. MISLEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE ADVERTISING

The resort was marketed as all-inclusive, a key factor in our decision to book at US$1,891.33. In reality, multiple expected services were excluded or required additional charges, and the food quality was consistently poor. This forced us to spend additional money outside the resort, constituting both false advertising and a breach of contract.

V. HEALTH IMPACT

The mold, mildew, dust, live bugs, and contaminated air vents directly impacted our health. Both myself and my partner experienced allergic reactions and respiratory discomfort. The severity of the conditions led us to avoid using the bedding entirely.

VI. BOOKING.COM RESPONSE AND HANDLING OF THIS COMPLAINT

After spending an entire day and making more than 15 calls with Booking.com, we submitted extensive documentation, including over 10 photographs clearly showing the condition of the hotel upon arrival, along with a detailed letter exceeding 10 pages that fully outlined this experience. This submission was completed at approximately 2:47 AM.

Within just 20 minutes, we received a response offering a travel credit of $189.13. Given the volume and detail of the evidence submitted, this response time strongly indicates that the documentation was not meaningfully reviewed. The amount offered was not only inadequate but demonstrated a lack of serious consideration of the severity of the situation.

The following morning, after escalating the matter through all available channels, we were contacted by a supervisor identified as Isabella, who offered $150. This offer was even lower and completely disrespectful given the circumstances and the documented evidence provided. It further reflects the level of disregard shown toward Booking.com customers in situations involving serious complaints.

We responded to Isabella to continue addressing the matter, and more than 48 hours later, we have received no response.

This pattern of handling — minimal compensation offers, rapid responses without proper review, and failure to follow up — reflects a broader failure in Booking.com’s customer support process when dealing with serious and well-documented complaints.