Should You Go All Inclusive on Your Honeymoon

You'll have a lot of decisions that you need to make. Do you fly, drive, or take a train to your destination? Do you want an active vacation or a relaxing getaway? Do you want to travel to a foreign land or stay on home soil?

And have you considered whether you want your honeymoon to be all-inclusive?

An all-inclusive package means that much of your honeymoon offerings are incorporated into one flat rate price. So while you may pay for airfare and/or lodging, you will not incur many of the expenses that you would on a traditional vacation.

While all-inclusive honeymoons vary, they generally provide these things without making you pay extra for them.

Meals. Some places provide you with three "meal tickets" per day to be used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Others just allow you full access to restaurants and snack bars whenever you want – much like an "all-you-can-eat" buffet.

Beverages. Almost all of these packages offer water, coffee, tea, sodas, juices, and other non-alcoholic beverages gratis. And the majority of them extend that benefit to most or all beer, wine, and spirits.

Transfers. When you arrive at your honeymoon locale, you won't have to foot the bill for a cab, bus, or other transport from the airport, port, or train station to the resort or hotel. The package providers will either supply its own shuttle service or will reimburse you for your transfer costs upon arrival at your destination.

Gratuities. You won't have to carry around extra cash for tipping if you don't want to. Nor will you have to leave an extra gratuity after you finish each meal.

Activities. Most all-inclusive resorts present you with plenty of entertainment and adventure options – all of which are included in the price of your lodging. Some examples are:

• Swimming
• Snorkeling
• Horseback riding
• Kayaking
• Surfing
• Culture and language classes
• Shows and musical entertainment
• Spa services
• Golf

Services. Many of the amenities that you have to pay for at traditional hotels may be covered in all-inclusive resort packages?. This might include:

• 24-hour room service dining
• Dry cleaning/laundry
• Cleaning
• Customized concierge assistance
• Internet or Wi-Fi access in your room
• In-room movies

The best news is that most popular honeymoon destinations! have at least one all-inclusive resort, ranch, or hotel. Here are some frequent destination types for all-inclusive honeymoons.

Tropical locale
There are a host of different islands and cultures you can visit in and around the Caribbean. Sandals, one of the most popular all-inclusive resort companies, has resorts in Antigua, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Breezes also boasts resorts in nine different tropical areas.

Mexican tourist cities
Mexico may have the highest concentration of all-inclusive resorts of anywhere in the world simply because of the favorable exchange rate of the American dollar. As an example, Excellence Playa Mujeres has an all-inclusive package which even includes alcoholic beverages as part of room service. And the Gran Luxury Playa Del Carmen features beachfront rooms and festive theme nights.

Nature packages
All-inclusive packages aren't limited to oceanfront hotspots full of sandy beaches. For instance, the Smoke Tree Ranch in California is a chic desert resort which offers golf, spa treatments, and bicycling as part of its all-inclusive package. If mountains are more your speed, Colorado's Wit's End Guest Ranch will set you up in magnificent log homes with luxurious wraparound porches and hot tubs.

Global resorts
You can also take in the sights of a beautiful foreign city as part of a ClubMed all-inclusive package. ClubMed, with over 80 all-inclusive resorts worldwide, features sun-and-sand locales like Malaysia's Cherating Beach Resort, which offers its guests everything from golf and spa services to archery and circus classes. Or choose Otranto, an adults only Italy tour, which has an activity itinerary that includes kayaking, tennis, dance classes, and water polo.

Cruises
Technically, these don't fall under the category of all-inclusive resorts. But most cruises offer you many of the same benefits and amenities that an all-inclusive package would on land. Free meals, drinks, onboard activities, and ship entertainment are common, and cruises can take you to any of hundreds of destinations around the globe.

If you are considering an all-inclusive option for your honeymoon, here are some suggestions to consider.

Read the fine print regarding meals and beverages. Some all-inclusive packages only allow for three meals a day and charge for snacks and room service. Others restrict all-inclusive guests to certain restaurants on the property and maintain others for paying outside visitors. Still others do not extend their all-inclusive offers to alcoholic beverages. Determining exactly what is and isn't offered will eliminate any unwanted surprises when you arrive.

Watch for "off-the-reservation" activities. It's not uncommon for locals to set up shop near an all-inclusive resort and offer activities or entertainment that you must pay for. If you have any questions about whether a given activity is included in your package, ask the hotels or resort staff.

Pack appropriate apparel. Even though certain restaurants may be free to you, they still may adhere to dress codes. So find out if that is the case and bring a few nicer garments with you if necessary.

If you're looking for a high-value, hassle-free honeymoon, an all-inclusive package may be perfect for you. It's a great way to kick off your life together with your new spouse!