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I've only been to one all-inclusive and I felt pretty much exactly the same way you did. I've also been on a cruise and didn't like it for many of the same reasons. It's just not for me.
Love them! We're going to one in St. Thomas for our honeymoon. I love knowing all drinks/food/gratuities are already taken care of. If you are the type that wants to venture off and not stay at the resort much, then it's definately not for you. We plan on staying at the resort most of the time so for us, it's perfect. Been on two cruises and loved them too! I don't consider them totally all-inclusive because drinks aren't included. And you have to pay for meals on the islands/ports when you are off the ship. But it's still a great value!
I wonder if I should check out another property some day to see if I get a different experience? It might be kind of nice if you are vacationing with a family, no?
I've never tried an all-inclusive. However, we're likely going to one for our honeymoon. I informed my fiance that after planning a wedding (when I am most definitely NOT the woman who's been planning her wedding since kindergarten), there's no way in hell that I'm also planning the honeymoon. Suddenly, with him doing the planning, an all-inclusive looked appealing. Of course, when he thought it was going to be me doing the planning, he proposed a multi-country European trip.
I've never been to one... yet! We're going to one in Playa Del Carmen for our honeymoon though. We're planning on leaving the resort for a day to see the town of Playa Del Carmen and take a ferry to Cozumel. I agree, I want to see the area, but I'm a sucker for the idea of pampering and 24 hour room service!
I find All-inclusive to be worth it. I basically just use them for the food. I usually pick one that is still within easy travel of the nearest town and I go explore the area as much as possible, then still get "home" in time for dinner, or not depending if I want to. The only draw back..wait, hmmm.nope, can't think of one...
I'vehad the same question. We've only done independent travel, which I love, and ends up being really cheap when I hear what other people spend on an area. But it isn't always the easiest to plan, and some of those watersports sound so fun to be able to do it all right there.
But I think we'd end up feeling trapped too, even on our 'laid back' honeymoon we were wandering everywhere and running around. I'm also hesitant of the all-you-can eat and drink, is the food good? I know they try and have local food but does it really compare, for those who've eaten both in and out of the resort?
So for our Cancun vacation we spent 5 days on the "outside" at a little B&B run by 2 Frenchmen. The food was exquisite at the B&B (though we didn't always eat there) and relatively inexpensive...
But where things got really fun was the little hole in the wall restaurants we found by following the locals in town. I've never had better guacamole or horchata and the food was so good that we went to the same restaurant 2 nights in a row (and spent less than $7 American for everything each night!). Food at the all inclusive was fair to good, but after several meals I was wishing for more variety and a less "mass produced" feel.
We've never done one, but just today booked our honeymoon at Excellence Playa Mujeres. Our honeymoon can't be very long (6 days) and we really wanted some time to just sit and relax (and drink!) so it seemed like the best option. I'm really really excited for it, but a bit apprehensive of my first "entrapped vay-cay." Here's hoping that trapped w/ the FI for a few days will be glorious, not restricting :D
I Looooove all-inclusives! I love the fact that everything is taken care of...we've been on cruises as well...i've never felt trapped though...
...and we've always gone adventuring when we go on an all inclusive vacay...all the pampering and food at the resort, and if you want to venture out, take a cab/bus/train and go!
Never been to an all inclusive before... but in 2 WEEKS, I'll be going to Cancun! Can't wait.
I've been on trips where I have to stay at a hotel and pay for food and activites and trying to do all of that with the money you have.
I just can't wait to sit on a beach chair and not have to worry about money.
@Mrs.DG
Horchata.... mmmm yum!
Serious, you live in Seattle and never had horchata? Since moving here, I've noticed there a ton of mexican places. Tried my first horchata when I moved out here. Also, tried indian for the first time too.
Hate all-inclusives. Well, let me slightly condition that. I have been on several all-inclusive guided trips, and two to resorts. All of those times it was in super interesting places (Zambia, India, Egypt, China, Galapagos). Three of the times, I was with a group of students traveling, and the all-inclusive part was just easier for the organizers. In India and China, it was my parents hosting. So, I'm glad I was there and can't really complain that I got those opportunities. But I left grounds and skipped meals all the time. If I am somewhere interesting, I don't want to be spoon fed the experience.
As an anecdote, while in Zambia I got in trouble for running off to Zimbabwe for the day (by Victoria Falls). I just couldn't take it anymore, and our place was posh! Additionally, my trips to India and China were both part of a bigger backpacking trip. I went for a longer period, and the parents joined me. I enjoyed the independent part more than the high-end guided part. Even though the independent part didn't always come with toilet paper. 
So, I didn't choose to be on the resort, on the tour, on the cruise. I would not choose that. It wasn't torture, but it wouldn't be my first, second, or third choice. I am an eat in the market, get low to the ground, embrace the culture shock kind of person.
I am from the islands and have stayed in many hotels. I can tell you that you should go all inclusive always. :) You would hate to be bombarded with having to pay and tip everytime for everything. The only thing you should need your cash for is your sWorry free and all inclusive is souveniers. We islanders always stay all inclusive unless you just want to rough it and just have no other options due to the there being a huge concert or event where you are stuck not being able to because everything is booked. Trust me. The way to go is all inlusive, especially on your honeymoon. You won't regret it. You can still go to an all inlclusive and go out and see locals and spend money but it is nice to come back to your hotel and not worry. From an island girl who still has a beautiful home in the islands. :)
It totally depends on where you go. I hated all-inclusives in Mexico, but I just got back from Jamaica two days ago and I LOVED it. We stayed at the Riu Negril. We actually left the resort most days - it's a quick cab ride or walk to a market or beach bar, etc. My dream is to go to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, and just find a hotel on the beach. When I went, we stayed in a resort and I did feel like I was missing out.
I went on one cruise and it was AWFUL. Never again. You dine in the same restaurant every night, at the same table, with the same waiter and same people. Every common area is aggressively air conditioned. The rooms are miniscule. No sand. No beach. Hard to get a lawn chair. Screaming kids EVERYWHERE. I could complain forever about it.
I like more room, like an efficiency apartment. I like to try different restaurants. Also, I like to get out and explore, so I prefer independant travel.
I've never been on an all inclusive vacation. What is an "all inclusive" vacation/honeymoon anyway?
All Inclusive is where your food and drink is included in your stay. :) If you stay at a nice resort you have many different dining options and RIU in Jamaica, is nice too. The food in the main area is amazing. So much food. lol you won't need to go anywhere else. You still have the option of leaving your hotel and getting food on tour etc.
I voted "meh" because you didn't really have my option which is... love it but only occasionally :) For me it totally depends on my "vacation mood." When I'm in the mood to go and relax, then I LOVE all-inclusive. My FI and I did it in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last October and it was fantastic. I loved laying on the beach every day, going to the events, trying out all the restaurants and drinking as much as I wanted without worrying about the cost.
But... I would definitely not do that every time. I really want to travel to see other cultures and you don't do much of that on this type of vacation. If I'm looking for a cultural experience I'd definitely do the independent thing. Ideally I'd like to do a mix of both throughout my future travels... sometimes educational and sometimes indulgently relaxing!
Totally depends on what I want. Greece? Other parts of Europe? Staying with family, checking out cool, "real" towns, eating local food... I want to experience another culture, not buy a snow globe or two and eat the breakfast buffet.
Need to relax? All-inclusive, all the way. We went to a great little all-inclusive for our honeymoon. After the wedding stresses of multiplying costs and headaches and running around, it was fantastic to park myself on a beach with some logic puzzles, and get handed drinks that I didn't have to "pay" for and stress about whether or not I should be spending the money. We still wandered into some of the local towns and checked things out; but I was there to relax much more than explore. LOVED it.
I will say, I'm not a fan of cruises. This sounds silly, but it feels like travel more than an actual vacation--like I never quite get to settle. I did a cruise of the Greek islands once. Great way to see multiple islands, but definitely not my preferred vacation.
@alicia- i agree about cruises. I haven't actually been on one but I can't of don't "get" it. I looked into one for my last vacation and you're only in any one port for like... 8 hrs. That doesn't really feel like seeing anything to me... i need at least 2 days in any one place.
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So I've been thinking about this for a while. I've been hearing about all inclusive vacations for most of my life, but had never been on one until this past trip to Cancun. I've always wanted to adventure and see wherever I was on my own terms, but this past time with the pregancy, I thought it would be nice to just kind of park myself on a beach for a couple of days and not worry about a thing.
The weird thing was that after a few hours on the property, I started to feel stir crazy and was surprised that I didn't really love the experience. I'm the type of person who loves to be out there, talking to locals, eating food off the street and experiencing the culture... Instead of feeling pampered, I felt trapped!
So, I'm wondering, what do you love about all inclusives? What do you not love? Does it depend on where you go in the world whether you prefer all-inclusive or independent? Is it more a temperment thing?
Are cruises similar in feeling? I've never been on a cruise, but would imagine them to be similar to all inclusive resorts.