Mexico: All inclusive, a hit or miss?

All-inclusive travel has become very popular in recent years as it offers a great travel experience without worrying about details like flights, food and activities. Have you ever been to an all-inclusive resort?

I tried my first one this past March while travelling to Cancun, Mexico on a girl’s trip and it was a lovely experience. As someone who likes integrating with the people and culture of places I visit, I haven't fully been a fan of all-inclusive travel because I feel I wouldn’t get the best experience but let’s find out if this experience was a hit or a miss!

Costs

We got a good deal and the cost for the all-inclusive cost $CAD 1,161 which is $USD 850. Watch the video below for all the cost details for this trip.

Where we Stayed

We stayed at Oleo Cancun and got the Inspira Superior Ocean View Room with 2 queen beds. The view definitely made it more than worth it. The rest of the hotel room was okay but could have been maintained better because there were some rusty spots due to the salty air from the beach. The amenities were pretty good, there was a gym, a very relaxing massage place, a stunning beach, an excursion center and four restaurants/eating spots. Also, the Pina Coladas were so good they were on a steady reorder! I would rate it 7/10.

The Food!

We had some good food at certain restaurants and some food was in the mid range but overall the food was good. However, I was overwhelmed with the many options.

Things to do in Cancun Mexico

You can use this guide to plan your itinerary.

Isla Mujeres Boat Cruise:

Who does not love a boat cruise? This was excursion hacking at its finest… is there a phrase like that? If not, Rimi coined it lol! Excursion hacking is having multiple experiences in one excursion. Another excursion hacking I’ve done, was my day trip to Guatape! We used this provider and went on a boat cruise, visited a beach club where we had lunch, snorkelled, and visited downtown Isla Mujeres! 

Visit Chichen Itza:

If you are in Cancun and you do not go to Chichen Itza, you’re definitely missing out on one of the 7 wonders of the world! Having gone and experienced it, its definitely a wonder! The tour had about 4 stops, we visited a Cenote, a mayan village, Chichen Itza and the colorful village of valladolid. We used Coba Sunset tour to book ours and the tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Enjoy a relaxing massage session: This was a relaxish trip so we had a lot of time to chill, what else are vacations meant for! 

Relax on the beach: The beach at Oleo was so beautiful, during my free time, I went to the beach a lot to read and relax.

Coco Bango: This is a great opportunity to enjoy the nightlife in Cancun with multiple performances from dances, acrobatics, live bands etc

Playa del Carmen: This is a small town to visit that’s close to Cancun and there’s a lot to experience there.

What do I think of all-inclusive travel?

I had a great time in Mexico, and i think it was definitely a hit!

I think they can be a great option for budget trips, relaxing vacations or group trips which include different types of travellers. However, for my solo trips, I would be shying away from all-inclusive cause it’s a different experience.

Let me know how your all-inclusive experience has gone in the comments.