All Inclusive Resorts
Resorts in Mexico
Of all of the tropical locations, we have probably traveled to Mexico the most. The flights are more affordable, and there are so many options. Check out some of our favorite resorts listed below. Have a question about one of the places or maybe one I left off the list? Send me an email and I will happy to answer any questions!
Maroma Beach is one of my favorite all inclusive resorts in Mexico. While it is slightly more expensive, you definitely can see the difference in service, food, and amenities. From the champagne during check in to the poolside service during the day, everything about this resort is top notch.
This resort was adults only, but there were still so many fun things to do during the day. There were beach volleyball games, pool volleyball, and even Spanish lessons by the pool. The boys enjoyed watching Tennessee football play on Saturday in their sports bar by the beach.
The other aspect that I really enjoyed was the food not only at night, but also during the day. For lunch you could choose from the cafe by the pool, brick oven pizza, or the special of the day. One day they were making paella!
This was the first Secrets resort we went to and the beginning of our fall break trips. As you can see by the picture above, this is also where my obsession with beach volleyball happened. Workout + tan = a good time.
When we went, this resort was one of the older properties and at times showed its age. However, if you ask Nick, this was his favorite resort because of 3 words: swim-up bar. This feature was key when the Tennessee football team played on Saturday and he was able to sit at the pool bar and cheer on his favorite team. Honestly, I can't even remember if they won or lost that game!
This resort was also on the more affordable side, so if you are looking for a great place to relax and enjoy the daiquiris, I would recommend Secrets Riviera Cancun.
Normally we stay at Secrets resorts because our friends have a vacation time-share, but we have gone to a couple of Iberostar's and they are totally different. While the Secrets resorts are more adult-only, Iberostars are more family oriented. The thing I like the most in these resorts is the fitness areas. I know that sounds weird, but when you are drinking your weight in margaritas every day and binging chips and guacamole, it is helpful to get in a little sweat session before heading to breakfast. Ibersotars offer group fitness classes that change every day. My favorite was the kickboxing classes and you burn a ton of calories!
The part that I am not a fan of is that you have to make reservations for dinner. Normally I am all about reservations, but when you are island time, it is hard to predict when you will be ready for dinner and where you want to go. You make the reservations for every night during check-in, but the downside is that you usually can't change them because they fill up quickly. And they are sticklers about it! We enjoyed some great dinners while we were there, but I prefer to go with the flow when on vacation.
Resorts in Punta Cana
If you are looking for a resort that is adults only and part party and part relaxation this is the resort for you. On the first day we were there, there was an afternoon foam party. We immediately knew we were in for a great trip!
Punta Cana is one of my top choices for places to travel, but the flights can be pretty expensive, which is why we don't make it over there as much as I would like. So many of these types of resorts are so similar that at times, it makes more sense to fly to Mexico for a third of the price. However, when you can find a deal on flights, I definitely recommend it.
We did not do any excursions for this trip, but honestly, you didn't need them. We usually woke up, worked out, ate breakfast, lounged on the beach, and made it back to the party pool for the 3 pm show or activity each day. One night, they had a neon party where everyone dressed in their bright bathing suits. They had glow in the dark body paint available and a DJ playing all night. It was so fun!
This trip bay far is the most special to me because this is where we went on our honeymoon. I will say, of all of the resorts we have stayed, this was by far the most expensive. But you've got to splurge a little for a honeymoon!
This was our first experience with an all inclusive resort and I tell everyone it is the best way to travel. It is so nice to not have to worry about paying for every little thing along the way. However, I did gain the most weight on this trip. You can't say no to the fruity drinks, appetizers, and treats along the way!
At this resort, we did a couple of excursions but our favorite was the dune buggy rides through the beach. We both got a chance to drive and we stopped in the middle to watch a man cut open coconuts and enjoyed fresh coconut water (which was not as tasty as I thought it would be). Our favorite meal was at Zen, which is hibachi style and Nick's favorite cuisine. However, everything we ate was phenomenal!
Resorts in Cozumel
Besides where we stayed for our honeymoon, Secrets Aura was one of my favorite resorts. The water was beautiful, there was a good mix of fun activities, and the food was delicious. We actually just booked another trip for fall break to this exact same resort!
Breakfast is by far my favorite meal at all inclusive resorts, and the breakfast buffet here was no exception. I loved the omelet station and the smoothie area. I always took fresh fruit with me to eat at the beach later in the day. Our favorite breakfast was at Oceana. Nick fell in love with the chilaquiles and order both the green and the red sauce two mornings in a row. My favorite dinner was the last night where one of our friends arranged to have a private dinner for our group on the beach.
The real reason I enjoyed this resort was that you could leave the resort and travel around the island. One of the days, we rented a jeep and drove to the uninhabited side of the island. On the way, we stopped at a dive bar on the beach that didn't even have power and was serving canned Bud Lights out of a cooler. We finally settled on a remote beach and actually bought live lobsters from a fishing boat that was just coming into shore and unloading their catch for the day. The resort cooked them up for us and served them at our beachside dinner.
