All-Inclusive vs. VRBO vs. Hotel
This spring contains a triad of vacation accommodations, and with the luxury of each occurring within weeks of the others, I have had time to reflect upon the pros and cons of each: the all-inclusive resort; the vacation rental by owner (VRBO), and the upscale hotel. As my interests start to lean more towards experiencing a place like a local, you can expect that the vrbo or hotel are becoming my preference.
However, each definitely has their pluses. First, the hotel. This option usually includes amenities such as in-room fridges, coffee makers, private bathrooms, and on-site lounges or restaurants. Not every hotel has these options, as it does definitely depend upon the price range and the star classification. As I try to compare 'apples to apples', I am looking at hotels in areas wrought with tourists, sandy beaches, daily tours and excursions, and located in high-traffic, safe areas.
A hotel offers you freedom to search out your own entertainment, meals, and tours. It also allows you the opportunity to explore the area and find those hidden gems that most tourist books or websites fail to include in their 'must see' lists. (I am certain that many of these 'must see' places pay for advertising spots in popular tourism propaganda.) A hotel should be chosen based on where you would like to centralize yourself for your vacation - if it's the beach, choose a hotel one or two blocks away from a popular public beach. I've found that having a fridge helps cut down on the costs of meals and drinks, so ask about a nearby grocery store to help stock up the fridge with breakfast and snack goodies.
A vacation home or condo rental is another great way to feel like you're living the dream. It affords you the luxury of a home away from home - you have more room to spread out, you likely have more options for cooking and entertaining, and many will be built with a private outdoor space when you need to get away from the crowds. Again, location is a key to enjoying a vacation rental. For me, I dislike having to drive anywhere, so I prefer to choose a house that is within walking distance to the beach, restaurants, shops and other exciting attractions. It's also important for me to be able to map out a running route ahead of time, so the location needs to be near either established trails or roads.
Vacation homes are great for a larger group, as the costs can be split more economically, and a number of rentals are built large enough to house 4 to 8 couples comfortably. Food costs and preparation can be shared among the guests, and drinks can be enjoyed at the house, rather than at costly bars or pubs. This type of rental is conducive to a family gathering or a casual conglomerate of friends. Of course, everyone should likely be on the same page to enjoy a vacation rental!
Nothing compares to the all-inclusive. Upon arrival, their sheer magnitude in overabundance awes you. The resorts I have visited are superbly maintained and the service is over the top. The more stars a resort boasts, the more amenities and restaurants they offer. Here is where you go to completely relax and not worry about a single thing. Your wristband gets you food, drink, shelter, and entertainment. The only additional costs are those extras you may indulge in to pamper yourself or bring on the adventure (think spas and water sports). However, all-inclusive resorts are no longer as appealing as they once were. I find it is just too easy to stay on the resort and skip out on seeing more of the area you are staying in. It's hard to justify paying for meals and entertainment off the resort when it's already included in your ticket.
As I begin to seriously imagine our 2015 trip to Belize, I am going to be more inclined to check out condos. I'm happiest when I'm exploring, and I love to see what new treasure is around the next, obscure corner. I want to get out of my 'safe' hotel or resort and get a little bit lost!
However, each definitely has their pluses. First, the hotel. This option usually includes amenities such as in-room fridges, coffee makers, private bathrooms, and on-site lounges or restaurants. Not every hotel has these options, as it does definitely depend upon the price range and the star classification. As I try to compare 'apples to apples', I am looking at hotels in areas wrought with tourists, sandy beaches, daily tours and excursions, and located in high-traffic, safe areas.
A hotel offers you freedom to search out your own entertainment, meals, and tours. It also allows you the opportunity to explore the area and find those hidden gems that most tourist books or websites fail to include in their 'must see' lists. (I am certain that many of these 'must see' places pay for advertising spots in popular tourism propaganda.) A hotel should be chosen based on where you would like to centralize yourself for your vacation - if it's the beach, choose a hotel one or two blocks away from a popular public beach. I've found that having a fridge helps cut down on the costs of meals and drinks, so ask about a nearby grocery store to help stock up the fridge with breakfast and snack goodies.
A vacation home or condo rental is another great way to feel like you're living the dream. It affords you the luxury of a home away from home - you have more room to spread out, you likely have more options for cooking and entertaining, and many will be built with a private outdoor space when you need to get away from the crowds. Again, location is a key to enjoying a vacation rental. For me, I dislike having to drive anywhere, so I prefer to choose a house that is within walking distance to the beach, restaurants, shops and other exciting attractions. It's also important for me to be able to map out a running route ahead of time, so the location needs to be near either established trails or roads.
Vacation homes are great for a larger group, as the costs can be split more economically, and a number of rentals are built large enough to house 4 to 8 couples comfortably. Food costs and preparation can be shared among the guests, and drinks can be enjoyed at the house, rather than at costly bars or pubs. This type of rental is conducive to a family gathering or a casual conglomerate of friends. Of course, everyone should likely be on the same page to enjoy a vacation rental!
Nothing compares to the all-inclusive. Upon arrival, their sheer magnitude in overabundance awes you. The resorts I have visited are superbly maintained and the service is over the top. The more stars a resort boasts, the more amenities and restaurants they offer. Here is where you go to completely relax and not worry about a single thing. Your wristband gets you food, drink, shelter, and entertainment. The only additional costs are those extras you may indulge in to pamper yourself or bring on the adventure (think spas and water sports). However, all-inclusive resorts are no longer as appealing as they once were. I find it is just too easy to stay on the resort and skip out on seeing more of the area you are staying in. It's hard to justify paying for meals and entertainment off the resort when it's already included in your ticket.
As I begin to seriously imagine our 2015 trip to Belize, I am going to be more inclined to check out condos. I'm happiest when I'm exploring, and I love to see what new treasure is around the next, obscure corner. I want to get out of my 'safe' hotel or resort and get a little bit lost!
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