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Resort Vacation Packages – Hurricane season doesn’t really bother Maddie Winters. For the past five years, the Philadelphia-based travel blogger has celebrated her fall birthday at all-inclusive Caribbean resorts. And she is not alone.
Fall has historically been a slower time for all-inclusive resorts, but both Club Med — the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept — and Sandals Resorts tell USA TODAY they’ve seen an increase in fall bookings over the past few years .
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“This fall season is shaping up to be one of our best ever – and that’s on the back of a stronger than ever 2021 fall season, with many of our resorts generating twice as much demand as previous years said Adam Stewart, chief executive. president of Sandals Resorts International.
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What makes Winters and savvy travelers travel in a time that is synonymous with tropical storms? They’ve discovered one of the hospitality industry’s best-kept secrets: fall is the best season for an all-inclusive vacation. Here’s why:
According to Amélie Brouhard, vice president of marketing for Club Med, the increase in autumn demand that resorts are seeing is “fueled by people looking for the best deals”.
Rooms are often significantly cheaper in the autumn months. For example, seven nights in November at the brand’s newest resort, Club Magna Marbella, start at $2,408. In April, seven nights will set you back $3,729, and in July? Expect to pay at least $4,571. Meanwhile, in Mexico, nightly rates in October at the new Hilton Cancun, an all-inclusive resort, start at $462. The same room in January costs $674.
Annie Davis, president of Palm Beach Travel, says the unpredictable fall weather in the Caribbean is one of the reasons for such deep discounts.
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“In September and early October, you can see rates up to 35 percent off, or you’ll get a third or fourth night free,” Davis explained. For her clients, deals are a critical factor when it comes to choosing a destination. “We see most travelers looking for more value because of inflation.”
What do you do in case of a hurricane? For starters, we hope you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers weather-related delays and cancellations. Second, take advantage of travel discounts and be flexible with your dates.
Winters said airlines and resorts usually allow her to arrive a few days earlier or later if her original dates happen to fall in the middle of a storm.
“Fall is a great time to stay at an all-inclusive resort because you can enjoy quieter hotels and more availability for excursions,” said Scott LePage, president of the Americas at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
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Like many hotel brands embracing the all-inclusive model, Wyndham recently added a new all-inclusive chain, Wyndham Alltra, to its portfolio.
Results that are less busy are largely the result of schools being back in session. Most families don’t travel unless their kids are on break.
Off-site activities, usually limited to a certain number of people, also tend to fill up quickly during the summer and winter high season. Brouhard says Club Med guests visiting in the fall can enjoy smaller groups on excursions. They also have a much higher chance of getting their first choice room and have the freedom to spread out more in the resort. Anyone who has ever been to an all-inclusive during the summer knows the struggle of trying to find sunbeds in the first row at the pool.
At Club Med Quebec, which debuted last December, guests staying in September and October are treated to spectacular fall foliage. At Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic, early December marks the start of whale watching season. Meanwhile, in Mexico, October and November are the last two months to observe sea turtles nesting and hatching in the wild. They will not return to these beaches until the following May.
Are All Inclusive Resorts Really Worth It?
Then there’s the fact that fall weather—storms aside—tends to be more pleasant than the intense heat of summer.
“We see a tremendous increase in demand as the temperatures start to drop and we enter the first quarter of the year,” Stewart said. Fall in the Caribbean is also marketed as the green season. The plants are lush, vibrant and blooming – in other words, more Instagram-worthy.
Data from Hopper, the online booking platform, suggests airfares should fall from this summer’s record highs, averaging less than $300 round-trip for domestic itineraries booked this month.
“Domestic airfares this fall will fall to $286 in August, down 25 percent from the peak airfares in May of this year, consistent with 2019 prices,” the company said in the quarter’s travel index three. $300 by the end of September before slowly starting to rise in October and November.”
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According to FareCompare, seasonal price drops – in both domestic and international airfares – begin in August before falling again in September. If you’re heading to Mexico or the Caribbean, fly in October (ideally on a Tuesday or Wednesday). This is when fares are the lowest, according to a study by CheapAir.com.
Thinking of an all-inclusive in Africa or the Middle East? The same study cites November as the cheapest month to fly. Although autumn is not the cheapest time to fly to Europe (winter is), it is much more affordable than summer. For example, on Google Flights, a round-trip ticket from New York to Marbella, Spain, starts at $470 in October. By June, the lowest available fare had risen to $621. Essentially, that’s an additional $161 that could be spent at the resort. They claim to save you time and, most importantly, money, but are even the best all-inclusive resorts really worth it to you? The answer depends on your vacation style. Find out what all-inclusive resorts do and don’t include to help you figure out if this popular vacation option is right for you.
All-inclusive resorts come in all shapes and sizes, and despite the name, they don’t necessarily include every vacation expense imaginable. Some allow you to book flights together with your accommodation so you only pay once for your entire holiday. Many include things like meals, drinks, airport transfers, gratuities, entertainment and activities, but not airfare. Common exclusions include spa treatments, purchases at the resort store, off-site excursions and some premium activities.
Read the fine print on your package before you book and find out what’s included. If you’re paying for unlimited diving (a pretty expensive activity in itself), take advantage of it – you’re paying for it anyway. The same goes for food and drink. Don’t book an all-inclusive if you don’t plan to eat or drink during the week. If all-you-can-eat buffets and premium spirits are key to a good time, make sure your package includes them. If not, I can raise your price considerably.
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Certain types of travelers benefit from all-inclusive resorts as opposed to other vacation options, especially those who want to set a budget and stick to it or those looking for an all-inclusive adults-only experience on the beach. Unlike many other types of vacations, an all-inclusive resort bundles the vast majority of your travel costs into one initial price. There are relatively few hidden fees and you may not have to worry about tipping. You could literally leave your wallet at home and still live like a king.
Even if pennies aren’t on your agenda, this kind of carefree spending has a certain appeal. After all, you’re on vacation and you shouldn’t be thinking about anything stressful, especially money.
Others who benefit from all-inclusives are people who like to stay busy. In addition to room and board, all-inclusive resorts typically include a number of on-site activities, from fitness classes to tennis and beach volleyball. If you’re not going to take advantage of them, this vacation option may not be worth it.
All-inclusive vacations usually won’t save you money if you want to spend most of your time exploring the destination, eating at local restaurants, and otherwise hanging out outside the resort. Travelers interested in this type of vacation experience should consider staying in a hotel or rental property, as most all-inclusives don’t allow you to experience much outside of the resort unless you pay extra.
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So where do you look for all-inclusive packages? All-inclusive chains such as Sandals, Barcelo, Beaches, Iberostar, Couples and Club Med offer their own packages, but most are overland (some include the option of air transportation for a fee). Online travel agencies such as Expedia, CheapCaribbean.com and Apple Vacations offer good deals as well as the ability to include air travel in the price. Booking all-inclusive vacation packages through one of these online agencies is easy, convenient, and often not much more expensive than booking the air and hotel elements individually.
There seems to be an endless choice of all-inclusive resorts, so while booking can be easy, deciding which one is best for your needs can be overwhelming. They all seem to offer quality accommodation, endless activities and great food. But there are differences.
In general, couples looking for romance and quality time together will want to consider adult-only chains such as Sandals, Secrets, or Couples. Families will be interested in Beaches, Grand Velas or Sunscape,
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