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Are all inclusive resorts really worth it?

April 19th, 2022

This past spring break, myself and two of my closest friends (along with 500 other college students) stayed at the Breezes Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. It was beautiful and we had an amazing week. We booked an all-inclusive package through STS (Student Travel Services), a travel agency geared towards college students’ spring break vacations.

Price

When booking the trip, my friends and I bought the spring break package offered through STS. The total was around $1800 per person. This included airfare, the hotel, transportation to and from different bars in the area, along with the cover charges and unlimited drinks for those bars. We paid $110 per night at the hotel with STS. Without booking through STS, the rate for a single night at Breezes is $224 for 2 people. This would include the room, unlimited food and drinks, and use of all of the hotel’s amenities. The airfare, transportation, and cover charges would be separate charges if we did not book through this travel agency. With all of this included, I believe this was a fair price.

Room

Although the room was outdated with an ancient tv and weird wall art, it had a big bathroom with a large mirror and a king-sized bed. The balcony was tiny, but we could still see the ocean from our room. We didn’t mind the room because we were only there to sleep and shower, since we were on the beach all day and at different clubs each night.

Food/Drink

On the property itself there was the main dining room, which offered a variety of buffet style options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also had a snack shack by the pool, which offered quick snacks like hamburgers and hot dogs, and 3 different cuisine restaurants that operate on a rotating schedule. I thought the food was delicious and I tried some new things. They offered a lot of options ranging from American to Bahamian food (I tried the Bahamian specialty conch fritters which were really flavorful). Unfortunately, my friend who is vegetarian voiced that there was a lack of meat-less options, which I felt bad about. Alcoholic drinks were included as well and there were 4 bars on the property. However, only 2 were open due to Covid, the outdoor pool bar and the lobby bar. The drinks were made with bottom shelf liquor, so don’t expect the best. Although, they did have 2 mixed rum punches and a frozen piña colada that were delicious. My friends and I mostly drank those the entire week.

Amenities

The resort had a huge inground pool with a swim-up bar, a hot tub, and private beach access with bungalows and lounge chairs. The beach access was the main attraction for us. The white sand and clear, teal water were so calming and refreshing. Locals also walked the shore, selling handmade bracelets, hair braiding, and excursions. We went on a snorkeling excursion and had the best time! The hotel itself had a game room and hammocks scattered throughout the property, which we took advantage of. There was also a gym, but we were too busy lounging by the ocean to get a workout in.

Overall Rating

While the resort had some drawbacks, it definitely had its perks as well.  I would say that all-inclusive resorts are the way to go if you’re planning on mostly staying at the resort and are looking for a cheaper vacation. If you want to splurge, I recommend the resort next door, the Baha Mar, which was twice the nightly price and although it was not all-inclusive, it was gorgeous! They even had a flamingo farm on their resort property! We did not try any surrounding restaurants because we figured might as well eat where we had already paid for our meals. We had a great vacation and I would recommend booking an all-inclusive resort for your next vacation!