Paying a little bit extra for that all-inclusive resort can be both a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy your vacation. I mean, who doesn't want to feel like they're getting the most bang for their buck, right?
If you're looking for a trip with minimal stress that allows you to lay out and soak up some sun without taking on the extra task of researching where to enjoy food, drinks, and some activities, all-inclusive seems like the only way to go. But not all resorts that boast "all-inclusive" are created equal, nor is everything truly included. Let's break down 5 things you need to know before you book your next all-inclusive vacation.
Food
Resorts like these provide round-the-clock eating (for the most part). However, not all resorts provide late-night room service. For me, if I pay for an all-inclusive package, I want a snack available to me at all times! Also, depending on the price point of the resort, the food is mediocre at best (even at the on-site restaurants that require reservations).
I've stayed at all-inclusive properties in Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Barbados, and while there's nothing like being able to have access to decent food with "all-you-can-eat" privileges, nothing beats getting off the resort and eating like a local. Some of the best and most authentic food that you'll ever enjoy in another country will not be at your hotel or resort. My suggestion is to venture out at least once during your stay. Also, keep in mind that while the buffet might be included in your fee, there may be surcharges at the fancier restaurants on the premises that provide table-service.
Liquor
All-inclusive also gives you the luxury of drinking as much as you'd like during your stay. Whoo Hoo!! But many times (again, depending on the price point), the liquor is mid-level and not top-shelf (which is how you can drink all day and barely get a buzz). You may have to come out of pocket for the "good stuff". Be sure to read the fine print on the resort website or call the hotel prior to booking in order to get better insight into what's included in your fee. You may also have the option of upgrading your all-inclusive package so that top-shelf liquor is included.
Regarding safety, there have recently been reports of tainted alcohol (particularly in Mexico). Be sure to watch your drink while it's being made, do not EVER leave your drink unattended, and be mindful of drinks with ice in certain countries.
Activities and Spa Services
Sometimes activities on the premises like non-motorized sports, cooking classes, and yoga might be included in your resort fee. An off-site excursion is usually a la carte, and many of those activities aren't cheap! Ask the concierge to help you book excursions at a discounted rate upon your arrival or at some point during your stay. Sometimes they have relationships with tour guides and people who lead excursions and they might be able to help save you a few bucks.
Spa services are also many times not included in all-inclusive rates and need to be booked separately. Obviously, there are exceptions. Some high-end, five-star resorts pamper their visitors with spa services but you'll pay a pretty penny to enjoy a package with those benefits.
Tipping
Some resorts have a "no-tipping" rule because gratuity is included in the price. Be sure to look up the resort policy. But don't assume that just because you're at an all-inclusive resort, that you shouldn't make sure the staff is taken care of. Exchange cash before getting on the plane if you're traveling internationally so that you can tip the resort staff and your driver (i.e cab or airport shuttle service). Waiters and room service attendants should receive about 20% based on service, bellmen should receive $1 or so per bag and your driver should receive a tip of about $5 (but if they're knowledgeable and can suggest some great things do and places to eat that are unique to the area, I would suggest giving them a little extra).
The bottom line is, tipping should be a part of everyone's travel budget. So don't skimp!
Resort Credits
This can be a great way to get a few extra perks out of your vacation. Resort credits are basically offered as cash back that you can use on services that may not normally be included in the all-inclusive package. Your credits depend on the length of your stay and can be used for things like a spa service, a special romantic dinner on the beach, tours, or even a round of golf. They might be given to you in the form of a cash card or a coupon.
Be sure to read the fine print for restrictions. Reservations for activities and dinners need to be made in advance, many times spots are limited to certain times of the day and there could be a penalty if you're a "no-show". They also cannot be used on future stays. Popular chains like Hard Rock and Riu offer resort credits. Check with your resort to see if there is a promotion on your booking that you can take advantage of.
The most important thing when looking to book an all-inclusive resort is to do your research!
Your resort should basically encompass your personality and vacation plans. Do you want an adults-only resort or do you mind children running through the halls? Do you want a resort with foam parties and spring breakers who dance until dawn? Or are you okay with everything closing at 10 P.M.? Check Trip Advisor for reviews and photographs on the cleanliness of the resort. Find out if they cater to patrons with food allergies. Look into the area where you'll be staying. Is it safe? Or has there been a recent spike in crime? Also, research off-peak times of the year when you might be able to save money. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for at a ridiculously cheap all-inclusive resort.
Sometimes it is better to splurge for comfort's sake!
Featured image by Shutterstock
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- All-Inclusive Newbie? Try These 11 Tips & Tricks | HuffPost ›
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She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
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2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
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While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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Now, while it’s another message for another time that if this type of sex-related craving feels impulsive or out of one’s control, it could be a sign of someone who is leaning into some level of sex addiction; however, that is not what we’re going to unpack today. Today, we’re going to look into what could be going on with you if it seems like, lately, you’ve been having a greater desire for sex, and you can’t quite pinpoint why.
Because, just like, say, a craving for a particular type of food oftentimes reveals something that is going on with you physically or mentally — sex cravings tend to bring certain things to light in those same areas, too.
Let’s dig in…
Hormonal Shifts
GiphyAlthough I don’t have social media accounts, I do tiptoe out there to see what’s going on — and boy, do I roll my eyes whenever I hear folks act like being over 40 is old. SMDH. It’s especially annoying when I hear about it in the context of sex because, believe it or not, there are a lot of late perimenopausal and menopausal women who are “gettin’ theirs” more than some of these 20 and 30-year-olds are (just ask them).
One reason is that the fear of experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, for many, is now in their rearview mirror. Another is because some are taking a form of hormone therapy to treat the changes that their system is going through — and when you’re getting more estrogen, progesterone, and/or testosterone into your body (in order to level things out) — HUNNAY.
For other women, even consuming phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogen) like peaches, garlic, berries, spinach, and cabbage can make them want sex more than when those aren’t a part of their diet. Bottom line here, a shift in your sexual hormones can definitely cause you to desire sex more than you have before (or have in a while).
Ovulation
GiphyBack when I was a teen mom director for the local chapter of a national non-profit, something that I used to tell “my daughters” all of the time is when you know that you’re ovulating, that’s when you need to be hypervigilant about using wisdom when it comes to the sex-related decisions that you make. I’m thinking that most of you get why: your body was designed to feel its horniest when you’re able to get pregnant — and that is during your time of ovulation.
That’s why it really is a good idea to keep up with your cycle and, if a baby is not something that is on your priority list right now, you either avoid having sex during that time of the month or make sure to use some form of birth control. Chile, even women with low libidos can find themselves wanting to hang off of a chandelier or two when they are ovulating. It’s nature’s way.
A Healthy Diet
GiphyIf you happen to be someone with a sluggish sex drive and you know that you spend most of your time in a drive-thru, there is probably a direct correlation there. No joke. There is plenty of research out in cyberspace to support the fact that a wack diet and low sex drive have a lot in common. While processed foods and unhealthy fats can throw your (sex) hormones off, foods that are filled with zinc, vitamins B12 and D, and iron can ramp up your desire for intimacy.
This is why many people who decide to make a lifestyle change as far as their eating habits are concerned are oftentimes surprised by how much sex is on their minds and how much easier it is for them to orgasm because of it. While a part of it can be due to a boost in their sexual confidence, a lot of it has to do with consuming foods that will literally feed their libido (in a healthy way).
More Exercise
GiphyPlainly put, exercise makes you hornier. Not only does it boost your testosterone levels, (consistently) working out also lowers your stress levels and gives you a boost in the self-esteem department. On top of that, exercise makes you more flexible, builds up endurance, and increases blood circulation which can turn around and intensify your climaxes as a direct result. In fact, this is oftentimes why people will want to have sex right after a workout session.
While we’re here, let me also share that too much of a good thing can end up being counterproductive. What I mean by that is, that although it is wise to exercise on a regular basis, make sure to not overdo it. Something known as overtraining syndrome can result in fatigue, insomnia, and irritability; no one can really have amazing sex when all of that is going on.
Being a Certain Age
GiphyWhile it used to be said that the sexual peak for men is in their teens and for women, it’s in their 30s (some believe it’s because after 35, it’s more challenging for women to get pregnant and so our biological clock plays a role in it all), some research believes that coming to that conclusion isn’t fair because aging affects people differently. For instance, while on one hand, people in their 40s tend to see a dip in their sex hormones, as we’ve already discussed, hormone therapy (for both men and women) can level some of those issues out, if not increase some people’s sex drives altogether.
Adding to that, it should also go on record that some studies indicate that women between the ages of 27-45 actually have a stronger desire — or craving — for sex than women between the ages of 18-26. So honestly, there goes the myth that being younger (automatically) means that you’re hornier. #Elmoshrug
Certain Medications
GiphyIf you used to have a higher sex drive and you’re currently on an antidepressant, that could be why your desire for copulation has decreased. Some studies say that as much as 40 percent of people who are on these types of medication end up having a lower libido (by the way, antihistamines and beta-blockers can have this effect, too).
On the other hand, if you’ve been taking a prescribed drug to increase your sex drive (perhaps like Vyleesi or Addyi), then it would make sense that you may have an increased libido level. Other meds that may have a similar effect include birth control pills (since they alter your hormones), medications that help to treat Parkinson’s disease, along with dopamine-related drugs.
Less Stress
GiphyIf, on the days when you don’t seem to have a care in the world, you also desire sex more than usual, that’s not a coincidence either. Thing is, when you’re all stressed out, that can cause the stress hormone known as cortisol to work overtime and, when that happens, that can end up suppressing your sex hormones which can deplete you of sexual urges. Ironically, there is a flip side to this because when you engage in sexual activity, that actually elevates feel-good (and bonding) hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which can also de-stress you.
So basically, if you’re craving sex, you probably aren’t very stressed out (right now), and if you want to stop being stressed out, you probably should have some sex (some protected sex, if you don’t want to be stressed later up the road…if you know what I mean).
Having an Amazing Sex Life
GiphyTo me, this one right here should be a given because when something is both good to and for you, why wouldn’t you want more of it? So yeah, if you have a great sex life with someone, it’s common sense that you’d want to engage in that act with them as much as possible. Hey, not to mention the fact that orgasms activate your brain in a way similar to a drug high does.
So, if while reading this, you’re thinking about sexting your bae to make arrangements to — eh hem — satisfy your craving, I say go for it! To “greatly want” to connect with your partner in order to have some fulfilling and satisfying sex? What in the world could possibly be wrong with that?! Not a damn thing.
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