I thought I'd hate all-inclusive resorts. Then I went to one.

24.02.2024 - 11:35 / insider.com

With a piña colada in hand, my friend and I crawled onto a bungee-cord hammock hanging above Belize's strikingly clear waters.

Two couples were nearby as we all watched the vibrant orange sun sink below the horizon. It was one of those sunsets you're convinced you only see on vacation in a destination like Belize.

In less than an hour, the couples around us, along with about 20 other guests, would sit together for a communal dinner of lobster tails, rice and beans, and salad.

It was peaceful, quiet, and far from anything I envisioned when it came to staying at an all-inclusive resort.

Well, besides the piña coladas.

Before arriving at the Thatch Caye resort, I thought all-inclusive resorts were synonymous with long lines of sunburned tourists snaking to metal trays overflowing with shrimp skewers or waiting for bottom-shelf tropical cocktails. And I definitely thought the all-inclusive experience had to include chlorinated pools and a battle over the last open lounge chair.

This February, those stereotypes were challenged with a stay at Thatch Caye, an all-inclusive resort off the coast of Dangriga, Belize.

I left sunburned and with a new favorite way to vacation.

For years, I've listened to friends share their all-inclusive experiences. I heard stories about hopping between restaurants with bellies full of food and their first time at a swim-up bar.

To a degree, I get it.

Everything you could need is in one location — food, drinks, entertainment, activities, spas, and a place to sleep. There's no stress over logistics, no need to plan how you'll fill your day, and no worries about budgeting once you've arrived.

But as I listened to story after story, the experiences felt identical. I had no clue whether my friend had traveled to Jamaica, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic. Instead, I heard about the trip from their room to the breakfast buffet to the beach each morning.

My friends weren't the only ones. In places like Cancún, Mexico, a hot spot for all-inclusive resorts near one of the world's seven wonders, only half the guests venture beyond the comforts of their lodgings, the Ministry of Quintana Roo Tourism reported last year.

As experts focused on sustainability and travel told me, staying at a property owned by a major corporation isn't the most eco-friendly way to travel. If a traveler never leaves their resort, locals don't receive benefits from tourism.

"Many large resorts are owned by foreign multinational companies — and often most of your holiday cash goes to them and leaves the destination," Justin Francis, cofounder and CEO of Responsible Travel, said. "Jobs available to locals can be limited to entry-level and seasonal. They can take a lot out of local communities — cutting access to