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FTF's guide to getting your money's worth at an all-inclusive resort, whether it's the cheapest or most expensive option available.

Many parents looking for total relaxation and a break from the workaday world dream of a stress-free vacation where they can concentrate on fun, adventure and recharging their batteries. As “money” is one of the life’s most stress-inducing topics, lots of families choose to vacation at “all-inclusive” resorts, where they never have to open their wallets for food, beverages, activities, entertainment or tips, as everything is covered by the upfront price of the vacation. (However, keep in mind that guests often do offer tips to helpful staff to show appreciation for their efforts.)

As a result of this trend, the number of all-inclusives has multiplied, often leaving families in a quandary as to how to choose their vacation spot. They all tout “gourmet food,” “excellent service,” “kid’s clubs” and more, yet prices can vary from $1,300 to $6,000 for a family of four for a one week vacation. What accounts for the difference, and how do the resorts actually measure up? On a recent press trip to the Riviera Maya, I had the chance to sample several such resorts and learned that while each has its own appeal, there are limitations as well.

Budget All-Inclusives

We stayed at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda, located 35 minutes south of the Cancun International Airport, and 10 minutes from the charming town of Playa del Carmen. Inspired by the local Mayan style, two and three-story thatched roofed buildings house the 984 rooms, restaurants, bars, and fitness center, and tiki huts provide shaded areas around the free-form pool. There is a 1,500-foot white sand beach with lots of lounge chairs, plus palm trees and palapas for shade, but, as with many budget resorts, the large size means that facilities can get crowded. As expected, the rate includes all meals (at 3 buffets as well as specialty steakhouse, Mexican, Italian, French and Asian restaurants), domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding champagne, bottled wines and premium beers), poolside beverages, in-room minibar, 24-hour room service, taxes and gratuities.

Pros: On the positive side, this resort has local flare and delivers a relaxing vacation at an economical rate. Guests are free to use the swimming pools and beach and participate in non-motorized watersports such as sailing, kayaking, windsurfing. Additionally, there are tennis and volleyball courts, a jogging trail and a fitness center with aerobics, stretching and spinning classes, all for free. The Kids Club offers a complimentary daily program of activities and a pool/playground area for children from age 2 to 12 years. Finally, nightly shows are offered for entertainment. Other activities, such as golf, snorkeling and scuba diving are available for an additional fee, as is the use of the stunning spa. This too, is typical of most all-inclusives resorts. We saw laughing children in the Kids Club, many families frolicking in the pool, playing tennis and happily chowing down, and while the Esmeralda is not perfect, I think it offers good value and that families can have a really nice vacation here.

Cons: The food at the buffet, while plentiful and of decent quality, is pretty basic, and quite repetitive. The food at the specialty restaurants (we tried Mexican and Italian) was only a tad better. Getting a reservation (required) for these restaurants is difficult, yet they were not full while we were dining, creating a mystery amongst the guests. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, but the coordination of services was uneven, as both of the elevators in our building were not in service for a good part of our stay, and there was total confusion about the availability of room service for breakfast and wireless internet access in the rooms. We sat on the beach and enjoyed the view, but the sea can be muddy and full of seaweed. Finally, the sewage system created an unpleasant odor, most noticeable around the reception building.

Value: Like many budget all-inclusives, this is a very large resort with close to 1,000 rooms and suites. It’s quite spread out, but golf carts are available for transportation throughout the property, especially useful for grandparents, and tired little ones. On the price scale, the Blue Bay is the “best for the budget” of those we saw, with an average rate of $250/N for a family of four in a double-bedded room -- less in the low season (c. $185/N) and more in the winter, high season (c. $360/N).

Photos for this story by Ralph Spielman