After a few days of relaxing on the beach, eating and drinking you may want to explore outside of your all inclusive resort.  Fortunately the Riviera Maya has plenty to offer.  

Tulum is an archeological site of the Mayan Indians.  Here you will find a pyramid temple overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea.  The best way to explore Tulum is on foot with a guided tour.  

Xel-Ha is a great spot for snorkeling and just relaxing.  You will find a natural aquarium with thousands of brightly colored tropical fish and beautiful limestone formations.  You can also explore creeks, lagoons, caves fed by subterranean rivers, and swim the dolphins. If you’ve never snorkeled before (or even if you’re old hat at it), this is an amazing underwater show you won’t want to miss.

These are just two quick examples of what you can explore when you want to go beyond your all inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya.

What do you find at a Luxury All Inclusive Resort? Gourmet food, premium brand liquors, exquisite surroundings, and ultra pampering. In other words, complete bliss. Plus, since it’s all inclusive, you don’t need to lug your wallet or purse all over the place.

There are several luxury all inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya - Excellence Riviera Cancun, Secrets Maroma, and Zoetry Paraiso de la Mar are just 3 examples.  Each has their own, special brand of luxury and it’s a good idea to have us walk you through each one (or others) so that you can have a clear idea of what each has to offer.

At most luxury all inclusive resorts you will find that no children are allowed.  The rooms tend to be larger and mostly suites.  Fine dining is the norm and 24 hour room service is available.  

But, if kids are in the plan, there are plenty of other options to explore. Let us know what you like and we’re sure we’ll be able to book the perfect vacation for you.

The all inclusive vacation...where everything is included. Meals, snacks, drinks (including soft drinks and alcohol), entertainment, water sports and more. Even the tips are included. You can put your wallet away unless, of course, you want to buy some souvenirs.

All inclusive definitely doesn't mean one size fits all.  There are different types of All Inclusive Resorts. I love BIG resorts, with plenty of activities, a great beach, fantasy pools, a good number of restaurants and bars, plenty of shopping and large rooms with flat screen TVs. Resorts like the Moon Palace in Cancun, Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica and the Iberostar Grand Paraiso suite me just fine.

Fortunately there are plenty of other types of all inclusive resorts to fit just about any traveler. From small boutique properties with excellent service to the large mega properties and everything in-between. Yes, there is an all inclusive resort for every type of traveler.

Drop anchor and try an all inclusive vacation, then tell us how you liked it.

In tooling around the internet this week I've come across a number of "come on's" used by companies to entice people to buy travel from them.

The first one is "We'll Give You $100 if it Rains During Your Vacation."  When you read what this is all about you have to email the company within days of your return to tell them it rained during your vacation.  Your vacation package must be a total package including flight and resort.  Then this company will investigate if it did indeed rain during your vacation.  If they find that it actually rained then you will receive $100 off your next vacation package if you book this new vacation within 90 days upon return from the rained on vacation.  Not combinable with any other offers.  The $100 will come off your final payment balance.  All the agency has to do is quote you a price $100 more than what their other suppliers have.  They aren't "giving" you a $100.  What a come on.

Another one I love is the "low price guarantee."  There are so many conditions to this it makes my head spin.  Must present valid proof of lower priced vacation with in 24 or 48 hours of booking (depending on the company).  Of course the vacation must be apples to apples...same exact flight (including class of service), dates, times, and resort.  This means you book your vacation then scour the internet for lower prices for the same thing.  The clock is ticking...so get looking.  And let's say you find a lower price, more than likely it will be because there is another class of service for the flight (Y, Z, A, C, and more letters are all different classes of service for the airlines and are all COACH.  In other words a person who has bought a ticket in Y class for $250 can be sitting next to a person who bought a ticket in C class for $350).  There are other conditions also, like "price cannot be from a travel agent" or "price cannot be from an online booking agency."  Don't be fooled.  This is just a gimmick that makes me say "come on."

Beware of come on's.

They're all over the internet.  Great travel deals.  Wonderful pictures.  You gladly go to book yourself a great deal on the internet.  Then, when you read the flight schedule you see that you have to leave at midnight, during the week, with 3 layovers and arrive at the resort one day later than you wanted.  The return flight has an even worse schedule (as if that were possible).

Then there is the advertising trick.  "Great deal, hurry."  Is it really a great deal?  What is a great deal?  I get so many people who call me asking for a "great deal on an all inclusive vacation."  I ask them "what is a great deal to you."  The answer is usually "I don't know" or "really cheap."  I ask what is "really cheap" and they tell me they "aren't sure, but would know cheap if they saw it." 

Hmmm...what is a great deal?  What is "cheap?"