All Inclusive or European Plan?

[Steve]

Which do you prefer and why?

I can see benefits to both.

European Plan
Advantages - Encourages you to not spend so much time at your hotel, you can enjoy the different restaurants and bars, spend time away without a feeling of missing out on something.

Disadvantages - Whilst you are at your hotel you are subject to the prices that they choose to offer, which may not be good. The evenings can be quiet as everyone heads out to find their own entertainment.

All Inclusive
Advantages - Drink and eat without worrying how much money you are spending, busy and lively evenings as everyone takes advantage of the free facilities. Dont need to worry about carrying a wallet during the day.

Disadvantages - More inclined to not leave the premises, subject to same food, drink and restaurants.

Personal View
Having stayed both styles I prefer All Inclusive, I drink a fair amount on holiday, with European Plan that can add up to a lot of money. I remember the hotel I stayed at European Plan had happy hour 2 for 1 three times day. They would ring a bell and people would emerge from every crevice of the hotel to stock up on drinks, at the end of the hour they would all disappear again. If you know the story of Pablov's dog you can relate to this.

When I stay All Inclusive I do leave the hotel to drink and eat anywhere else I like and I am happy to spend days away on tours and trips but it's not a necessity and if I dont want to I dont have to.

The amount of extra cash I spend staying European Plan is the difference between me having two trips to Cancun a year or one. I prefer two!

What do others think?

[Tbonita]

I think since Cancun is soooo expensive now, that all-inclusive would probably be the best way to go for most people.

In all my trips to Cancun, I've only done the all-inclusive twice and it's because the price only averaged out to about $12 extra per day. For that price, it was well worth it.

We ate breakfast and/or lunch at the hotel but mostly ate dinner outside the hotel. Not much for drinking alcohol during the day...I get my fill of tequila every night...but still if you add up how much bottled water and/or soda you drink hanging by the pool/beach during the day, then the extra $12 I paid per day was definitely worth it.

I personally wouldn't pay for the all-inclusive unless it was a very reasonably priced add-on.

[Annette]

After going All Inclusive this past November , I can't imagine vacationing any other way. No carrying a wallet ( just tip money), no worries. If I'm running short on cash by the end of the week, at least I'll know I'll eat..and being of Italian decent...food is a very important part of my life..LOL.

Especially when traveling with kids, AI proved to be a life saver. Kids are always looking for a drink, a snack, etc. I could provide all of this without breaking my wallet( those sodas can add up to a pretty penny).


For me, AI is the way to be!

[Steve]

Hey guys thanks for your input but dont forget to vote to!

[Dave & Mo]

We have always gone AI... I drink :lol:

We always have breakfast at the hotel, drink and snack by the pool and can have lunch / dinner at the hotel if we want. The hotel bars are a big plus for drinks and entainment in the evenings since we don't normally go to the clubs.

The money we save by going AI gives us cash to eat out several times while there. We have at least one meal out every day.

Dave

[janie]

I prefer european plan. There are just too many restaurants in Cancun that I like!

We did the all-inclusive twice, once at the Sierra Hotel and once at the Riu in Playacar.
In my opinion, the drinks are watered down and the food is mediocre. And after a couple of days the buffet gets tiring.

The all-inclusives are providing meals for hundreds of guests, so there is no way they can please everyone.

I also feel that the all-inclusives have hurt the local restaurants economically.
Last month when we were there the restaurants were empty! We went to Rosa Mexicana downtown and we were the only ones there, it was sad.

BUT, let me add, if I was taking children or if we were "drinkers" I would definitely choose an AI.

[Michael F.]

All-Inclusive for me...

Doesn't mean I won't go for a walkabout away from the resort and experiment once or twice...but I don't want to have to worry about my pocketbook while on holiday. For crying out loud, if I choose a resort because of its pool, amenities, and locale, I mean to spend most of my time there, and if I'm going to stay in one place for a while, I mean to get drunk and not go broke while doing so!!
:lotsofmichaelf: :beerdrink:

Addendum...that being said, T wants to try the EP so she can have more flexibility. I really think she wants to stay in the hotel zone this time and not out in the "boonie's" as at the Moon Palace. So we may still go AI...

:michaelf:

[Kaye from Chicagoland]

My last trip to Cancun was the first trip we have taken all-inclusive. I think we saved a bunch of $$$.

At the rates the prices are now in Cancun - I think it's a great way to go if you like some cocktails poolside!

Kaye :umbrella:

I have done all-inclusive all three times that I have gone. The reason for this is like it has been stated above is that I don't have to worry about carrying a wad of cash when eating except for tips. Also there is nothing keeping you from heading out to a restaurant or two while you are there. To be exact the first two trips my friend and I went out for grub at least once. :beerdrink: during the trips

[GolfHo]

Having only done the AI trip I don't feel qualified to comment on the Euro style. But it appears the choice is dependant on your 'vacation style'.

Don't know the price difference, but I would imagine by the time you figure in the cab ride to an eatery away from the resort, pay for the meal and then pay for each drink while at the resort, that even if you went AI and went out for a few meals it would even out.

I'll stick to AI, nothing like unlimited poolside Bloodies (nectar of the Gods) starting in the A.M. to get a person going.

[Homesick]

A.I. is a must. Saves having to decide what to eat, where etc. Plus, breakfast and lunch we usually eat with the hotel staff - the entertainment guys or receptionists etc - so we can get to know them as people and that is a great time for us. The value for money is also without doubt.
We've done it all in the past - self catering, eating out, cruises and AI in Cancun and as long as the ship or hotel provides a good range of food, AI is far an d away the most convenient and the best.
Homesick.

[Klaw]

I wouldn't take another vacation to Cancun that wasn't all inclusive.

The drinks alone would break my vacation budget!

Karan

[Jodi MN]

I've done AI and EP in Cancun and prefer AI. I love the convenience of going AI and with the high prices in Cancun for food/drinks....I think I'd go broke if I went EP these days. :beerdrink:

This April will be my first time going AI in Cancun, staying bayside for the first time at the BBG.
Having been to Cancun to many times to count, I can honestly say that it has become extremely expensive. Drinks at the pool during the day could cost a small fortune!
Since we will be saving money during the day by eating and drinking at the hotel, we will go out to dinner to some of our favorite restuarants while we are there.
Can't wait for April 27th.........
Oakie

[Barry]

All-inclusive--Most Definitely. As most have stated, it would be so expensive if we had to pay for every drink. Plus, the convenience of not having to carry cash when you're at the beach/pool! Plus,Plus, forget about the regular hangovers, the worst hangover starts when you reconcile your credit card bill after getting home! Ouch!!!

We live on the West Coast, and it is cheaper to go to Hawaii. But they don't offer AI. Therefore, have never gone.

AI, IMHO.

[Michael F.]

*bump*

DallasMom brought up a subject we haven't gone over in a while. Thought this poll should be the right medium for discussion. 8)

[Lynne]

AI all the way. After my first time I never went back to paying as I go.

[davetazz]

I'd never go AI as its a total rip off at least in my case. We own at the royal resorts and ususally eat in at the villa for breakfast and lunch. The meals in the restaurants at the resort are much lower than outside in the hotel zone. if we go out I use Brant's 2x1 card. We also buy all our booze at the onsite grocery store or when we go to walmart. I don't drink much so I'll usually go to happy hour and get something then.

For 2 people for the week we can usually eat and drink for 300-350 US. Much better than paying 900-1000 extra just for AI.

[shoreladie]

AI all the way .. Everything is so expensive I do think .. I wouldnt do it any other way . Lisa

[Rondo]

No AI here,but it looks like I'm in the minority,I can deal with carrying all that "inconvenient cash",I do it everyday.

In the end,we'll all be going AI just like those Spanish corporations have planned.It will be impossible to open a nice restaurant and sustain it in Cancun.

The price now for many AI hotels is prohibitive and rising,but once all the competition has been eliminated,you can bet they get even higher.

Since much of the money leaves the country from AI hotels,we can all probably count on $200 airport taxes to offset the communal loss,instead of the $90 we pay now.

I seriously doubt, that it would happen. On the bus rides up and down that I have taken in Cancun when I go down, I see eateries with people in them, some packed to capacity.

Just because you go AI does not mean that you have to eat all of your meals there it just gives you the option of doing so. If on a budget it is a good option, like my last trip it would have been prohibitve to eat all meals outside or even inside the resort if I had to pay at each meal.

If you are able to go non-AI that is great, me I prefer the AI way, hopefully one day I would be able to afford going non-AI.

[Shelley-California]

I'm not sure but compaired to what I've seen we may have over paid for our AI. But I don't think I would want it any other way. I pretty much knew what I was going to have to come up with for all food drinks ect... before we left. We had encluded tours and other benifits that would have been extra if it wasn't AI. It was our first AI and I really enjoyed not having to worry about money.

[Liz]

I think you cannot go wrong with AI its nice to swim up to the swim up bars and not have to bring money just tip on the beginning and end of the week. I did and got my hand kissed many times. Anyways even if the food is not that great, the last thing I want to do when I have a hangover is go hunt for breakfast when I can go down in my swimsuit and have my own personalized omlet made. Oh and in the middle of the day after all the drinking and sun a small snack is always good. God I am a pig and I missss Cancun!!! LIZ :roll:

[Shelley-California]

Liz...LOL you think your a pig...you should have seen me.

Wake up Where is the food... hit the pool...

Mid morning....Where is the food... hit the beach....

Lunch... where is the food....hit the other pool...

Mid afternoon....omg I drove my husband crazy... ops:

[Smitty28]

My first vacation was during spring break march 2004 and i tell ya i went AI. Now with the prices to get in the clubs down there during springbreak 25-42 bucks american a night the only way to go is AI during spring break. I drank myself silly each night in the hotel bar i got so drunk that when i paid them high prices to get into a club i didnt blow a gasket so being drunk AI in the hotel made me not think of how dumb i am for spending so much to get into a club. Also a jack and coke in the states cost me around 3-4 bucks a drink, i drank tons of them down there they were weak at first dont get me wrong but a few dollars and the next think you know where is the coke they will do the job sense they might be alittle watered down so be it that means you just have to drink more to get the effects and the more you drink the better you will feel about gettin your moneys worth i know i did. I spent alot of money to go last year and AI was the way to go. I got to eat anytime i wanted, to snack anytime, to drink anytime i didnt have to leave to go buy food. I still bought some alchohol of my own to get that stronger buzz going. Budlight is my beer i had to have some down there to.
Also as for the drinks being watered down here is my theory i think that sense its so hot down there that we sweat out the alcohol more and it doesnt do as much for us so we have to drink more to do the job, i know the nights i got trashed in the clubs i danced and drank and drank and drank i started to sober up from sweating so much.

Off topic but the AI in the clubs for the price is a total rip off. Some clubs like Laboom youd have to spend a fortune to drink for free like your guranteed when you pay that cover price. Then other clubs they would just load the drinks up but hell you didnt even know what you were drinking you just drank it in trust. There were nights i went into a club and maybe just mabye had 4-5 draft beers and that was it cost 30 + to get in.

AI all the way

[Smitty28]

and yes i like to ramble on

[Shelley-California]

Originally Posted by springbreak2002cancun

Anyways even if the food is not that great, the last thing I want to do when I have a hangover is go hunt for breakfast when I can go down in my swimsuit and have my own personalized omlet made.

Oh Liz I agree. I loved the omelets first thing in the morning in my bathing suit. ( Well maybe I did put shorts on) ops:

[captain_hug99]

I also love going AI. However, I would like to see the hotels offer a "meal out" where they would give you vouchers to eat off premisis if you wish. That would encourage more people to spend money in the clubs/eateries, and possibly bring down the prices a bit while bolstering the "smaller" economy.

[cancuncouple]

Ok.. our two sense worth. We just got back Labor Day. We stayed in a
beachfront condo, with small kitchen. We have always stayed AI, but
tried this because of price. We didn't vote yet, because of plus and minus
of both. We did get out and about more, going downtown, eating out,(
with Brant's 2for1 card). We bought our supplies at Sam's and Wallyworld. It is very convient to have a cooler with drinks, and easy access to room. And... it was cheaper for us than AI

We paid a total of $225.00 for our room for 5 nites plus airfare and transfer. As we said, our two sense worth. We probably will do this
type of trip again.

[DOZER]

AI all the way my wife agrees as well, we just got back 9/2 and stayed at the cancun palcae it was quite convinient to eat when ever u felt like it especially when your hung over. also room service at 3am in the moring was a life saver.dont get me wrong we out a few times and that was good enough. the hotel food was hit and miss but there was always something, also socially ai is better we just hung out in the lobby many nights at the bar and met many people and the phrase i heard the most was "can i buy you a drink" it was pretty cool.


ps smitty what we (me and my wife) did for the ai clubs is we only bought one ai braclet and one admission. i would just order 2 drinks everytime. but for tha u would need an acomlpice. this worked at senor frongs twice and daddy o.