Six Things Your All-Inclusive May Not Include

Nothing beats the convenience of going all-inclusive: You can eat, drink, play and party to your heart’s content, secure in the knowledge that all costs are covered. But that’s not always the case. Before you leave your wallet at home, make sure these potential money-suckers are included in your package.

1. Airport Transfers

In all-inclusive-dominant Caribbean destinations such as Jamaica, resorts provide shuttle transport to and from the nearest airport as part of your package. But in the Dominican Republic (also an all-inc playground) you’ll likely pay separately for airport transfers.

2. Room Service

Not every all-inc offers room service, of course, but there are variations among those that do. While some offer gratis room service ‘round-the-clock, others provide it only during limited hours and/or bill room service charges separately. At other resorts, room service food is free but you’ll pay a delivery charge.

3. Liquor

Not every all-inclusive is an all-you-can-drink resort. At some, you’ll be billed for all alcohol you consume. At others, house brands are comped, but premium brands of spirits and certain wines come at an extra cost.

4. Certain Restaurants/Menu Items

In a perfect world all-inclusive guests would be able to eat anything, anywhere and not have to pay extra. But many resorts charge a supplement for high-end restaurants or for premium menu items such as lobster and imported steaks. Know before you nosh.

5. Water Sports

Unlimited snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and use of pedal boats/aqua trikes are usually part of the package at Caribbean all-inclusives. But if you want to parasail, go on a dive excursion, or, God forbid, buzz about on a jet ski, prepare to pony up.

6. Wi-Fi

This last exclusion is my pet peeve. I don’t believe that any resort should be charging for Wi-Fi in this day and age (it’s not as if they don’t already have the service for their own use, after all) but, annoyingly, even some all-inclusive resorts do. Fingers crossed for free, reliable Wi-Fi across the Caribbean sometime soon.