Book a getaway at a Caribbean all-inclusive resort and it’s understood that most meals, drinks and activities will be included in the sticker price. That is, after all, the entire point: As Sandals founder (and my former boss), the late Gordon Butch Stewart once told me: “If you can’t leave your wallet at home, it’s not all-inclusive.”
But even as many hotels have started to upsell guests with add-ons such as spa treatments, Bali bed reservations and private dinners, others include perks in their regular all-inclusive package that most guests wouldn’t expect. Check out the surprising inclusions at these all-you-can-everything Caribbean resorts.
Your Own Speedboat At Fowl Cay, an all-inclusive private island in The Bahamas’ Exumas archipelago, guests in seven (fully-stocked!) villas enjoy complimentary fishing equipment, beach toys and watersports gear. But the biggest perk is use of their own 17- or 18-ft. powerboat (unlimited fuel included) so they can explore those Bahamian blue waters to their heart’s content
Island Dine-Around These days, having multiple on-property dining options, from jerk shacks to teppanyaki tables, is no big deal. What is a big deal is the dine-around program at Sandals Royal Curaçao. There, in addition to eight restaurants and three food trucks, guests who stay at least seven nights in a butler-serviced suite receive a $250 dining credit to use at select local restaurants so they can enjoy the true flavor of the Dutch Caribbean island. Better yet: Roundtrip rides to the restaurants are included, too.
Unlimited Spa Treatments Spa-loving guests at Jamaica’s Couples Tower Isle needn’t choose between a massage, manicure, facial or a foot scrub because unlimited spa treatments for the duration of their stay are included in the room rate. The only “catch”: They must be booked in either a Signature Oasis Spa Villa or Oasis Spa Villa for a minimum of five nights.
Private Islands As BOGO (buy one; get one) deals go, it doesn’t get much better than all-inclusive resorts that have their own private islands easily accessible, just offshore. In Jamaica, Sandals Royal Caribbean’s Sandals Island boasts a pool with a swim-up bar, jerk shack and Indonesian restaurant. Couples Tower Isle’s private island (called Tower Isle) is also a haven for guests who want to shed their inhibitions and their swimwear, complete with a bar and lunch buffet.
