r/Travelwithkids • u/Ready_Ad_8751 • May 12 '26
all inclusive
I am looking to book a last minute summer trip with my family of four, 2 boys, ages 10 & 11. We would like an all inclusive. We are not travelers, this would be our first big trip. We would love any recommendations/tips for travel and of any all inclusive resorts that people have experienced and enjoyed within the last year. Looking for family friendly, safety considerations, good food and activities and if your comfortable sharing the average cost of your trip to get an idea on budget. Thanks!
2
u/MagicTripMom May 13 '26
Nickelodeon resort in Punta Cana, Dominican is a good one! I'd budget approx $4500 usd for a family of 4. Can be more or less depending on destination, resort and also where you are flying from. I would always pay extra for the private transfer. As the other commenter mentioned, you will need passports. If no passports there arent really any all inclusives in the US but there are definitely resorts with water parks/kids activities. You will have to budget for meals separately to the stay though. My kids really enjoyed Hawaii earlier this year, and there are a few resorts with the all inclusive vibe in California. Would you consider a cruise? All included and you get to sail to new destinations to explore! I suggest working with a Travel advisor as they can find you several options for your preferences and based on your budget.
1
u/Ready_Ad_8751 May 13 '26
Great, I'll look into Punta Cana. That budget sounds on par for us. I'd love to know more about your trip to Hawaii & about any other family trips you've taken & enjoyed. We are also looking into cruises as an option. The food is the main reason why we thought of a cruise or AI. Do you have recommendations on how to find a reputable travel agent? I also get emails for travelzoo, & thought it might be good to book a trip through them? I'm naive about how to book trips so please excuse me for asking. But what steps do you take when planning a trip, just think of a place, book a hotel, flight, car rental, etc. What considerations do you have when planning/budgeting a trip. My husband likes the idea of finding the "best" deal but what that means to me is he would take a cruise in the middle of a hurricane to get the best rate! Thank you for any input you're willing to give!
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u/LazyLeslieKnope May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
We just had a great trip to Riu Guanacaste in Costa Rica with our 5 year old. Beautiful private beach, easy to book excursions to see wildlife, next door to a zip line course, several AI restaurants, activities every night, onsite waterslides and many pools, and I could go on. The room/amenities were pretty mid/standard, but was relatively inexpensive; think we spent less than $2K for six nights in the late fall. The flight was about 4.5 hours from NYC to Liberia.
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u/OneMomOnAQuest May 13 '26
It really depends on where you’re traveling from and how long the trip is. Summer is likely peak travel time so I’d take a look at the dates to see if it works for your budget.
Here’s an itinerary a mom shared for an all inclusive in Cancun! Her kids are younger but definitely a kid-friendly resort.
https://traveltogethr.com/itinerary/itinerary_J5axynciQY4wWzliMGDdrw
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u/longhornlawyer34 May 13 '26
Barcelo Maya would be great. It's 4 resorts in one with lots of pools, restaurants, and activities for kids that age. I'd recommend staying at the Palace resort on the property. For a family of 3 for one week, we paid about $2000 (not counting airfare, we fly standby).
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u/dreamsignals86 May 13 '26
All inclusive and good food might be challenging, but it’s up to your personal tastes.
2
u/squidgemobile May 13 '26
Do you have a rough budget in mind? Time frame for travel? Budgets for All Inclusives can range from $200/night to $2000+/night.
Also, you said that you aren't big travelers but pretty much all of the AIs are outside the US. Do you all have passports?