Alternative Resort Offerings

Now resorts are trimming drink menus and pushing “alternative experiences”—meals, special lunches, suspiciously frequent “wellness” activities. According to BBC Travel, half the guests book the all-inclusive, show up, and then ditch the bar for offsite food. Does anyone even finish those weird blue cocktails at lunch anymore? I doubt it.

Enhanced Meal and Lunch Options

Table service is suddenly everywhere. Buffets? Yeah, those are fading out, but nobody announces it—just sort of happens while everyone’s distracted by new drink rules. At Waves Hotel & Spa in Barbados, they axed breakfast buffets and switched to à la carte (Travel Weekly link). So now, you sit, someone brings you food, you don’t have to elbow past kids fighting over croissants. I mean, I’ll never trust a dinner roll that didn’t come out of an oven on-site, but whatever.

Sandals and all the big names are suddenly obsessed with “specialty” lunches and this “Island Inclusive” thing, which is just eating off-property but with more hashtags (Forbes). One day it’s steak, next day sushi, and if you bug the chef, maybe they’ll swap the menu again. Here’s the catch: the food gets fancier, but the wine list? Usually gets worse. At least they stopped pretending the beer is local, so… progress?

Expanded Activities Beyond Drinks

Supposedly, less booze means less fun, but somehow I keep stumbling into painting classes, yoga after dark, and, honestly, beekeeping intros. That wasn’t a typo on the schedule. Yesterday was cacao tasting. Tomorrow? Paddleboarding with a guy who claims he taught Tom Cruise. (Did he? I doubt it.)

Escape rooms and cooking competitions are everywhere now. Who’s actually excited to chop onions after swimming all morning? According to some Fora Travel advisor, half their clients want “real” off-site stuff, not just another round of margaritas (BBC Travel). But if you don’t sign up at check-in, you’ll just end up rating towel softness. Oh, and that extra sunscreen in your lunch swag? Not for your face. Never is.

How to Maximize Your All-Inclusive Experience

Every time I think I’ve cracked the code, they throw in new rules, drink tickets, or some reservation system that’s just a mess. Last time, I counted seven poolside activities and about fifteen rules about mojitos. If I hear about “unlimited perks” one more time, I might just go camping. But here’s what actually works, at least for me.

Tips for Enjoying New Drink Policies

Bartenders now guard drink vouchers like they’re rare Pokémon. Some places cut off imported liquor after 8 p.m.—which, yeah, crushed my group’s Negroni plans. Don’t even think about asking for anything fancy unless you like disappointment. “Fresh” mixers? Please.

So, I just grab sodas from the minibar and make friends with the staff, hoping for a little extra. Tania Cowley, a travel blogger, swears (here: gowanderly.com) that tipping before your second drink means more booze, less ice. By 2024, about 44% of guests (Resort Industry Insider) bring their own tumblers. Makes sense—bigger cup, fewer trips, less sloshing in flip-flops.

Making the Most of Onsite Activities

The 10 a.m. water aerobics sign-up? Absolute chaos. People waving towels like it’s Black Friday. My move: call the concierge the night before, ask about the weather, and somehow my name ends up on the paddleboard list. Not cheating. Just… efficient.

There’s always a “Master Activity Board” (usually taped up near questionable hand sanitizer), but half the events aren’t online—on purpose, I’m convinced. At Sandals, the volleyball game started early and the only way to know was to stalk the rec team in their neon shirts. Justin Plus Lauren’s 2024 guide (link) says book spa stuff at check-in to skip awkward waitlists. Why is this a secret?

Oh, and you can sometimes get late checkout just by gushing about the kids’ club. I’ve done it twice. No idea why it works.