Many Prices, Many Options: Depending on what you pay, all-inclusive resorts offer different levels of luxury

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Many Prices, Many Options: Depending on what you pay, all-inclusive resorts offer different levels of luxury

I felt a little like Goldilocks hopscotching the Caribbean in search of the most comfortable bed, the best food and the most fun at all-inclusive resorts.

Long buffet lines leading to little-more-than-mediocre fare, average-at-best accommodations with scratchy linens and limited activities were once all one might expect when booking an all-inclusive vacation. But with so much competition these days, resorts are upping the ante, offering more bang-for-the-buck in order to get your business.

I visited three over a three-month period - one was budget-friendly; another mid-priced and finally, one that was more costly - truly high-priced luxury. I came home amazed at the differences that clearly defined them.

The premise for all-inclusive resorts is the same: lodging, entertainment and all food and drinks for one price. But it all depends on what you want to pay. The beauty of all-inclusives, though, is that your trip is paid well before you leave home, taking the guessing game out of the final cost.

West Oehmig, owner of Oehmig Travel Consultancy in Chattanooga and in the travel business for 41 years, says all-inclusive vacations are a good choice for people who like to eat and drink their fill during a vacation, but don't like sticker shock on their credit card bills when they get home.

"When you book into a resort that is not all-inclusive, you know the room rate, resort fee, tax rates, expected gratuities, etc., but not the costs of food, drink and tips to waiters and other activities, which can mount up quickly," he says.

There are numerous online travel sites such as cheapcaribbean.com and bookit.com that include airfare and shuttle service to and from the airport with their all-inclusive packages.

Also, keep in mind that - despite the name - not all-inclusives include everything. Yes, food and drink are part of the deal, but not all packages include all the activities such as scuba diving, golf fees, etc. So shop around.

Budget-minded

' Viva Wyndham at Fortuna Beach, Freeport, Bahamas

Standing on the balcony overlooking the white sands and crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean, it was hard to believe that less than two hours ago I'd left the urban chaos of the Atlanta airport. There are plenty of direct flights to the Bahamas from Atlanta, and daily schedules are good - but it's hard to find a budget all-inclusive on any of the islands.

Viva Wyndham on Fortuna Beach is one of only a few - and thereby very popular - especially among U.S. travelers due to the geographical proximity, says Erika Sordo, corporate director of marketing and public relations for Viva Resorts.

The resort has a main dining room that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, three a la carte restaurants and one beachside bar/grill. Food in all restaurants and drinks in all bars are included in your stay, as are all non-motorized activities - snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and morning yoga. Scuba, deep-sea fishing and horseback riding are offered at an added cost.

The meals were hit or miss but, because there was so much, you should be able to find something you like.

' Cost for five-night stay in standard room (travelocity.com): $833.34 for two people. Round-trip airport shuttle was $55 per person. Taxi service to and from the airport is about $20 one way for one person

Mid-priced

' Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Spend a bit more, you get more. That's what I find as I enter the world of resorts in Punta Cana.

For example, Majestic Colonial is a popular all-inclusive, so don't be surprised if you can't get the room you want. Fortunately, I booked well in advance and was able to get a room with a view of the pool and the ocean. Life doesn't get much better than that.

Rooms include an in-room Jacuzzi, lots of handsome mahogany woodwork, and a mini-bar stocked with several bottles of liquor, champagne and beer - all part of the package, one indication of a pricier all-inclusive.

But the restaurants, including the main buffet that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, also are part of the package. Majestic Colonial has two such buffets on the property and the offerings change daily but might include made-to-order omelets, egg-and-bacon croissants grilled to order, quiches and French toast. For lunch, you have a choice of lamb chops, burgers, grilled tuna and salmon plus a huge selection of salads, guacamole and chips. The list goes on.

Majestic Colonial has several restaurants serving different cuisines, including a fun hibachi restaurant with a talented chef and a seafood restaurant overlooking the ocean. Pay attention to the dress codes at each restaurant. We were refused service at one since my husband was wearing sandals.

Free waterfront activities at Majestic Colonial were much the same as at the less-expensive Wyndham Fortuna - snorkeling, sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking. If you want to spend a little more, take a boat/snorkeling cruise to a nearby reef, a chance to sightsee all the other resorts and seaside shops along the way.

But it's often the smallest touches that leave an impression, such as a fruit tray and bottle of champagne in the room when you check in. Or answering a knock at the door only to find a server delivering a lovely plate of tea cakes for an afternoon snack - not ordered, just delivered.

This was clearly not a budget experience, but it was not the epitome of a luxury vacation, either. The meat was a little tough in the steakhouse; the shrimp quesadilla in the seafood restaurant was skimpy on the shrimp. Beach towels were the size of a bath towel.

Though Majestic Colonial touts itself as a five-star resort, most online vacation sites give it four stars. And that, I think, is very fair.

' Cost for five-night stay in an oceanfront room (majesticolonialresort.com): $1,420 for two people. Round-trip airport shuttle was $21 per person, paid in advance.

Luxury

' Sandals Emerald Bay, Grand Exuma, Bahamas

It took no more than one day for the familiar adage "You get what you pay for" to become obvious at Sandals Emerald Bay, a five-star resort in the Great Exuma region of the Bahamas.

The minute I walked into our one-bedroom suite - all rooms face the ocean - I noticed the difference between budget, intermediate and luxury. The mini bar, completely free, was stocked with full-size bottles of top-shelf liquors; there were two full baths stocked with three-ounce tubes of lotion, shampoo and conditioner - not the small half-ounce bottles found in most hotels. The king-size bed offered soft, yet firm, support. The towels full-size beach towels. Everything was over the top.

And the food? Gourmet-level is what we found in the three a la carte restaurants as well as the main dining room. Bahama Bay restaurant, where breakfast and lunch are buffet style, and surf-and-turf is on the menu every night.

We enjoyed a plate of lobster tails at Bahama Bay with drawn butter and a glass of wine before proceeding to La Parisienne for an amazing French dinner of escargot followed by rack of lamb. At Il Cielo, where Italy meets the Caribbean, we had the most delicious seafood pasta ever - Risotto al Frutti di Mare. And at Barefoot by the Sea, we kicked off our flip-flops and had great seafood sitting at tables in the sand. Food is nothing short of spectacular at this resort.

' Sample cost for standard room (hotels.com): $2,762 for two people. Round-trip airport shuttle included.