It is time to take a vacation. You want to go to an all-inclusive resort. I have been to 10 all-inclusive resorts, taken a couple of cruises in the Caribbean and Central America. I have been to 30 countries and lived in four different countries.  I have traveled on business and stayed in some of the best hotels in Europe, the US, and Dubai. I love food, people, and culture and have an undergrad in hotel management from Switzerland. This is a practical guide on how to enjoy your vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Trust me if you follow these tricks your experience will be better at an all-inclusive.

Set a budget 

An all-inclusive can cost $ 600 a week all the way to $ 6,000 a week. Start saving a year in advance. You do not want to go on vacation stressing about how you will pay the bills. It is wise to include a taxi back and forth to the airport from your home or parking, tips and excursions. I recommend going during the low season. Avoid March break, Christmas, and New Year. Also, sometimes it is cheaper to fly during the week than at the weekend.

Choose an all-inclusive resort that meets your needs

If you are going as a family, choose a family resort. If you want peace, quiet, and romance then go to an adult resort. If you want restaurants, a marina, discos, and clubs then choose one that is in the downtown area. Remember if your resort is next to the airport, get used to planes taking off and landing and the noise. If you have mobility issues then choose a resort that has elevators and not constructed on a mountain.

Know what is included in an all-inclusive

It is important to know what is included. Make sure that baggage, transport from the airport to the hotel, tips, room service, mini bar, Wi-Fi and other services are included. Premium drinks, excursions, taxis, spa services, laundry, and long-distance phone calls are not included.

Eat yogurt

Two weeks before you head on your vacation, start eating yogurt. Yogurt increases the good bacteria in your intestines and will fight the bacteria that can lead to diarrhea at an all-inclusive.

Check flight times

If you are going for a week and you have an evening flight. You will get to the resort late in the evening or the night and you lose a whole day. I recommend taking an early morning flight. This way you are on the beach by noon.

Check the distance from the airport

I personally prefer a morning flight and a resort within a hrs distance from the airport. If you take a 6.30 am flights you arrive around 10 am. Once you pass customs, you can be at the resort latest by noon.

Sunscreen, tanning and mosquito spray

Make sure you carry the appropriate sunscreen, tanning, and mosquito spray with you. These are very expensive at the resort.

Sunglasses and a hat

If you do not want to get a headache and avoid getting sunburned then bring a pair of sunglasses and a hat.

Research the resort

Look at the map of the resort. This will give you an idea of where your room is located and how close you are to the beach, restaurant, pool, bars, amenities, and activities. On Google Maps find out the attractions, shopping centers, and nearby towns if you want to leave the resort. Also, look into public transportation and hospitals nearby.

Know the weather conditions

Look at the weather channel and it will give you one week and two weeks forecast. It is vital to know the weather, temperature, climate and any other conditions that will impact your vacation. Do not go during hurricane season.

Book your vacation

Now that you have money saved up and done your research book your vacation. Make sure you have your passport and visa if necessary.

Check with your family doctor

Call your doctor and see if you need to take any vaccinations for the country you are visiting. Carry Imodium, Pepto-Bismol and an after bite with you. All three are over the counter medications.

Exchange money

If you are in Canada and heading to Mexico, ask your local bank for Pesos. You will get the best rate. At your hotel, you will get 10% less.

Get to the airport

I recommend taking a taxi or limousine. The parking at the airport is expensive. If you stay at a hotel, make sure the buses come regularly. In a snowstorm, you can be stuck for a couple of hours.

At the airports

Enjoy your flight. As you land at the airport and pass customs walk straight through the timeshare sharks and head outside. Your representative will meet you there and take you straight to the air-conditioned bus and even offer you a beer.

Put all valuables in the safe

You are now at the resort and in the room. Unpack and put everything in place. Before you head to the pool or beach, put your passport, jewelry, cash and any other valuables in the safe.

Traveling with children

Find out about the kids’ club, the age limit, hours of operation, activities and tell them about any allergies. Also, ask if daycare is available after the kids’ club closes.

Take a tour

Walk around the resort. See the distance between your room and all the amenities.

Clothes

Dress appropriately for the pool, beach, lobby, restaurants, and clubs. The beach club might allow you to eat in your bikini. It is definitely a big no in the restaurant.

Restaurants

The resort will have at least 4 to 6 restaurants and about 6 to 10 bars. Ask the concierge about the types of restaurants, the names, what time they open and close and if reservations are required. Also, find out if they cater to any allergies.

Bring your own mug, insulated cup or flask

The drinks outside the fine dining restaurants will always be served in throwaway or plastic cups. If you prefer to drink coffee or your cocktail in your own cup or glass then bring it along.

Meet your representative

Your tour representative would want to meet you the next day. I strongly recommend that you see him/her. They are locals and will tell you everything about the resort and the tours. They can also help you in case of emergencies. The representative will also give you a return voucher which you give to the taxi or bus that will pick you to take you back to the airport.

Take it easy the first day

This is very important. I have seen many people get sick. It is not the fault of the resort. Remember you are in a new country. Brush your teeth with bottled water. On the first day, do not expose yourself to more than one hour of the sun. If you spend 8 hrs in the sun, have 8 Coronas, a couple of Mojitos and then a couple of drinks after you have overstuffed yourself with food. Guess what? You have shocked your body. The shock will suppress your immune system. You will get sick. Also, if you step outside the resort, drink only bottled water and eat at a well-established restaurant. Do not eat from any road hawker.

Do not lose your room key, wrist band or towels

Keep your room key with you always. If you lose your keys, you have to go back to reception, stand in line, explain the situation, answer any questions and then security might escort you back to the room. Do not lose the room keys. You will get a card for a towel. Do not lose this card. You will have to pay at least $20 per towel. You will get a wrist band during your stay at the resort. Do not lose it or cut it until you leave the resort.

Get in the mood

You are now finally here. Relax, take it easy and do that embraces this pace and flow. Be grateful and enjoy.

Forget the Wi-Fi and the internet

Wi-Fi has been around a short time. The internet has been around for the last quarter-century. Cell phones do not enhance your vacation. Take pictures for sure. But do not get worked up if the Wi-Fi strength is not strong or the internet is down. You do not have to check your social media feed every hour or your emails. Forget about checking with the office. Focus on yourself and your friends and family.

Do not schedule every minute

Do not bring your day timer and plan every minute of your vacation. It will ruin it for you and your family. Go with the flow and enjoy talking to the other guests and employees.

Food

After I have visited an all-inclusive and read the reviews, I wonder if we were at the same resort. I am going to spend some more time here. Every resort I have visited, I have checked the kitchen. They are run by professional chefs with professional standards on safety, hygiene, and cleanliness.

I am going to lay down a couple of ground rules. If you are leaving from Canada, the UK or the US, the bacteria and microbes are different in the meat, fish, poultry, and vegetables. If you eat a steak rare or a salmon at medium, you should always eat your meat and fish well done. The bacteria are killed and chances of you getting sick are slim.

Before you enter the restaurant, use hand sanitizer. Drink bottled water only. Find out what oil is used. If you have eaten food cooked with sunflower oil and you eat everything cooked in coconut oil, your body is not used to it.

Most of the buffets have chefs making tacos, crepes, omelets, pasta, fish, steaks and tacos. Eat fresh off the grill.

Try different a la carte restaurants. Try various buffet restaurants. Try various local dishes.

Take it easy with the alcohol in the restaurants.

Activities

An all-inclusive will have activities from 9 am to 2 am. A family resort will have a playground, games room, mini-golf, and a waterpark. The adult resorts will focus on dance lessons, massage, tasting wine and everything romantic. In general, expect aerobics and stretching in the pool, games, volleyball, soccer, yoga, Spanish lessons, cooking lessons, guessing the alcohol in a cocktail, ping pong tournament, archery tournament, dart tournament, bingo, history questions to be some of the activities. My personal favorites are volleyball in the pool and ping pong.

On the beach snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, parasailing, and gliding are some of the activities. Try them all.

Do not expect everything to be like home

I would strongly recommend learning a few words in Spanish and French. Always have Google translate with you. Embrace the new culture, food, and entertainment. Do not freak out if you see a lizard, fly, dragonfly or mosquito in your room.

Go outside the resort

One of the things I strongly recommend is taking an authentic tour to see historical sites, villages or a small town. It will open your mind and hearts as to how other people live. Go visit a local bakery, school, local market and you will notice things are done differently. Invest in sustainable, ethical tourism.

Ask questions

Talk to a concierge or someone at reception if you have a question. They are more than willing to help you.

Do not compare resorts

When you go on a tour or for a walk on the beach, you will meet fellow Canadian, American and from British tourists. Never compare your resort to the other. Always remember what you paid for your vacation.

On a rainy day

The first thing to do is not to freak out. Sleep in. Go to the spa. Exercise at the gym. Go shopping. Take a tour of the city. Spend the day at the sports bar. Watch soccer, play some pool or cards. This is your day. Do not let any rain spoil your day.

Tips

In the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, the staff depends on tips. This is my recommendation. For one week at an all-inclusive, a couple or a family of 3 should budget $200.

The driver who drives you to the resort and back to the airport: $5

Bag attendant: $2 per bag

Housekeeper: $15 a week

Minibar service: $2

Buffet waiter: $5

A la carte waiter: $10

Buffet chef: $5

Bartender: $2

Concierge: $5

One or two members of entertainment: $15

Tour guide: $10

Tip your bartender, waiter at the buffet and the omelet chef the first day and miracles will happen.

Finally, enjoy your vacation. Something will always go wrong. The staff at the resort are humans. They work long hours in extreme heat and on their feet. Treat them with love and respect and you will be surprised.

Photo Credits: Ana Acosta Sharon McCutcheon Karly Gomez Leio McLaren Belinda Fewings yue su Chelsea Gates STIL  Gary Tou twinsfisch David Boca Michelle Spollen

The post Discover 34 tricks to enjoy an all-inclusive resort appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa is a lavish, all-inclusive resort occupying a flourishing swatch of the manicured jungle with an enticing private beach, about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta. The 420 rooms have jetted tubs and furnished terraces and the master suites have outdoor whirlpools. The beach resort has activities from morning till night for singles, couples, and families to enjoy.

Before you read my review, I strongly recommend that you read my article on how to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation.

My review of this resort will be broken into the following sections:

Introduction

How to enjoy the food at this resort

The Chef’s table

Have a romantic day at the Palladium

Take in all the activities

Do a tour

Ali and Danilo will keep you fit and active from 10 am to 5 pm at the pool.

The activities on land include archery, basketball, dance lessons, fitness center, nature walk, paddle court, ping-pong, pool tables, soccer, Spanish lessons, tennis and volleyball. The multiple pool and waterslides are where all the activities take place.

The sports bar has a couple of pool tables and also a wide selection of sports t-shirts.

The kids will love spending time at each club designed for babies, little kids and even teens! There’s a playground and swings for little kids and video games and movies for the teens.

The water activities include aquafitness, catamaran, deep-sea fishing, fishing, kayaking, non-motorized water sports, paddleboard, snorkeling, surfing, and waterpolo.

At the pool, there is always a hawk to keep the birds away.

On the beach, there are many parties, BBQs under the watchful eyes of management.

The shows at nighttime include Viva Mexico, Time Machine,  Pirate Show, Magic Box, Time Machine, La Vie Burlesque, Rock Forever, White Party and I’d Do Anything.

If you still are not interested in doing anything you can lie by the beach or the pool or find an amazing hammock and relax.

The Palladium Hotel is committed to sound social and environmental policy. The resort was built to be 87% environmentally friendly. They have a marine tortoise protection program. In the last couple of years, water consumption has been reduced by 40% and energy consumption by 30%. They buy ethical and separate solid waste. They participate in park reforestation, beach cleaning and donate to communities. They participate in Planet Hour and work with several NGO’s.

Photo Credit: Ana Acosta

The post Palladium Vallarta: Activities appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa is a superb destination for friends, couples and families to enjoy some time off. The resort has two buffets, four specialty restaurants and seven bars. Hemingway is an adult’s only bar after 6 pm. The four a la carte restaurants serve up delectable and appetizing cuisine. Viva Mexico serves authentic Mexican food, El Dorado has steaks and ribs, Portofino delivers  Mediterranean fare and Bambu takes over your palette with Asian cuisine.

Before you read my review, I strongly recommend that you read my article on how to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation.

My review of this resort will be broken into the following sections:

Introduction

How to enjoy the food at this resort

The Chef’s table

Have a romantic day at the Palladium

Take in all the activities

Do a tour

In this section, I will guide you as to how to enjoy a week here with well-prepared, pleasant food.

Palladium is aware and sensitive to the fact that we are eating away from home and it can be challenging and concerning for those with food allergies and a special diet. Palladium has a Palladium Dietary Card program. Please contact the front desk or guest services. You will be given a card that can be carried along to the different restaurants around the resort. When you show the card at various restaurants around the resort, the host will give you the required assistance.

Day 1 Breakfast

El Bosque   Breakfast 07:00 – 10:30 Hrs. Lunch 12:30 – 15:00 Hrs. Dinner 18:00 – 22:00 Hrs

This is your first day at the resort. Take your time and walk to El Bosque. After you are seated, start with a glass of fresh orange, papaya, guava, tamarind or beetroot juice. The waiter will also bring you a pot of tea or coffee.

Help yourself to a nice fruit salad.

Have a bircher muesli, different cold cuts or a whole assortment of pieces of bread.

The highlight of my morning was being greeted daily by Nancy and Daniella. They are the most outstanding employees at Palladium. Always a smile, always friendly, they know you by name and your room number. The epitome of service.

After a nice breakfast, collect your beach towel and head to the beach or the pool.

Day 1 Lunch

Las Terrazas 11:00 – 16:30 Hrs

The Terrazas is just across the pool. You will find a variety of juices, snacks, sandwiches, tacos, salads, and desserts.

Day 1 Dinner

Viva Mexico Restaurant

Hey, you are in Mexico. Start by having dinner at the a la carte restaurant Viva Mexico. You can sit inside or outside.

If you sit outside you are facing the Pacific, the San Madre Mountains and can hear the waves. The setting is gorgeous.

The menu is decent with lots of variety and the guacamole is made in front of you. You have a variety of wines and Tequila to choose from. You can get steak, fish, and seafood and every dish is delicious and tasty.

The dinner was delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful.  Elias and Marcos provide professional service and have a sense of humor.

It is 10 pm and now it is time to head to one of the many bars at the resort. The Sports Bar is the center of where everything happens. The theatre is in the front, the disco is on top, the sports cafe is next to it and you are at the center of attraction.

Every kind of liquor is available here and most beers on tap and bottle.

Russell was the outstanding barman.

Day 2 Breakfast

The Mexican food, atmosphere, water, and everything else is in your blood. It is time to have breakfast. You have already been to El Bosque. How about you start your day with a Mimosa? Go ahead. You are on holiday or try a Ceasar.

Go ahead to the bread and danish pastries buffet. Make it your goal to try different slices of bread and pastries daily.

At El Bosque, you have various stations. There is a station where the chef is making different kinds of eggs, pasta, slices of bread, steaks, fish, and Mexican food.

Day 2 Lunch

Once a week, Chef Esau and his team go fishing and the guests get to see the fish headed, gutted, dressed and steaks made. It was amazing to see Mahi Mahi brought from the Pacific and to eat it fresh. It is grilled in chili oil or garlic oil.

The fish is served with rice and a whole range of different salads.

Day 2 Dinner

On the second evening, have steaks and ribs at El Dorado. The steaks are done on a charcoal grill and are delicious.

After dinner head to the adult section, next to the Mexican restaurant, and have a drink there at the infinity pool is open till midnight.

Day 3 Breakfast

There is a whole section at the El Bosque where the Chef makes eggs. Have an omelet, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, or a Mexican-style Mango salad. Then choose from a variety of baguettes and taste the many kinds of cheese that are available.

Day 3 Lunch

For lunch try everything Japanese at El Bosque. I would start with the makizushi and Nigiri.

The cold yakitori is simply delicious.

Finish with tempura and edamame.

Day 3 Dinner

Portofino has a Mediterranean flair and you cannot go wrong with the carpaccio, the various wood oven pizzas, and the grouper.

After dinner, go for a walk on the beach, listen to a live performance, go for a show or head to the disco.

Day 4 Breakfast

How about a day of romance? Order room service for breakfast, head to the spa and have a light lunch and then head to the chef’s table.

Another suggestion I have is to have a Mexican breakfast at El Bosque. The pan dulce here is to die for. I ate three daily. The chilaquiles, migas, huevos rancheros, moletes, tamales, pozole, breakfast torta, breakfast enchiladas, breakfast quesadillas, breakfast tacos, and breakfast burritos are amazing. I would recommend having a michelada with breakfast.

Chef Jose is the ultimate example of someone who is always smiling, goes out of his way to say hello, comes to your table to serve, makes your food, and is outstanding.

Day 4 Lunch

Head to the sports bar. Watch a soccer game, play Xbox, play pool, play foosball, cards and have your selection of nachos, chips, hot dogs and hamburgers.

Day 4 Dinner

It is time to try Asian food at the Bamboo. Go ahead and enjoy soups, salads, Japanese inspired cuisine. After dinner head to one of the bars and then head to the disco.

Day 5 Breakfast

The Hemingway Bar is the best-kept secret at the resort. It took me a couple of days to find it and I thought it was for members only. From 9 am to 6 pm onwards it acts as a cafe with the best croissants, Danish and sandwiches. Betty serves up the best cappuccinos I have ever had. You can play cards, backgammon, chess, checkers and many other board games. A real classy place.

Day 5 Lunch

Today is a roast beef day with salad and potatoes. Head to El Bosque for that.

Dinner Day 5

Try some of the different grilled salads and have the chef at the station make you a grilled steak and a grilled fish.

Breakfast Day 6

Get up and go to the Infiniti pool. Ask Elizabeth to get you breakfast.  Elizabeth is the best waitress at the resort. It takes her 2 hrs to get to work. She is on her feet for 8 hrs a day. She is always smiling.

Lunch Day 6

Spend the whole day at the infinity pool. Just walk down to the beach and have a BBQ, Enjoy various burgers, salads, hot dogs and a variety of tacos.

Dinner Day 6

Let us make it fish teriyaki and an assortment of salads at El Bosque.

Day 7 Breakfast

Go ahead it is your last day. Try yogurt, corn flakes, bananas, french toast or an egg on a tortilla.

Day 7 Lunch

Head to the pasta section and have the chef make you fresh focaccia and fresh pasta with seafood.

Day 7 Dinner

Try the chef’s table.

Desserts

The selection of desserts at the buffet and the a la carte restaurants is huge. I am going to include some samplings here and you decide what you want to try.

I have given you a variety of food that is available at the Palladium. There is more. Enjoy and treat your service staff well.

The post Palladium Vallarta – The Food appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa is a lavish, all-inclusive resort occupying a flourishing swatch of the manicured jungle with an enticing private beach, about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta. The 420 rooms have jetted tubs and furnished terraces, and the master suites have outdoor whirlpools.

Before you read my review, I strongly recommend that you read my article on how to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation.

My review of this resort will be broken into the following sections:

Introduction

How to enjoy the food at this resort

The Chef’s table

Have a romantic day at the Palladium

Take in all the activities

Do a tour

Alejandra Sanchez Mendoza invites me to Chef’s Table, which takes place every Friday night at the Palladium Vallarta.

I plan the perfect romantic day with my wife. We order room service for breakfast. Later we go for a massage at the Zentropia Spa. We go for a walk down Love Street and head to Chef’s Table. Executive Chef Isau Zepeda and his team are waiting for us.

I am on a cliff, seeing the beautiful Pacific Ocean with the San Madre Mountains as the backdrop. The waves are hitting the rocks and the guitarist is strumming a romantic tune.

Christian the Master Sommelier and Mixologist greets me with a cocktail he has just made. I am not a big fan of cocktails. He offers me the Diosa del Mar. It means the God of the seas. I take a sip and I am impressed. The reposado tequila along with a hint of liquor 43 goes perfect with the puree of guava and berries and just the right amount of basil and sparkling wine.

Chef Isau has written the menu in the form of a score with the notes that are played by each different ingredient. Christian has set the perfect note with this cocktail.

The table is set with white linen and I feel like I am in heaven.

The professional waiter brings some warm bread and butter.

The first course is the Arugula Salad with Apple.    It is marinated with oregano on top of an emulsion of goat cheese with chipotle and caramelized walnut cilantro perfume. Christian serves the Casa Madero V Rosado Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Parras Coahuila. Apple with Arugula is a marriage made in heaven. The caramelized walnut is like the perfect honeymoon.

The rose just goes perfect with the salad.

The deep salmon color rose shows on the nose and the notes of rhubarb and the dry finish go perfectly with the salad.

The next dish is the Lobster Cream with Crispy Dried Chili. Christian serves it with the Casa Madero Chardonnay, Valle de Parras Coahuila.

To me, nothing is more luxurious as well as comforting and delicious as a silky gorgeous bowl of lobster bisque. Chef Esau has pulled all the classic techniques to make this amazing soup.

The soup is light and stimulates my palate and the white wine is the perfect complement.

The Jamaican Sorbet with Mezcal and a touch of Tajin is the perfect palate cleanser. The mix of dried and ground red chilies, sea salt and dehydrated lime juice mix give the sorbet the right amount of seasoning.

The main course is the Surf and Turf  Beef fillet stuffed with flower and lobster with mashed Castilla pumpkin and a bed of mole of almonds with a caramelized coffee.

Will Christian decant the red wine? Yes, he does.  The master takes the bottle and pours it in the glass decanter and lets it breathe.

The best surf and turf I have ever eaten. The lobster is seasoned with tequila and it shows. A piece of art. The Casa Madero 3V, Valle de Parras, Coahuila is smooth.

For dessert, we get the Corn delight with vanilla ice cream guajillo chile sauce and red berries.

I am expecting a dessert wine, a sherry something sweet to drink. Christian shocks me and gives me a Gavilan Reyes. Mon Dieu. He has broken the cardinal rule. The Mezcal Negra, anchos Reyes liquor, lime, grapefruit, and salt comes as a shock to me. However, I try it and it is the ying-yang of food. Bravo, Bravo.

The Chef’s Table has pizzaz, swagger, bold flavors, outside the box thinking with the perfect ambiance to end an amazing romantic day. When I go out for dinner, I want my thinking challenged, I want to be surprised and shocked at the same time, I want the umami delivered, I want something unique and different and I want the meal made from scratch, sourced ethically, using sustainable methods and have a unique setting. Chef Isau delivered on all points.

For 40 U$  per person, this is the best meal I have ever had.

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