Cancun/Riviera Maya, Mexico: $3,188An additional way to save money is to avoid shops and vendors along the beach. Instead, head to the downtown areas where great shops and local flavor offer much more reasonable prices.
Fall is the best season for an all-inclusive vacation, when rooms are often significantly cheaper. Off-site activities, usually limited to a certain number of people, also tend to fill up fast during the high seasons.
Don't Hesitate To NegotiateIf you're booking directly with the resort, don't be afraid to negotiate, said Jane Jones of See Sight Tours. Ask if they have any promotions or discounts available, or if they can offer you a better rate. You may be surprised at what you can save just by asking.
Is it rude not to tip at all-inclusive resorts? While tipping is allowed at some resorts, it is optional, so you won't have to worry about staff pressuring you to do so.
All-inclusive resorts are great choices for family trips, especially if you have multiple children. Since all meals are included (and these resorts often have buffet-style restaurants), your children can eat as much as they want and you won't have to worry about the cost.
Often when you buy an all-inclusive package, your airfare is much cheaper than if you were to book air & hotel separately. These types of packages also include airport transfers which can get expensive on their own.
Cheapest Day to Book Hotel ReservationsMost travel agencies agree that the cheapest days to book hotels are Fridays and Saturdays. While these are the most expensive days for actually checking in and out, the best hotel rates are on the days when most people are traveling.
Best Time to Visit Cancun for Lower PricesIf you don't mind dealing with the humidity and catching some residual wet weather as a result of hurricane season, the cheapest times to visit Cancun are just after spring break (from May to June) and in the fall (from September to October).
Past travelers have spent, on average, M$477 ($28) on meals for one day and M$296 ($17) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Cancun for a couple is M$3,261 ($191). So, a trip to Cancun for two people for one week costs on average M$34,563 ($2,024).
Typically, all-inclusive resorts are priced per person. Upon arrival, you'll often get a wristband indicating you're an all-inclusive guest (although some resorts may not do this). After that, you're free to dine and drink at most establishments on the resort property.
All-inclusive vacations are often a great way to ensure a last-minute bargain, especially if you are traveling with kids. For starters, if an all-inclusive resort isn't full, you might find that they are offering brilliant last-minute deals to entice travelers in to fill up empty rooms.
“Many all-inclusive resorts make their money on expensive excursions that guests book on the spot, so research which activities are included or if you can pay a supplement to have activities included,” says Hoenig.
Besides accommodation, you can expect food, drinks, activities, and entertainment to be included, without having to pay extra for it. A true all-inclusive vacation should never come with surprise costs and makes it possible to have a worry-free vacation, without having to run a tab.
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
“It is not customary to tip at a continental breakfast that is served buffet-style,” Bergen says. “It is customary and appreciated to tip during breakfast when there is a server who takes your order or serves coffee and juice.”