I’ve never been a fan of all-inclusive vacations—and it’s not just because of the eye-watering cost.
Here’s the standard script:
You head to the airport, grab a few drinks in the lounge, and convince yourself the vacation has already started.
You land in Puerto Vallarta, get funneled into a van, and delivered straight to a stunning resort.
You mostly mingle with people from your own country, overeat at the buffet, and optimize drink size so you can tip less.
If you’re lucky, you score one reservation for steak or lobster.
Anything outside the gates costs hundreds of dollars.
Seven days later, you’re back in the van, back at the airport, back home.
And the only thing you really learn about Mexico comes from the resort staff.
Now—to be clear—the resorts are amazing. If your goal is pure relaxation, zero decisions, and floating between pool, bar, and buffet all week, I get it. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But here’s the question I keep coming back to:
What if you did it a little differently?
What if instead of being delivered somewhere, you arrived somewhere?
What if you stayed long enough to learn a neighborhood, find a favorite coffee spot, recognize faces, and build a routine?
What if your days weren’t scheduled—but unfolded?
That’s the difference between vacationing at a place and actually being in it.?
A Different Way to do it!
You still start the same way—airport lounge, a couple of drinks, the usual pre-flight ritual.
Then things change.
You land and grab local transport or an Uber to your Airbnb. No vans. No wristbands. No schedule was handed to you at check-in.
For about $0.50, you take the bus—or spend around $10 on an Uber—downtown. You unpack in one of hundreds of Airbnbs for $50–$75 a night, or well under $1,000 a month if you stay longer.
You eat where locals eat: $2 tacos from street carts, $2 drinks from the OXXO on the corner. Nothing fancy. Nothing curated. Just good, normal food.
Most mornings, you wake up and hop on a bus to explore different areas—letting curiosity, not an itinerary, decide the day.
And if you want the resort experience? Take it in small doses. Buy a $50 day-pass, float in the pool, eat the buffet, enjoy it—then leave. No long-term commitment required.
It’s not anti-resort.
It’s a “pro-choice”.