For those who have yet to experience one, an all-inclusive vacation can seem like a scary concept that limits your holiday choices, but you just need a few tips to start. But such packages are a favorite of the experts. So, if you’re taking your very first all-inclusive vacation and want to know more about traveling this way, listed below are some great and useful tips to ensure that you’re making the most of it.

1. Bundle hotel and air tickets
Even if the all-inclusive vacation deal you’ve been given doesn’t include airfare, bundling a hotel with flights will often result in additional discounts on room costs. However, do check prices for the flights prior to your booking, allowing you to determine whether it saves to book as a package or not.

2. Booking as a group
Booking as a group allows you to save money on all-inclusive vacations. Even if people on the group wish to pay separately, then you can have one person get on the phone with the travel agent, making sure that that person has everyone’s full names, dates of birth, and credit card information.

3. Picking great resorts
One needs to be sure of the resort they pick for their all-inclusive vacation. Research needs to be done about factors such as rooms, entertainment, meals, and activities as well as what’s included as part of the package. Usually, all-inclusive resorts cater to specific groups of travelers; so, if you’re traveling as a couple, then you probably wouldn’t want children in the midst of your romance and relaxation holiday. You can consider booking an adults-only resort. Are you traveling with children who like pools, activity centers, etc.? You can look for resorts that feature not only pools but also play areas and activities catering to children.

4. Picking the right travel time
When you travel in the offseason, some of the drawbacks of all-inclusive vacations can be avoided, such as booked-up restaurants and resorts or crowded pools and attractions and sights. You must try booking in the shoulder months according to the destination. This tip allows you to not only get the best deals for your all-inclusive vacation but also allows you to avoid burning a hole in your pocket.

5. Asking what you specifically want
You don’t be nervous about asking for some specific things that you want or need, irrespective of whether it is extra hot sauce at the buffet, bubble baths, pool entry, or toys for the kids. All-inclusive vacation resorts are committed to providing a truly great experience, so the tip here is that you need to know that it’s okay to ask for things in case you aren’t sure whether they are available.

6. Figuring out the tipping policy
Tipping can be tricky when it comes to all-inclusive vacation resorts, and there isn’t any form of standard practice when it comes to this. If you can’t find any information about the tipping policy of the hotel beforehand, then don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at the front desk.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, befriending the concierge, making dinner reservations beforehand, taking your food to-go and having picnics by the pool or the beach, and indulging in room service are some other tips to indulge in on your all-inclusive vacation.