All inclusive honeymoon packages promise the easiest trip of your life: one payment, then nothing to think about but the next swim and the next meal. For many newlyweds that is exactly right. But “all inclusive” means different things at different resorts, and the package that looks cheapest online is not always the best value once you land.
This guide explains what these packages usually cover, what they leave out, how to compare their prices, which destinations do the format best and how to avoid the most common traps.
What an all-inclusive honeymoon package usually includes
At its core, an all-inclusive rate bundles your room with food and drinks. Most packages cover:
- Accommodation in the room category you book.
- All meals, from buffets to à la carte restaurants, sometimes with reservation limits.
- Drinks, including alcohol, often with a house brand selection and premium spirits in higher tiers.
- Snacks and room service at many mid-range and upscale resorts.
- Non-motorized water sports such as kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear.
- Daily activities and evening entertainment.
- Taxes and, at many resorts, gratuities.
A honeymoon package on top of that typically adds a few romantic touches: a bottle of sparkling wine, a couples’ massage credit, a private dinner or a room upgrade when available. The exact perks vary a lot, so compare them line by line.
What is often not included
This is where budgets get surprised. Read the fine print for each of these:
- Airfare. Resort rates rarely include flights. Packages sold by tour operators and online agencies often bundle them, which can save money, but check the flight times and airline before you commit.
- Airport transfers. Some resorts include them, others charge per person each way.
- Spa treatments. Beyond any honeymoon credit, spa services are almost always extra.
- Excursions. Catamaran trips, ruins tours and scuba dives are usually booked separately.
- Premium dining and drinks. Chef’s table dinners, wine lists above the house selection and top-shelf spirits can carry surcharges.
- Motorized water sports and golf. Jet skis, parasailing and green fees are normally extra.
- Wi-Fi and resort fees at some properties.
How much do all inclusive honeymoon packages cost?
Prices cover a very wide range, depending on destination, resort tier, room category, trip length and season. Rates also move from year to year, so treat any price you read online, including older comparisons, as a rough indication and check live rates for your own dates.
Cancún is a useful benchmark because it has resorts at every level. What changes from one tier to the next is less the idea of “everything included” than the quality and variety of what is included:
| Resort tier | What you usually get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Buffet-focused dining, house drinks, busier pools | Couples who mostly want sun and a fixed budget |
| Mid-range | Mix of buffet and à la carte, better rooms and beaches | Most honeymooners looking for value |
| Luxury | Premium beachfront, gourmet dining, butler service in some suites | Couples who want the trip of a lifetime |
To compare fairly, ask for the total price for your exact dates and room, with taxes, gratuities and transfers included, and divide it by the number of nights. Remote island destinations such as the Maldives or Bora Bora usually sit well above Mexico and the Caribbean.
Common traps to avoid
Comparing packages that are not the same
A lower nightly rate can hide a resort with fewer restaurants, reservation limits, extra charges for premium drinks or a long transfer from the airport. Compare the full list of inclusions, not just the headline price.
Booking the cheapest room category
Entry-level rooms at some resorts face the parking lot or sit far from the beach. On a honeymoon, a modest upgrade to an ocean view or a room with a plunge pool often makes a bigger difference than any perk.
Ignoring the season
Caribbean prices drop in the late summer and fall, and September and October are among the cheapest months. That is also the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks between mid-August and mid-October. If you book then, buy travel insurance and read the cancellation policy.
Assuming “adults-only” means “couples-only”
Many resorts are adults-only, which keeps things quiet, but they still welcome groups of friends. Some well-known adults-only chains are not couples-only, while a few resorts, notably in Jamaica, are strictly for couples. If that matters to you, check the policy before booking.
Missing the honeymoon perks
Tell the resort or agent you are honeymooning when you book, and check whether perks require you to travel within a certain time after the wedding or to show proof of marriage.
Packages with airfare or resort-only?
All inclusive honeymoon packages including airfare are convenient and can be cheaper when an operator has negotiated bulk rates. Booking the resort and flights separately gives you more control: you can use airline miles, pick better flight times and change one part without canceling the other. A simple approach is to price both ways for the same dates and compare the total, including transfers.
Best all-inclusive honeymoon destinations
Some places are simply built for this format. They have many adults-only resorts, short flights from the US and plenty of choice at every price.
- Mexico (Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos): the widest choice and many direct flights from US cities. Several adults-only all-inclusive chains are well represented.
- Dominican Republic (Punta Cana): long beaches and competitive prices, with a good choice of adults-only options.
- Jamaica: the traditional home of the couples-only resort, with properties around Ocho Rios, Negril and Montego Bay.
- St. Lucia: dramatic scenery around the Pitons and a strong romance-focused resort scene.
- Aruba: outside the main hurricane belt, which makes it a safer choice in the fall.
- Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas: famous beaches, generally at higher prices.
The Caribbean is where this style of trip is most developed, and the big adults-only chains have properties on many of its islands. If you are still weighing whether all-inclusive is the right format at all, our guide to the best honeymoon destinations compares beach, city, adventure and budget options side by side.
What about all-inclusive honeymoons in the USA?
True all-inclusive resorts are rare in the continental United States, where most hotels charge meals separately. Couples who want the format without a passport often look at Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands: US citizens flying there from the mainland do not need a passport, only a REAL ID-compliant ID for the flight. Selection is smaller than in Mexico or the Caribbean islands, so compare options carefully.
Elopement plus honeymoon packages
Many Caribbean and Mexican resorts sell wedding and elopement packages that can be combined with your stay. It is a practical way to marry and honeymoon in one trip. Check the legal requirements of the country well in advance, as paperwork and waiting periods differ, and some couples choose a civil ceremony at home before the trip to keep things simple.
All inclusive honeymoon packages FAQ
Are all inclusive honeymoon packages worth it?
They are worth it if you plan to eat and drink mostly at the resort and want a predictable budget. If you would rather explore local restaurants every night, a room-only booking can be better value.
Do all-inclusive packages include flights?
Resort rates usually do not. Packages sold by tour operators and online agencies often bundle flights and sometimes transfers. Always confirm what is included before paying.
When is the cheapest time to book an all-inclusive honeymoon?
In the Caribbean, late summer and fall are usually cheapest, with September and October at the bottom. That period overlaps with hurricane season, so travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Can we get an all-inclusive honeymoon without a passport?
Yes, in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, where US citizens flying from the mainland do not need a passport. The choice of all-inclusive resorts there is more limited.
