​As my local school system is heading into our Spring Break week (WHOO hoo), I thought this might be a good time address the topic I have been avoiding, the all-inclusive resort. The appeal of an all-inclusive resort vacation is understandable - a beautiful, sunny, and warm location with beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters with everything you could want in your vacation - food, lodging, drinks, activities, entertainment, kids and teens clubs, etc.. all included in an upfront cost. 

So… what is the problem?

By nature, an All-inclusive resort lures guests in with one price, discouraging guests from engaging in the local community (providing few-to-no opportunities for the tourist money to go directly into the local economy). Since most all-inclusive resorts are foreign-owned, the problems extend beyond.

• Local workers are sometimes exploited for cheap and menial labor barely earning liveable wages, while the best paid positions with the potential for job growth are often filled by expatriates. 
• The local biodiversity is often not considered in the construction of the resort. 
• The local infrastructure (specifically, water and waste removal) may not be able to handle the resort’s output. The local community may not have the resources that the resort requires, and the community, in turn, suffers. 
• Beaches are sometimes reserved for tourists only.
• The food caters to tourists’ pallets, often sourced outside of the community (and often shipped from another country). 
• Most egregious, some all-inclusive even promote themselves as “good” with tours to local schools and/or orphanages while children are in attendance disrupting the education and daily lives of the most vulnerable.  

Is every All-Inclusive Resort equally bad? No. I wrote about Xcaret (click to be directed to that blog post) in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico several weeks ago as a possible exception in some respects. Of course, nothing is perfect, but as the awareness of the potential pitfalls of the all-inclusive market has become common knowledge, other resorts are also trying make strides in making their offerings more responsible to their home communities.  As a consumer who would like to make the conscious effort to travel responsibly, consider the following before booking that all-inclusive vacation:

• Who owns the accommodations? What is the origin of the ownership? (To what country are the profits going?). Best option would be a locally owned property.
• How is the local community involved in their presence, and does the resort contribute to that community by helping with local infrastructure, etc..(Water availability, waste removal, sewage, etc..)? 
• Does this resort provide jobs with career growth potential to residents of the local community?  ..beyond menial labor. 
• Does the resort contract with local tour providers and encourage guests to visit local establishments?
• Do they source locally for food, service, and goods?
• Do they invite local artisans and service providers on property? 
• Have they worked with experts to consider the unique biodiversity of the region in architecture and landscaping? (Resorts that take this seriously advertise this fact and often gain various accreditations.)

​Did you find this helpful? Have you experienced any all-inclusive resorts that you think may be an exception?

While lounging at a local beach in Costa Maya, a vendor walked by offering a massage to a tourist  sitting an audible distance from us. I couldn’t see the card she presented  with the pricing to know any of the details of her offerings, but the man indignantly responded with outrage at the audacity of her asking such a price claiming that he could get a cheaper massage back at home. He was very rude in both his tone and demeanor. I’m proud to say that my teenage son, who was also present to witness this exchange, shot me a look to express his disgust in this man’s response. After the tense exchange, the woman sheepishly walked away, and this man meandered over to my son and me. 

He grumbled, “Can you believe these people? They just keep trying to swindle us.” 

I don’t think as quickly on my feet as I’d like to during instances such as these, so feeling dumbstruck, I half smiled hoping to portray disinterest in whatever he wanted to express. 

He continued, “We usually book a resort in the hotel zone. It’s nice over there.”  

For those who don’t know, the hotel zone of Cancun is comprised of mostly foreign-owned, all-inclusive resorts with very limited (if any) exposure to Mexico and the cultre. 

I don’t remember what happened after this, but of course, this encounter developed into a very meaningful conversation with my kids about our role as global citizens.
What does it mean to travel? 
What do we want to gain from traveling?
How do we best respect the people and places we visit? 
How can we travel for good? 

According to the Center for International Development, “10.4% of the world’s GDP and 7% of the world’s total exports come from tourism,” an industry worth 1.1 trillion USD.  If there is anything that we - as citizens of the good ole USA - know too well, is that the “bottom line” is priority number one, above the well-being of people and places. It’s true that our world needs tourism. We learned this when tourism came to a screeching halt in 2020. We need to make sure that our travel is for good. 

I’m a little over 3 years into delving headfirst into responsible / ethical / conscientious travel, and I’ve learned that, true, some people simply don’t care. I have been told this by some potential clients that they “don’t care about that” when I have attempted to explain the negative impact of some types of tourism. BUT most people do not know, and they don’t understand what truly unique and authentic experiences that are available for the traveler at heart. This is how my passion has developed - to help people who do care and have an adventurous spirit find authentic and unique experiences. 

Anyway... I found this infographic interesting. Not to put labels out there, but there really are different vacation goals and mindsets. 

What do you think?

Are you a tourist or a traveler? 

From an African safari to an adventure around the Galápagos Islands to an expedition into a colder regions, wildlife and adventure travel take adventurers all over the globe into a variety of climates and landscapes. When I first started brainstorming the types of travel I would write about this year, I placed wildlife and adventure travel into different categories, but I found too much overlap. The fact of the matter is that wildlife travel requires a certain level of an adventurous spirit, and adventure travel almost always includes a wildlife component. Most importantly, both foster an appreciation for the natural environment of a destination.

Wildlife & Adventure Travel includes a vast array of activity paces that range from easy (ex. light nature walks on fairly easy to manipulate terrain) to strenuous (ex. hardcore trekking that require long hours, rough terrain, and physical feats), and travel styles that range from super luxurious amenities to the most basic, no frills of accommodations. There is something for everyone. 

A few examples of Wildlife & Adventure Travel may look as follows:

• African Safari
• Galapagos Wildlife Adventure (by land or sea)
• Expedition cruising - Alaska, Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, Antarctica, etc..
• Costa Rica Eco Adventures (hiking, zipping, whitewater rafting, etc..)
• Back road bicycle tours and trekking tours (all over the globe)
• Scuba, snorkeling, surfing, etc... trips

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When done right, wildlife and adventure travel can be some of the most beneficial use of our tourist dollars as it relates to conservation efforts as well as social and economic equality in visited destinations. The signs for traveling responsibly with this type of travel are pretty clear. The adventure should have a clear educational component highlighting local culture, social empowerment, and wildlife conservation efforts, and all aspects of the tour should be in partnership with the local communities. 

The IRDNC illustrates a perfect example of an organization that has worked with local indigenous communities in remote regions of Nambia to successfully assist in conservation efforts. 

UnCruise Adventures:  The concept of UnCruise Adventures began in 1996 when American Safari Cruises was established and pioneered yacht cruising in Alaska by offering upscale, active cruises aboard small yachts. In 2008, American Safari Cruises gained a new parent company  and after a significant fleet expansion, the company changed its name to UnCruise Adventures in January 2013.

Company Mission: To provide our guests an enriching adventure travel experience and inspire an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world.

We understand that ecosystems are fragile yet important environments. And we know first-hand the impact our adventures have on sustaining local communities. One of the key components of our company’s mission statement is to actively promote environmental protection through education, actions, and initiatives that promote responsible travel.

From the young to the young-at-heart, and hailing from many different places and walks of life, our guests share unique points-of-view and experiences on board. They find commonalities and create lifelong friends.

Alaskan Dream Cruises: The Allen family has been showcasing Alaska for nearly 50 years. Today, three generations are involved in company ownership and operations. 

Company Mission: ​We rely on Alaska’s pristine oceans and rainforests. As an Alaska Native-owned company, and as small ship experts, we are committed to environmental sustainability and supporting local economies. With a history of responsible consumption and waste reduction, we’re proud to announce a full solar panel array on our newest ship, the Kruzof Explorer.

Shoreside  and aboard we’re removing single-use plastics, purchasing environmentally conscious towels and linens, and focusing on governance of our fleet’s carbon footprint.

We recognize our corporate social and environmental responsibility goes beyond awareness and education. Our initiatives focus on implementation and innovation. In this way, we will continue to share our appreciation and respect for Alaska’s grandeur with our guests.