9 All-Inclusive Resorts That Aren't Worth Your Money, According To Travelers

If traveling is the ultimate leisure experience, then planning a trip is nothing but hard work. Sure, it might be cool to learn about a new destination, but booking flights, researching hotels, and scheduling activities can be time-consuming. Per a 2024 study published by Priceline Press Center, the average trip takes 16 hours of planning. That's two full working days with no paycheck to show for it. 

Luckily, the rise of all-inclusive resorts has saved many travelers from spending hours poring over restaurant menus and museum entrance fees. Thanks to their on-site dining options, a wide range of activities, and occasional poolside performances, these establishments provide travelers with everything they need to enjoy their vacations. The best part is that there are tons of budget-friendly, all-inclusive resorts in the United States and beyond. These hotels allow visitors to enjoy themselves to the max while minimizing spending.

While some are exceptional, there are also scams to be aware of. We have read many horror stories about all-inclusive hotels that aren't worth the price. After poring over hundreds of firsthand reviews, we compiled a list of establishments that didn't meet guests' standards. Tales of dirty rooms and soggy food abound, so folks with weak stomachs should be forewarned!

A night at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club can cost upwards of $1,000, so it's fair to assume that the service must be spectacular. Right? Well, think again. Our research shows that any positive assumption about this resort's "high" quality would be terribly wrong. Even though staying at Secrets Tulum is incredibly expensive, previous visitors warn that the resort offers an overall unpleasant experience. 

When prompted to share their worst-ever all-inclusive resort experiences in the r/AllInclusiveResorts subreddit, one Redditor wrote, "Secrets Tulum — so disorganized, food was bland, everything including the seats in all the restaurants were stained, and all the pools were really shallow." Another user agreed to this comment in the same subreddit, "I've travelled extensively, both business and leisure, including quite a few third world countries. This was easily one of the worst places I've ever stayed." 

Cleanliness is said to be a major issue at Secrets Tulum. Multiple guests have complained of the smell of sewage, with one even leaving a Tripadvisor review that explained, "The bath smelled like sewage and since it didn't have a door, the whole room smelled so bad. We asked to be moved to a different room, and while it took a long time, the new room had the exact same smell." Because of this, it is perhaps unsurprising that Secret Tulum's over 1,000 Tripadvisor reviews place it well below the comforting 4-star rating.

There is expensive, and then there is resort expensive. Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa All Inclusive falls solidly into that second category. This hotel requires guests to book a three-night minimum stay at certain times of the year. During the March to April high season, a few days at Beaches Turks and Caicos can set you back over $7,000. Considering that this represents nearly 27% of the average down payment on a house in America, one would hope that Beaches Turks and Caicos would deliver an experience of equivalent value. Previous visitors, however, express that the hotel's services don't even come close.

One reviewer was shocked by the terrible state of the resort's swimming facilities. "We were in the Italian part of the resort, and the pool was disgusting. There were dirty straws in there [and] other waste that wasn't being taken care of. The surfing wave machine was down the entire time we were there, which my kids were super bummed about because they really were looking forward to doing that this year," she wrote on Google. Another Google reviewer was disgusted by her suite, writing, "[The] Room was infested with mosquitoes and holes in the curtains that appeared to have been chewed by insects or rodents. Despite bringing these issues to the attention of management, nothing was done to resolve them."

The Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino is listed on Tripadvisor as "Average," thanks to mixed reviews and its measly 3.5-star rating. Despite this, Divi Carina Bay does not exactly offer "average" resort prices. A night at this establishment costs just over $760 per room. This means that a week-long vacay at the Divi Carina Bay will set you back a whopping $5,320 — more than enough to send you to America's most expensive travel destination instead. Generally speaking, guests at Divi Carina Bay hope that signing a massive check will guarantee them a fantastic vacation in the US Virgin Islands' town of St. Croix. However, previous visitors have expressed that the price tag isn't worth it.

One of the main issues with the resort regards its all-inclusive title. According to firsthand reports, some beverages aren't available at certain times of the day. This means that though advertised as "all-inclusive," Divi Carina Bay restricts its package offerings. As one traveler noted on Tripadvisor, "I have traveled the world and never been this disappointed in the service for price. There was NO coffee type beverages available after 12:00PM — even dining with dessert." The same reviewer then critiqued the resort dining, explaining, "The food selection was average at best and cafeteria quality for the most part ... [Divi Carina Bay] is very isolated on the east end of the island and the only options for food are at the resort."

The Grand Palladium Resort & Spa in Point Lucea, Jamaica, has a solid 4.0-star rating on Tripadvisor. Although this might sound promising, some former guests say not to let this relatively high number fool you. A garden suite costs $633 per night, making the Grand Palladium expensive enough to give visitors certain expectations. Instead, many found there was much to be desired.

One such visitor, Chris, vlogged his experience at the resort on his YouTube channel. As he was filming a bit about how expensive the resort was for the quality, two hotel guests appeared in the frame and began voicing their disappointments with the lodging. "Whatever you do, don't come to this [place]. Management is horrible, guest services is horrible, bed bugs ...," one woman expressed vehemently. She then revealed that hotel management had refused to take responsibility for the vermin in her room, stating, "Now, she [the manager] is saying that we brought the bed bugs in!"

Chris also had his fair share of struggles at the Grand Palladium. For one, his check-in experience was terrible. He stated on YouTube that he was informed his room would be ready at 3:00 p.m., "We come back at 3:00 p.m.; they tell me another 10 minutes. I come back another 10 minutes; they tell me another 20 minutes. And that just keeps happening ... for almost two hours!" He concluded that if the resort changed its management, it could offer a much better experience.

The Hotel Imperial Las Perlas in Cancún might look like a great deal. Offering rooms at just $84 per night, the hotel might even seem like one of the best ways to enjoy a budget-friendly trip to Mexico. As appealing as this price tag might be, the Hotel Imperial Las Perlas manages to offer guests even less comfort than they expect. Most travelers go on vacation thinking their hotel will at least be clean and structurally sound. However, some former guests of Hotel Imperial Las Perlas have explained extensively that this was not their experience.

One former guest was so shaken by their experience that they took to Tripadvisor to write, "Our room got wet every rain shower, the water came through the bottom of the walls. The room smelled when we first arrived as if something had died in there." To resolve this issue, this guest requested extra towels from management to block the water from entering their room. Although they asked for help from facilities and housekeeping, nobody ever came to their suite to check out the problem.

Other visitors had trouble with cleanliness. In a YouTube video documenting their time at the Hotel Imperial Las Perlas, vloggers Lloyd and Mandy captured footage of the hotel's bathrooms. Theirs featured a shower that appeared to be covered in mildew and a questionable-looking sink. Overall, the space didn't exactly scream rest & relaxation.

At first glance, staying at the Summer Beach Hotel in Crete might seem like a great way to enjoy Greece on a budget. Unlike many of the most expensive all-inclusive resorts on this list, a stay at Summer Beach doesn't break the bank. The resort charges just $225 per night in the summer high season and $136 per night in the springtime — making it relatively accessible for families. It also looks like a pleasant place to stay. Photos of the resort show clean, modern rooms, a gorgeous turquoise swimming pool, and relative proximity to the beach. Depending on your point of view, Summer Beach might even appear to offer fantastic amenities at an affordable price.

Unfortunately, however, looks can be misleading. Previous guests have been disappointed with their Summer Beach experiences, rating it as just 3.5 stars on Tripadvisor. Complaints about the establishment's swimming facilities were frequent, with one tourist pointing out that the pool was far from family-friendly. "There was one dirty pool, with the smallest depth of 160 centimeters, so if you want to come with children, please choose something else," she wrote on Tripadvisor.

A Google reviewer echoed the first guest's feelings about the pool — although this was far from their only concern. "The staff don't care, the reception supervisor is useless, the pool is depressing ... What is more, we lived on a building site, with builders drilling from 7am, electric cables everywhere, no air con in the rooms, and lights ... flickering all night ..." they explained on Google. Overall, services at Summer Beach appear to be lacking. 

Located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Hotel whala!bávaro advertises itself as a 4-star resort. And, starting at just $226 per night during spring break season, the resort offers a fairly reasonable price for an all-inclusive experience. While Hotel whala!bávaro might seem like a great deal, previous guests say the resort doesn't fulfill its promises. Several reported that the establishment is nothing like a 4-star hotel. In a scathing Tripadvisor review, one guest stated that the hotel had broken toilets and a bad sewage smell.

The worst feedback, however, pertained to the hotel's unsatisfactory facilities. Writing on Google, one disappointed visitor explained, "We booked a superior room there and it was absolutely terrible experience. Unless you want a room full of rust, dirt and hatching insects, don't go for this. Reality is very far away from the pictures they have on [the] website." To prove her point, the guest shared photos of her hotel room. The images showed rust covering the lamp, shower, security box, and hairdryer. One photo even showed dead bugs on the floor.

Other guests struggled with the quality of the tap water. Multiple people noticed that the shower water was salty. One Google reviewer even questioned whether or not it was sanitary. "You'll see the sign that says not to collect water from the sink since it isn't safe. I wouldn't trust brushing your teeth with it," she commented.

Located in the idyllic beachside town of El Farallón del Chirú, Pamaná, Hotel Rui Playa Blanca promises sunny afternoons, stunning views, and tons of great eats. Guests generally have a positive experience at this resort, which boasts 4.0 stars on Tripadvisor. Although this may all seem great, there is one major problem. Previous guests at Hotel Rui have found that when things go wrong at this resort, they go very wrong. A stay here might not be worth the starting price of $272 per night (or $818 total, considering the resort's 3-night minimum).

Some former guests have expressed that the overall comfort of Hotel Rui was seriously lacking. One person revealed on Tripadvisor, "Our patio door would not lock. Our shower was just gross, stains on the floor. Our bathroom door would not shut because it was so rusted. Our bathroom fan fell from the ceiling and all they did was come in and place it on our toilet tank." Another Tripadvisor reviewer agreed: "[The] Room was nice but so musty smelling, pillows were like cottage cheese and not enough blankets; housekeeping didn't come twice."

Food safety was also reported to be a significant concern. Per a YouTube video posted by the Kail and the Chaos channel, it's clear the resort's restaurant served their table moldy dessert. "Oh my gosh, there's fungus! There's fungus on our tiramisu, and Lez just ate it," the horrified vlogger exclaimed.

The Horizon Beach Hotel promises an all-inclusive experience that should make paying for your vacation easy. With a one-time swipe of the card, travelers should be able to pay for food, lodging, drinks, and activities. While this might sound like a typical all-inclusive deal, don't pack your bags for your Greek vacation quite yet. According to former guests, the Horizon Beach Hotel advertises itself as an all-inclusive establishment. However, the reality of the matter is totally different.

Writing about their experience on Tripadvisor, one traveler revealed that the Horizon Beach Hotel had charged them for a number of services that would normally be included in their bill. "Take your own beach towel or they charge you €5 per towel per day! Overall, an absolute waste of money staying here," they wrote. In a second Tripadvisor review, another guest added, "... be prepared to pay for: cocktails, internet in the rooms, water that is not drinkable from the beverage machines." 

Unfortunately, the food at the resort was also not as accommodating as one would expect. As the second reviewer recalled, "Gyros was cooked in the snack bar by a very nice chef who, when asked to [serve] only a plate of meat, was happy to ... but ... regretfully replied that she could not because the hotel administration [had] FORBIDDEN it." Although this resort charges just $100 per night, it shouldn't falsely advertise itself as an all-inclusive resort. 

Although the world boasts tons of amazing places to enjoy all-inclusive experiences, not all resorts are equal. We perused hundreds of reviews on Reddit, Tripadvisor, and Google to learn more about the discrepancies among certain hotel options. By studying these traveler experiences, we discovered that most of the disappointing all-inclusive resorts fall into one of two categories. The first type of hotel has incredibly high rates but delivers mediocre service. The second group advertises themselves as budget-friendly, only to neglect the cleanliness and safety of hotel facilities. 

To compile an accurate list of resorts that aren't worth the money, we included both types of lodging on this list. While options like Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club and Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa All Inclusive charge exorbitant amounts for subpar services, cheaper options like the Hotel Imperial Las Perlas and Summer Beach Hotel fail to provide guests with well-maintained facilities. Although most of the hotels we encountered can be easily categorized into one of these two options, the Horizon Beach Hotel is an exception. This resort stood out for its decision to promote itself as an all-inclusive resort, even though it ultimately charged visitors for everything from towels to internet service to drinks.