All-inclusive holidays. Here are the most common mistakes when planning a trip

Starting your resort search without thinking about what you really want

When choosing an all-inclusive resort, it is worth considering your dream vacation before you start browsing offers on the Internet. Defining your travel bucket list will greatly help narrow down your search.

I encourage clients to think about things like:

• budget,
• amenities they don't want to give up,
• perfect location,
• flight availability,
• desired features of the room,
• size of the resort.

Limiting your search to tropical destinations

Many popular all-inclusive resorts are located in the tropics, but there are also great options in places like Canada, Europe and Japan.

Leading companies offer all-inclusive resorts around the world. For example, in Quebec, Canada, you can book an all-inclusive ski stay in winter and an adventurous holiday in summer.

See also: My husband and I quit our jobs to travel at the age of 30. Returning to the labor market proved difficult

Booking the cheapest room at the cheapest resort

With all-inclusive travel, you really do get what you pay for.

Cheaper establishments often struggle to provide good quality food, comfortable conditions and an appropriate level of service. I recommend focusing on resorts with a rating of at least 4.5 (on a scale of 5).

Although basic rooms are the cheapest, booking them may also have a price.

The cheapest rooms may face the parking lot or construction site. Sometimes they are also located on the ground floor, which can be musty in a humid, tropical climate.

You can often pay a little extra to get a better room – and in my opinion it's really worth it. If you're on a very tight budget, shorten your stay by a day or two to afford a higher standard.

Taking the kids every time

There are plenty of great, kid-friendly all-inclusive resorts, but an adults-only getaway can be fantastic too.

Take your friends, family or partner and allow yourself a few days of rest without children.

During one such child-free trip to Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancún, my husband and I appreciated the time spent getting closer to each other again, relaxing and taking a break from work and family responsibilities.

Completely ruling out hurricane season

Booking a trip to the Caribbean or Mexico in the summer and fall (hurricane season) carries some risk, but prices are usually much lower than at other times of the year.

The weather can be great and there is no guarantee that your trip will be affected by bad weather. For example, my husband and I spent our honeymoon in the Caribbean in the fall and it was one of the best weather-wise trips of my life.

If you're worried, be sure to keep an eye on the forecast and add travel insurance to your booking.

Forgetting to check food

One of the best parts of an all-inclusive holiday is enjoying unlimited food and high-end alcohol.

Spending even a week in a luxury resort with mediocre food may not be a pleasant experience. When reading reviews, pay special attention to comments about the quality of meals.

I love the food and drinks at the Palace, Sandals and Beaches resorts and often recommend them to my clients.

Booking an ocean view room

One of the biggest disappointments I hear from customers is that the view from their room did not meet their expectations.

Some resorts are quite relaxed about the “partial ocean view” or “ocean view” categories – you might just see a sliver of blue between the trees if you lean out far enough.

If you want to really admire the beautiful blue sea from the balcony, you usually have to book a room type oceanfronti.e. located directly on the beach.

Unconditionally trusting friends' recommendations

Your friend may have excellent taste, but that doesn't mean their favorite resort will suit your style or needs.

One of my clients may love a particular property, while another will not be happy with their stay at all. For example, your friend may love lounging by the pool, while you prefer beach activities. Maybe his priority is stunning cocktails, while your priority is first-class dinners with dishes from around the world.

Remember that finding the perfect resort for you is a very personal process.

Not booking with the help of a travel planner

Yes, I'm a little biased, but listen: choosing the right destinations and resorts for your all-inclusive vacation can be overwhelming.

There are hundreds of accommodations to choose from in Mexico alone.

Most travel planners offer free services (we receive commissions from hotels and other bookings), which can significantly reduce the stress of organizing your trip.

I always look for the best prices and make sure to support my clients before, during and after their holidays so that they can rest peacefully.

As an agent, I also visit resorts to check them out for my clients. Reading reviews online can be helpful, but can also be misleading, so I like to be able to give personal recommendations.

The above text is a translation from the American edition of Business Insider