The #1 Mistake Families Make at All-Inclusive Resorts (And It Starts With a Free Spa Treatment)

They offered you a free massage. Then the meeting lasted 4 hours. 

Sound familiar? If you've ever been on an all-inclusive vacation and found yourself sitting through a timeshare pitch, you're not alone. And if you're reading this before it happens to you, good. Let's talk about it.

What They're Actually Selling You

Imagine you're lounging on the beach, enjoying your favorite drink, wishing you could come back to this resort every single year. We get it. An all-inclusive resort can feel like heaven, but should you buy into the vacation club or timeshare they're offering? That's the question.

A timeshare, sometimes called a vacation club, is a legal arrangement where you get the right to use a property as a vacation home. And while there's a lot to consider, my honest recommendation is to say no.

For starters, you'll be signing a contract in a foreign country without a lawyer to look it over. It may or may not be written in English, and while the salespeople will be happy to "explain" it to you, they are under no legal obligation to be honest or accurate. Unlike back home in Canada, there's no consumer protection requirement holding them to that standard.

And about those salespeople: they'll offer you a VIP breakfast or a free massage in exchange for a "one-hour" meeting. Once you're in that room, you'll face a high-pressure sales pitch that can go on for hours. Just say no.

Just like at a casino, the house always wins. You can expect closing costs, and that's just the beginning. Monthly fees. Cleaning fees. Maintenance fees. According to the American Resort Development Association, the average cost to purchase one week per year at a resort is $24,140 USD, and that's before all the ongoing charges that follow you every year, whether you travel or not.

Getting Out Is Even Harder

Getting out of a timeshare can be very difficult. In the best case, you'll face cancellation fees and other charges. In worse situations, families have had to hire a lawyer and go to court just to exit a contract they signed on vacation.

You don't have to take my word for it, either. According to a study published by the University of Central Florida, 85% of people who purchase a timeshare regret it.

What to Do Instead

Call your travel advisor, which is to say, that's where I come in.

Instead of being locked into one chain of resorts, I can open up hundreds of options across Mexico and the Caribbean and match your family to the right fit based on your kids' ages, your travel style, and what you actually want out of the trip. I handle the research, the booking, and all the details so everything feels organized and stress-free from the moment you start planning.

All you need to do is schedule a complimentary consultation. I'd love to help you plan a vacation you'll actually look forward to coming back from.