Getting ready for an extended stay at an all-inclusive resort? If you’re an avid traveler, you may be wondering how you can spice up your vacation by booking a few extras, upgrades, and breathtaking excursions.
These add-ons can be a great way to transform your average trip into an incredible adventure for the ages. The only hangup, however, is that the cost of resort upgrades can vary widely, and it’s worth noting that these costs can add up fast.
When you’re on vacation, cutting costs and penny-pinching should be the last thing on your mind; for this reason, it’s critical to get your budget finalized beforehand. If you’re wondering how much people spend on resort upgrades, we’ve got you covered.
Upgrading Your Bedroom
When vacationing, many travelers note that they spend the least amount of time hanging out in their hotel rooms. However, when you make the move to upgrade your room, you just might find a suite that you’ll never want to leave!
Per night, room and suite upgrades cost about $100 – $200 more, so you’ll want to plan ahead to account for this in your budget. If you enjoy having more space and comfort in your room, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this upgrade.
In addition to upgrading your square footage, room upgrades can also include moving to a room with a better view, a room on a higher floor, or a room with bonus items, such as an in-room tub or walk-in closet. If you’re curious about exactly which room upgrades your hotel offers, we’d suggest calling ahead or checking out their website.
Upgrading Your Dining
When it comes to dining at your all-inclusive resort, there are plenty of incredible packages for you to choose from. From restaurants only to food and drinks, it’s important to find the package best suited to meet your needs.
Dining upgrades tend to run you about $50, with each night adding another upgrade charge. Before food and beverage upgrades, we recommend making sure that you know what the base package includes first.
Some resorts have limits on the number of meals and/or beverages you can consume each day, so you may want to upgrade based on how much you plan to eat and drink. You can also upgrade some dining plans to include desserts, in-suite meals, and private dining experiences with your friends or family.
Upgrading Your Spa Package
Whether you’re a regular spa-goer or want to try one out for the first time, you’ll want to spend some time at the resort spa. Rather than limiting your experience, you may want to add in a few upgrades to enhance your treatment as well.
At the spa, most upgrades will be related to extending the duration of your chosen service. For example, you would extend your massage from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, or lengthen your aromatherapy session from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.
Whichever upgrade you choose, most spa extras cost about $50 – $100, on average. If you plan to spend your days relaxing in the spa, you can start working these upgrades into your final vacation budget now.
Upgrade Your Theming
Depending on the location of your resort, you can choose to upgrade the overall theming of your hotel room or suite. In some cases, this can alter the size and layout of your room, but overall, this upgrade is intended to elevate your experience.
At theme park resorts in particular, such as Disney World or Universal Studios, guests can upgrade their rooms based on a specific character, movie, or comic book franchise. At other types of hotels, the staff may offer holiday-themed rooms for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween.
Upgraded theming is typically geared toward young adults and children, but you’re welcome to select these fun updates on a solo trip as well. All in all, an upgraded theme will cost you roughly $30 – $50 per night, so plan accordingly.
Upgrading Your Pool Experience
Lounging by the pool is a popular activity for guests and travelers of all ages. Whether you’re on your honeymoon or enjoying a fun family trip with the kiddos, there’s nothing better than soaking up some sun and sipping a cool drink by the pool.
As exciting and lively as the pool can be, there are still several ways that you can elevate the experience during your trip. Booking a beach cabana, for example, can allow you to enjoy a little more peace during your time there.
At some hotels, you can also opt for beach-side bar service, requesting that your drinks or snacks be brought directly to you at the pool. If you want to try out an enhanced pool experience, it’s going to cost about $180 – $300.
Upgrading Your Excursions
If your resort happens to be in a tourist-heavy area, there may likely be a few excursions included in your stay. In partnership with the resort, local guides and companies may offer hikes, crafting lessons, and food & drink tours.
These excursions often range in duration, immersion, and in the case of adventure activities, difficulty level. If you want to make the most of your time there, it may be worth extending the length of your excursion or opting for a more intense journey.
Excursion upgrades generally cost about $70 – $180, with the final number depending on the specific activity you’re trying out. Whichever you choose, it’s always better to get a deep dive into the activities and excursions that interest you the most.
Upgrade Your Customer Service
Regarding customer service, it seems like a given that the resort staff would go above and beyond for every guest, right? Well, yes and no. While every guest should be treated with the same level of respect, some resorts offer special services and perks as well.
For example, some resorts provide dedicated butler service for select guests. This often depends on the package you book, but if you choose to go with this upgrade, you can enjoy top-notch service, personalized to meet your distinct needs.
When selecting your hotel or resort, it’s difficult to plan for unexpected issues or emergencies; unfortunately, these situations tend to come up at the worst time, which is why upgrading to a hotel with a 24-hour concierge is a must. Typically, service upgrades such as these end up costing travelers about $25 – $50 more when all is said and done.
Upgrade Your Romance
If you’re visiting a resort with your partner, it’s well-known that couples can find plenty of romantic extras to highlight their stay. From fireside s’mores to couples massages, paired upgrades can transform your getaway into a romantic adventure!
More adventurous couples might opt for a guided scuba lesson, or even a long horseback ride through the hills. If you two are laidback and prefer to chill out at the resort, you may want to book a private dinner on the beach instead.
Couples upgrades tend to be a bit more expensive, as you’re adding on extras for two people rather than just one. At about $1,500, you may want to start saving up for your vacation now, so you two can enjoy these incredible experiences together.
Upgrading Your Checkout Experience
Want an upgraded checkout experience? This is perfect for guests that booked a vacation so fabulous, you feel like you just can’t leave. Booking checkout upgrades generally costs guests $24 per additional hour, but we think this perk is more than worth it.
Late checkout can give you more time to spend in the resort, so if you’re running late from an excursion, or you simply want to sleep in, we’d go with this upgrade. At certain resorts, you can also request that all of your luggage be taken to your car by hotel staff.
Even though your trip has come to a close, it’s normal to want to make the most of these last few moments. Why not end your vacation on a high note and check out with a stress-free, elevated experience?
