Which Method Saves More at 5 Popular Travel Destinations: DIY or All-Inclusive?
An all-inclusive vacation is a travel package where travelers pay a single upfront price that covers accommodation, on-site activities and entertainment, meals, drinks and (sometimes) flights. You can also do it yourself (DIY), which means booking your hotel and flights separately and paying for meals when you dine out. But which one will actually save you money?
We priced out five popular vacation destinations to find out. In each case, we included the cost of an all-inclusive stay against what you could expect to spend booking everything separately. For consistency, we priced each vacation for two adults traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport for five nights from Feb. 1 through Feb. 6, 2027. We used Google Flights for airfare and Budget Your Trip data for food and drink prices.
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1. Caribbean
Destination: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
For a five-night trip, an all-inclusive package at Hotel Riu Palace Macao came to $1,402 per person, or $2,804 for two adults. The price includes a five-night stay, two round-trip flights from JFK, taxes and fees, as well as food, beverages and snacks.
A five-night stay at The Westin Puntacana Resort, a nearby comparable hotel, in a traditional king room with an ocean view, came to $2,401 for two adults, including taxes and fees. Flights, meals and drinks are purchased separately. Round-trip, nonstop airfare from JFK added another $782. Travelers in Punta Cana spend an average of $68 per day on food, totaling about $680 for two adults over five days.
That brings the total DIY trip to $3,863, or $1,059 more than the all-inclusive package.
Winner: All-inclusive
2. Hawaii
Destination: Honolulu, Oahu
Hawaii does not offer the traditional all-inclusive resort, according to Hawaii Guide. However, for a five-night stay at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, a flight and hotel package costs $3,511.60 for two people. The average traveler spends about $91 per day on food, bringing the total trip cost to $4,422 for two adults.
Booking the same five nights at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort separately costs $2,843.15 for two adults, including taxes and fees. Two round-trip, non-stop flights from JFK added $1,319 to the total. With $910 budgeted for meals, the DIY trip came to $5,072.15. This is $651 more than booking the hotel and flight together.
Winner: All-inclusive
3. Mexico
Destination: Riviera Maya, Mexico
The all-inclusive package at Iberostar Waves Tucán came to $1,385 per person, or $2,770 for two adults. This includes a five-night stay, two round-trip flights from JFK, taxes and fees, as well as the resort’s all-inclusive food and beverage package.
If you choose to DIY instead, a five-night stay at the Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa Del Carmen would cost $2,161.48 for two adults, including taxes and fees. A round-trip, non-stop flight added $734, and food averaged around $39 per person, or $390 for two adults over five days. The DIY total came to $3,285.48, which was $414 more than the all-inclusive package.
Winner: All-inclusive
4. Cost Rica
Destination: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
A five-night stay at the Hotel Riu Guanacaste came to $1,452 per person, or $2,904 for two adults. The package includes accommodations, two round-trip flights from JFK, taxes and fees. The resort’s all-inclusive package also covers meals, drinks, snacks and select entertainment.
For two adults, staying at the Hotel Bosque del Mar will cost $3,933.25 for five nights, including taxes and fees. A round-trip flight for two adults will cost $701, while food and drink average $47 per day for one person, or $470 for two people over five days. This puts the total DIY cost at $5,104.24. This is $2,904 more than the all-inclusive package.
Winner: All-inclusive
5. Jamaica
Destination: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Hotel Riu Reggae, an all-inclusive adult resort in Montego Bay, would cost $2,988 for five nights for two people. This includes flights, lodging, taxes and fees, as well as meals, drinks, snacks and select entertainment.
If you book a five-night stay at Hotel 39 in Montego Bay, it’ll cost you $1,322.50, including taxes and fees. A round-trip flight will add $723, while food and drinks will cost an additional $390. In total, a DIY trip costs $2,435.50, saving you $552.50.
Winner: DIY
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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