10 All-Inclusive Resorts With The Most Terrible Food & 10 Where You'll Dine Like Royalty
10 All-Inclusive Resorts With The Most Terrible Food & 10 Where You'll Dine Like Royalty
From Grim To Grand
Food plays a significant role in any vacation, and yet, so many all-inclusive resorts skimp out in this area, leaving you with (quite literally) a bad taste in your mouth. You could be on the most beautiful beach in the world with stunning views and beautiful weather, but if the food is bland or unappetizing, it can ruin the whole experience. While some all-inclusive resorts offer gourmet 5-star meals, others serve up barely palatable plates of bland and uninspired dishes. To save you from a disappointing resort experience, here are 10 all-inclusives with the worst food and 10 with the best.
1. Meliá Caribe Beach Resort, Bavaro, Dominican Republic
Although guests praise the friendly and attentive staff and pleasant ambiance, at Melia Caribe Beach Resort, the all-you-can-eat buffets consistently fall short of expectations. Guests complain that the food is bland and poorly cooked.
2. Meliá Jardines del Rey, Cayo Coco, Cuba
People go to Cuba for the beaches, not for the food. Meliá Jardines del Rey in Cayo Coco is a 5-star hotel with 5-star prices, so guests have high expectations that are rarely met by the all-you-can-eat options. Clients complain that meals are repetitive and the buffet selection is small.
3. All Ritmo Cancún Resort & Water Park, Mexico
All Ritmo Cancun Resort & Water Park is a nice choice for families with small children; however, dining expectations should be tempered. Food quality and blandness are the most frequent complaints.
4. Grand Oasis Palm, Cancún, Mexico
While guests at Grand Oasis Palm in Cancun rave about the friendly staff and beautiful beachfront setting, they report the food as being disappointing. It's kid-unfriendly, lacks variety, and is hit and miss, at best.
5. Hotel Rui Playa Blanca, Panama
While the Hotel Rui Playa Blanca in Panama offers great amenities and a pristine beach, guests here have described the food as "strange." Reviews say the food lacks flavor, and the alcohol is of cheap quality.
6. Occidental Xcaret, Mexico
Occidental Xcaret in Mexico's Riviera Maya is known for its breathtaking location. However, the food here has been described as mid-quality at best, with limited selection compared to other resorts.
7. Sharm Holiday Resort, Egypt
While Sharm Holiday Resort in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, is located on a beautiful beach near some of the most renowned snorkeling locations in the world, the food is consistently described as shockingly bad. Even non-fussy eaters take issue with the food, describing it as terrible.
8. Palmea Hotel, Turkey
If your dream vacation includes stale toast and watered-down drinks, Palmea Hotel in Turkey is the place for you. The breakfast and lunch buffets serve up dishes lacking in variety and of barely acceptable quality that some even venture to equate to prison food.
9. Eftalia Aqua Resort, Turkey
Eftalia Aqua Resort in Turkey has received a mixed bag of reviews when it comes to food. Many find the options repetitive and of sub-par quality, particularly at the steak house restaurant where meat is frequently over-cooked and the cuts aren't premium.
10. Hotel Be Live Hamaca Beach, Dominican Republic
Guests at the Hotel Be Live Hamaca Beach in the Dominican Republic call the food a major drawback for the otherwise lovely resort. While the buffets offer a good variety, the options aren't that high quality, and the service is sometimes poor.
Michelangelo Azzariti on Unsplash
Now that we've covered the resorts that receive the most complaints regarding their food, let's talk about the ones that receive the most praise from foodies.
1. Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico
Grand Velas in Riviera Maya is consistently praised for its food, with guests calling it exceptional not just for an all-inclusive, but genuinely delicious and comparable to top restaurants. The resort's signature restaurant even received a Michelin star.
2. Jade Mountain Resort, St. Lucia
Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia consistently receives rave reviews when it comes to the quality and creativity of the food. The restaurants on the resort even use ingredients from their own farm, ensuring the ultimate freshness.
3. Hammock Cove, Antigua
A serene retreat located on the Caribbean island of Antigua, Hammock Cove is not just celebrated for its incredible ambiance, but its excellent food. Food is a highlight of the resort, especially at the elegant Lighthouse restaurant, where guests can delight in a three-course creative dining experience.
4. Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancún, Mexico
Guests at Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancún consistently call the food some of the best they've had at an all-inclusive resort. It offers plenty of variety, with fresh, high-quality ingredients and thoughtful dishes.
5. Ikos Andalusia, Spain
The food at Ikos Andalusia in Spain is consistently raved about, especially at the Asian and Italian restaurants on the resort. It's also a wine lover's paradise with incredibly extensive offerings for an all-inclusive.
6. Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, Mexico
Tulum is known for its food, and Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club is no exception. The food here is consistently called delicious, with plenty of variety, high-quality ingredients.
7. Hotel Xcaret, Mexico
For fans of Mexican food, Hotel Xcaret is the perfect place, with guests praising the authentic Mexican flavors. The food here is not "Americanized" like at other resorts, and many call the dining experiences here the highlight of their stay.
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Pexels
8. Secrets Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
Secrets Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic receives high praise for its food, which is called delicious and beautifully presented. Guests particularly point out the French, Japanese, and seafood restaurants as highlights.
9. Couples Swept Away, Jamaica
Couples Swept Away resort in Jamaica receives rave reviews for its delicious food and strong, thoughtfully prepared cocktails. Jamaican classics like Jerk chicken and creative fusion dishes like the banana-stuffed French toast are highlights.
10. Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa, Mexico
Whether you stay at the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta or Cancún, one thing is certain: you will have exceptional dining experiences for the entire duration of your stay. The breakfast buffet is a particular favorite, offering plenty of variety and freshness.
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