Senior Highlights....

ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS:   HAVING IT ALL

There's little worse for on-the-go seniors than planning a 'bargain' travel vacation, with inexpensive transportation and accommodations, only to find $10 hamburgers and other unexpected expenses once they arrive. Variety in prices isn't the spice of life on the road. That's the beauty of all-inclusives...you know exactly what you're paying for and what you're getting.

All-inclusives have been around since the time of Noah's Ark, when he included food and lodging for 'couples' on that first all-inclusive cruise. But the 80s and 90s saw a huge rise in the number and quality of all-inclusive resorts on land and at sea. This growth made all-inclusives a very viable option for seniors, thanks to the 'buffet' nature and budget of the experience.

Defining an 'all-inclusive' vacation is actually quite difficult. All-inclusives rarely include everything, but some come quite close. Virtually every all-inclusive includes accommodations and food in the price, but after that it can vary greatly. Perhaps all-inclusives are best defined by what's not included, such as transportation, alcoholic beverages, between-meal snacks, activities and watersports, special services, excursions, and local, room, and departure taxes. Knowing what's included will help you avoid sticker shock at check-out or at your travel agent.

What may seem like a high initial price for an all-inclusive vacation can actually be relatively low when it's analyzed. Many all-inclusives offer a great bargain when it comes to dining at high-priced resort locations. The same is often true of accommodations, activities, transportation, and much more. Any qualified travel agent can easily prepare comparisons to show the advantages. Travel agents can be especially helpful when it comes to researching and booking all-inclusive vacations.

Perhaps unlike any other group of all-inclusive getaways, Sandals Resorts (800 SANDALS) exemplifies why all-inclusives are so popular. Sandals offers full all-inclusive, luxury all-couples resorts in Jamaica (6), St. Lucia (2), Antigua (1), and, most recently, Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Spa in The Bahamas. Later this year, Sandals Barbados will open. Earlier this year, Beaches Negril in Jamaica started a new Sandals chain for singles, families, and couples. At Sandals Resorts, all meals, drinks, room accommodations, entertainment, airport transfers, taxes, gratuities, sports activities, and unlimited instruction are included in one price.

Pioneering and award-winning Sandals Resorts, voted as the world's leading all-inclusive by travel agents for three years in a row, was founded by Jamaican entrepreneuer Gordon "Butch" Stewart and is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary. Year-round occupancy rates of over 90% and high repeat guests and customer satisfaction have made Sandals and all-inclusives in general a real travel industry success story.

Sandals and other all-inclusives aren't just for young couples and honeymooners. As with any resorts, each of the Sandals Resorts tends to attract different demographics, with interests, ages, and lifestyles varying greatly. But Sandals also offers specific programs for seniors, like their Golden Players Club, a fitness program for 50+ guests. If you want to honeymoon or get married at a Sandals, you'll have lots of like-minded company of every age. Again, a travel agent can help you choose the right Sandals.

Of course, thoughts of all-inclusives also mean Club Med (800 CLUB MED) to many seniors. Another pioneer in the field, Club Meds aren't just for swinging singles and couples. With more than 110 villages and villas in 36 countries and six continents, Club Med has a wide range of diversified resorts aimed at a wide variety of demographics. They also currently offer two Club Med-style cruise ship sailing vessels.

Founded back in 1950, the secret to Club Med's consistent worldwide success has been the company's ability to stay ahead of the changing desires and needs of the vacationing public, while maintaining the spirit of its village lifestyle and international staff of GOs ('Gentils Organisateurs' or Gentle Organizers in English). The original Club Med concept was to create an environment where guests could partake in a full range of vacation options, free from financial considerations. Out of this concept, grew the all-inclusive packages, where guests pay one fee that covers transportation, lodging, three meals per day, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, most sports and leisure activities (with lessons), and evening entertainment. It must work...more than 40% of Club Med guests are repeat visitors.

To accommodate changing lifestyles and guest demographics, the Club has added things like single rooms and more intimate specialty restaurants. Certain resorts now cater to singles, couples, families, honeymooners, seniors, and participants in specific sports (like scuba diving). Family Reunion packages are quite popular with kids, parents, and grandparents. Some good Club Meds for seniors include: Sandpiper (Florida), Columbus Isle (San Salvador, Bahamas), Caravelle (Guadeloupe), Cancun (Mexico), and Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas), where 55+ guests receive a $140 reduction (per person, per week) or $20 per day through the Forever Young Program.

Of course, many individual resorts also offer all-inclusive programs around the corner and around the world. Some all-inclusive meccas include the Caribbean (Almond Beach Resorts, 800-4 ALMOND; Viva Resorts, 800-74 CHARMS); Bolongo Club Everything, 800-524-4746; Radisson Cable Beach Resort, 800-333-3333; Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort, 800-HOTELS 1; Capella Beach Resort, 809-526-1080; Clubs International, 800-777-1250; Elegant Resorts, 800-237-3237; Classy Tours, 800-329-8145); Hawaii (Kona Village Resort, 800-367-5290; Perillo Tours, 800-431-1515); and several properties throughout California, Florida, and other sunny destinations (just ask a travel agent). Seniors shouldn't forget that cruise ship travel was the first and is still one of the best all-inclusive options.

Be sure to check with a travel agent about additional all-inclusives throughout the world. Seniors may also want to contact Trafalgar Tours (800-457-6891 or 800-854-0103) or Grand Circle Travel (800-221-2610) concerning their all-inclusive tour offerings. In any respect, a travel agent or tour operator can be a huge time and money saver when it comes to all-inclusives. Consider them a free part of the fee for getting everything you deserve in a vacation (at one price).