"All-inclusive" isn't a single standard — it's a marketing term each resort defines differently, so the fine print matters more than the headline price.
Usually included
Meals at buffet and often one or more à la carte restaurants, house-brand alcohol, non-motorized water sports (kayaks, paddleboards), pools, and basic resort activities/entertainment.
Often extra
Premium/imported alcohol, spa treatments, some specialty restaurants (reservation fees or a limited number of free visits per stay), motorized water sports, and excursions off-property. Resort fees and taxes are sometimes quoted separately from the headline rate — always check the total before booking.
How to compare offers properly
Look past the nightly rate to: which specific restaurants are included vs. reservation-only, the alcohol brand list, whether the beach in front of that specific resort has been good recently (see our sargassum update), and recent reviews mentioning maintenance or renovations, since standards can shift quickly between ownership changes.