Ask Trip Coach: All-inclusive resorts

Name: Budget Travel LLC
Price range: $

By Brad Tuttle

October 3, 2012

The all-inclusive can be the ultimate no-hassle vacation. One price covers lodging, food, drink, entertainment, and activities, and guests never once have to reach for their wallets. But even if there are no hassles, travelers may have plenty of questions.

Are you wondering where and when you can snag the best values? Which resorts are best for families—or for people trying to avoid families? Which ones are renowned for having the best food, or the best activities for adventurers, or the best service, or the best pools? What are extra charges to look out for, because not every "all-inclusive" truly includes every little thing in the main rate?

Send us your questions, and we'll answer them in an upcoming "Ask Trip Coach" column in Budget Travel.

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Inspiration

Paris: City of electric cars?

Following in the tracks of Velib', the wildly successful bike sharing program (that still isn't accessible to most Americans), the city of Paris is moving forward with a car sharing program called Autolib'. By the end of 2010 (which in "French time" means mid-2011) the mayor's office is planning to deploy a fleet of 2,000 electric cars that drivers will be able to pick up and drop off at rental/recharging stands around the city. If it works, Paris would be the first major city to offer such a service, one that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 tons a year. Urban beaches, bike sharing, support for the arts and now this? I'm honestly loving the way mayor Bertrand Delanoë puts my tax euros to use. Let's just hope that the new program doesn't inspire a freeride auto equivalent! MORE Our Affordable Paris series

Skiing in Virginia? In the summer?

Starting on August 29, Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va., will give skiers and snowboarders the freedom to ride in the great outdoors year-round. How can this be possible? Give the credit to Snowflex, a soft, synthetic substance that's a pretty close imitation of snow, only it's not cold, and it doesn't have to be groomed. Ski areas using the substance have opened already overseas, but this will be the first such operation in the U.S. Skiers, boarders, and tubers will be able to zip down a 500-foot-long Snowflex-covered slope on Liberty Mountain, right on the college's campus. The terrain includes a beginner slope, as well as freestyle areas with kickers, grind rails, and an 11-foot-high quarter pipe. Helmets are highly recommended, and long pants and long-sleeve T-shirts are mandatory, even during the peak of summer. Tickets to ride are pretty cheap: $5 an hour Monday to Wednesday, $7 an hour Thursday to Sunday, and Liberty University students pay just $2 to $4 an hour. Check out more details at Liberty's website. And let the shredding begin for 12 months of the year.

Family

What are your family travel lifesavers?

Before I had a baby, I had my packing routine down to 15 minutes flat. I kept a toiletry bag prepared so I always had it at the ready. I had mental lists for different trip types (beach, mountain, city). But my 9-month old has thrown that all out the window. Packing is now a multi-day event. This weekend, we're heading to Charlevoix, Mich., for a family getaway. It's only a two-hour flight, but I'm already gathering the little lifesavers I've found to help us en-route. A fellow mom turned me on to the glory that is a pacifier clip. Our babysitter shared with me the genius of single-serving bags of formula, so you don't have to mess with measuring. And I wouldn't dare to leave home without my daughter's stuffed lamb, which ensures that she can feel comfortable wherever we land. What are your family travel lifesavers—the products and tricks you keep in your back pocket?

Video: She said Yes! At 35,000 feet in the air

Jay and Jill, a young couple from Rhode Island, have been dating for nearly two years. This summer, they take their first vacation together, flying to St. Maarten on JetBlue. But Jill was in for a surprise… [via YouTube.]

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