Which Is Better? Cruise, All-Inclusive, or Road Trip?

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Every summer, it’s an itch you need to scratch: getting out of town and immersing in a new setting. This much is clear. But the question that remains is where? And, along those lines, what kind of trip? There are three common ways to feed the beast when it comes to wanderlust: booking a cruise, checking into an all-inclusive resort, or organizing a road trip. Much like children, each of these each have their own personality and, therefore, will cater to different types of travelers.

First off, know that it’s not too late to take any of these trips this summer. We’re not talking about limited-space types of vacations. Cruise ships book a few thousand people in each sailing, and most all-inclusive resorts are sprawling. And, most importantly, there is always space on a scenic highway if a road trip is your utopia.

Here are two pros and cons for each of these three types of vacations, through the lens of sticking to a budget.

Cruise: Pros

If number one on your wish list is not to be nickel-and-dimed while trying to relax on vacation, then consider it done the minute you walk onto a cruise ship. Your cabin, all meals (including the buffet and some restaurants), and access to the fitness center and pool are all included. Nightly entertainment is also folded into the fare. Just be sure to read the fine print if you’re set on a latte every afternoon or prefer top-shelf liquor: paying up front, before you even board, with a drinks package, keeps the calm vibes going.

If you hate paying for a rental car and also prefer to get around on your own two feet, then a cruise is just for you. Ports are all walkable and, if not, there are excursions (additional fee) via buses to get you to cultural attractions, natural parks, or other must-visit stops. Or, you can always hail a ride-share service like Lyft or Uber, and if that’s not available in the country you’re visiting, there are always taxis.

Cruise: Cons

Cruise ships have set itineraries and a strict number of days. It’s not like you can say, ‘Hey, let’s take a cruise for five days in the middle of July.’ For seven-day Caribbean itineraries, which is the most common length of a cruise on board the major cruise ships—Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean, for example—they typically depart on a Saturday and return on a Saturday. Three-day itineraries are few and far between. You may be able to find a five-day sailing for that “sweet spot.” The same is true for European sailings in the Mediterranean.

Another locked-in aspect is the ports that cruises utilize: for a Caribbean itinerary, it’s most likely going to embark and disembark out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral (45 minutes from Orlando). Unless you’re driving, you’re booking a flight and with fixed dates you lack the ability to schedule travel around when the flights are cheapest. Starting the trip off with pricey airfare can be a real downer.

All-Inclusive Resort: Pros

With few exceptions, most all-inclusive resorts boast at least five or six restaurants and some even coast into the double digits, offering 20-plus venues on one property. If you’re a foodie, but on a tight budget, then this is your dream vacation because you’ll never have the same meal twice, nor will you be forced to visit the same restaurant over and over like a bad version of “Groundhog Day.”

Other than chauffeured transportation to and from the airport, you’re parked here for the entire length of your stay, and everything is taken care of, such as food, beverages, and pool time. (Spa treatments cost a bit more.) No rental car is needed. Just be sure to choose an all-inclusive resort that provides a shuttle (even if you have to pay a small fee) and is not, for instance, 90 minutes from the airport, where now your ground-transportation cost equates to the price of the first night’s stay.

All-Inclusive Resort: Cons

To riff on that last “pro,” travelers who want to get out and integrate with local culture will find themselves stir crazy at an all-inclusive resort, especially if they aren’t ‘beach people’ or ‘poolside loungers.’ And you may not have room in your budget to escape the gated resort and explore on your own, particularly if far away. However, there are ways to overcome. Pick an all-inclusive that brings culture to the property, through live music, craft classes, or culinary tutorials—these are often taught or led by locals, for a glimpse into their community.

Now that we’ve shared the joy in what’s included, let’s get to the room rate. You will be hard-pressed to find an all-inclusive resort charging less than $500-$600 per night. Some will even cost above $1,000 per night. Do some research to make sure you will use—or, um, eat and drink—enough of the property’s amenities to make it worth your while.

Road Trip: Pros

Since the focus of a road trip is, um, the road, then it’s easy to save money on lodging because why would you splurge on fancy resorts where your only time there is to sleep? But this is not to say you need to slumber in your car. Traversing through rural areas, you’re likely to find cute revamped roadside motels as well as campsites and glampgrounds for the win. Normally, these would be out of reach if flying into a major city.

Similar to lodging, the focus of a road trip likely isn’t sitting down to multi-course meals in every destination you visit, and in rural regions, you may have to practice patience for your next meal when behind the wheel. What this means is that you must pack snacks for food. This immediately slims down your trip budget. But definitely don’t skip the gas stations’ snack haul as you can find locally made beef jerky, sodas, chips, pastries, and more, which is another way to experience a region’s food culture.

Road Trip: Cons

Read the news headlines, and you’ll see that the cost of gas is rising. This is bad news if you are planning to log thousands of miles in your car for a road trip. However, no one said your road trip has to be cross-country. If you can find a way to cut a day or two, or find a route that has everything you need—such as views, nature, and attractions that tie into your interests—then you don’t need to nix it. You could also rent an electric vehicle and avoid gas bills altogether. Just be sure you research the availability of charging stations along the route.

When you’re pulling into town for the night—or even if you’ve already made reservations—options are limited for hotels because you need to be on a certain route in order to complete your road trip. Try to avoid visiting a destination when there’s a big festival or other city-wide event going on, and the rates won’t be as difficult to swallow. You may also need to be flexible with travel dates.