If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to prioritize relaxation and convenience, it’s hard to top the experience of staying at an all-inclusive resort. But while the idea of unlimited food and drink being built into your bill might sound like a fantastic perk, it does differ from ordering a beverage or meal at a typical bar or restaurant—which is where a little inside intel can come in handy. Fortunately, travelers have taken to social media to spill the details on the best cocktail to order when you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, as well as which ones you should skip.
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A surprisingly simple mezcal drink is the most popular cocktail.
When you close your eyes and picture a relaxing vacation at a stylish resort, it’s almost a given that you’ll have a drink of some kind in your hand. But if you happen to be staying at an all-inclusive, you might want to put a little more thought into your selection.
In a recent Reddit post, one user posed a question to the mixology masses about what their go-to drink was when ordering at an all-inclusive resort. They also added the caveat that they fully expected drinks to be "sugary" and that they were visiting the Caribbean with hopes of drinking something tropical.
The winner? "Paloma with Mezcal is so refreshing without being overly sweet," the top-upvoted comment reads.
While traditionally made with a tequila base, the modified classic cocktail also includes lime juice and a healthy pour of grapefruit soda with a pinch of salt and a lime wheel garnish. Besides receiving the most support, others chimed in to say it was their "top pick," including the skinny option, which swaps in grapefruit juice for the sweetened soda option.
RELATED: Experts Say This Popular Cocktail Might Be Your Healthiest Drink Choice.
All-inclusive resort goers advise staying away from sugary drink mixes.
The second most mentioned choice was a ranch water, which is a refreshingly simple cocktail made with a tequila base and about a half-ounce of lime juice, topped with soda water.
"All the other stuff is too much sugar, and I can put these back for days," one Redditor said. Another called it "refreshing, light, and not too sweet."
But what about if you’re trying to get into true vacation mode with some more ostentatious drinks? Typically, that’s when the occasional trip to the frozen drink machine can be a good bet. One user suggests a Miami Vice, which is half frozen piña colada and half frozen strawberry daiquiri.
"If you’re feeling saucy, ask for a floater of rum on top. Will it be a sugary mix? Yup. Will it be delicious and cold in the hot sun? Also yup," they wrote.
On the lesser-known front, one user suggested going for an Iceberg, which they explain is made by dropping a solid frozen margarita into a glass of beer. Yet two more classic cocktails dominated the conversation: Mojitos and caipirinhas.
"Mojito is the taste of tropical vacation for me," one traveler said. "It’s also one of those things that’s kind of a pain to make at home…so I’m down to order them out."
To avoid all the sugar mixes that are common at all-inclusive resorts, it can be best to order spirit-forward classic cocktails.
"I’ve learned to order Kingston Negroni," someone else shared, describing a modified classic that uses equal parts rum, Campari, and sweet (red) vermouth. "No mixers involved, and they usually have a good rum on hand."
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Still, try to manage your expectations.
Whatever your order ends up being, it’s still probably best not to get your hopes up too high. Many travelers agreed that at the end of the day, it’s still a high-volume, low-concept ordering situation.
"I think a lot of the posters here are overestimating how good the bars are at an all-inclusive," one Redditor wrote. "Maybe you'll be surprised, but prepare for basic rail drinks."
But of course, not all drink setups are created equal, wither others saying it can pay to get to know your resort. "There’s always that one bar with the good alcohol. Just need to find it," one user suggested. "And you can also bribe the bartender for a bottle for your room."
