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I am spoiled for life. Why? Because I just spent eight blissful days at a beautiful boutique-style all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya, Mexico and frankly, I don't think I'll ever be the same again. The minute I left Azul Beach Hotel, I was already thinking about planning a trip back with the rest of my family. First you must know that as a lifelong traveler, I am not accustomed to the all-inclusive way. Having only been to two all-inclusive resorts in the past, most of my travels comprised being "more adventurous" and thrifty -- that is, find a nice affordable resort and then trying a plethora of different restaurants throughout my stay. This is how my parents vacationed with us as kids and as I grew old enough to travel on my own, it's eventually how I vacationed with my husband and my kids too. But now, I'm 39 and I'm here to say -- my weeklong stay at this all-inclusive resort spoiled me rotten and I'm thoroughly convinced this is the way everyone should vacation and here's why: The steady stream of food and drinks. Let's face it, part of the lure of going on vacation is eating and dining on delicious food as you please. Well being at an all-inclusive resort, you have the ability to eat and drink till your heart's content. Want to sip on a cocktail or two after dinner? Or perhaps an early morning coffee or smoothie is what you crave. Food and drinks are readily available 24/7 and at an all-inclusive you simply walk into a restaurant or dining area and place your order without having to look at prices -- because you can have anything on the menu without worrying about the costs. All-inclusive menus also encourage you to try new dishes because everything on the menu is included. Have you ever wanted to try something new at a restaurant but feared that you wouldn't like it then suffer diner's remorse, then wishing you had ordered a usual staple? When it comes to an all-inclusive you have the freedom to be more adventurous when it comes to your dining experience and that can be pretty exciting, especially when you're on vacation! If you've got kids, knowing that they can order anything they want on the menu can also be a relief -- especially if you've got picky eaters. You don't have to worry about carrying money around the resort (with exception of money for tips). I have this habit of carrying my purse everywhere "just in case" I need money. When you're at an all-inclusive there is really no need to carry around cash except for tips. So you have peace of mind when heading out to the pool for the day that you need not carry a wallet full of your debit/credit cards with you. Being able to vacation without making sure you've got enough money on you is truly relaxing. It's easy to dine separately or coordinate meals together, especially if you have a larger group. If you've traveled with a large group before, you know how difficult it can be to coordinate meals while also making sure to pick a restaurant that can satisfy everyone's tastes and budget. At an all-inclusive, eating alone or planning meals together is a much easier process. Everyone in the group can eat/snack whenever they please, but if you opt to eat together, it's so much easier to choose when you know costs aren't involved. You'll love the flexibility and convenience of room service. My family and I are extreme night owls, so we're usually asleep while others are enjoying breakfast and just waking up as breakfast is about to end. But when you're at an all-inclusive you often have the option of 24-hour room service and that's like gold when you want to eat breakfast but you're not much of a morning person. It also comes in handy if you're a late night snacker -- like my husband. When you're at a regular resort, room service normally comes with higher prices. But an all-inclusive, price doesn't even come into play. You can snack as you please. Spending your day in the ocean or lounging by the pool can often leave you craving a delicious drink or snack and beach/poolside service is pretty much a given at most all-inclusive resorts. So rest assure, if you're sitting poolside reading a book all afternoon, you won't need to get up anytime soon, because soon enough a server will come by asking if you want a drink or snack. Lots of all-inclusive resorts will also have snack bars, bakeries or dessert bars on site to help curb your appetite in between meals. Now how perfect is that? The service is second to none. I can't say enough about the level of service I have received at the all-inclusive resorts I've stayed at. Your resort fees not only go toward lodging and dining, but you're also paying for top level customer service in every aspect of your resort stay. The staff is there to please you completely from the moment you check into the resort till the time you leave. During our stay at Azul Beach Hotel, we were blown away by the engaging nature and kindness of all the resort workers -- especially during our meals. The servers were funny and engaging and always went out of their way to make sure we were happy with our meal from beginning to end. The top-notch service alone makes the all-inclusive experience stand on its own. You have access to free entertainment. All-inclusive resorts are usually packed full of entertainment options for guests. Whether it be nightclubs, bars or lounges or shows for both children and adults -- you'll have a wide variety of entertainment and activities to choose from. These resorts are focused on keeping you happy and entertained while on the property so you don't feel the need to leave for anything. If you're the type that always needs to be connected, free wifi is usually also included during your all-inclusive stay. You have access to non-motorized water sports. Many all-inclusive resorts give their guests full usage of sports and water equipment like snorkels, kayaks, and paddleboards. Family friendly resorts will also give children access to beach and pool toys, which helps a lot when you're trying to limit how much to pack in your suitcase. While there may additional charges for certain sport/water activities, you usually get considerable access to a variety of tools/equipment with your already paid-for resort fees. It can help you save on your Wedding Day. Several all-inclusive resorts will throw in bonuses when couples choose to have their wedding on-site -- especially if you have a large group. These perks can help you save a ton when it comes to planning your celebration. So make sure to ask the resort what their wedding packages or options include. Often times, all-inclusive resorts will work with preferred travel agencies who can also offer additional perks if their entire wedding party/guests book through that particular agency. (Wright Travel Agency -- the official agency of bestdestinationwedding.com, is a preferred agency with several of the destination wedding resorts throughout Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica as well as other prime destination locations. To contact the Wright Travel, click here.) You don't worry about staying on a budget. There's something completely liberating about going on vacation and not having to worry about how much you've spent and how much cash you have left in your wallet. When you stay at an all-inclusive resort, the money for your lodging and food/drink has been paid upfront and your time there can be spent in total relaxation mode. If you haven't tried an all-inclusive resort, you should try it at least a couple times. Even if you're one of those travelers like me who's grown accustomed to always being on the go -- the all-inclusive experience is worth trying at least once. You just may find yourself spoiled by it like me and waking up post-vacation, wondering why no one is there bringing you a cocktail or ready with your morning omelette To find out more information about booking an all-inclusive vacation for your honeymoon or destination wedding, contact Wright Travel Agency at: www.wrighttravelagency.com or you can contact them HERE! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and I was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world. I am also a mother to two girls, an avid traveler and a destination wedding writer/blogger.

With Indian destination weddings celebrations typically occurring over the course of several days, food is a key detail couples must consider when planning their festivities. Although many resorts do not prepare Indian food on site, and will instead offer cuisine from an off-site caterer, Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun proves to be the exception. As part of its expansive vendor and decor options for Indian weddings, Moon Palace is also equipped with chefs who are fully trained to prepare Indian food, including all the authentic spices and ingredients needed to provide a variety of dishes throughout all the wedding festivities. So couples can rest assure that their guests will enjoy a delicious buffet of freshly prepared Indian food made on site. I recently spent several days at Moon Palace for a Southeast Asian Wedding Conference and experienced some of the fine Indian cuisine the resort had to offer. Each of the four buffet spreads I had the pleasure of indulging in included freshly prepared appetizers, sides and a plethora of main dishes -- all of which were bursting with delicious flavors and spices. “Palace Resorts takes pride in our ability to make dreams a reality. Indian weddings are visually unlike anything the destination has seen before, and we believe our valued guests will be awed by our latest offering,” said Gibran Chapur, executive vice president of Palace Resorts told Travelpulse.com. “Expanding our offerings and capabilities is a testament to our ability to make sure every detail of your wedding exceeds every bride’s desires and individual needs.” For more information on booking your Indian destination wedding at Moon Palace Golf & Resort Spa, click here. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and I was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world. I am also a mother to two girls, an avid traveler and a destination wedding writer/blogger.

I've been fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling throughout my life and for the most part have been extremely lucky when it comes to accommodations during my travels. So after staying at so many great hotels and resorts through the years, I've come to realize that it's the little details and special touches that really stand out to me when I'm traveling. I recently spent five days at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun and it was my first visit there as well as one of the few times I've stayed at an all-inclusive resort. Besides the overall grandeur of the resort, the luxurious accommodations and the beautifully landscaped grounds, the Moon Palace offered a lot of special little touches that really impressed me. One of the details that frankly, floored me, was that part of the room accommodations included CHI Bath Products and Hair Styling Tools. As a self-professed beauty and hair product addict, I have to admit I may have squealed a little when I discovered the CHI products in our room. Let's just say when I found the pro-style hair styling iron/straightener in the bathroom drawer, I may or may not have held it up like a sword and shouted, "YESSSSS!!!!" You see, one of my dilemmas every time I pack my suitcase for a trip out of town is having to decide whether or whether not I should bring my hair straightener -- especially when it comes to traveling to the tropics where my hair is either looking "beach water fresh" or "fresh outta the shower." So it's reassuring to know that if I'm ever staying at a Palace resort, then I need not worry about bringing a high quality hair straightener or blow dryer because my room will be equipped with one. The same goes for the always constant query, "should I rely on the quality of the resort shampoo/conditioner or bring my own products?" Well if you've booked a room at one of the Palace resorts, then rest assure, you don't have to worry about bringing big bottles of shampoo or conditioner because they've got you covered -- with good sized hair products might I add that are restocked daily! Things like this are especially important these days where airlines have become stringent on charging travelers for baggage and weight fees. “When most women travel, typically, they’ll find an average blow-dryer in their room — and certainly not a hair iron — so they will pack heavy hair tools and products.” said Gibran Chapur, Executive Vice President for Palace Resorts. “By partnering with CHI, a brand women know and love, Palace Resorts is further pampering them with the professional quality hair and beauty products they would find in a salon.” A resort perk since August 2012, all of Palace's oceanfront resorts provide guests with the original CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Iron and CHI Pro Hair-Dryer, as well as the CHI Infra Shampoo, Infra Treatment (conditioner), body lotion, and bubble bath. And if you're staying at a Palace resort and realize you've become attached to one of their products, you also have the option of purchasing any of their styling tools or bath products from the resort's salon. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and I was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world. I am also a mother to two girls, an avid traveler and a destination wedding writer/blogger.