I booked a budget-friendly, all-inclusive resort in Mexico for a family trip. I wouldn't do it again.

The author (right) said she and her family tried to make the most of their stay, but didn't have much to do beyond enjoying the pool. Courtesy of Alana Dawson. I booked a family vacation at a budget-friendly all-inclusive resort in Mexico. When we arrived, disappointment set in immediately. Sargassum and our inability to get dinner reservations led us to move to a sister property. My oldest daughter looked at my husband and me in horror and said, "This isn't our hotel, is it?" That describes our family's only, and perhaps ever, all-inclusive experience in Mexico last summer. And indeed, it was our hotel . There were unmet expectations After a quick flight and short wait at customs, we had our bags and were ready to begin our vacation. It was all our teens had talked about for weeks.