The 10 Unspoken Rules for Resort Wear at Adults-Only All-Inclusives

 Kristy Alpert 

What does “resort casual” even mean? Read on.

Vague phrases like “resort casual” and “casual elegance” try to give guidance, but even those descriptors don’t touch the unspoken rules of true all-inclusive resort wear.

Aside from the select few who are in it solely for the unlimited room service pizza and piano bar karaoke (ahem, my husband), most people book adults-only all-inclusive vacations for the sheer luxury of not having to think about anything else after clicking “Book Now.” The drinks are free, restaurant reservations are nearly an afterthought, and credit cards become arbitrary accessories, while wristbands or signatures become the closest thing to currency once onsite.

The only thing left to plan out for an adults-only all-inclusive vacation is what to wear, which is where it gets tricky because dressing the part can mean the difference between having an uncomfortable experience or getting the VIP treatment. Vague phrases like “resort casual” and “casual elegance” try to give guidance on wardrobe choices, but the reality is that even those descriptors don’t touch the unspoken rules of true all-inclusive resort wear.

From taboo footwear to the real rule on bathrobes in the elevator, dress the part by using these unspoken dress code guidelines for your next adults-only all-inclusive vacation.

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Dress Sandals and Dress Shoes Only 

Flip flops are great for flipping on before hopping in the pool or flopping off before sinking into the sand, but the reality is that dress sandals are great for the exact same things. In fact, in many parts of resorts, flip-flops are forbidden footwear (especially in restaurants and boutiques). Don’t let your footwear limit you, and instead opt for dressier choices, like boat shoes, espadrilles, and dress sandals that can be worn by the pool and for a breezy night out.

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Resort Casual Is Dressier Than You Think 

The resort’s description of this confusing dress code may read “shorts and t-shirts allowed,” but chances are if you show up in cargos and a t-shirt, you will be the only one. Resort casual is what you might wear to a country club or Sunday picnic, so think instead of wearing comfortable yet breezy items like a casual sundress or sarong for women and a polo with Bermuda shorts for men. Linen pieces are always good choices here, since they have an air of sophistication without being too dressy.

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Bathrobes Are For Rooms 

The absolute only time it’s ever appropriate to wear a bathrobe outside of your hotel room is if you’re heading to the spa, and, even then, most spas offer separate (often nicer) bathrobes, so that caveat is a bit of a stretch. Just because a hotel gives you a bathrobe in your room doesn’t mean you get to flaunt it around like a Member’s Only jacket—they also give you towels, which doesn’t mean they want you to wear those around either—so keep those #robelife photos for the room and use a cover-up or actual real clothes while in any public spaces (i.e., anywhere that’s not your room).

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Change up Your Outfits Each Night 

This doesn’t mean six outfits for six nights, necessarily, but playing with mix-and-match outfits is a great idea for all-inclusives since you’ll likely be dining with—or next to—the same people most nights. Most all-inclusives lend themselves to social situations where guests interact with each other, and chances are you’ll leave home with a few new friends from other parts of the country (or world). Changing things up each night—even by just adding a cardigan buttoned over your favorite dress—will prevent you from entering the group chat as “Lady With the Blue Dress.”

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Bare Feet Are for the Beaches 

Aside from strict must-wear-shoes-in-restaurants policies and the obvious dangers of strolling sans shoes—i.e., exposure to bacteria, fungus, and viruses—it’s generally frowned upon to walk around barefoot at resorts for one sole reason … it’s just gross. No one wants to see your shoe-less feet strutting around a lobby or in an elevator, or even around the pool for that matter. As a general rule, if you’re in the sand or just got out of the pool, it’s fine to be barefoot, but any other time on property should be spent with a barrier between you and the ground beneath you.

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Cover Up While Eating 

It’s an outdoor table in a poolside restaurant, surely it’s okay to schlep around in a swimsuit, right? Wrong. Most all-inclusive have dress codes for restaurant spaces, but even if they don’t have a dress code listed for the pool bar or poolside restaurant, it’s best to wear at least a cover-up or a t-shirt (and yes, sheer coverups are fine). It’s in your best interest though to cover up, because those chairs can get hot on bare skin. The caveat is if you’re ordering poolside in your chaise, then it’s fair game to dig in your burger and fries with exposed shoulders and thighs.

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Accessorize Your Swimwear 

You won’t see this rule listed out in any resort dress codes, but you’ll for sure see it every time you pass someone by the pool or on the beach. Dangly earrings with a swimsuit. Fedoras worn in the shallow end. Even wedges for walking around poolside. Adults-only all-inclusives are a stage for celebrating not having to wear practical or kid-friendly swimwear (i.e., nothing that can be grabbed, pulled, yanked, or thrown), so relish the opportunity to accessorize freely; just keep in mind that jewelry can get easily lost, so try to choose items with low emotional and monetary value.

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Fellas, Forget the Dinner Jacket 

Unless the resort you’ve booked specifically calls for jackets at their fine dining restaurants (hint: most don’t), you can save space in your suitcase by leaving this unnecessary layer out. Sure, a blazer is nice for a cover-up on chilly nights, but a cardigan or scarf does the same job with less bulk. For men, the nicest you’ll need for most all-inclusives is a collared shirt and long pants for the fancier restaurants. A linen button-down or a sharp polo can go a long way at most resorts.

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Leave the Beach Bag in Your Room 

Even during the day, lugging around a bulky beach bag to a restaurant may get you some glares from staffers or other guests … especially if it’s caked in sand or soggy from pool water. Instead, pack a small clutch or handbag with any essentials inside your beach bag before leaving the room. Then you can just leave the beach bag to save your chair while you’re away and you’ll only have to bring the essentials with you for your quick *included* lunch or drink break.

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Always Bring a Swimsuit Cover-up 

Well, this rule is not as much “no swimsuits” as it is “no wearing swimsuits without a cover-up” in the elevator. We get it, you spent money on that suit and spent time and effort to wear it with such unwavering confidence, but save everyone the uncomfortable close-ups with your nearly naked bod and keep a cover-up on while making your way to the pool deck. The same rule applies for walking through the lobby, or really any place that’s not the pool or the beach.