The comparison worksheet
Use this for each resort on your shortlist. Two or three is enough. Fill it in from the resort's own pages and from direct answers to your questions, and note where each answer came from.
| Compare | What to look at | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Total price | Room rate plus taxes and every mandatory fee, for your exact dates and party size | Final checkout screen, or a written quote from the resort |
| What is included | Meals, drinks, activities, transfers, Wi-Fi and parking, and which room levels get what | The package terms, not the photo captions |
| Room and location | Size, bed setup, view, floor, and what sits next to the room | Room type page, resort map, a direct question |
| Setting | Beach, slope or town access, how you get there, and the weather in your month | Resort map, a satellite view, official climate data |
| Food | Restaurant count, reservation rules, dress codes, and how diets and allergies are handled | Dining page, a direct question to the resort |
| Who it is for | Age policy, kids club, quiet areas, entertainment schedule | Resort policy page, recent guest reviews |
| Access | Accessible room features, step-free routes, pool and beach equipment | Accessibility page, a direct question to the resort |
| Flexibility | Deposit, payment dates, cancellation deadline and refund method | Booking terms, shown before you pay |
Compare the total price
The nightly rate is where comparison starts. Add taxes and every mandatory fee, such as resort, facility, service or destination fees, for your exact dates and number of guests. Some fees are charged per room per night, and others per person. A lower rate with high fees can cost more than a higher rate with none.
In the US, a Federal Trade Commission rule that took effect in May 2025 requires hotels and short-term rentals to show the total price, including mandatory fees, when they show a price. Rules in other countries differ, so on any booking, go all the way to the final payment screen before you compare. Check the FTC or your own country's consumer protection agency for current rules.
Compare what you get
List what each price includes, then estimate what you would pay for the rest. Breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, transfers, loungers and activities can be free at one resort and charged at another. For all-inclusive resorts, see what packages usually leave out.
Compare the actual room
Match room types carefully. One resort's "deluxe" can be another's standard. Compare size, bed setup, view, balcony, floor and location within the property. A resort map helps you see which rooms are near the pool, the lobby or the road.
Compare the setting
Check the distance from the airport and how you will get there, what is within walking distance, and the climate for your month. Official weather services publish long-term averages. A satellite map view shows the beach, nearby building work, roads and how close the neighbors are.
Questions that sort a shortlist
When two resorts look equal on paper, the answers to these questions usually separate them.
Making the call
Go back to the three things you wrote down when choosing a resort type: what a good day looks like, who is coming, and how you like to pay. The resort that fits those most closely is the right one for you, even if it is not the one with the most facilities. Then read recent reviews for the finalists using the method in reading reviews critically.