We first hated our trip to an all-inclusive resort; He left 11 days early

When we arrived, we felt like we were in paradise. The three of us spent hours soaking up the Caribbean vibes as we lounged on the beach and enjoyed bottomless booze and buffets.

But—and I’m glad to admit it—by day three, we were getting bored.

Our meals felt repetitive as they were all served on the same property. We stopped drinking unlimited alcohol because we had terrible hangovers. And although the resort had activities available, we found ourselves increasingly disinterested in karaoke and games.

Before long, we felt trapped in our very large, very westernized resort. Although we had already paid and committed to staying there for two weeks, we unanimously decided to leave early.

After only three nights, we left our largest suitcase in the room, packed our essentials into smaller backpacks, and set off to explore more of the Caribbean country.

We had the time of our lives experiencing Cuba outside of our resort

First, I took a bus to Trinidad, a picturesque colonial city with pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and some of the most hospitable people on the planet.

We paid $10 a night to stay with a local couple who cooked us fresh lobster for dinner for a small fee. They told us about life in modern Cuba and took us salsa dancing under the stars.

From there, we headed to Viñales, near the beautiful Sierra de los Organos mountains and the Viñales Valley. We rented bikes and cycled, visited a coffee farm and explored the local caves.

The last on our circuit was the capital Havana. Highlights included visiting El Floridita, one of the old haunts of famous writer Ernest Hemingway, and taking a cigar and rum factory tour.

As we walked along Havana’s waterfront and marveled at the crumbling buildings and vintage cars, I felt like I had finally experienced the “real” Cuba.

Or at least a more authentic version of it than what I had seen from the resort.

We still haven’t changed our minds about resort travel

All-inclusive travel is great for people who like to relax and don’t want to venture out of a resort for food or entertainment, but we can confidently say it’s not for us.

Even recently we tested the waters again with another resort-style vacation, this time to Bali with our three kids. But despite the luxury property’s perks, like a kids’ club and multiple pools, I hated it.

Rather than staying in slices of paradise, we prefer to connect with locals and experience the countryside and authentic cuisine on tours. For us, this is the best part of traveling to another country and what keeps us hungry for more adventures.